Well, the year is approximately 0.8219% over and I haven’t bought a gun yet, so that’s progress.
However…..
My final gun of 2024 showed up today. The conversation at work went like this:
Me: Ok, I’m outta here for lunch. I need to go hunt down FedEx.
Boss: Picking up a gun?
Me: Yup. Want me to bring it by and show it off to you?
Boss: Absolutely!
And that how this monster wound up sitting on the table in the conference room.
It’s a Steyr HS50M1. A five-shot .50 BMG bolt action.
I suppose you’re asking “Hey Zed, don’t you already have a .50?” Yes I do. The Barrett is a long-recoil action, much like a Browning A5 shotgun or Rem Model 8/81 rifle…the whole barrel recoils back and forth with each shot. This is not a recipe for accuracy. But, for what the Barrett was designed for, anti-materiel, it’s just fine. You don’t need a huge degree of accuracy to hit a parked plane, a fuel bladder, a microwave dish, or pipeline manifold…the sort of targets anti-materiel guns are designed for. But if you do want precision in a .50, you’re probably going to have to lean towards a bolt action. My first choice was a Barrett M95 since I already had the 82A1, but finding one was a stretch. Plenty of M99’s out there for about $3500-4000, but I wanted a repeater.
I almost bought the first version of the HS50 when it was still a single-shot gun. Was about $3000 at the time and I just couldn’t swing the deal. Different story nowadays.
This is yet another five-foot gun thats gonna be expensive to top off with glass. But, if I can keep myself from buying any more guns for a while, maybe I can afford the glass something like this deserves…thats gonna be a research project all on its own.
And…I still have to buy the reloading gear.
Another smart question would be why get a .50 ‘long range’ rifle when the .338 Lapua will have similar range and be logistically easier to feed? Well, three reasons. The first is that I just like the idea of having something that .gov doesn’t like people having. Or, in other words, “Because I Can!”. Second, it’s just dang cool. And third, the .50 has something that the .338 does not – comparatively better availability of AP, API, APIT, Tracer, and Raufoss ammo. And while I will happily go to my grave without ever needing AP, API, APIT, Tracer, and Raufoss ammo, they are all a hoot to shoot at the range at steel. And you never know what the future will bring. When Skynet starts cranking out T-800’s, a little API could be handy.
I have gone __3__ days without buying a gun this year.
Mongo like.
In impeccable timing, overnight a friend pointed me to this Widener’s article posted on January 5, 2025 – Best 50 BMG Ammo (https://www.wideners.com/blog/best-50-bmg-ammo/?utm_source=Widener%27s+Specials&utm_campaign=f0794aa183-NL_Specials_%2A%7CDATE%7C%2A_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4dbd7b7ce3-f0794aa183-66451949).
The ‘best’ .50BMG ammo is the stuff you load yourself, matched to your rifles particular chamber dimensions.
Long-term I agree. Especially for long-range accuracy shooting. But when my bride bought me a Barrett M82A1 .50BMG for our anniversary last year, she didn’t know how to reload. And reloading may just not be everyone’s cup of tea. She bought me 500 rounds, split between two manufacturers, and my current needs were met. That article may provide the information someone else could use in similar circumstances. But, loading your own is an awesome choice so I encourage you to do that. While you get the numbers all figured out, buy the brass, bullets, and other supplies and work on that project; I will initially spend my time shooting instead. I’m kind of making my own brass in the process.
But but but…
When is the Solothurn S-18/1000 coming?
1998 I’m guessing. Now if he could just nip back to 1958….
https://www.reddit.com/r/ForgottenWeapons/comments/nsw7sb/solothurn_s181000_20mm_rifle_1958_magazine/
Not that ya needed to explain to everyone, but you provided lots of solid explanations as to why ya bought the gun – but ya only really needed one – “Because I Can!”.
You realize every time you burn through a mag, the gun is making California minimum wage+!!!!
Three days? Yeah, but how many pictures have you touched or fondled and felt that “feeling” in your nether regions? No not there, I mean your trigger finger…………. We should set up a pool for 1) date of first 2025 purchase and 2) how many in 2025 purchased. Winner gets nothing. Zero already won.
Dang homie, My wallet hurts thinking about a piece of glass worthy of that gun and ammo. You’ve wanted one of these for a while so good on you getting it!
SWFA makes a fixed 20x that might be a good starter til you save up for some sweet European glass.
Have you turned the Boss to the Dark Side yet?
Nicely done, as usual, on this purchase. I have finally started the financial recovery from the divorce, slowly building. I “only” have one left to buy to round out what I want. I am looking at an RIA VR 70 for a near time purchase. We shall see. I have finished rescoping my rifles. I went from red dots to ones with black reticles that have the option of illumination.
Nice looking broomstick, Commander.
I’ve shot a 50 Barrett before… I think it was 96 or 97, Ron was trying to drum up business so he was letting people demo them at big shows. I paid for two rounds, only fired one. Recoil wasn’t the peoblem. The pressure wave coming off the brake hit my sinuses and gave me an instant headache. Maybe they’ve changed the brake since then, but that one shot pretty much ended my desire to fire a second one during my life.
Enjoy it, sir, you definitely deserve it.
My big fear is that someday I’ll get exactly what I deserve….
I’m still waiting for the story about how the Flamethrower turned up with UPS at work…..
new item on wish list, flamethrower drone!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3_eEO0Cvwg
Google Flamethrower Dog so sorry for your wallet that is all I have to say.
That’s pretty,looks light compared to the M2 receiver I got to hump in USMC. Best value in reloading gear is Lee with accuracy of rounds not a issue( components are determining factor). Just wish I could have gotten the Ferret before they closed, was very budget friendly for the price.