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The AR-50 is an excellent platform from which to launch your 50 BMG experience. It's solidly built, accurate, and rugged. The brake on the AR-50 is almost universally agreed to be the most efficient available. Its better at controlling recoil that most of the other designs out there. Not a lot better but a little better. AR-50's are capable of excellent accuracy right out of the box. There are several guys out there in the Fifty Caliber Shooters Assocation www.fcsa.org doing really well with stock AR-50s in 1000-yard competition. One fellow is still winning regional matches and coming in within the top three at the world competition in Raton in July using an AR-50 with over 4000 rounds down the barrel. I would be doing you a disservice if I didn't give you a few critiques about the rifle. It has two primary issues that may or may not be a problem for you. The first one is the trigger. Some folks report getting good triggers from Armalite and some not so much. The trigger can be replaced pretty easily with a Remington 700 trigger if you want to. The second item is that the AR-50 is pretty long given its 31" barrel length. The action design so many folks like is what makes it so long. A 32" barrelled Barrett M99 is lighter and shorter. The Barrett is also a fair bit lighter, even in the longer barrelled configuration, making it more fieldable. I'd say the AR-50 is easier to use in matches and the Barrett 99 is much more fieldable. So yes, I would say the AR-50 is an excellent way to go for a 50 BMG that is reasonably priced, well built, highly accurate, and the most available 50 out there. It's a solid choice for informal shooting as well as match use but is a little long and front heavy to pack around in the field compared to other available designs. Some other options for you to consider that I believe to be in the same accuracy realm as an AR-50. Accuracy Long Range Systems (ALS) Upper, www.50bmg.net, $2000 State Arms Shorty, www.statearms.com, $1900 Spyder Arms Ferret 50, www.ferrett50.com, $2100 & up You might look into joinging the FCSA, www.fcsa.org to help you select a rifle for your particular mission. It's the only group out there dedicated to furthering the sporting use of the 50 BMG and protecting it from adverse legislation. -David Edgewood, NM |
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As usual, David is right on the money. The biggest downfall of the AR-50, for me is the barrel length. Because of the short barrel, your powder choices are limited if you plan on doing any serious shooting. For casual plinking though, I wouldn't worry too much about that. Another thing I don't care for is that they are by far the most common .50 out there. Just a personal thing, but I don't like to have the same things as everyone else.  I also don't like that you can't have the rifle built the way you want it. Your only options are right or left handed. I've got a State Arms Rebel on order that I should be getting near the end of April. I think that the State Arms rifles are the best option for your money. The pictures on the website don't come close to doing it justice. It's really a beautiful rifle. You can have Larry build the rifle exactly the way you want it. You have your choice of barrel length, barrel material, muzzle break, r or l handed, choice of triggers, choice of chambers (match, field, hybrid, or super-match), choice of slope on the scope mount, and choice of tactical aluminum stock or laminate wood stock. And all of this for a cost lower than the AR-50. I'd give the State Arms rifles some consideration if I were you, but if you've got your heart set on the Armalite, you really can't go wrong. |
State Arms ought to pay you for that picture and use it as a product picture. She sure does have a nice smile on her face. And that should speak volumes to potential customers. Nice looking rifle too. |
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Here's a couple videos shot the same day. Forgive the resolution but you can tell the recoil didn't bother her. Also, she appreciates the kind words, as do I. img531.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mov00047dd7.flv img531.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mov00045fh5.flv -David Edgewood, NM |
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In the second video...is she shooting at steel targets? If so, I'd move the target or yourselves BACK a good ways. I swear that I heard the sound of a riccochet coming back toward the firing line shortly after she fired!!!! I could be wrong... As for the pics and the videos, I wholeheartedly agree with Max-Paul. That is a gorgeous rifle and an even more attractive young lady shooting it. As they say...a picture is worth a thousand words!! Thanks for the pic and the vids. ORD out... |
Just to be perfectly honest, the AR-50 has a 31" barrel. I have one, and have had the M82A1 and the Serbu with a 36" barrel, and my opinion is that this is the best one for accuracy. I do not know about the m99. |
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ARNEWB: Yeah I found that out a week or two ago. I have a buddy with an AR-50 and he always said it was a 29" barrel. Never had any reason to doubt him until a guy mentioned it and I checked an you are right, it's a 31". I corrected it in a couple other posts I made. Guess I didn't catch it in this one. Its corrected now. Thanks, -David Edgewood, NM |
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Really just a matter of looks. SS barrels are said to last a little longer but i'm not so sure. That's really a personal choice. I would, however, strongly consider the rear monopod. It's really slick, allowing you to dial in the tiniest amount of elevation to get lined up perfectly on long shoot. I really like my monopod. I think it's an extra $100. I like the SS too but again, that is all personal. You saw the picture of mine up thread a ways, right? The stainless provides a nice contrast. Have you joined the FCSA yet? www.fcsa.org -David Edgewood, NM |
. No I haven't joined the FCSA yet but I been thinkin bout it. I'll have to check out your post above and see if there is actually a gun.
Congratulations! My 12-14 weeks will be over mid to late April. I also ordered a Rebel and went with the stainless barrel. I prefer the looks of it, they (supposedly) last longer, and they are more corrosion resistant. Even if the only benefit was the looks, I would rather spend the $200 to make a $2000+ rifle the way I want it. Did you get a taper scope base? If not, I'd suggest giving Larry a call and having him do that for you, provided you plan on shooting long distances. |
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Yeah Larry will recommend the flat scope base (0 MOA) but you'll like the tapered 20 MOA base much better. It's what I use. It'll extend your maximum range of adjustment with any scope and get you out quite a bit further. Plus the 20 MOA is free of charge at time of purchase. That 36" barrel will give you the velocity with heavy bullets to really reach out and touch someone. -David Edgewood, NM |
| I orderd a State Arms Rebel 36" stainless steel with tactical stock from Larry this week. David was a big help too since he has one of these. I chose to go with ERG State Arms instead of the Armalite AR50 because it was a semi-custom rifle with better accuracy potential than the Armalite. Also, the AR50 after adding a bipod it was almost as much as a Barret M99. I think the ERG State Arms gives you more rifle for your money. I have two Armalite AR rifles and they are great too. |
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