Big BORE AR's & Semi Auto Rifles

GreySmoke · April 22, 2015, 08:42 PM

What do you think of these Big Bore 30-06, .338 Lapua, and .50 Beowolf?
Both the 30-06 and the .50 are AR platform rifles. The .338 is a modified platform. Something to have in your personal collection?

Mosin-Marauder · April 22, 2015, 08:43 PM

Id still like to have an AR in 7.5 Swiss.

dakota.potts · April 22, 2015, 09:20 PM

I think they're mostly "just because we can" rifles with little practical use, but every new build is innovation. I personally like the idea of the .50 BMG uppers that bolt on to a standard AR 15 lower

reynolds357 · April 22, 2015, 09:26 PM

I think the .30-06 is pointless due to the ready availability of ar10 .308.
Lapua is interesting. Beouwolf would be a nice hog gun. My favorite is the .450 Bushmaster.

Ruger480 · April 23, 2015, 12:21 AM

I would have said the same thing about the .308 when it hit the scene and couldn't perform like the '06

FrankenMauser · April 23, 2015, 12:49 AM

Nope.
Too much weight in the '06.
No interest in .338 Lapua.
And .50 Beowulf is even more expensive to shoot than my .458 SOCOM and .475 Tremor.

I wouldn't mind a .410 bore upper, though...

skizzums · April 23, 2015, 03:00 AM

30-06 is jst plain silly. what more can you eally get out of it than an standard AR10. .338...what a waste of an awesome cartridge that is an amazinig long range round that should be used in bolt guns...maybe for a military application, I dunno, I can't see the point. now, what I do LOVE the idea of is .50BMG uppers, they are pretty darn accurate and puts the 50BMG within finicial reach of most people. and since they don't try to re-invet the wheel and make it a crazy semi-auto, your really going to get the same accuracy potential based on the quality of the action and barrel, just using the lower as a trigger and mount, fantastic idea and I hope to have one in the future on a forged 20% lower that I could custom mill without a magwell and other un-needed features. 50 beawolf, sure...that;s a cool "why not" gun, it seems like a lot of fun for a reloader and a possible hunting rig. I think I like the 458 socom better jst because they make some pretty mean bullets for it and again, a fun piece for a reloader.

I personally love the market for non-proprietary bolts and readily available parent cases....300BLK, the 7.62x40 from Wilson combat shows potential, the .277 wolverine might be a nice deer rig.7.62x39????......I would just go for the AK and save the cash. the big bore ar15's are neat and look like a blast to shoot, but support wont last long, so you had better be an avid reloader and have the resources to form brass from a common case. just my opinions.

but I really think the popular AR calibers pretty much hae any "mission" covered....9mm for sbr cheap plinking, .300BLK for close-ish quarter suppressed and super-sonics for piggies and such, .223 for mid-range dependable, cheap, accurate battle-rifle, AR10 for hunting and longer range MOA accuracy and 50BMG for a poor man's barrett. anything else big bore I think is for giggles, which is perfectly okay if you can afford it and know that it's really going to be a tough rifle to feed 10 years down the road. but I really do love all the options these days, it's really a lot of fun to study and consider these different calibers for different roles and I would love to see their popularity boom, but I just doubt it will. I think the AR market may be peaked out at the moment and we just keep trying to things to make them more "relevant", but they already are pretty much the best option for most anything out there besides long-range shooting, but we get bored with "good-enough"

I also agree, when we can come up with a reliable ar shotgun platform for around or under a grand, that'll be the next big thing. but that's going to take an entire re-tooling and is going to need a big name to go "all-in" with it to bring to it market in a manner that's reliable and affordable for the masses. t I don't see The Freedom Group taking any risks right now, and rightfully so...let's not give Cerberus a reason to drop them to the highest bidder at 6-700mil

also, we need more calibers that can be formed from 308 cases and use ar10 bolts and mags. I would jump on that. also....making use of the wide variety of 45 bullet selection may end up being a winner as well, hasn't had it's boom yet, but I think it may. what happened to the 450 bushmaster anyway? poor marketing?

I think the problem with all of these is, it's only available to people who spends lots of dough on guns and are reloaders. it's just unrealistic to own any of these "off" calibers without having money and tools and extensive firearm knowledge at your disposal

big-bore?!?.....hell, I am still waiting for SOMEBODY to make a concealable .22TCM pistol, seems like the big companies are afraid to take risks right now with the market dying down from the lack of looming political fear. the only ones making "niche" complete firearms are small companies that have to charge a fortune and then can't keep up with demand.......kel-tec?

sorry for the rant. lets go back to 30-06, couldn't you just add a couple inches to a .308 barrel and get the same result w/o having to build an entire new large action/magwell?

peggysue · April 23, 2015, 05:05 AM

My Beowulf thumper. (P.S. ammo aint cheap.)

wabashman · April 23, 2015, 01:18 PM

My Beowulf. Still needs the muzzle break, but I haven't machined it yet.

Picture added....

