Originally Posted By: AMC
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
What's the point of using these monster cartridges over something more readily available like the .50BMG? (serious question). It can penetrate a tank or armoured car...... And there are a plethora of exceptional rifles like the M82A1, TAC50....etc.
The point- The .460 WBY and most calibers cost less and are easier to get components for. This is true especially of the rifles. A 50 BMG rifle is harder for even FFL's to find and order and although I haven't done a lot of pricing on 50 BMG, I imagine it would cost at least $4-5K for a lower quality rifle. Barret rifles run the $6-9K price range. Your local FFL can easily order you an absolutely beautiful Mark V deluxe chambered in .460 WBY for around the $3k mark. A rifle like that will probably be lighter, more portable and just better suited to hunting than anything chambered in 50 BMG. Besides all this, the 50 BMG really needs a LONG barrel to get the projectiles up to speed. The .460 WBY's velocity is measured with a 26" barrel and that is what It comes standard with from weatherby.
In addition, the 460 WBY does not require specialized reloading equipment, cleaning brushes or equipment to work with. The 50 BMG requires a very large or propretiary single stage press and oversized dies, along with all the usual accesories. The .460's ammuntion will be smaller, lighter and easier to carry also. I can keep going with this but you might see the point already. The 50 BMG is powerful but not particularly well suited to hunting, espcically in the heavily forested jungles where a rifle of this caliber would be a serious necessity, not just something fun to shoot and cool to look at.
To be clear (this is for both you and hatt): I wasn't comparing it to the .460 WBY, only the T-Rex and other guns that border on ridiculous and who's rounds cost
MORE than the BMG.
My point was what makes these shoulder-breaking "look at me" cannons (.577, .700....etc) a "better choice" than the BMG? Because I don't really see one
You boys have both already made a fantastic case for the .460 WBY. I was not comparing it to that. The .50 is a big, heavy gun and yes, it is expensive and so are the rounds. But compared to the cost of some of the guns the OP speaks of, the .50 is pretty cheap. You could buy a McMillan TAC-50 and a few thousand rounds of ammo for the cost of some of these guns
Example:
.50 BMG Barrett M99:
http://frontierfirearms.ca/firearms/50bm...dark-earth.html
$4,349.00
.50 BMW Ammo:
http://frontierfirearms.ca/ammunition-re...-660-grain.html
In comparison, the .700 Nitro Express guns are 100-200K!!! And the rounds are $100/each!!!