UPDATED with range report/pics: .50 BMG rifle

[kilopaparomeo]

I was traveling this week when my BOHICA FAR-50 Mk II .50 BMG upper arrived on Tuesday.  Info on this rifle (and the feeding frenzy that has ensued is here  http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=278762) However, with Good Friday off, I figured I could assemble the rifle, go through some familiarization and sneak off to zero it at the range in the afternoon.

First, I've changed the set up from what I originally intended.  Instead of a Magpul PRS stock, I used an A2 stock and filled the stock cavity with a competition lead weight, adding 4 lbs to the rifle.  I have a DPMS lower and kept the stock trigger because it was (surprisingly) crisp.  A Wolff extra power hammer spring will make sure military primers are ignited but also leaves me with a 9 lb pull weight...I added an EZPull device which cuts the pull to about 4 or 5 lbs.  I put a plastic dust cover/plug in the mag well and removed the buffer, spring and bolt hold lever since this is a dedicated lower.  I have a Burris Tactical 3-9x scope to begin with.  Burris Tactical 6-screw mounts.

First, impressions.  Overall, the improvements the company made seem good.  The muzzle brake looks like it will be much more effective (similar to an AR50 brake).  Reasonably good metal and polymer work but not perfect.  The spring loaded bipod works really nicely.  It took a bit of fiddling to get the upper on the lower.  The rear pin didn't want to go in, but the more I work it, the easier it is to assemble.  The bolt wouldn't cock the hammer when I first tried, however, I found a burr on the cam and 5 swiped with a fine file and now it works fine.  All in all, it is very good workmanship for the price (about 1/2 of what others want for a .50).

Next...it is a BEAST.





With a 24 lb upper and the weight I put in the stock, it tops 30 lbs on the scale.



Bolt, action and cartridge shots





Here's the obligatory muzzle shot...that's a big hole.



Finally, as another way to get a sense of scale of the thing, here's a comparison of a 16" M4-gery, a 24" 6.5 Grendel and the BOHICA.



So...how about the range report?  My intent was to get the rifle zeroed and at least a little shooting to test basic accuracy and function with military ball ammo.  I was also going to have some videos posted.  Unfortunately, Mother Nature decided to dump on the Chicago with a early spring snowstorm that shut down our range.



Maybe next weekend.

[kilopaparomeo]

And now, a short range report

I took it out last Sunday after church...I had a horrendous Spring Break trip with the family and needed to blow some things up.

THE GOOD NEWS...see the attached picture of the target. The lower left are the 3 sighter rounds as I walked the scope up (1st is lower left, 2nd is up and over 1", 3rd is up 4" and over 3") The center hits are 3 rounds after finding the target center ...looks like about 0.5-0.6"...granted only at 100 yards but pretty darn good for mil-spec Igman M33 ball ammo. Also, recoil really isn't nasty...it is about like shooting 3" slugs from pump shotgun. It certainly gets your attention but it isn't painful. More of a big shove rather than a sharp THWACK.



THE BAD NEWS...I had a lot of failures to fire with the mil-spec ammo. Unfortunately some home gunsmithing was performed and through no fault of BOHICA, we buggered up the bolt head. That incident will not be publically discussed in order to protect the (not really) innocent.

I sent an email to Chris Rosequist, the owner of BOHICA Arms, on Sunday night and to my surprise, he called me. We discussed the issue and he said send it back and I'll get it fixed right up.

Superior customer service.

Can't wait to see how she runs when I get it back. It certainly seems plenty accurate.

And in case you were wondering...

Yes, I know it was only a 3 round group.  With the FTF issues I was having, that would have been a minor miracle to get 5-shot groups.

Yes, I know it was only 100 yards.  This was a sight-in session...and the range I was at is the only one within 100 miles that allows 50 BMG and they only allow it to be shot at 100 yards.

[DDMac]

Great report Kris. Now I have someone to call for indirect fire support. Keep us informed. I'll send a call for fire. Thanks, Mac.