Author Topic: Jumpin' at the Firing Range  (Read 432 times)

Offline Halo

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Jumpin' at the Firing Range
« on: August 31, 2006, 10:14:30 PM »
Today for the first time I jumped at a firing range.  I was at a nearby indoor range test firing a Glock .45, another first for me.  Nice gun.  I can see why law enforcement types favor it.  I'm still a .357/.38 revolver guy, but I can appreciate the 13 rounds and the Glock fast reaction and safety features.

Each firing position is nicely separated from neighbor shooters by a concrete wall.  Nevertheless, all of a sudden WHAM WHAM WHAM!, so much noise and an actual felt change in pressure and some smoke that I jumped.  Just a little, but first time ever at a firing range.

When I looked around the wall, I saw a tall young guy with a big metal gun that looked like a lot of big military metal guns.  He said it was a .50 caliber that he built.  

Wow.  It was a blast, literally.  Didn't get any further details.  Too much power for me.  I went back to my comparatively tiny .45 Glock and then fired a couple .357 rounds from my Ruger Security Six for comparison.  

Later I retrieved a .50 caliber shell casing.  It's about the size of two .45 auto shells lengthwise and slightly wider, but nowhere near the size of a .50 machinegun bullet.
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Offline Halo

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Jumpin' at the Firing Range
« Reply #1 on: August 31, 2006, 10:49:25 PM »
Okay, looked at the shell more closely, did some Googling, and found it's a .499 LWR.  Couldn't bring the link here, but just Google for that and .50 caliber rifles to learn all about these most powerful guns still allowed in most states.
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Offline Saintaw

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Jumpin' at the Firing Range
« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2006, 04:11:55 AM »
Last time I was at the range with my dad, there was a guy shooting that sort of gun (.50 AE?) in the stall next to mine. I think i missed most of my shots when the guy was firing his hand-cannon... and my p223  sounded like a toy. Need drink less coffee the next time i go i guess :)
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Offline FiLtH

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Jumpin' at the Firing Range
« Reply #3 on: September 01, 2006, 09:18:09 AM »
I remember the first time I saw a guy shoot silouettes. He layed back and fired this hand cannon. So loud it was almost unbearable.

~AoM~

Offline lazs2

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Jumpin' at the Firing Range
« Reply #4 on: September 01, 2006, 10:13:25 AM »
there is a 50 beuwolf round (I think that is what it is called) and it is a round that you can have your ar15 converted to.   It is a very nasty round and sounds about the size of the brass you recovered.

What did the headstamp say?

lazs

Offline Halo

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Jumpin' at the Firing Range
« Reply #5 on: September 01, 2006, 10:18:02 AM »
.499 LWR (sorry, still can't link this, but Google shows it's Leitner-Wise Rifle Co., only rifle manufacturer of this caliber, so considered proprietary cartridge).
« Last Edit: September 01, 2006, 10:24:41 AM by Halo »
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Offline AquaShrimp

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Jumpin' at the Firing Range
« Reply #6 on: September 01, 2006, 10:18:14 AM »
An Ar-15 can be converted to 50 caliber?

Offline Halo

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« Reply #7 on: September 01, 2006, 10:26:14 AM »
Do some Google searches for .499 LWR and .50 caliber BMR and you'll be amazed at the big guns out there available for purchase in nearly all of the United States.
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. (Seneca, 1st century AD, et al)
Practice random acts of kindness and senseless beauty. (Anne Herbert, 1982, Sausalito, CA)
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Offline lazs2

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Jumpin' at the Firing Range
« Reply #8 on: September 01, 2006, 10:26:44 AM »
Ahh..  yep, you can get uppers for ar15 for several 50 cal conversions.

The new hot setup is to make the calibers just under 50 to keep the democrats from banning them under the "bulletproof limmo protection act"

finestein is worried that bulletproof limmos will be targeted....  I am not.... No one I know drives around in one.

If I might say so again......

NEVER vote for a democrat.

lazs

Offline MrRiplEy[H]

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Jumpin' at the Firing Range
« Reply #9 on: September 01, 2006, 11:56:51 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by lazs2
Ahh..  yep, you can get uppers for ar15 for several 50 cal conversions.

The new hot setup is to make the calibers just under 50 to keep the democrats from banning them under the "bulletproof limmo protection act"

finestein is worried that bulletproof limmos will be targeted....  I am not.... No one I know drives around in one.

If I might say so again......

NEVER vote for a democrat.

lazs


Heh probably finestein knows a few people who do drive around in bulletproof limos. People that just dont hang around with lazs. :D
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Offline Neubob

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Jumpin' at the Firing Range
« Reply #10 on: September 01, 2006, 12:09:13 PM »


your .499 is the one on the far right. Looks pretty impressive. The most interesting one in the lineup, however, is the Winchester .223, dead center. Crazy looking thing, around 4000 fps, according to some of the sites I saw.

Offline lazs2

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Jumpin' at the Firing Range
« Reply #11 on: September 01, 2006, 02:20:40 PM »
Thank you ripley... that was exactly my point.   Our second amendment rights were put in there specificaly for dealing with the people finestien knows.

lazs

Offline Halo

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Jumpin' at the Firing Range
« Reply #12 on: September 01, 2006, 05:29:48 PM »
Thanks, Neubob, that's the .499 monster all right.  

While Googling some of the big calibers, saw several items that said when firing the granddaddy, the .50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun), shooters are advised to wear ear plugs IN the ears as well as external ear protectors.

Some ads claim that sophisticated recoil systems reduce the .50 BMG recoil to comparable to a .12 gauge.  Bet that's a .12 gauge 3-inch magnum (a 2 3/4 is plenty enough for me, thank you).

So, anyone reading this thread ever fire a .499 or the .50 BMG or a .60 or .70 Nitro Express, supposedly the largest of all?
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. (Seneca, 1st century AD, et al)
Practice random acts of kindness and senseless beauty. (Anne Herbert, 1982, Sausalito, CA)
Paramedic to Perkaholics Anonymous

Offline lasersailor184

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Jumpin' at the Firing Range
« Reply #13 on: September 02, 2006, 05:47:33 PM »
I have heard no sound on the firing range, including .50's, that could beat the noise a MN 1938 could make.  I had people 75 yards away wincing in pain at the sound.
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Offline moneyguy

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Jumpin' at the Firing Range
« Reply #14 on: September 02, 2006, 06:21:12 PM »
if you liked the Glock, and you like .357's...try a Glock that shoots 357sig.