FrankenMauser · April 24, 2015, 12:06 AM

Quote:

I also agree, when we can come up with a reliable ar shotgun platform for around or under a grand, that'll be the next big thing. but that's going to take an entire re-tooling and is going to need a big name to go "all-in" with it to bring to it market in a manner that's reliable and affordable for the masses. t I don't see The Freedom Group taking any risks right now, and rightfully so...let's not give Cerberus a reason to drop them to the highest bidder at 6-700mil

There was a .410 bore upper coming from one of the former Com-Bloc countries, until a year or two ago. Reviews were mixed, but generally positive when people read the instructions and stuck with the prescribed ammunition.

While googling to see if I could come up with a link about that former import upper, I came across an ATI press release stating that they developed their own .410 upper after they were cut off from their exporter. It is supposed to be based on the OMNI Hybrid upper (aluminum also available) and shipping late summer or early fall 2015.

peggysue · April 24, 2015, 04:54 AM

My big bore 50BMG

skizzums · April 25, 2015, 04:49 AM

^^ ill take one of those please, but with glass other than the sighmark, thanks.

Btw, I love my sightmark on my .300, pistol....but a 50 is for reaching out ans touching

Dirty_Harry · April 26, 2015, 12:18 AM

I just picked up a .450 Bushmaster upper and built a lower to go with it. For my purposes it makes a ton of sense. It is legal to hunt with in the shotgun zone in lower Michigan. While it wasnt cheap its a lot better than a slug gun or even a 44 magnum carbine.

I also shoot my AR's a lot, so the rifle comes natural to me and I shoot it very well.

skizzums · April 26, 2015, 01:02 AM

dirty, what do you do for brass on that rig? just curious, I find them very intriguing, just wondering what the forming process entails

FrankenMauser · April 26, 2015, 01:22 AM

Quote:

dirty, what do you do for brass on that rig? just curious, I find them very intriguing, just wondering what the forming process entails

Buy it.
Load it.
Done.

If you're really bored, it can be made from .284 Win.
Cut the shoulder off, size, trim to 1.700". Load and fire.

peggysue · April 27, 2015, 06:01 AM

skizzem,,,The cheap sight lasted only 20 rounds. My 50 has a EOTECH 552 on it now and has been holding up OK.

peggysue · May 4, 2015, 06:23 AM

mardanlin · May 4, 2015, 11:01 AM

Just curious, how is 30 Cal a big bore? As others have said, the 30-06 seems to be unnecessary. Never been a big fan of the 50BW ballistics. 338 would be the only one of those 3 that'd even be iinterested in owning, and I'm not exactly running out to buy one of those either.

If you want a true large bore semi auto, get a Barrett.

Dirty_Harry · May 4, 2015, 06:20 PM

Quote:

dirty, what do you do for brass on that rig? just curious, I find them very intriguing, just wondering what the forming process entails
__________________

I bought my upper slightly used. Came with 260 factory rounds. Unfortunately I do not reload yet.

April 22, 2015, 08:42 PM	#1
GreySmoke Senior Member Join Date: September 17, 2009 Location: USA Posts: 185	Big BORE AR's & Semi Auto Rifles What do you think of these Big Bore 30-06, .338 Lapua, and .50 Beowolf? Both the 30-06 and the .50 are AR platform rifles. The .338 is a modified platform. Something to have in your personal collection?

April 23, 2015, 12:49 AM	#6
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,776	Nope. Too much weight in the '06. No interest in .338 Lapua. And .50 Beowulf is even more expensive to shoot than my .458 SOCOM and .475 Tremor. I wouldn't mind a .410 bore upper, though... __________________ -Unwilling Range Officer -Unwilling Match Designer -NRL22/PRS22/PRO -Something about broccoli and carrots

