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View Full Version : 50. Cal can shoot down planes!



cadet
03-12-2013, 09:13 PM
I almost put this in the Humor section,
Sorry about all the gun posts, watching that piers morgan talk about guns really made me laugh.


http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-665257.html


California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger decided there's a weapon that's too dangerous to be in the hands of private citizens.

This past week, a new law went into effect in California banning that weapon. It's the .50-caliber rifle, the Rolls Royce of sniper rifles. It's a big gun, a favorite of armies around the world, and it's still available in 49 states in this country to anyone over 18 with a clean record.

It is, without a doubt, the most powerful weapon you can buy. And, as Correspondent Ed Bradley reports, it's powerful enough to kill a man or pierce armor from more than a mile away.

A Senate report said that a bullet from a .50-caliber rifle, even at 1.5 miles, crashes into a target with more energy than a bullet fired at point-blank range from Dirty Harry's famous .44 Magnum.

The .50-caliber rifle, one of the world's best combat weapons, was invented 22 years ago in Murfreesboro, Tenn., by Ronnie Barrett.
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But, according to Diaz, the threat posed by legal ammunition is frightening enough. There are many potential targets, he says, but the most obvious is commercial aviation.

"Do I believe I could shoot an aircraft at altitude? Of course not, but on takeoff and landing, I could take you to places in Washington, D.C., where I'm absolutely certain you could shoot an aircraft with one of these guns," says Diaz.

"Clearly, with the range that it has, and the impact capability that it has, it would put an airliner or an airplane at risk if it hit that plane," adds Kelly.

Could the gun be used by a terrorist to shoot down a commercial airliner?

"It'd be very difficult. It would if it were a tactic that were even remotely possible," says Barrett. "Then our military, who happens to use the rifle, would be training their troops to do such."

But in his sales brochures, Barrett advertises the .50-caliber as a weapon that can take planes down.

"There's some military brochures that we had early on that showed that you could damage aircraft on a runway or Scud missiles and things like that," says Barrett. "Yes, you could if you have a parked target."

Tyr-Ziu Saxnot
03-12-2013, 09:53 PM
I almost put this in the Humor section,
Sorry about all the gun posts, watching that piers morgan talk about guns really made me laugh.


http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-665257.html

50 cal, don't have one but damn sure want one. A rifle like that could come in handy one day..;)
I mean the world is full of vermin that dearly need a dose of lead medicine..--:laugh:....--Tyr

darin
03-13-2013, 05:19 AM
.223 can down an airplane, too...heck, throw a baseball at a helicopter's tail rotor - good chance you could bring it down.

cadet
03-13-2013, 06:58 AM
I think when they did their calculations, they didn't take in to account air resistance, lowering acceleration, or gravity.
And I think they just meant it could penetrate the steel a bit.

CSM
03-13-2013, 08:57 AM
It's ok. I wouldn't want any of those crazy people in CA owning one of those things anyway. When CA runs out of money/water/energy/food and a host of other things, I want them to be as poorly armed as only a lib could make them when they decide to invade neighboring states to get those resources.

Little-Acorn
03-13-2013, 09:44 AM
It's ok. I wouldn't want any of those crazy people in CA owning one of those things anyway. When CA runs out of money/water/energy/food and a host of other things, I want them to be as poorly armed as only a lib could make them when they decide to invade neighboring states to get those resources.

Does that mean I have to sell mine?

CSM
03-13-2013, 10:23 AM
Does that mean I have to sell mine?

If you already have one, then you don't belong in CA!

Robert A Whit
03-13-2013, 02:12 PM
50 cal, don't have one but damn sure want one. A rifle like that could come in handy one day..;)
I mean the world is full of vermin that dearly need a dose of lead medicine..--:laugh:....--Tyr

I recall looking closely at a couple of those Barretts at the gun store in San Leandro and the price was steep. I recall that on discount they got sold for about $3500 and this has to have been when Clinton was still president. They appear to be pretty heavy. Good luck man handling one.

Robert A Whit
03-13-2013, 02:19 PM
I served with some PFC in Germany that was put in the unit to hide him from a General. Seems the PFC was on his flight crew and not thinking, picked up a coke bottle and hurled it away but it took an upward path and nailed the rotor and put the aircraft out of commission until it could be repaired. The General was angry and told them to get that man away from aircraft. He was reassigned to the Schweinfurt Airfield and when any General showed up the PFC was told to go hide.

aboutime
03-13-2013, 02:26 PM
Please forgive me if I sound a bit like Robert here. But I had the pleasure, and honor to fire a .50 Cal. from the signal bridge of our ship during the time when the Cuban boat people were fleeing to Florida across the Florida straits.

