It's here! It's here! Christmas comes early to the Minuteman house!! I just got home from a 2 week hitch in Texas and had my new BA 50 waiting for me at the gun shop. Man what a chunk of metal. We put it on a set of scales that they had and it wieghs in at 46 lbs with empty mag. I bought the ATN scope for it too. I found one that a guy had ordered, then fell on hard times and had to sell the rifle before he had a chance to mount the scope. The more money a man makes the bigger his toys get. But I always look for bargains. I got the rifle, new in the box for $4300. They list for 5K on Bushmasters website. But they are back ordered and you'll wait for months. The only ones I have found at gun stores and online run over $5500. The scope lists for $1080, I got it for $800. So I have less in the whole package than what you can buy just the rifle for. I'm happy with that. Relieves a little bit of the guilt over spending so much on myself. Kinda like the wife coming home after a $1000 shopping spree and telling me how much money she saved because everything was on sale! I'll be sighting it in this weekend. Range report coming.
I've been reading the instruction manuals on the rifle and in particular the scope. This scope is awesome. Notice the mount in the last pic. It is an ATN LRMS (long range mounting sytem) mount. The mount itself is elevation and windage adjustable. The wheel on the front is a bullet drop compensator with 300 MOA of elevation, ranging in access of 3000 meters is possible. The basic operation uses the external BDC to dial in 3 MOA/click, then you use the internal BDC in 1/8 MOA/click to fine tune. According to the instructions, once it is zeroed at 200 yds, this mount allows you "the ability to maintain the center of optical axis on the fly and over the degree of elevation required for shooting at ranges out to 3000 meters." I'm gonna have to put a few rounds through it to figure this thing out. The manual for the rifle recommends 75 rounds for barrel break in. Glad I bought up a bunch of 50BMG back when it was $1 a round!
Now you got me lusting after that .338 Lapua Barrett...I really can not afford one and it will all be your fault! (think my wife will buy that?)
Grumble. The only shot I can take around here over 200 yard is at 8 miles over a couple hills unless indirect. Gawd almighty, I'd like to add to the armory, but it's out of the question for now.
CRAP!!! Here's a warning to all. Do your research before you buy. I read all of the info from the ATN site on this scope. I liked everything I read. The seller went on and on about what a great scope it was, and how great a deal I was getting. The ad even siad "The famous 50 BMG scope" It does seem to be famous. A famous POS. The consensus on every 50 cal website I have found has been to avoid them like the plague. Many stories of the reticle breaking, the rings made of inferior material and breaking after less than 12 rounds. Even stories of the scope body coming apart. And the manufacturer won't back them. GREAT. Tried to save a few bucks. Should have waited and saved up for the nightforce. Proves the old adage "Buy the best and you only pay for it once"
Don't feel bad, you are not the first and certainly not the last to be taken-in! Most of us have, at one time or another! I recently got burned on 2 solar panels, that "might" charge my flashlight batteries! Live and learn! Like that old saying about the price and the buyer's remorse long after the purchase! You don't always get what you pay for, and it is a fact that price is not a gauge of reliability. Bill
I had heard on other forums that ATN stands for "another tactical nightmare", but was hoping that they had sorted themselves out in the meantime. Tony
I have a Leupold MK 4 on a .308. I may put that on the .50 and try the ATN on the .308. The only problem with the Mk 4 is you don't have the elevation to really reach out to the limits of the .50. But who shoots at 3000 yds anyway? I have shot my Maadi at 1 1/8 mile before but I had to hold so high off the target that I couldn't even see it. I am in between jobs right now but when I get back to work I'll break down and buy a NightForce. BTW I didn't get a chance to try it out this weekend. I might get to later in the week.
Shot the BA-50 yesterday. WOW!! Nice. I put a cheap $100 scope I had on it. The longest range I have on my property is 450 yards. Go it dialed in and could almost put rounds in the same hole. Not bad recoil. About like a .30-06. Lots of muzzle blast tho. The barrel on my Maadi is nearly as long as the entire Bushmaster. The muzzle break exhausts straight out to the sides where the BA directs it more rearward. This is probably why it and similiar designs like on the Barrets are so hard on scopes. I put the ATN on the Maadi and will see how it holds up. The longer barrel has a lot less recoil. And that is the rifle I would use for any long range shots, 1500+ yds. Hey E.L., you need to come up some weekend and do some shooting with me. I need to find somewhere I can really reach out and see what these babies will do.
A good day of shooting. Even had the wife out and had her run some rounds through her .38 and XD9. I ran some rounds through a couple of my "big boy toys". My belt fed RPD and RPK with 75 rd drum. Both ran flawless.
The MK4 is the best choice it's what most use on their 50 ,it's been a while since I shoot in any competitions but I doubt that things have changed on the 50 or the MK4 . Very nice weapons you have ,reloading is the only way to go for the best accuracy ,if you'll check with Very High Power they have the best info . And maybe if ya check some of old issues back in the early 90's you see my home made one on some of the pages , I hope you have as much fun with yours as I have had with mine .
