Quick Question: What is a .50 cal BMG rifle?

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

I am filling out a survey about gun ownership and have been asked about a .50 cal BMG rifle.

Could you please explain to me what this is and what it's used for?

Thank you

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Mod, please leave this in news for a while so I can get an answer. Thank you.

[1rudeboy]

The BM stands for "big mother."

[DoctorMichael]

BMG = Big Mutha Gun

[mlbford2]

I don't know , but I'm pretty sure John Kerry will take it away from you.

[Constitution Day]

Here is what one looks like:

[grobdriver]

A rifle that fires the 50 cal Browning Machine Gun rounds.

[1rudeboy]

[1Old Pro]

Could you please explain to me what this is and what it's used for?

I'm not sure about it's exact specs but I know you came to the right place for an answer. I do know it's a big gun, has a long range, and is designed to shoot things.

[So Cal Rocket]

[ladtx]

[humblegunner]

.50 Ping.

[gunnygail]

It usually is a bolt action weapon, i.e., Grizzly, modeled after the early British WW2 anti-tank gun. Shoots an actual .50cal sized round but has an excellent buffer group in the stock to absorb the recoil. Max effective range is roughly 2000 yds. Max range for a .50cal slug can range up to 7000 yards! NOT a light weapon to be carrying around.

[yarddog]

I was going to give my definition but #6 covered it perfectly.

[John Jorsett]

BMG = Browning Machine Gun. That's the round that it uses. Typically when someone is talking about a ".50 BMG", it's a rifle like one of these:

They're used by military snipers and people who just like to see how far away they get an accurate hit on a target.

[Unknowing]

Just a rifle. Used for projecting jacketed lead slugs at targets from a distance, with rifle-like accuracy. Fifty caliber means approximately one-half inch bore diameter.

[7.62 x 51mm]

BFG-50, "Big Frigging Gun"?

[jackmercer]

It is used to remove heads at a VERY long distance. Basically, you can hit a human with that thing at over a thousand yards anywhere on their body and the head (as well as the rest of the body) turns into tiny pieces....very effective against terrorist hiding behind walls at a thousand yards :)

[gunnygail]

Marine sniper Carlos Hathcock nailed a VC tax collector in VN with a .50cal with a scope at over 3,000 yards! Just under a 3 mile shot.

[Sloth]

"This is a weapon...that uses a cartridge the size of a ketchup bottle." --Bob Williamson of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence

The gun "can shoot down airplanes." --Rep. Henry Waxman

The bullet from this gun "can pierce tanks and concrete bunkers." --U.S. Rep. Rod Blagojevich

The projectile from the .50 caliber rifle is "capable of piercing light armor at 4 miles." --Senator Dianne Feinstein

"The weapon can penetrate several inches of steel." --Senator Dianne Feinstein

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Oh, wait -- you probably wanted accurate information. Sorry.

[therut]

These rifles are big,heavy and expensive. They are expensive to shoot----about 1.75 per cartridge. There are sporting clubs and groups where these are shot in competition. Out west mostly------long range shooting.