Friday, December 14, 2007

Gun Tips - Is .50 BMG too Big for Hunting?


There has been a rise in people shooting .50 BMG rifles. These were originally military rifles, but know they are being used for hunting large game, like elk. This is the third of three posts on guns (Buying a Used Gun and Gun Maintenance). Here are some tips on these guns.

Expensive:If you are planning on getting one of these be ready to shell out upwards of $1000 and up to $5000. These guns will break you budget, but some deem it worth the money.

Recoil:

These guns KICK HARD!!! If you can’t handle a 12 gauge shotgun or even if a 12 gauge hurts a little don’t buy the .50 BMG. Be prepared to get some serious scope eye when first beginning with these.

Distance:
These guns can be used accurately up to 1000 yards which is where competition matches are usually shot at. So unless you live out west you probably won’t be able to buy one of these and be able to shoot it.

Knock Down Power:
The .50 BMG has 3280 ft. lb. of energy at 1400 yards. Compare that to a .30/06 which only has 2619 ft. lb. at MUZZLE. So be prepared for a large hole in whatever you shoot at.

Scope:
You will need a very good scope if you want to take advantage of this gun’s long range. This scope will put you back at least another $500.

Calculations:
You will need to have at least one other person with you when you hunt with this gun. This is because when you shoot from 1000 yards the wind has a major impact on the shot. You will need one person to make these calculations while you get set up.

All in all, the .50 BMG is definitely not as popular as a 20 gauge or .22, but it is growing in popularity at a faster rate than most guns. If you want to shoot one of these make sure you have the money, the room, and skill. So have fun and safe hunting.

For more gun tips check out:
Gun Recoil Reduction
The Best Turkey Gun

6 comments:

Big Pappa said...

Not to mention that a "normal" .50 cal is going to weigh in the 20 to 25 pound range. You may need a buddy to help you carry it for very long.

Heather in Beautiful BC said...

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Anonymous said...

I would think a .308 would be a better choice if you want to shoot at 1000 yards. What do you think?

Sure, it's not going to have the knockdown power of w .50 cal, but it's going to be much easier to handle.

Anonymous said...

The question is what would you hunt with a .50? I could just imagine what the last deer I tagged would have looked like after being hit by something like that :)

Varadharajan said...

I don't like animals being hunted.Its all because humans are selfish.
Sorry for the comment

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