I thought you guys might enjoy some recent photos of some serious artillery I have built. Since no one believes that you can build shoulder fired .50BMG's I've got two pictures of sub-20 Lb rifles. I've also finished the 470 MBOGO built on a highly modified 1917 Enfield action. This uses a P-14 bolt. The only thing I hate about it is the Laminated stock that my son insisted on. This will be the last time I ever build one like this again. I like old school circassian walnut.
The first Rifle is a .50 BMG built on a Mcmillan repeater action and a Pac-Nor light barrel. It's 24 inches long and ends in a Vias Muzzel break. Guess the weight?



The second is a Maadi -Griffen varient I built from two steel Rounds. The first was the receiver and the second the bolt. There is probably 50 hrs of machine time in it. The break and shroud are Titanium. Very accurate and very low recoil. You really need to know how to Tig weld to build these.


The third is the 470 MBOGO I've been playing with for six months. The action is a highly modified 1917 Enfield, Ground and polished, P-14 bolt, Cock on open, 3 rounds down in the magazine. stock is a Elk Ridge-left hander in laminated wood. I added the ebony nosecap as it was too ugly without it. No brake yet!


[ 07-15-2002, 19:18: Message edited by: Robgunbuilder ]

Nice looking rifles and the 470 wouldn't look bad if it had a nice brown&brown laminated stock...never have gotten used to the black&grey ones and the forend tip is a nice touch.

I bet the first big-50 is a bear to shoot and would love to see a photo of it in full recoil that included the shooters facial expression. I know rifles like this don't really need a reason to be built but what will it be used for?

Rob, beautiful guns. I think you can do my work any day.

What I find hard to believe is the weights of these rifles. I used to have a .55 Boys at 36 lbs and it would kick the snot out of me. How can you make these .50 cals so light and live to fire them? You gotta have some sweet recoil system or something.

Keep up the good work. Send me any rejects.

Great lookin' woodchuck rifles Rob! As they say in Palermo, "Youdoniceaworka!"

I second what Nickidu said. What did he say?
Thanks for the photos.
The scope on the photo of the fist rifle looks like it must have smoked when it was little and stunted its growth. Sure looks little compared to the rest of that rig.

Noticed the antennae in the first photo...is that to receive targeting info from a GPS satellite?

Thanks for the nice comments guys-This weekend I actually mounted open sights on the McMillan. It does look a little wierd with the M-8 Compact on it. I need to put that scope on the 470 MBOGO anyway. By the way the recoil is much less than you would expect. Both .50's are readily fired from the shoulder. Near Misses count with these cannons. I have also built a Maddi-Griffen with a 18 inch barrel, that is a real hoot to fire. God help anyone standing anywhere near you. The muzzel blast to the side is absolutely amazing! I've got to post some night fire photos of this thing! Your literally enveloped in the muzzel blast!-rob

I really wish we could get those .50 BMG actions in Australia Rob. My mate and I tried to order a AR-50 but since 9/11 there has been an export ban placed on all .50 cal stuff.

They are beuatiful rifles and I really like the laminate stock, your son has excellent taste in my opinion.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Robgunbuilder:
Hi Rob,
Great looking rifles you've put together. I've never been lucky enough to shoot one of those 50 BMG's but all in good time. I think you did a great job on the 470 Mbogo. Shoot it lots without a brake. I think you'll like it a lot. Can you shoot it left handed or is the gun for your son? My buddy shoots a right handed rifle left handed and does a quick contorsion to reload and is actually pretty good at it now. A fellow sent me a night picture of a firing of his 50 BMG and it was very impressive. It would be a real hit at a barbecue.
Again nice work on the rifles.
Take good care,
470 Mbogo

Robgunbuilder,

Really nice job! All three rifles look great!
You would have liked the stock better if it were brown on brown, or walnut on walnut, or maple on maple, or red white and blue laminated. Really like the Enfield. Glad you left the bolt alone. Always felt the bolt was just fine the way it was. Keep up the good work.

Rob, you have some great toys! Thanks for sharing - Dan

I have to agree with all the above comments. Great rifles, great work.

Don't let the size of the .50 BMG fool you. With a good break, they don't kick all that much. My AR-50 weights in at 36 pounds with scope, and with the Armalite brake it does not recoil any more than a light weight .243 or a varmint weight .270. The bigger they are, the more effective the brake, or so it seems to me. Without the brake, the gun should recoil with 82 ft-lbs of recoil energy, or about the same as hot loaded 416 Rigby in a 9 pound rifle. With the brake, it's a real pussycat.