Tactilite .50 BMG AR-15 Upper

Zel Custom Manufacturing recently purchased the Ultralite50 line of .50 BMG AR-15 Uppers. They have just released an improved version of the Ultralite50 called the Tactilite.

picture 11 30 tm Tactilite .50 BMG AR 15 Upper photo

As you can see above the Taclite is a single shot bolt action that sits atop an AR-15 lower. Because the lower is considered a firearm by the BATFE, the Tactilite is legally an accessory not a firearm, a fact that I am sure would freak out certain elements of society if they ever found out!

It features a free-floating barrel and is available in barrel lengths 18.5″, 22″, 29″ or custom lengths up to 30″. There are three main models. The Ultralite is the budget model that has a Mossberg barrel. The Duty is next step up and is the basic law enforcement / military model. It features a Lothar-Walther barrel. The Super Match is the competition-grade model featuring a Lothar-Walther Super Match barrel.

picture 12 29 tm Tactilite .50 BMG AR 15 Upper photo
TactLite UltraLite Defender with custom finish.

They also sell a variety of packages. One of the packages they sell is the ultra-short 18.5″ barrel UltraLite Defender. It is designed to be fired from the shoulder (as opposed to a bi-pod) and is packaged with a set of back-up iron sights (BUIS) and sling. I don’t think a single-shot .50 BMG is ever a good choice for self defense, as the name suggests, but it could be popular with hunters wanting to carry something exotic during their next hunt. While it would have the power for African dangerous game, civilian ownership of military cartridges are banned in many African countries where hunting is popular.

Pricing starts at $1550 for the most basic model.

Related Posts

21 Responses to “Tactilite .50 BMG AR-15 Upper”

Sort The Responses Below: Most Recent | Highest Rated
  1. Zombie Slayerwrote on June 15th, 2010 at 7:22 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Quote: Mike Suttonon
    ” I have one in 18″ and love it. Shoulder shoot it all the time. I took it deer hunting,and shot it out of my tree stand. It set’s on a DPMS lower. I Have shoot 150 rounds. “

    no need to quarter the deer, tho… and the landing was a bit rough… LMAO
    I can just see some overweight, tactiCool guy flying through the air… LMAO

    like one of these retards:
    http://www1.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=888011

    But on a serious note. I am personally getting one for the ensuing Zombie Apocalypse… and I will try to line up as many of those SOBs as I could… kinda like connect the dots…

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  2. Treeguyleewrote on January 18th, 2010 at 4:13 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ERcQa4-EcM
    Taclite .50 BMG IN ACTION with new bipod design.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  3. Justinwrote on January 01st, 2010 at 11:41 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    I just came across this entry and wanted to say that I have one in 22″ and two days ago my 15 year old nephew and 16 year old second cousin shot it from the shoulder and hit a 6×6″ steel plate at 400yds. No complaints about recoil but lots of smiles. I have about 200 rounds through it and haven’t seen any ill effects to the lower.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  4. Mike Suttonwrote on December 15th, 2009 at 2:17 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    I have one in 18″ and love it. Shoulder shoot it all the time. I took it deer hunting,and shot it out of my tree stand.
    It set’s on a DPMS lower. I Have shoot 150 rounds.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  5. Thomaswrote on November 30th, 2009 at 7:09 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    unless your a sniper this is completly usless

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Steveresponded to Thomas on November 30th, 2009 at 12:11 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

      Thomas, not true. Shooting .50 BMG is fun. Long range shooting is a sport.

      Please rate this comment: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  6. Jeff Powellwrote on October 09th, 2009 at 8:07 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    I think the word these people are looking for is impulse. While the total force is not reduced, because of impulse, the actual damage that force does is. Its like Cymond said. Except instead of a hard punch all at once 4 punches that are 1/4 of the strength happening over time.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  7. Kamil Arikutwrote on July 15th, 2009 at 8:07 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Dear Safir and AT 14 users,

    I am writing you below the address of the web site opened by the Turkish Safir T 14 users and owners club , they have opened a visitors blog in English too, to interchange ideas with their foreign counterparts and get in contact with the T14 users worldwide.They have events and such, please participate.

    http://www.safir-t14.com

    Youre very much welcome to visit and get in touch.

    Kamil Arikut

    Safir Arms

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  8. Benwrote on July 10th, 2009 at 1:26 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    I’ve owned and fired a few thousand rounds of .50 on a DPMS single shot lower attached to both an 18″ UltraLite-50 and 22″ UltraMag-50 conversions. Absolutely no extra wear or stress on the lower attachment points.

    There’s actually LESS felt recoil from the shorter barrels as the bullet exits sooner and consequently all that extra powder and gas behind it gets used up in the muzzle brake.

