Need the case dimensions and ballistics for the 55 Boyes

30 January 2003, 14:28

Bakes

Boys anti tank rifle

Length: 63.5" (1613mm)
weight: 36lb (16.33kg)
Barrel: 36" (914mm)
Calibre:.55"
Capacity: 5 rd box
Muzzle Velocity: 3250f/s (990m/s)
Sights: First model had a double sight for 300 and 500 yards. Second model had fixed.

Able to obtain penetration on 25mm armour plate.

Can't help with case dimensions.
Bakes

30 January 2003, 14:32

Pecos41

You gonna build one of them too, Axel? [Big Grin]

Or do you just get off on asking dumb shit questions? I used to own and hunt with one and you aren't man enough to take the recoil. [Big Grin]

[ 01-30-2003, 05:38: Message edited by: Pecos45 ]

30 January 2003, 15:42

<Axel>

Bakes,
Thanks for the information, even if incomplete it answers some questions.

Pecos,
You presume a great deal in your posts. Since you actually owned one can you provide some useful information about the cartridge, loads, and ballistic performance? What did you hunt with it?

Axel

30 January 2003, 18:04

Pecos41

I never loaded it. I just bought a crate of ammo and shot it. It's basically like a 50 caliber MG. I hunted jackrabbits...believe it or not.

30 January 2003, 19:05

Bakes

Pecos
I guess you didn't get alot to eat off those jackrabbits! What sort of groups did you get with your Boys? Just interested to know what these old rifles could do. I saw one for sale at a Sydney Gun show two years ago, asking price was $2000 with a broken hand grip.

Bakes

30 January 2003, 20:09

Pecos41

Bakes - Are you kidding me $2,000? My AT rifle was in good shape with nothing broken and cost me $150. [Eek!]

Keep in mind this was about 1964, I believe. Ammo was buck a pop.

What sort of groups? Well under MOA of course.
Hahaha. No, you don't shoot groups with a rifle that is LITERALLY kicking your entire body back 2" across the sand...when in the prone position! [Eek!]

Mostly I shot rocks, cinder blocks and a couple of old auto engines I found in a dump.

I said I HUNTED rabbits. I didn't say I ever killed one with it. The way I hunted was to find a hill where I could see forever and glass the country until I found a rabbit at some obscene range...then try to hit it. Best I ever did was practically bury a J-rab I spotted day dreaming in a dry lake bed. Bullet covered him up in dirt. [Smile]

But he came out running.

It was mostly a crazy toy. With original sights etc, it was hardly a "sniper's rifle." Nor were they built or ever used for such that I know of.

It was just a big, dumb gun good for kicking the snot out of you and ruining my ears. The novelty wore off and I sold it back for what I paid for it. I've got some old b&w photos of me and the thing I'll post someday if I ever get energetic...assuming anyone gives a rip.

Now the 20mm Lahti that I caught up with some years later........now THAT is a gun. [Smile]

30 January 2003, 22:20

Bakes

There now you see I wasn't born in 1964! [Big Grin]

I would have liked to have bought it, but I couldn't afford a .22 let alone a AT rifle.
Sure sounds like fun though, I love to see the pics if you get around to it.

Bakes

31 January 2003, 05:19

<Axel>

Pecos,

A business associate told me today that the 55 Boyes was nothing more than a British copy of the 50 BMG necked up with a H&H style belt added. He also stated that the ballistics are very similar i.e. 735 gr bullet @ 2900 fps for the Boyes, while the 50 BMG can do 750gr @ 2800 fps.

Does this sound right to you?

Thanks,
Axel

[ 01-31-2003, 04:18: Message edited by: Axel ]

31 January 2003, 05:42

rick3foxes

quote:
Originally posted by Axel:
Pecos,

A business associate told me today that the 55 Boyes was nothing more than a British copy of the 50 BMG necked up with a H&H style belt added. He also stated that the ballistics are very similar i.e. 735 gr bullet @ 2900 fps for the Boyes, while the 50 BMG can do 750gr @ 2800 fps.

Does this sound right to you?

Thanks,
Pecos

Ahhh..... So Pecos is really Axel???

Curiouser and curiouser..... [Big Grin]

31 January 2003, 13:08

Bakes

Dear Axel/Pecos [Big Grin]

HAHAHAHAH Just kidding Pecos

Just looked at a pic of a Boys round from a book of mine (where I got the previous info). The round does not have a belt.

Bakes

31 January 2003, 13:17

<Axel>

Bakes,
I follow the link I found and it shows some 55 Boyes cartridges. They do appear to have a belt. Pecos is this correct?

adrax

Opps, I am not Pecos. I typoed that badly. I meant to say:
"Thanks, Pecos

Axel"

I will go back and edit that. Sorry Pecos for the embarrassment and confusion.

