Comments on: Homemade .50 BMG rifle http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/08/homemade-50-bmg-rifle/ Firearms not Politics Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:12:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dick C. http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/08/homemade-50-bmg-rifle/comment-page-1/#comment-76467 Dick C. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 03:42:31 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3606#comment-76467 I'm just starting the Holmes gun, have an M2 barrel coming. What is the optimum barrel length to use?? The plans say 'length to suit'. There is a barrel length that will work best isn't there? You did a great job on yours! Dick C. I’m just starting the Holmes gun, have an M2 barrel coming. What is the optimum barrel length to use?? The plans say ‘length to suit’. There is a barrel length that will work best isn’t there?

You did a great job on yours!
Dick C.

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]]> By: willyt http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/08/homemade-50-bmg-rifle/comment-page-1/#comment-56373 willyt Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:50:41 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3606#comment-56373 Thanks for the info ,but I am not ready for this project yet. But Ill still buy the book. Thanks for the info ,but I am not ready for this project yet. But Ill still buy the book.

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]]> By: eli http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/08/homemade-50-bmg-rifle/comment-page-1/#comment-28154 eli Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:31:08 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3606#comment-28154 Their are shops that do heat treating in most big citys. Just fing one that's close to you with any search engine. Also, some of the biger machine shops can do heat treating. But I would rather have it done by a shop that only dose heat treating. Surpluss m2 barrels can be found still but they are not cheap. Put "barrel 50bmg" into any search and it will spit out what your looking for. Another note, there are barrel makes in the us that still make .50 and 20mm barrels. I cant say one maker is better then any other. Hope that helps Their are shops that do heat treating in most big citys. Just fing one that’s close to you with any search engine.

Also, some of the biger machine shops can do heat treating. But I would rather have it done by a shop that only dose heat treating.

Surpluss m2 barrels can be found still but they are not cheap. Put “barrel 50bmg” into any search and it will spit out what your looking for.

Another note, there are barrel makes in the us that still make .50 and 20mm barrels. I cant say one maker is better then any other.

Hope that helps

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]]> By: Kharris http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/08/homemade-50-bmg-rifle/comment-page-1/#comment-27814 Kharris Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:46:11 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3606#comment-27814 Hello! A very useful site. Thanks for putting it up. I've had the Maadi Griffin book for years and have been gathering tools and developing skills to tackle a 50 cal project. I think I'll soon be getting Holmes book as well. Two questions I'd like some help with from you or one of your subscribers: Heat treating the bolt of the Maadi and, I assume the Holmes design. Where can this be done? A source for barrels? I understand barrels are becoming scarce and pricey but that will just have to be one of those things to accept if I want to take on this project. Regards, Kharris Hello!
A very useful site. Thanks for putting it up. I’ve had the Maadi Griffin book for years and have been gathering tools and developing skills to tackle a 50 cal project. I think I’ll soon be getting Holmes book as well.

Two questions I’d like some help with from you or one of your subscribers:
Heat treating the bolt of the Maadi and, I assume the Holmes design. Where can this be done? A source for barrels? I understand barrels are becoming scarce and pricey but that will just have to be one of those things to accept if I want to take on this project.

Regards,
Kharris

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]]> By: Tom http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/08/homemade-50-bmg-rifle/comment-page-1/#comment-20958 Tom Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:10:11 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3606#comment-20958 My friend a tool and die maker and I have the book and video...... We spent 25 hours getting the plans together, The design is more than strong enough, also as the first one nears completion several details can be simplified. We are using purchased barrels and 4140 stock as really good M2 barrels are very hard to come by. My friend a tool and die maker and I have the book and video……
We spent 25 hours getting the plans together, The design is more than strong enough, also as the first one nears completion several details can be simplified. We are using purchased barrels and 4140 stock as really good M2 barrels are very hard to come by.

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]]> By: Rob http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/08/homemade-50-bmg-rifle/comment-page-1/#comment-20756 Rob Mon, 07 Dec 2009 07:09:21 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3606#comment-20756 To keep it simple... If you have the time, talents, and equipment build your own If you can afford it... buy one... I ordered the book (hadn't arrived yet) and am interested in reading it, but after reading your posts, I may start saving for one. I have the talent I believe, but may lack the time and equipment. If you have made one correctly without incident and according to Holme's plans - congrats! Thanks To keep it simple…

If you have the time, talents, and equipment build your own

If you can afford it… buy one…

I ordered the book (hadn’t arrived yet) and am interested in reading it, but after reading your posts, I may start saving for one. I have the talent I believe, but may lack the time and equipment.

If you have made one correctly without incident and according to Holme’s plans – congrats!

