the 50 cal attachment

[alvarezinfantry]

I have a buddy that got ahold of a converter kit for a AR 15 to fire a Smith and Wesson 500 round. its a different bolt and a different upper receiver.
I got to mess with it it was cool to shoot has some kick not much and the magazine only holds 10 rounds.

I can see this being put to good use what do you think?

[ShakesFIST]

I don't see a need for a pistol round in a rifle in the military. Why would any need it?

[Bert]

I don't see a need for a pistol round in a rifle in the military. Why would any need it?

..boar hunting?

OP: Uh, no.

[KillerBD]

I don't see a need for a pistol round in a rifle in the military. Why would any need it?

I agree. This would be a bad investment:bash:

[alvarezinfantry]

For get the fact that its a pisto round. It is a Smith and Wesson 50.cal round. 5.56 ......50. come on there really is no comparison its a way bigger harder hitting round. perhaps it would be put to god use in Spec op units. There is a version in the works that has the same slug but a larger shell. it will have more powder. and travel much farther.

If you only knew about the "other" Sniper Rifle. This 50. cal is a baby compared to the **** this "X" rifle shoots.

[ShakesFIST]

For get the fact that its a pisto round. It is a Smith and Wesson 50.cal round. 5.56 ......50. come on there really is no comparison its a way bigger harder hitting round. perhaps it would be put to god use in Spec op units. There is a version in the works that has the same slug but a larger shell. it will have more powder. and travel much farther.

If you only knew about the "other" Sniper Rifle. This 50. cal is a baby compared to the **** this "X" rifle shoots.

It seems like it wouldnt shoot as far because its a PISTOL bullet but that may be just me. With increased size and more powder you also increase recoil.

If you want knockdown power why not talk about the M109, its a 25mm rifle.

[Jagdtiger]

come on an assault rifle with desert eagle ammunition??
i feel sorry for the shoulders of the soldiers when it´s accepted

[TacoDelRio]

.458 SOCOM, .499 Leitner-Weiss, and now the .45 Bushmaster. Bushmaster aside, the others were designed from a close-quarters, break parts standpoint. Something with more punch than a 5.56. Kinda like a mini shotgun, kinda sorta.

[8thidpathfinderpower]

It seems like it wouldnt shoot as far because its a PISTOL bullet but that may be just me. With increased size and more powder you also increase recoil.

If you want knockdown power why not talk about the M109, its a 25mm rifle.
I think he did kinda mention the XM109. But why would you want to fire a cannon shell from a assualt rifle? I mean, for CQB for stopping power, there is shotguns, when equipped with the proper shells, can have a far more devastating effect on a target. And lets not forget..the SMG..either a HK MP5 series or a M4 series. (OOOOps....M4 series is a assualt rifle, my bad homer)So why would the Army want a .50 caliber bullet used for a CQB bullet? I guess they would want to shoot through 5 or 6 buildings to get to a bad guy.......wayyyyy too much collatteral damage:backhand:

[dobrodan]

I think he did kinda mention the XM109. But why would you want to fire a cannon shell from a assualt rifle? I mean, for CQB for stopping power, there is shotguns, when equipped with the proper shells, can have a far more devastating effect on a target. And lets not forget..the SMG..either a HK MP5 series or a M4 series. (OOOOps....M4 series is a assualt rifle, my bad homer)So why would the Army want a .50 caliber bullet used for a CQB bullet? I guess they would want to shoot through 5 or 6 buildings to get to a bad guy.......wayyyyy too much collatteral damage:backhand:

Do you have any idea of what you are saying?

That a .50 pistol round will penetrate 5 or 6 buildings?

Sure, if they are aligned so that you can shoot through the open windows and doors on all of them at the same time...

[PaulClift]

Cool but utterly pointless.

So yes :D

[Icarus1]

Umm... we're talking about the .500 S&W... not the really bad and big .50 used by the Browning MG or .50 Sniper Rifles (Anti Metrial Rifles)... so why should any military unit using a pistol round in a rifle. Replacing a high speed accurate bullet with a high power (for a handgun) bullet?

Look, rifles are rifles... and pistols are pistols.

Just a few data for you... read a good book about ballistics and the effect of handguns on the target... and you know what I mean.

.500S&W:
V= 508m/s

5.56mm x45
V=750-930 m/s

[Maniac]

well ive heard (so not 100% accurate) of SF guys shooting the bad guys with their m4s and the high velocity of the bullets would just go straight through the bad guys and they would actually get back up and start firing again....seems like a big pistol round would knock em down and keep em down

[ShakesFIST]

well ive heard (so not 100% accurate) of SF guys shooting the bad guys with their m4s and the high velocity of the bullets would just go straight through the bad guys and they would actually get back up and start firing again....seems like a big pistol round would knock em down and keep em down

That same thing COULD be said about any bullet below .50BMG though (Never heard complaints about people getting up after getting shot by a .50 BMG).

You should also take notice that the ammo weight would be alot higher. Feel a box of 50 rounds of each and you'll know what Im talking about. Also, the .500S&W rounds are ALOT bigger (in diameter) which means you could carry roughly a third as many rounds in a mag (12.7mm compared to 5.56mm). I know I wouldnt want a 10 round assault rifle.

[Icarus1]

well ive heard (so not 100% accurate) of SF guys shooting the bad guys with their m4s and the high velocity of the bullets would just go straight through the bad guys and they would actually get back up and start firing again....seems like a big pistol round would knock em down and keep em down

Shot placement is the key, not caliber.

