Well, so much for the myth that a stock .50 can't be accurate...

Here's today's sample of working up loads at 200 yards in gusting 5-15 mph winds from the short Harris bipod with Retumbo and H50BMG for the 750 AMax out of the AR-50.

I don't think that Retumbo's the powder for this bullet. But even then, the worst group is .84 MOA.

Note that the groups with the H50BMG are .34 MOA (220g - 2510 fps) and .38 MOA (233g - 2640 fps).

I'm thrilled...

[This message was edited by STL on Fri March 19 2004 at 19:45.]

Target 2 - Retumbo

Target 3 - H50BMG

Now we're talkin'!

Yup, very nice !

Nice shooting STL....What is the next step?

I'm now going to zero in on a load between 233 and 245 grains of H50BMG. Also going to experiment a bit with controlling vertical stringing with the tunable bipod position.

After that, on to verifying the 3-tier drop chart I made for the R2.

Nice shootin STL.

Thanks Brent.

Went back out today with only about 1.5 hours to shoot. Focused on H50BMG - found that 236 grains produced around 2670 fps. I shot one five shot group with this load. 13-24 mph gusts according to local weather. It was bad today, but didn't seem quite that bad!. Anyhow, 4 shots went into .80" at 200 yards. I dropped out of the rifle on one other that opened it up 3/4" vertical. But 4 of those went into that one big hole...

Next stop - a 400 yard R2 zero and 600 yard testing...

STL

How do you plan on using the R2 with this load here? 400 yard zero, but you've got other things in mind, I'm sure? How's it work out out further?

BTW, it sounds like that thing is extremely accurate! And has S1 even worked it over yet? I'm sure that mad scientist already has his eye on it if not

I have created a tiered drop chart from 100 to 2000 yards that requires only two movements of the elevation knob to get there. I will use the elevation available on the R2 within those tiers. I have to verify it, but on paper it works.

For a factory rifle, it is quite accurate. It'll prolly stay stock for a long time. S1 and I have talked about even faster .50s, but I think I'll wait for your review of the FatMac!

The FatMac should be damn impressive, but boy is that alot of powder! Going to have to use a MONSTER bolt!! Yeah, and a MONSTER brake too!!

I can't think of a simpler action to build than the single shot Grizzly type. Maybe by this winter we'll have one put together.

This winter?!? Come on, man. The world needs the FatMac...

Wish I had the time, but I anticipate long hours for the both of us this season. Work should be starting up here anytime now, and road construction is generally going hell bent until freeze up in October, short spring, summer, and fall up here...

Time will tell, but I'd guess this winter.

He hasn't even got good loads worked up in his 500 Jeffery yet! I keep buggin him about it though...

Derrick just blew a skirt off a piston in his '02 800 Arctic Cat MC yesterday, knocked a hole in the case with that chunk, so he's preoccupied getting that welded back up. Damn near lost the skirt on the other piston, big ole crack in it, least it hung on.

Gotta let them forged pistons really warm up first! They're tough, but they slap like a SOB till they swell up...

I have created a tiered drop chart from 100 to 2000 yards that requires only two movements of the elevation knob to get there. I will use the elevation available on the R2 within those tiers. I have to verify it, but on paper it works.

You got a armalite 50 right? I like to know more about the chart you came up with and scope you got. If you don't mind sharing I would like all the info you got on your loads you tried out. I plan on getting me a ar50 in about 3-4 months,about to start the layway here in few weeks to a month and looking forward to loading for it and coming up with a great load like you getting and hope to get the accuracy along with the range also. The R2 is that a NF recticle? Did you rechamber your ar50? What base and rings did you go with? If you like to email me you can send to covertbravo2@yahoo.com,thanks.

Welcome to the forum Bravo2! STL is traveling to see his mother who has been diagnosed with cancer this week. Her condition is quite serious, and the chances for recovery seem, at best remote. I am sure he will answer your questions as soon as he gets back to his computer. I know his scope is a Nightforce NXS 5.5 x 22 x 56 with the NPR2 reticle, he loads with a Hornady press and dies, and 50 BMG with the 750 grain A-max bullet.

OK, so the stock 50 cal. is no longer stock. The Lilja barrel was torqued on today at an estimated 440 + ft. lbs. I will try and post some pre camo pics. We also did some bedding work, so it will be interesting to see if that settles things down a bit.

So you all are probably wondering why take the most accurate stock 50 cal. on planet earth apart and mess with it? From the targets above, it is obviously NOT BROKE. STL?

I want a more manageable .50, perhaps less likely to foul quickly, with less vertical in the groups. Also as much velocity as I can get. We'll see...

Here are a few pics of the new Lilja barrel which is 36" long, next to the old stock barrel.

A close up of the business end. If you look closely, you may notice where the inside of the stock factory brake has been coaxially bored to be in alignment with the barrel. It was over .008" out of alignment before things were trued up.

Next is a pic of the recoil lug. If you look closely you may notice the 3 degree taper cut onto the sides of the recoil lug and the ends have been radiused. This will help when bedding.