Shooting the big gun comes with a big price. Every round I touch off out of the Armalite AR50a1 costs between 7 and 10 dollars. Since I enjoy reloading, I have set up a 50BMG reloading area. Because of the size of the round, a special press is required.
I ordered up a Lee Classic 50BMG press. This is an oversized press with a larger ram to accommodate the huge shell holder. I also had to acquire specialty case prep tools. Since I am starting with once fired brass from my gun, I neck sized only. A quick case trim, deburr, and case mouth chamfer; and I was ready to prime.
Priming is a bit of a different process. A shell holder screws into the die hole on top of the press. A priming ram is inserted into the main ram and a primer is pushed up through the die hole, through the priming shell holder, and into the primer pocket. In the picture it shows the difference between a small rifle primer and a number 35 50BMG primer. These cases are now ready to be charger with powder.
Since the case volume of 50BMG is so large, it takes a special oversized powder dump. For comparison, a 300 Winchester Magnum uses a powder charge in the low to mid 70’s. The 50BMG uses 265 grains. I will be loading these with Barnes TTSX 667 grain match projectiles. I will be taking the 50 out to a mile later this spring. Stay tuned for more 50BMG traumatic brain injury updates.
Kraken
www.John1911.com
“Shooting Guns & Having Fun”
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