Crew members who requested the opportunity during that time, were permitted to fire 10 to 20 rounds of .50 cal ammo at the floating junk, old cars, wooden crates, and homemade rafts those people tried to use to escape Cuba.
Firing that weapon certainly convinced me that a .50 caliber shell does a good bit of damage. And anything it hits...generally is finished.

Robert A Whit
03-13-2013, 04:05 PM
Please forgive me if I sound a bit like Robert here. But I had the pleasure, and honor to fire a .50 Cal. from the signal bridge of our ship during the time when the Cuban boat people were fleeing to Florida across the Florida straits.

Crew members who requested the opportunity during that time, were permitted to fire 10 to 20 rounds of .50 cal ammo at the floating junk, old cars, wooden crates, and homemade rafts those people tried to use to escape Cuba.
Firing that weapon certainly convinced me that a .50 caliber shell does a good bit of damage. And anything it hits...generally is finished.

Forgive me if this time I act ugly as does About time but in this matter I plan to brag as much as About time does.

I fired the first .50 cal machine gun of my life about 1952-3 and it was done at Wild cat Canyon behind the UC Berkley campus. We State Cadets were bussed to the range in the canyon and were told to shoot several weapons.

The .30 cal machine gun was first. We also shot target .22 rifles there. And the so called Grease gun .45 cal the Army used in WWII and Korea. This baby looks like it is made of sheet metal and has a fairly large clip of the same ammo the 1911 pistol uses.

But the real treat was the .50 cal machine gun. It was on a tripod and already pointed up the hill where a huge plywood target was laying on the side of the hill. We were to aim at it and then upon hitting it, move the weapon to where the plywood had bounced to. It would fly all over.

hjmick
03-13-2013, 06:16 PM
Christ almighty... Why don't you two just whip out your dicks and get it over with already...



To the topic, definitely a gun on my list of must haves...

Robert A Whit
03-13-2013, 06:24 PM
Christ almighty... Why don't you two just whip out your dicks and get it over with already...



To the topic, definitely a gun on my list of must haves...

ROFLMAO.

Now I know what you would do.

If you can spare a few thousand dollars for a gun you seldom can use, go for it.

Little-Acorn
03-13-2013, 06:24 PM
Does that mean I have to sell mine?
If you already have one, then you don't belong in CA!

I definitely belong in CA.

It's those muddle-headed liberals who don't belong, here or anywhere else. They could fu*k up a beach party... and frequently do. Who said they belong here???

Robert A Whit
03-13-2013, 06:25 PM
I definitely belong in CA.

It's those muddle-headed liberals who don't belong, here or anywhere else. They could fu*k up a beach party... and frequently do. Who said they belong here???

Thank you very much. I too live in CA.

Little-Acorn
03-13-2013, 06:26 PM
If you can spare a few thousand dollars for a gun you seldom can use, go for it.

I spend more than that, for other types of insurance I never use. At least I can have some fun with the 50BMG... and it's fun to see people's reactions to the muzzle blast.

Robert A Whit
03-13-2013, 06:53 PM
I spend more than that, for other types of insurance I never use. At least I can have some fun with the 50BMG... and it's fun to see people's reactions to the muzzle blast.

If they are banned in CA, you might find one on GunsAmerica. BTW, one can ship such a weapon to CA if they use Federal Express and just call it parts.

CSM
03-14-2013, 05:54 AM
I definitely belong in CA.

It's those muddle-headed liberals who don't belong, here or anywhere else. They could fu*k up a beach party... and frequently do. Who said they belong here???

you're right .... an assumption on my part so my apologies. It is convenient to have them all in one place though.

As for the .50 rifle, I view it as a "special weapon" in that for most situations that I envision actually needing a firearm, the .50 would be impractical. It is heavy, the ammo is heavy and it takes a lot of training and practice by the operator to be truly effective. I do not begrudge anyone else owning one should they so desire; it's jsut not for me. A reliable handgun, a good solid semi-auto rifle and something along the lines of a .308 bolt action would fill all my requirements. Maybe add in a good 12 gauge pump or semi-auto and I'm good to go.