Thanks

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]]> By: KingDavid http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/08/homemade-50-bmg-rifle/comment-page-1/#comment-15379 KingDavid Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:34:51 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3606#comment-15379 Pistolero what are you talking about? the Holmes design is very simple. no "specials" machines are needed. you can do all the work on a normal mill and lath. can even do most of the work on table top machines. "we need think more simply! that no more “homemade”!" -how simply do you want? you cant make a sub MOA rifle with a dremel tool and drill press. every gun maker has to have a mill. sorry cant get around that. you can get around having a lathe but it takes much longer to get the same things done. i would suggest you go in to a harbor freight and have a look at some cheap machines. maybe your should have a look on mcmastercarr.com too. they sell the tubing you need for the holmes design. be sure to get 4140 and not something cheaper. one more thing http://action_enterprise.tripod.com/FiftyPro.htm its worth a look. just go slow and dont get ahead of your self. its really not that hard. Pistolero what are you talking about? the Holmes design is very simple. no “specials” machines are needed. you can do all the work on a normal mill and lath. can even do most of the work on table top machines.

“we need think more simply! that no more “homemade”!” -how simply do you want? you cant make a sub MOA rifle with a dremel tool and drill press. every gun maker has to have a mill. sorry cant get around that. you can get around having a lathe but it takes much longer to get the same things done.

i would suggest you go in to a harbor freight and have a look at some cheap machines. maybe your should have a look on mcmastercarr.com too. they sell the tubing you need for the holmes design. be sure to get 4140 and not something cheaper.

one more thing
http://action_enterprise.tripod.com/FiftyPro.htm
its worth a look.
just go slow and dont get ahead of your self.
its really not that hard.

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]]> By: Pistolero http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/08/homemade-50-bmg-rifle/comment-page-1/#comment-15309 Pistolero Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:42:11 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3606#comment-15309 hello to all people: i say that rifle its very complex to make and requires a specials machines (except the twist). we need think more simply! that no more "homemade"! hello to all people:
i say that rifle its very complex to make and requires a specials machines (except the twist). we need think more simply! that no more “homemade”!

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]]> By: eliofall http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/08/homemade-50-bmg-rifle/comment-page-1/#comment-14549 eliofall Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:22:06 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3606#comment-14549 who said anything about a magazine? yes the way it is shown in the book is a single shot bolt action. in his book "a master gunmaker's guide to building bolt-action rifles" p27 ( isbn 9781581604207) he shows a design with a magazine. but a design is nothing more then guide lines to go by. who said anything about a magazine? yes the way it is shown in the book is a single shot bolt action. in his book “a master gunmaker’s guide to building bolt-action rifles” p27 ( isbn 9781581604207) he shows a design with a magazine. but a design is nothing more then guide lines to go by.

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]]> By: theoldsarge http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/08/homemade-50-bmg-rifle/comment-page-1/#comment-14411 theoldsarge Mon, 14 Sep 2009 05:23:31 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3606#comment-14411 The Holmes design IS a single-shot, not magazine fed. Holmes specifies the materials to be used to safely make a rifle. The general consensis seems to be that he deliberately made some of the measurements and such a bit off, so someone not experienced enough to make one would not be able to, but an experienced machinist would catch them. There have been a number of rifles made to that design, with no problems. The Holmes design IS a single-shot, not magazine fed. Holmes specifies the materials to be used to safely make a rifle. The general consensis seems to be that he deliberately made some of the measurements and such a bit off, so someone not experienced enough to make one would not be able to, but an experienced machinist would catch them. There have been a number of rifles made to that design, with no problems.

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]]> By: eliofall http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/08/homemade-50-bmg-rifle/comment-page-1/#comment-13392 eliofall Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:58:01 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3606#comment-13392 this may be to late to matter but i ran the math on it. Stress to failure sfail = Fs/As(note1) so.... sfail = 135,000 / 1.125 = 120,000psi on the homes design with ASTM 4140 @ 30C rockwell proof/test loads for 50bmg is 54,923 PSI(note2) so.... 54,923psi * .804in(pi R^2) (rim dia.) = 27884.0506# so if i had to make a guess with out any details i would say that their must have been a problem with the heat treat. note1 http://www.homepage.montana.edu/~uessc/esci450/ShearStrengthCalc.html note2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.50_BMG ROCKWELL HARDNESS 4140 YIELD STRENGTH PSI 20 C 83,500 22 C 87,000 30 C 135,000 34 C 148,750 37 C 159,000 42 C 178,000 46 C 195,000 49 C 211,000 this may be to late to matter but i ran the math on it.

Stress to failure
sfail = Fs/As(note1)

so…. sfail = 135,000 / 1.125 = 120,000psi on the homes design with ASTM 4140 @ 30C rockwell

proof/test loads for 50bmg is 54,923 PSI(note2)

so…. 54,923psi * .804in(pi R^2) (rim dia.) = 27884.0506#

so if i had to make a guess with out any details i would say that their must have been a problem with the heat treat.

note1 http://www.homepage.montana.edu/~uessc/esci450/ShearStrengthCalc.html

note2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.50_BMG

ROCKWELL HARDNESS 4140 YIELD STRENGTH PSI
20 C 83,500
22 C 87,000
30 C 135,000
34 C 148,750
37 C 159,000
42 C 178,000
46 C 195,000
49 C 211,000

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]]> By: mxwelch http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/08/homemade-50-bmg-rifle/comment-page-1/#comment-9019 mxwelch Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:39:12 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3606#comment-9019 Howdy all. I had no idea I was famous until I stumbled on this. The book has some sloppy designs on certain parts of the weapon but as far as safety is concerned it's solid. The CUP pressures generated by this round are more than contained by the materials used. If anything the material thicknesses are overkill but better to be safe. Of course if you substitute something like aluminum for the barrel extension or bolt then you really shouldn't risk contaminating the gene pool anyway. Howdy all. I had no idea I was famous until I stumbled on this.