[Durandal]

This all silliness...

The S&W .50 isn't some magic round. There is already a .50 Beuwolf round put out by Alexander arms that is already "better" because you can use existing mags and bolt carrier/bolt and ONLY change uppers.

But for soooooome reason the powers that be did not want. Understandable of course, just adding some sarcasm. Why would ANOTHER small production .50 round be any more likely to be picked up for production and use?

Again, pure silliness.

[silentsport]

the reason military uses 5.56mm round Even in CQB environments is because it goes through bodyarmour, (ok, not through everyone) but it does the job. there is no need for a heavy pistol round with a 10-shot mag for military use. besides it would fall short after 100 meters probably.
so. like somebody said before, if you need stopping power use a shotgun.

[StukaJr]

.500 S&W is a joy of range attention whores around Continental US - now as an AR upper!

Military applications would be nill - it'll be grossely outperformed by the currently fielded service calibers in the fields other than cool factor and meplat. So it started as a straight walled revolver hunting cartridge (illegal in some states to hunt with btw) meant for those hunters unwilling to lug a rifle around or SD against bears... Now making an appearence as a chambering for a rifle/carbine - for those hunters that didn't want to lug a rifle/carbine to begin with but now want to have a full collection :D And certainly not because it's a good performer but because of a market of individuals that will pay premium price for a revolver that has sling loops on it and as big as some NFA carbines and shotguns.

[Masai]

Shot placement is the key, not caliber.
agreed, TOT (totally off topic) i hunt with a .243 and .270 winchester and most hunting farms dont allow the .243 becuase they say its to small. but any round in the right place will get the result you want.

but if you shoot with a 700 Rem Mag, your *right place* get a whole lot bigger.. :)

[kamarian]

.500 S&W is a joy of range attention whores around Continental US - now as an AR upper!

Military applications would be nill - it'll be grossely outperformed by the currently fielded service calibers in the fields other than cool factor and meplat. So it started as a straight walled revolver hunting cartridge (illegal in some states to hunt with btw) meant for those hunters unwilling to lug a rifle around or SD against bears... Now making an appearence as a chambering for a rifle/carbine - for those hunters that didn't want to lug a rifle/carbine to begin with but now want to have a full collection :D And certainly not because it's a good performer but because of a market of individuals that will pay premium price for a revolver that has sling loops on it and as big as some NFA carbines and shotguns.


why are straight walled hunting cartiges illegal in some states? (If i am reading it correctly_

[Seraphim]

agreed, TOT (totally off topic) i hunt with a .243 and .270 winchester and most hunting farms dont allow the .243 becuase they say its to small. but any round in the right place will get the result you want.

but if you shoot with a 700 Rem Mag, your *right place* get a whole lot bigger.. :)

Im looking to pick up a cheap .243 mainly for yotes (maybe whitetail) this season. Thinking of a Remington SPS.

[raider65]

Hi, I think he's talking about the .50 Beowulf, not the 500 S&W. The Coast Guard use it to shoot the engine blocks in Drug runner boats to stop them. The Navy SEALs were using them for close quarters battle and urban area fighting. I have a HandiRifle in 500 S&W for bear and Russian Razorbacks but it is single shot breech loader. The original mags for M16 conversion held 7 rounds, new mags hold 10. Uses 7.62 bolt and rebated rim on brass case. You can just change out the upper receiver as the barrel and bolt carrier are different. The recoil is said to be equal to a 12 guage shotgun.

[Demigod-17]

well ive heard (so not 100% accurate) of SF guys shooting the bad guys with their m4s and the high velocity of the bullets would just go straight through the bad guys and they would actually get back up and start firing again....seems like a big pistol round would knock em down and keep em down

then they should give them rifles firing 6.8 SPC.. and if you were to fire a pistol round at somebody wearing body armour?

[22.5degrees]

well ive heard (so not 100% accurate) of SF guys shooting the bad guys with their m4s and the high velocity of the bullets would just go straight through the bad guys and they would actually get back up and start firing again....seems like a big pistol round would knock em down and keep em down

Search out some ballistics on both calibres you mention. Read thoroughly. Then comment. A wise man once told me, "believe nothing that you hear and only half of what you see."

The stories you heard of are either missing information or are blatantly false. This "knockdown" power you speak of is often confused for terminal ballistics. Which has little to do with the size of the projectile. What matters is how that projectile reacts upon contact with soft tissue.

22.5

[raider65]

Hi, Found site with info on .50 Beowulf which is not a pistol cartridge but an intermadiate cartridge. Two gun models an Entry gun and 1 called Overwatch. Pic of exit hole thru 10in wood post, looks to be pine, a soft wood but I'd say thats still a good punch. The stories are at Gunblast.com. They also have a video of a guy shooting a 500 S&W chambered pistol. I bought my HandiRifle in 500 S&W for close in work and it's good for up to 200 yds.

[ibstolidude]

A few years ago, down range, someone had an AA Beo .50 that I was able to shoot. I don't pretend to be a "guns and ammo" guy (SME,) but I could understand the weapon's use for stopping vehicles and/or static defense. In my non-expert opinion, it offered higher caliber w/intermediate range in the portable, easy to use platform of the M16. I imagine it is like any tool, it has its use.