I have fired and used just about every firearm (and crew served weapon) in the US Army inventory. Some I liked and others not so much. Firing them at the range is always fun; lugging them around on missions is a whole 'nother story.

hjmick
03-14-2013, 06:28 AM
ROFLMAO.

Now I know what you would do.

If you can spare a few thousand dollars for a gun you seldom can use, go for it.


My list is long, controlled by the Mrs.

I will never see a 50 in my collection... But it's on the list...

Tyr-Ziu Saxnot
03-14-2013, 08:01 AM
I recall looking closely at a couple of those Barretts at the gun store in San Leandro and the price was steep. I recall that on discount they got sold for about $3500 and this has to have been when Clinton was still president. They appear to be pretty heavy. Good luck man handling one.


http://www.gunbroker.com/Barrett-50/Browse.aspx?Keywords=Barrett+50


Barrett 50 for Sale – Buy a Barrett 50 OnlineThe Barrett 50 caliber rifle is for sale every day at GunBroker.com. You can buy this and other popular rifles (http://www.gunbroker.com/Rifles/BI.aspx)from one of the many sellers listing their products here at GunBroker.com, the world’s largest gun auction site.Barrett firearms (http://www.gunbroker.com/Barrett-Firearms/Browse.aspx) have a rich tradition of creating quality firearms, and the Barrett 50 is no exception. Sellers update their listings frequently, so if you’re looking to buy the Barrett 50 or part check back often.

Example of prices...


<tbody>


ers to Sort
Quantity (http://www.gunbroker.com/Barrett-50/Browse.aspx?Keywords=Barrett+50&Sort=10)
Bids (http://www.gunbroker.com/Barrett-50/Browse.aspx?Keywords=Barrett+50&Sort=8)
Price (http://www.gunbroker.com/Barrett-50/Browse.aspx?Keywords=Barrett+50&Sort=4)
Time Left (http://www.gunbroker.com/Barrett-50/Browse.aspx?Keywords=Barrett+50&Sort=1)http://www.gunbroker.com/Image/Search/sortasc.png


332367342 (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=332367342)
http://pics.gunbroker.com/GB/332367000/332367342/thumb.jpg (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=332367342)





ANZIO SINGLE SHOT 50 CAL. BMG barrett 50 (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=332367342)
1
0
$2,300.00
4h 10m +


332638555 (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=332638555)
http://pics.gunbroker.com/GB/332638000/332638555/thumb.jpg (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=332638555)





13312 Barrett Model 95 Bolt Action 50 BMG Fluted (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=332638555)
1
0
$6,798.99
8h 4m +


332647416 (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=332647416)
http://pics.gunbroker.com/GB/332647000/332647416/thumb.jpg (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=332647416)




Barrett 95 29" 50 BMG, 29" BBL, Bolt, NIB, Pelican (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=332647416)
1
0
$6,500.00
12h 2m +


332080972 (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=332080972)
http://pics.gunbroker.com/GB/332080000/332080972/thumb.jpg (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=332080972)






50 Cal BMG SLAP Cartridge .50 Sabot AP w/ link WCC (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=332080972)
M1O7 82A1 M99 M2 107 BARRETT 50BMG McMILLAN (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=332080972)

1
0
$3,000.00
1d 9h +


332136799 (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=332136799)
http://pics.gunbroker.com/GB/332136000/332136799/thumb.jpg (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=332136799)





New 50 cal primed brass, 500 count for barrett (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=332136799)
1
0
$825.00



</tbody>


Price has kept me from owning one.--Tyr

Voted4Reagan
03-14-2013, 08:03 AM
WE NEED GOOSE CONTROL!!!

https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/7137533696/hD44BE189/

Voted4Reagan
03-14-2013, 02:17 PM
Bump so anti gun nuts can see the truth

logroller
03-14-2013, 03:06 PM
I recall looking closely at a couple of those Barretts at the gun store in San Leandro and the price was steep. I recall that on discount they got sold for about $3500 and this has to have been when Clinton was still president. They appear to be pretty heavy. Good luck man handling one.

Point of fact, a fifty cal has never been used in the commission of a crime in the United States...thus, ban proponents present hypotheticals. Never mind that, as dmp pointed out, an aircraft could feasibly be brought down by a myriad of less powerful weapons.