The book has some sloppy designs on certain parts of the weapon but as far as safety is concerned it’s solid. The CUP pressures generated by this round are more than contained by the materials used. If anything the material thicknesses are overkill but better to be safe.

Of course if you substitute something like aluminum for the barrel extension or bolt then you really shouldn’t risk contaminating the gene pool anyway.

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]]> By: TruAnRksT http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/08/homemade-50-bmg-rifle/comment-page-1/#comment-8165 TruAnRksT Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:36:16 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3606#comment-8165 >>It was not a home build .50 caliber. He bought it brand new however I do not know how many shot it had before it went KB!. As far as I can remember, he was an experiences shooter.<< Bullshit. It was homebuilt by someone and they skimped on the materials or the design was crap. There is no excuse for such a thing to ever happen. And no production weapon would ever fail in that manner. [RAVNEV] Regular Army, VietNam era Vet >>It was not a home build .50 caliber. He bought it brand new however I do not know how many shot it had before it went KB!. As far as I can remember, he was an experiences shooter.<<

Bullshit. It was homebuilt by someone and they skimped on the materials or the design was crap. There is no excuse for such a thing to ever happen.
And no production weapon would ever fail in that manner.

[RAVNEV]
Regular Army, VietNam era Vet

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]]> By: jdun1911 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/08/homemade-50-bmg-rifle/comment-page-1/#comment-3958 jdun1911 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:58:24 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3606#comment-3958 The bolt was lock into place when the guy pulled the trigger. The metal failed to contain the pressure. It was not a home build .50 caliber. He bought it brand new however I do not know how many shot it had before it went KB!. As far as I can remember, he was an experiences shooter. The bolt was lock into place when the guy pulled the trigger. The metal failed to contain the pressure. It was not a home build .50 caliber. He bought it brand new however I do not know how many shot it had before it went KB!. As far as I can remember, he was an experiences shooter.

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]]> By: John H. http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/08/homemade-50-bmg-rifle/comment-page-1/#comment-3944 John H. Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:53:45 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3606#comment-3944 It's good to know that Bill Holmes isn't completely full of crap, but is there any proof of the general quality of the rest of his material? If it's workable then it's a goldmine, but if this is just a single lucky case then it's a land mine. It’s good to know that Bill Holmes isn’t completely full of crap, but is there any proof of the general quality of the rest of his material? If it’s workable then it’s a goldmine, but if this is just a single lucky case then it’s a land mine.

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]]> By: Steve http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/08/homemade-50-bmg-rifle/comment-page-1/#comment-3938 Steve Mon, 08 Dec 2008 07:11:06 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3606#comment-3938 I think the moral of that story is that if you are not able to properly build a the bolt locking lugs and a gas escape system, you should not be building a rifle, .50 BMG or not. I think the moral of that story is that if you are not able to properly build a the bolt locking lugs and a gas escape system, you should not be building a rifle, .50 BMG or not.

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]]> By: jdun1911 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/12/08/homemade-50-bmg-rifle/comment-page-1/#comment-3937 jdun1911 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 06:55:52 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3606#comment-3937 If you're going to build a .50 caliber make sure it is within spec, with the right material, and the headspace is solid. Of all the calibers the .50 caliber pose the highest risk of getting killed if it goes KB! Handgun KB! rarely results in any injuries. Rifle KB! can cause injuries but rarely death. .50 caliber KB! are nasty. I remember one time a poster posted on a gun forum a while back (over 10 years). His friend got injured (probably dead. I didn't fellow up on the post) when his friend .50 caliber single shot went KB!. The bolt itself broke lose from the receiver, went through his chest, and log into the wooded cabin 10 feet behind. That is f*ck up. I'm not saying to not build or own one. Just make sure nothing is amiss when you pull the trigger. If you’re going to build a .50 caliber make sure it is within spec, with the right material, and the headspace is solid.

Of all the calibers the .50 caliber pose the highest risk of getting killed if it goes KB! Handgun KB! rarely results in any injuries. Rifle KB! can cause injuries but rarely death. .50 caliber KB! are nasty.

I remember one time a poster posted on a gun forum a while back (over 10 years). His friend got injured (probably dead. I didn’t fellow up on the post) when his friend .50 caliber single shot went KB!. The bolt itself broke lose from the receiver, went through his chest, and log into the wooded cabin 10 feet behind. That is f*ck up.

I’m not saying to not build or own one. Just make sure nothing is amiss when you pull the trigger.

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