The problem with the 50 calibre cartridge is that it is not terribly inherently accurate. Higher up the thread the figure of 1.5 inches at 100 yards was bandied about. This is distinctly unimpressive, my wife’s rifle does under 0.5 inches at 100 yards (.223 Remington calibre).
But, they are the only things kicking around that can knock other things over at extreme range.
Here’s a graphic video showing a .50’s impact in Afghanistan…
Not all that convinced myself - they don’t have all that much range advantage over something like .338 Lapua (which is IIRC a lot more accurate anyway) and if you’re trying to destroy vehicles etc. then you’re probably better off with something like Javelin. It all smells rather like a solution in search of a problem to me…
I agree…that video has been going around here in the U.S. for a year or so now saying its sniper footage. If you look real close in one of the shots…you can tell its a little animal, you can see the tail and just make out its a rock chuck.
On another note…I remember seeing them at the Great Western gun Show ( RIP) when they first came out with the Barrett 50, before the military started using them. They didn’t look as nice as they do now and the price was about $3000 if I remember correct. As soon as the military started using them, the prices sky rocketed.
Well, I guess I was sucked into an Urban Myth then.
Thanks for the info, I saw this months ago and thought the pieces flying up as odd…Though I have heard the .50 does some pretty horrific things to the human body…
Well, I agree a Javelin is preferable to destroying a vehicle over the use of a large caliber rifle. I think your point is that there seems to be a bit of hype around the .50 cal, which is probably true. However, I don’t know the maximum effective range of a Jav, I could be wrong but I think it is hardly a mile. And the .50 seems to be an effective “niche” weapon, but not a panacea that is seems some claim it to be in the above vids.
I can see the effectiveness of shooting out a radiator as opposed to blowing it up as a means to capture an important intelligence target…
Maximum range is 2,500m - and it’s homing as well so will be fully accurate out to that distance.
But you can do that with .338 Lapua as well to similar ranges, with a massively lighter and more practical rifle.
From what I can work out it has two uses:
Okay, but how many times can you fire it?
Reloading procedure? How much does the ammo weigh?
Remember, we’re talking about special ops people infiltrating here…
But you can do that with .338 Lapua as well to similar ranges, with a massively lighter and more practical rifle.
Even with light armor plate?
From what I can work out it has two uses:
- Poor-man’s anti-tank weapon - a round of .50BMG is a tiny fraction of the price of a decent anti-tank weapon.
- “Oh look what a big gun I’ve got”
You have a point. But the “antitank” round thing is just plain wrong since the .50 AP will pierce no competent contemporary tank I know of (unless you’re firing from up top into the engine block) and that’s not the intent here…
It’s a shoulder fired antitank rocket - guidance unit is 6kg, all up weight is 20kg. Reloading takes a few seconds.
I doubt it - weight of the rifle alone is over 15kg, add in everything else they’ve got in their bergens and that’s too much. Much more likely is carrying a few LAWs or Charlie Gs between the patrol - more firepower for less weight. From my limited experience of UKSF (a previous section commander and a TA mate) they don’t go in for sitting around at long distances anyway.
To some extent - .338 Lapua can apparently penetrate some level of body armour (probably Kevlar only rather than ceramic) out to 1000m.
Optics, tracks, etc. It might get a soft kill on a competent MBT, and would certainly give the sort of tanks such impecunious opponents would be facing a fit. I should really have said anti-armour, as it is certainly capable against lighter armoured vehicles.
I’m slightly familiar with the Javelin’s intent. But I wasn’t sure if it was a disposable system like the old LAW or the AT4. In any case, we’re talking about a more expensive, less versatile weapon system than the Barrett. One can hardly fire a Jav at a single target and hope one doesn’t obliterate a whole house whereas the .50 cal is more selective and more appropriate for subtle counterinsurgency “minimal force” requirements.
I doubt it - weight of the rifle alone is over 15kg, add in everything else they’ve got in their bergens and that’s too much. Much more likely is carrying a few LAWs or Charlie Gs between the patrol - more firepower for less weight. From my limited experience of UKSF (a previous section commander and a TA mate) they don’t go in for sitting around at long distances anyway.
Depends on the mission.
To some extent - .338 Lapua can apparently penetrate some level of body armour (probably Kevlar only rather than ceramic) out to 1000m.
Interesting, but the Barrett can do more than body armor…
Optics, tracks, etc. It might get a soft kill on a competent MBT, and would certainly give the sort of tanks such impecunious opponents would be facing a fit. I should really have said anti-armour, as it is certainly capable against lighter armoured vehicles.
Okay, it can disable an MBT, but right now that is least the worry of the people using the system…
That’s the thing about .50BMG, for any anti-personnell work the .338 Lapua is better (equally lethal but much more accurate) while for anti-material work an anti-tank weapon will always do a better job. There is a very, very small niche where a .50BMG rifle is appropriate and frankly I think there are only so many rifles using it because .338 Lapua hadn’t been invented yet (it only took off a few years ago when Accuracy International decided to do a rifle in it).
One use .50BMG has that I hadn’t thought of though - disposing of UXO by shooting at it. There you do need a very powerful cartridge on a relatively portable weapon, and .50BMG is ideal. It isn’t a sniper rifle though.
Actually the U.S. is credited for the original 50. cal Barret. The most used 50.cal used in the british services is called Internation Accuracy AS50. Here is a picture of it.
Caliber: 12.7x99mm / .50BMG
Operation: gas operated, semiautomatic
Barrel: 692 mm
Weight: 14.1 kg empty
Length: 1369 mm
Feed Mechanism: 5 rounds detachable box magazine
The AS50 fifty caliber (12.7mm) sniper / antimateriel rifle is the latest development of the famous British company Accuracy International Ltd. First displayed in January 2005 in USA at the ShotShow-2005, this rifle reportedly has been developed especially for US SOCOM users, and is now being tested by the US NAVY Special Operations center. The AS50 is to provide combat operators with highly accurate and rapid aimed fire at extended ranges. To achieve such goal, the AS50 is built around gas operated, semiautomatic action, with “single rear locking” (most probably, this mean a tilting bolt). The two-part receiver is machined from high grade steel, the barrel is free-floated and fitted with effective muzzle brake. Easily detachable buttstock is fitted with recoil-reducing buttpad, as well as with folding rear grip, which also serves as a rear support leg. The folding quick-detachable bipod with adjustable legs is fitted as a standard. Top of the receiver is equipped with full length Picatinny type rail which can accept any compatible scope mount; two additional rails are mounted on either side of the short handguard / barrel jacket. Rifle is fitted with four sling mounts, and can be brought down to basic sub-assemblies within three minutes for maintenance or compact transportation or storage. Rifle is fed using single stack detachable box magazines, which holt five rounds of ammunition.