Axel

[ 01-31-2003, 04:20: Message edited by: Axel ]

31 January 2003, 13:18

Bakes

Just out of interest my reference book states that the browning .50 was inspired by the German 13mm Mauser Anti tank round after a few were captured in WW1. The 13mm Mauser was invented from sratch as nothing like that was around at the time. It was put in a up scaled version of infantry rifle.

Bakes

31 January 2003, 14:57

jeffeosso

there's a conversion, I think, from boyes to 50bmg.... just about the same thing.. Axhole, you going to build one off a Destroyer carbine, made to look just like a 500 AHR on a CZ?
jeffe

31 January 2003, 15:14

Pecos41

Bakes - Your book is wrong. The Boyes IS a belted case.

I used to set a round or it up beside a .50BMG and other than the belted case on the Boyes, it's hard to tell them apart.

Just from eye-balling the two rounds, it looked to me like the head size of both cartridges was identical. So Jeffe, you are exactly right it would be easy to convert a Boyes to shoot .50BMG IMHO.

31 January 2003, 15:33

Grizzly Adams

Hello;
I was under the impression that the Boyes, since it is over .50, is classified by ATF as a destructive device. Is that so? Also, I have seen several Boyes rounds and can say they are belted. The projectile, if I remember rightly was aluminum with a visible tungsten penetrator.
Griz

31 January 2003, 16:05

Pecos41

Griz - You are correct about the classification of this weapon. When I bought it, it was NOT classified that way...but thanks to our great legislaters...this poor old gun is considered VERY evil and must be kept from you and me at all cost.

The ammo I had was a silver colored fmj (a nickle alloy jacket?) projectile. I have no idea what the core was as I never recovered one.

31 January 2003, 16:28

RIP

Thanks Rick!

Why did Axel sign as "Pecos" as in your quote?

Curious indeed! And quickly edited

Please say it isn't so Pecos45!

POSeur and POSse, one and the same?

YIKES!!! [Eek!]

31 January 2003, 16:38

<Axel>

Pecos,
Thanks for verifying the case data for me. Nice pictures of you and the Boyes on that thread you started also.

Ron,
See my explanation above! I am not Pecos, he is troll hunter, and I am a troll...remember?

Axel

[ 01-31-2003, 07:39: Message edited by: Axel ]

31 January 2003, 17:16

Pecos41

quote:
Originally posted by DaggaRon:
Thanks Rick!

Why did Axel sign as "Pecos" as in your quote?

Curious indeed! And quickly edited

Please say it isn't so Pecos45!

POSeur and POSse, one and the same?

YIKES!!!

He did it because the boy wishes he were me, i.e. a real person instead of a phony. [Big Grin]

Ron, there is one easy way to tell us apart. I know how to post a picture. Todd E/Axel etc doesn't. Nor does he know how to reload or shoot.

31 January 2003, 17:55

Bakes

Pecos
Had another look at my book, can't see a belt. But will take the word of someone that has actually use the thing. Perhaps they are passing off a .50 BMG round as a Boys,because they couldn't find one?

Bakes

31 January 2003, 18:04

Pecos41

quote:
Originally posted by Bakes:
Pecos
Had another look at my book, can't see a belt. But will take the word of someone that has actually use the thing. Perhaps they are passing off a .50 BMG round as a Boys,because they couldn't find one?
Bakes

I suspect you have guessed the reason for the missing belt. Other than the belt, the two cartridges are hard to tell apart and not many of us old dogs running around to notice the difference.

02 February 2003, 08:14

RIP

Pecos45,
Forgive me. Just foolin' around.

02 February 2003, 11:34

Pecos41

Not to worry, Daggaron! [Big Grin]

02 February 2003, 12:07

<KBGuns>

quote:
Originally posted by Grizzly Adams:
I was under the impression that the Boyes, since it is over .50, is classified by ATF as a destructive device. Is that so?

Does that make a .600 NE double rifle a destructive devise aswell?

I am guessing that the grove diameter for the Boyes is something like .558" or .560". Any one know?

Kristofer

[ 02-02-2003, 03:10: Message edited by: KBGuns ]

02 February 2003, 13:32

RJW

Extract from "Cartridges for Collectors, Vol 2 - Fred A Datig"

.55 Boyes Anti-Tank

Bullet diameter: .562"
Case diameter - neck: .604"
Case diameter - Head: .793"
Case diameter - rim: .800"
Case length: 3.888"
Bullet weight: 926 grains
Muzzle velocity: 2500 fps
Belt: .851"

It is a belted case with the rim rebated back slightly from the belt. I also note that the Brits experimented with this case necked down to .303!!! Not surprisingly this was unsuccessful.

RJW

02 February 2003, 14:26

Pecos41

RJW - I was not aware of the bullet weight. This surely explains some of the recoil trauma my young body soaked up. [Eek!]

Not every day when I chunk a 1,000 gr projectile down range.

I do recalled the rebated rim. In fact the rim is actually quite NOTICABLY rebated from the belt. It is is actually a rather unusual looking cartridge.