My friend bought one before the ban; and still hasnt even fired it. besides the fact its upwards of $5 per round, you'd need to spend thousand$ on glass just to take advantage of the rounds capabilities.

cadet
03-14-2013, 04:04 PM
Point of fact, a fifty cal has never been used in the commission of a crime in the United States...thus, ban proponents present hypotheticals. Never mind that, as dmp pointed out, an aircraft could feasibly be brought down by a myriad of less powerful weapons.

My friend bought one before the ban; and still hasnt even fired it. besides the fact its upwards of $5 per round, you'd need to spend thousand$ on glass just to take advantage of the rounds capabilities.

No, at the normal height that planes fly, bullets wouldn't even make it that far.
And even if they could, you could most likely reach out and catch it with your hand with no harm.

fj1200
03-15-2013, 05:22 AM
No, at the normal height that planes fly, bullets wouldn't even make it that far.
And even if they could, you could most likely reach out and catch it with your hand with no harm.

I think the point is to shoot when the target is vulnerable, say on take-off. And second, the bullet may not be going very fast at cruising altitude but the target is moving at 500 mph. :poke:

darin
03-15-2013, 07:51 AM
No, at the normal height that planes fly, bullets wouldn't even make it that far.
And even if they could, you could most likely reach out and catch it with your hand with no harm.

While on attack, figure less than 1500 feet and 500mph. We were taught Small Arms for Air Defense techniques.

Robert A Whit
03-15-2013, 12:22 PM
I think the point is to shoot when the target is vulnerable, say on take-off. And second, the bullet may not be going very fast at cruising altitude but the target is moving at 500 mph. :poke:

The speed of the .50 cal bullets is added to the speed of the airplane that shoots said bullets.

We know it is a fact that during WWII and other air wars that bullets did hit airplanes and bring them down.

fj1200
03-15-2013, 12:26 PM
The speed of the .50 cal bullets is added to the speed of the airplane that shoots said bullets.

We know it is a fact that during WWII and other air wars that bullets did hit airplanes and bring them down.

I don't think anyone is talking about planes shooting at other planes.

Robert A Whit
03-15-2013, 12:30 PM
I don't think anyone is talking about planes shooting at other planes.

If nobody was, why did you say that?

I sure was.

fj1200
03-15-2013, 12:35 PM
^I think you're the only one.

Robert A Whit
03-15-2013, 12:37 PM
^I think you're the only one.

I did not start talking of airplanes being shot, I merely added to what was being said.

aboutime
03-15-2013, 07:34 PM
What a great thread this has become.

Everything, anyone would ever need, or want to know about the .50 caliber gun, and ammo.
Presented by the HANDS-DOWN, unquestionable, positive, undeniable professional experts here on DebatePolicy.

Why. There's no need for anyone to offer, or ask any further questions about the .50 cal since

every question, possibility, hypothetical, actual, pretend, or just plain stupid answer has been asked, and answered.

How wonderful it is for all of us amateurs out here who know nothing, have no experience. And have never lived until....

coming here.

Praise the Lord! :)

Tyr-Ziu Saxnot
03-15-2013, 09:04 PM
What a great thread this has become.

Everything, anyone would ever need, or want to know about the .50 caliber gun, and ammo.
Presented by the HANDS-DOWN, unquestionable, positive, undeniable professional experts here on DebatePolicy.

Why. There's no need for anyone to offer, or ask any further questions about the .50 cal since

every question, possibility, hypothetical, actual, pretend, or just plain stupid answer has been asked, and answered.

How wonderful it is for all of us amateurs out here who know nothing, have no experience. And have never lived until....

coming here.

Praise the Lord! :)

I linked my contribution here because although very knowledgeable with many other weapons my experience with 50 caliber has been severely limited because of its high costs.
Soon as I hit the Powerball lottery I am going to buy myself a dozen of the babies.-;)
And shoot a few hundred rounds of 50 cal ammo every week!! :laugh:--Tyr

aboutime
03-15-2013, 09:21 PM
I linked my contribution here because although very knowledgeable with many other weapons my experience with 50 caliber has been severely limited because of its high costs.
Soon as I hit the Powerball lottery I am going to buy myself a dozen of the babies.-;)
And shoot a few hundred rounds of 50 cal ammo every week!! :laugh:--Tyr


Tyr. I know you were serious. But I was just doing a tongue-in-cheek kind of critic about how this thread has become what it has become.
Someone else, on another thread noted how disappointed they were with this forum becoming a place where all the little boys, and little girls get their chance to BRAG about how BIG their's is, and then, everybody else has to say..."Oh no!... Mine is bigger than yours!"