April 23, 2015, 03:00 AM	#7
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	30-06 is jst plain silly. what more can you eally get out of it than an standard AR10. .338...what a waste of an awesome cartridge that is an amazinig long range round that should be used in bolt guns...maybe for a military application, I dunno, I can't see the point. now, what I do LOVE the idea of is .50BMG uppers, they are pretty darn accurate and puts the 50BMG within finicial reach of most people. and since they don't try to re-invet the wheel and make it a crazy semi-auto, your really going to get the same accuracy potential based on the quality of the action and barrel, just using the lower as a trigger and mount, fantastic idea and I hope to have one in the future on a forged 20% lower that I could custom mill without a magwell and other un-needed features. 50 beawolf, sure...that;s a cool "why not" gun, it seems like a lot of fun for a reloader and a possible hunting rig. I think I like the 458 socom better jst because they make some pretty mean bullets for it and again, a fun piece for a reloader. I personally love the market for non-proprietary bolts and readily available parent cases....300BLK, the 7.62x40 from Wilson combat shows potential, the .277 wolverine might be a nice deer rig.7.62x39????......I would just go for the AK and save the cash. the big bore ar15's are neat and look like a blast to shoot, but support wont last long, so you had better be an avid reloader and have the resources to form brass from a common case. just my opinions. but I really think the popular AR calibers pretty much hae any "mission" covered....9mm for sbr cheap plinking, .300BLK for close-ish quarter suppressed and super-sonics for piggies and such, .223 for mid-range dependable, cheap, accurate battle-rifle, AR10 for hunting and longer range MOA accuracy and 50BMG for a poor man's barrett. anything else big bore I think is for giggles, which is perfectly okay if you can afford it and know that it's really going to be a tough rifle to feed 10 years down the road. but I really do love all the options these days, it's really a lot of fun to study and consider these different calibers for different roles and I would love to see their popularity boom, but I just doubt it will. I think the AR market may be peaked out at the moment and we just keep trying to things to make them more "relevant", but they already are pretty much the best option for most anything out there besides long-range shooting, but we get bored with "good-enough" I also agree, when we can come up with a reliable ar shotgun platform for around or under a grand, that'll be the next big thing. but that's going to take an entire re-tooling and is going to need a big name to go "all-in" with it to bring to it market in a manner that's reliable and affordable for the masses. t I don't see The Freedom Group taking any risks right now, and rightfully so...let's not give Cerberus a reason to drop them to the highest bidder at 6-700mil also, we need more calibers that can be formed from 308 cases and use ar10 bolts and mags. I would jump on that. also....making use of the wide variety of 45 bullet selection may end up being a winner as well, hasn't had it's boom yet, but I think it may. what happened to the 450 bushmaster anyway? poor marketing? I think the problem with all of these is, it's only available to people who spends lots of dough on guns and are reloaders. it's just unrealistic to own any of these "off" calibers without having money and tools and extensive firearm knowledge at your disposal big-bore?!?.....hell, I am still waiting for SOMEBODY to make a concealable .22TCM pistol, seems like the big companies are afraid to take risks right now with the market dying down from the lack of looming political fear. the only ones making "niche" complete firearms are small companies that have to charge a fortune and then can't keep up with demand.......kel-tec? sorry for the rant. lets go back to 30-06, couldn't you just add a couple inches to a .308 barrel and get the same result w/o having to build an entire new large action/magwell? Last edited by skizzums; April 23, 2015 at 03:23 AM.

April 23, 2015, 01:18 PM	#9
wabashman Member Join Date: October 3, 2013 Posts: 23	My Beowulf. Still needs the muzzle break, but I haven't machined it yet. Picture added.... Last edited by wabashman; April 24, 2015 at 08:07 PM.

April 22, 2015, 08:43 PM	#2
Mosin-Marauder Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2014 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,320	Id still like to have an AR in 7.5 Swiss.

April 22, 2015, 09:20 PM	#3
dakota.potts Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2013 Location: Keystone Heights, Florida Posts: 3,084	I think they're mostly "just because we can" rifles with little practical use, but every new build is innovation. I personally like the idea of the .50 BMG uppers that bolt on to a standard AR 15 lower

April 22, 2015, 09:26 PM	#4
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,187	I think the .30-06 is pointless due to the ready availability of ar10 .308. Lapua is interesting. Beouwolf would be a nice hog gun. My favorite is the .450 Bushmaster.

April 23, 2015, 12:21 AM	#5
Ruger480 Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2013 Location: Central Iowa Posts: 720	I would have said the same thing about the .308 when it hit the scene and couldn't perform like the '06

April 23, 2015, 05:05 AM	#8
peggysue Junior member Join Date: May 20, 2014 Posts: 1,835	My Beowulf thumper. (P.S. ammo aint cheap.)

April 24, 2015, 04:54 AM	#11
peggysue Junior member Join Date: May 20, 2014 Posts: 1,835	My big bore 50BMG

April 25, 2015, 04:49 AM	#12
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	^^ ill take one of those please, but with glass other than the sighmark, thanks. Btw, I love my sightmark on my .300, pistol....but a 50 is for reaching out ans touching

April 26, 2015, 12:18 AM	#13
Dirty_Harry Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2006 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 1,484	I just picked up a .450 Bushmaster upper and built a lower to go with it. For my purposes it makes a ton of sense. It is legal to hunt with in the shotgun zone in lower Michigan. While it wasnt cheap its a lot better than a slug gun or even a 44 magnum carbine. I also shoot my AR's a lot, so the rifle comes natural to me and I shoot it very well.

April 26, 2015, 01:02 AM	#14
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	dirty, what do you do for brass on that rig? just curious, I find them very intriguing, just wondering what the forming process entails

April 27, 2015, 06:01 AM	#16
peggysue Junior member Join Date: May 20, 2014 Posts: 1,835	skizzem,,,The cheap sight lasted only 20 rounds. My 50 has a EOTECH 552 on it now and has been holding up OK.

May 4, 2015, 06:23 AM	#17
peggysue Junior member Join Date: May 20, 2014 Posts: 1,835

May 4, 2015, 11:01 AM	#18
mardanlin Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2013 Posts: 208	Just curious, how is 30 Cal a big bore? As others have said, the 30-06 seems to be unnecessary. Never been a big fan of the 50BW ballistics. 338 would be the only one of those 3 that'd even be iinterested in owning, and I'm not exactly running out to buy one of those either. If you want a true large bore semi auto, get a Barrett.