    No problem hitting a 400yd gong at a local range.
    My UltraLite is setup with just the iron sights and my UltraMag has a OKO red-dot.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  9. Nickwrote on July 09th, 2009 at 3:15 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Okay, but there’s a difference between throwing the intricate working bits of a scope off target, and tearing aluminum.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  10. Freiheitwrote on July 09th, 2009 at 3:09 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Well, lets settle this durability issue. If someone would care to have an AR lower and one of these uppers shipped to me, with a few thousand rounds of ammo, I will happily cover range time, take notes, pictures, and find out how durable it is. :D

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  11. Cymondwrote on July 09th, 2009 at 11:05 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Nick, the concern is the stress from the recoil. The upper will recoil backwards, putting force through the lower/shoulder stock and into the shooter. Hopefully, most of the force is absorbed by the muzzle brake, gun’s weight*, and physical movement. Still, there will be some strain on the lower.

    Scopes technically don’t take any stress either, but watch what happens if you put a cheap scope on a high powered rifle and shoot enough rounds. Eventually you can shock and vibrate a cheap scope to the point that it won’t hold its zero anymore. That’s why most scopes are labeled as “shock proof”.

    *Gun weight doesn’t actually reduce the force, but it slows it down. It’s like the difference between a fast punch vs a hard shove.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  12. Nickwrote on July 09th, 2009 at 10:02 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    It’s a single shot bolt rifle. There’s no buffer or spring, so there’s no stress placed on the lower. All the stress is on the upper and bolt lugs.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  13. Vote For Davidwrote on July 09th, 2009 at 7:01 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Nevermind that, how about the blast/report from a 18″ .50BMG rifle?

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Steveresponded to Vote For David on July 09th, 2009 at 9:52 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

      Vote, yep, there would be a lot of blast … not always a bad thing :)

      Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  14. JSwrote on July 09th, 2009 at 6:27 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    This is cool and all (I’d love a .50 BMG Barrett 82A1), but why would you want a “lite” .50 BMG with a ultra-short barrel and without a bi-pod? These things are designed to shoot far, and the extra weight helps reduce the recoil.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  15. Carlwrote on July 09th, 2009 at 4:10 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Mainsail: My thoughts exactly. AR parts on a .50 BMG rifle seems like a recipe for fatigue cracks and various other problems.
    I’m guessing this seemingly questionable design is mainly driven by stupid rules and regulations.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  16. mmatherswrote on July 09th, 2009 at 3:24 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    All the recoil is delivered in a linear fashion from the chamber straight back into the buffer tube/stock. The lower is really just there to have something to put the trigger bits inside of.


    as for having a 18.5″ barrel 50cal that’s designed for being shot from the shoulder? That sounds perfect for varmiting :)

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  17. Canthroswrote on July 09th, 2009 at 1:07 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Something about having ‘ultralight’ and ‘.50 BMG’ in the same sentence sounds dreadfully uncomfortable to me.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  18. Mainsailwrote on July 08th, 2009 at 11:40 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Not knowing much about the AR-15 platform, but is the alloy lower really up to the power of the 50cal?

    The hinge mount is hardly designed for the increased recoil.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  19. XxleoxXwrote on July 08th, 2009 at 10:33 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    doesnt seem like a bad idea :) i would get one

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  1. Nickwrote on July 09th, 2009 at 10:02 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    It’s a single shot bolt rifle. There’s no buffer or spring, so there’s no stress placed on the lower. All the stress is on the upper and bolt lugs.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  2. Kamil Arikutwrote on July 15th, 2009 at 8:07 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Dear Safir and AT 14 users,

    I am writing you below the address of the web site opened by the Turkish Safir T 14 users and owners club , they have opened a visitors blog in English too, to interchange ideas with their foreign counterparts and get in contact with the T14 users worldwide.They have events and such, please participate.

    http://www.safir-t14.com

    Youre very much welcome to visit and get in touch.

    Kamil Arikut

    Safir Arms

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  3. Treeguyleewrote on January 18th, 2010 at 4:13 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ERcQa4-EcM
    Taclite .50 BMG IN ACTION with new bipod design.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  4. Benwrote on July 10th, 2009 at 1:26 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    I’ve owned and fired a few thousand rounds of .50 on a DPMS single shot lower attached to both an 18″ UltraLite-50 and 22″ UltraMag-50 conversions. Absolutely no extra wear or stress on the lower attachment points.

    There’s actually LESS felt recoil from the shorter barrels as the bullet exits sooner and consequently all that extra powder and gas behind it gets used up in the muzzle brake.