Seems like any time, anyone tries to just offer an opinion...and happens to misstate or make any kind of error in their opinion. OFF COME THE GLOVES..and the war of the Worlds begin.

cadet
03-15-2013, 09:22 PM
Tyr. I know you were serious. But I was just doing a tongue-in-cheek kind of critic about how this thread has become what it has become.
Someone else, on another thread noted how disappointed they were with this forum becoming a place where all the little boys, and little girls get their chance to BRAG about how BIG their's is, and then, everybody else has to say..."Oh no!... Mine is bigger than yours!"

Seems like any time, anyone tries to just offer an opinion...and happens to misstate or make any kind of error in their opinion. OFF COME THE GLOVES..and the war of the Worlds begin.

Do you lose that argument often? :rolleyes:

aboutime
03-15-2013, 09:24 PM
Do you lose that argument often? :rolleyes:

What argument? If you mean with you, and other members. I guess so. But then. What more could I expect from dealing with children?

Robert A Whit
03-16-2013, 12:32 PM
What a great thread this has become.

Everything, anyone would ever need, or want to know about the .50 caliber gun, and ammo.
Presented by the HANDS-DOWN, unquestionable, positive, undeniable professional experts here on DebatePolicy.

Why. There's no need for anyone to offer, or ask any further questions about the .50 cal since

every question, possibility, hypothetical, actual, pretend, or just plain stupid answer has been asked, and answered.

How wonderful it is for all of us amateurs out here who know nothing, have no experience. And have never lived until....

coming here.

Praise the Lord! :)

I am apologizing to you for you feeling so picked on.

Robert A Whit
03-16-2013, 12:41 PM
I linked my contribution here because although very knowledgeable with many other weapons my experience with 50 caliber has been severely limited because of its high costs.
Soon as I hit the Powerball lottery I am going to buy myself a dozen of the babies.-;)
And shoot a few hundred rounds of 50 cal ammo every week!! :laugh:--Tyr

Well, I don't know why AT feels so picked on but clearly I and others must be guilty of doing the man wrong. We are fairly often told of our bad actions by him. Why does he post if he demands he is always agreed with?

Anyway, I got experience, and it was very little, only because I spent 2 years in high school in the state Army program. We were able to train on operating US Army bases and I think it gave we boys a chance to build some character, learn about the Army and practice things they did. We were the youth brigade in effect of the Hitler youth, only in acts of military things but not politics. ROTC does the same things as I understand what they do. When I fired at the range back of UC at Berkeley, Ca, it probably was the range for CALs ROTC program. I did not know nor care.

I did not fire the .50 Cal in my two years of the Army so my experiences there were no larger than the 30.06 cal machine guns. I fired the 3.5 rocket launcher which may get me attacked for saying that as well.

logroller
03-16-2013, 01:49 PM
Well, I don't know why AT feels so picked on but clearly I and others must be guilty of doing the man wrong. We are fairly often told of our bad actions by him. Why does he post if he demands he is always agreed with?

Anyway, I got experience, and it was very little, only because I spent 2 years in high school in the state Army program. We were able to train on operating US Army bases and I think it gave we boys a chance to build some character, learn about the Army and practice things they did. We were the youth brigade in effect of the Hitler youth, only in acts of military things but not politics. ROTC does the same things as I understand what they do. When I fired at the range back of UC at Berkeley, Ca, it probably was the range for CALs ROTC program. I did not know nor care.

I did not fire the .50 Cal in my two years of the Army so my experiences there were no larger than the 30.06 cal machine guns. I fired the 3.5 rocket launcher which may get me attacked for saying that as well.
So, no planes shot down then? If only you had the .50...:coffee:
do you know its legal to have a muzzle-loading cannon...even in California.

Robert A Whit
03-16-2013, 02:12 PM
So, no planes shot down then? If only you had the .50...:coffee:
do you know its legal to have a muzzle-loading cannon...even in California.

Nope. Did I claim at any point to have shot down airplanes?

The second amendment announces my right is still intact. So long as those who have the fruit of freedom, won by so many that died to promote freedom, and did not die in vain and the survivor class does not fight to lose the second amendment, it shall remain legal.

aboutime
03-16-2013, 02:55 PM
4694 Test it for yourself, see if a .50 cal can bring down anything that flies.