plates that can take a .50 hit

[sigstroker]

Lately I've had a hankerin' for a .50 BMG. But it won't be any fun unless I can shoot something that clangs. Can you buy a plate that takes a hit from .50 BMG ball? I'm guessing you probably can't get anything that takes an AP hit. But that would be cool because I have lots of API.

Back in the day people locally would just go on a military gunnery range and swipe a hatch off a blown up APC, but there are no more to be swiped.

[jimmykan]

How close/far are you going to shoot from?

I think 3/4-inch AR500 can withstand 50BMG ball from 300 yards.

[P5Ret]

Here ya go.

https://www.shootsteel.com/collections/50bmg

[tomk556]

Initially I managed to assume you meant body armor plates... teehee

[audiophil2]

50bmg is not that bad at distance. I've shot my 1/4" plates at 400 yards and all it did was knock the plate off. 556 and 223 fmj is much more damaging at 50 yards than 50bmg at 300. if the plate it fixed so it cannot swing it will suffer. I just had a 10 inch plate hung by those loop gun locks and it knocked the plate back 2 feet and ripped the lock off.

surplus ap will require a huge plate past 400 yards. it is extremely inconsistent. at least a 2 foot plate.

[sealocan]

Maybe two older (thick and heavy) manhole covers doubled-up?

Not sure where you'd buy them but maybe a trip to a local metal recycle / salvage yard would have even more possible solutions.

[audiophil2]

If you skip to the 7:30 mark you can see how little damage a 50bmg ball does to a 1/4" plate. I think the distance was between 375-425 yards.



Really not worth spending money on a 1/2 plate unless you only have a short range and then it is more of a why bother with 50bmg over a .223.

[bug_eyedmonster]

Here ya go.

https://www.shootsteel.com/collections/50bmg

We shot the 15" rounds, do not use the rubber straps wit this target, it will not hold up to much shooting. We were shooting .50, .416, and .375 at one, and the straps gave out way before the target had issues. The .50 is the least of concern with the three calibers that were shooting at it (about 500 yards away).

Jerry

[sigstroker]

50bmg is not that bad at distance. I've shot my 1/4" plates at 400 yards and all it did was knock the plate off. 556 and 223 fmj is much more damaging at 50 yards than 50bmg at 300. if the plate it fixed so it cannot swing it will suffer. I just had a 10 inch plate hung by those loop gun locks and it knocked the plate back 2 feet and ripped the lock off.

surplus ap will require a huge plate past 400 yards. it is extremely inconsistent. at least a 2 foot plate.

2 feet wide or 2 feet thick?

I have some FN API that is reportedly fairly accurate. Original, not reloads.

[audiophil2]

2 feet wide or 2 feet thick?

I have some FN API that is reportedly fairly accurate. Original, not reloads.

2 feet wide but face it sideways

[sigstroker]

If you skip to the 7:30 mark you can see how little damage a 50bmg ball does to a 1/4" plate. I think the distance was between 375-425 yards.



Really not worth spending money on a 1/2 plate unless you only have a short range and then it is more of a why bother with 50bmg over a .223.

Heh, way back when I had my first fascination with fifty (when I accumulated a few thousand rounds of ammo) I ordered an Armalite. The gun shop told me when I ordered it if I changed my mind it was fine and they would sell it to one of the other people that asked about one. The day arrived and I chickened out, which is too bad because I had solid access to a thousand yard shooting spot back then.

[sigstroker]

2 feet wide but face it sideways

Piece of cake.

Is the inconsistency you've noticed also with original stuff or just reloads?

I think most reloaders aren't real careful when they load API or APIT because they figure most buyers are going to run it through an M2. I still have one can of Santa Barbara 1 in 5 API/APIT but fifty tracer burns so long the only place that would be safe to shoot it is a dry lake.

[SVT-40]

I was out shooting yesterday. The plate below is a 2" thick piece of aluminum. The big hits are from a .50 cal DTC at 80 yards. The smaller hits are M855.

The M855 hit at the top was from a rifle at 50 yards. The others were from a 7" pistol AR also with M855.

Nothing penetrated. The single M855 hit from the 14.5" rifle was the deepest, and about 1/2 way through. I didn't shoot any more with my rifle as I got hit in the shoulder by the projectile which bounced back from the plate. (left a nice scrape)

[audiophil2]

Heh, way back when I had my first fascination with fifty (when I accumulated a few thousand rounds of ammo) I ordered an Armalite. The gun shop told me when I ordered it if I changed my mind it was fine and they would sell it to one of the other people that asked about one. The day arrived and I chickened out, which is too bad because I had solid access to a thousand yard shooting spot back then.

I suggest getting that ar50. Ive been waiting for more to be made. I was at the new production building for the parent company and the mcmillan rep was telling me the ar50 does great with factory amax. if you buy one from me i will try to get you lessons at mcmillans private range near ben avery. my son and i will be going as soon as we get one.

Piece of cake.

Is the inconsistency you've noticed also with original stuff or just reloads?

I think most reloaders aren't real careful when they load API or APIT because they figure most buyers are going to run it through an M2. I still have one can of Santa Barbara 1 in 5 API/APIT but fifty tracer burns so long the only place that would be safe to shoot it is a dry lake.

all milspec ammo will be inconsistent in a 50bmg gun. its made for machine guns. it will be fine out to 400 or so yards but the factory amax will do 1moa or better in an ar50 or ba50. if you just want to watch plates spin and hear loud hits then it wont matter. watching my plate get pushed around like it was a tin can was an eye opener. my kid wants me to get an anzio 20mm so im deciding if i want the ar50 or the anzio.

[sigstroker]

I suggest getting that ar50. Ive been waiting for more to be made. I was at the new production building for the parent company and the mcmillan rep was telling me the ar50 does great with factory amax. if you buy one from me i will try to get you lessons at mcmillans private range near ben avery. my son and i will be going as soon as we get one.

Thanks for the generous offer. IF I get one, it will likely be a Barrett 99. It's close to the same price as the Armalite and is not such a tree trunk as the Armalite is.

all milspec ammo will be inconsistent in a 50bmg gun. its made for machine guns. it will be fine out to 400 or so yards but the factory amax will do 1moa or better in an ar50 or ba50. if you just want to watch plates spin and hear loud hits then it wont matter. watching my plate get pushed around like it was a tin can was an eye opener. my kid wants me to get an anzio 20mm so im deciding if i want the ar50 or the anzio.

Serbu was working on a 20 way back when, but apparently never got anything going that he wanted to sell.