    No problem hitting a 400yd gong at a local range.
    My UltraLite is setup with just the iron sights and my UltraMag has a OKO red-dot.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  5. Jeff Powellwrote on October 09th, 2009 at 8:07 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    I think the word these people are looking for is impulse. While the total force is not reduced, because of impulse, the actual damage that force does is. Its like Cymond said. Except instead of a hard punch all at once 4 punches that are 1/4 of the strength happening over time.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  6. Thomaswrote on November 30th, 2009 at 7:09 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    unless your a sniper this is completly usless

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Steveresponded to Thomas on November 30th, 2009 at 12:11 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

      Thomas, not true. Shooting .50 BMG is fun. Long range shooting is a sport.

      Please rate this comment: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  7. Mike Suttonwrote on December 15th, 2009 at 2:17 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    I have one in 18″ and love it. Shoulder shoot it all the time. I took it deer hunting,and shot it out of my tree stand.
    It set’s on a DPMS lower. I Have shoot 150 rounds.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  8. Nickwrote on July 09th, 2009 at 3:15 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Okay, but there’s a difference between throwing the intricate working bits of a scope off target, and tearing aluminum.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  9. Justinwrote on January 01st, 2010 at 11:41 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    I just came across this entry and wanted to say that I have one in 22″ and two days ago my 15 year old nephew and 16 year old second cousin shot it from the shoulder and hit a 6×6″ steel plate at 400yds. No complaints about recoil but lots of smiles. I have about 200 rounds through it and haven’t seen any ill effects to the lower.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  10. Freiheitwrote on July 09th, 2009 at 3:09 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Well, lets settle this durability issue. If someone would care to have an AR lower and one of these uppers shipped to me, with a few thousand rounds of ammo, I will happily cover range time, take notes, pictures, and find out how durable it is. :D

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  11. mmatherswrote on July 09th, 2009 at 3:24 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    All the recoil is delivered in a linear fashion from the chamber straight back into the buffer tube/stock. The lower is really just there to have something to put the trigger bits inside of.


    as for having a 18.5″ barrel 50cal that’s designed for being shot from the shoulder? That sounds perfect for varmiting :)

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  12. Canthroswrote on July 09th, 2009 at 1:07 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Something about having ‘ultralight’ and ‘.50 BMG’ in the same sentence sounds dreadfully uncomfortable to me.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  13. Mainsailwrote on July 08th, 2009 at 11:40 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Not knowing much about the AR-15 platform, but is the alloy lower really up to the power of the 50cal?

    The hinge mount is hardly designed for the increased recoil.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  14. Carlwrote on July 09th, 2009 at 4:10 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Mainsail: My thoughts exactly. AR parts on a .50 BMG rifle seems like a recipe for fatigue cracks and various other problems.
    I’m guessing this seemingly questionable design is mainly driven by stupid rules and regulations.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  15. JSwrote on July 09th, 2009 at 6:27 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    This is cool and all (I’d love a .50 BMG Barrett 82A1), but why would you want a “lite” .50 BMG with a ultra-short barrel and without a bi-pod? These things are designed to shoot far, and the extra weight helps reduce the recoil.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  16. Cymondwrote on July 09th, 2009 at 11:05 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Nick, the concern is the stress from the recoil. The upper will recoil backwards, putting force through the lower/shoulder stock and into the shooter. Hopefully, most of the force is absorbed by the muzzle brake, gun’s weight*, and physical movement. Still, there will be some strain on the lower.

    Scopes technically don’t take any stress either, but watch what happens if you put a cheap scope on a high powered rifle and shoot enough rounds. Eventually you can shock and vibrate a cheap scope to the point that it won’t hold its zero anymore. That’s why most scopes are labeled as “shock proof”.

    *Gun weight doesn’t actually reduce the force, but it slows it down. It’s like the difference between a fast punch vs a hard shove.

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  17. XxleoxXwrote on July 08th, 2009 at 10:33 pm Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    doesnt seem like a bad idea :) i would get one

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  18. Vote For Davidwrote on July 09th, 2009 at 7:01 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Nevermind that, how about the blast/report from a 18″ .50BMG rifle?

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Steveresponded to Vote For David on July 09th, 2009 at 9:52 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

      Vote, yep, there would be a lot of blast … not always a bad thing :)

      Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  19. Zombie Slayerwrote on June 15th, 2010 at 7:22 am Link To Comment | Reply To Comment

    Quote: Mike Suttonon
    ” I have one in 18″ and love it. Shoulder shoot it all the time. I took it deer hunting,and shot it out of my tree stand. It set’s on a DPMS lower. I Have shoot 150 rounds. “

    no need to quarter the deer, tho… and the landing was a bit rough… LMAO
    I can just see some overweight, tactiCool guy flying through the air… LMAO

    like one of these retards:
    http://www1.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=888011

    But on a serious note. I am personally getting one for the ensuing Zombie Apocalypse… and I will try to line up as many of those SOBs as I could… kinda like connect the dots…

    Please rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1

Leave a Comment