Tactilite T2 : Magazine-Fed .50 BMG Upper Receiver for AR-15s
Zel Custom's Tactlite T2 has finally gone into production. Legally, it is a firearm accessory and not a actual firearm because it mounts on an AR-15 lower receiver. This means you need no paper work to purchase the T2.
From the press release ...
Zel Custom Manufacturing introduces the Tactilite T2, a magazine-fed, bolt-action .50 BMG conversion for AR-15 style rifles. The T2 utilizes a side-mounted magazine design (similar to a Sten gun) on Zel Custom’s unique steel billet upper receiver. As a “firearms accessory”, the Tactilite T2 .50 BMG conversion kit requires no special paperwork, background check or waiting period.
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The T2 receiver is CNC-machined from solid 4140 steel bar stock, heat treated for greater strength and durability, and features an integrated scope rail, for superior accuracy. The T2 comes standard with a 7075 aluminum quad-rail, black CeraKote finish and one 5-round Accuracy International magazine. Available options include choice of Mossberg or Lothar-Walther barrels, choice of barrel contour and choice of right- or left-handed receiver. Prices start at $2298.
Did anynot notice the Magpul PRS stock????? its beautiful :’)
seriously where do you order this?
Looks to be a straight inline design. Appears a major concern to be how well one may be able to hold on. Had a girlfriend once that shot a S&W M-29. Let her try my Auto Mag and it bit her.
I am ready to purchase the upper but im trying to find the best place online to order it and to see what different options you can get it in…..if anyone has the info I need please email me at soul_grind66@yahoo.com
Video shooting ZEL’s .338 Lapua, 416 Barrett and T2 .50 BMG
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=151534244874754
I have heard people say that they could shot a Zel Custom upper all day (29″ Duty & OS brake). Or at least until MY ammo ran out. Question: are all of the the people that stress over stressing the lower sellers of high dollar complete systems?
Although the muzzle brake looks seriously massive, I’m still imagining getting brutally smashed in the face by the magazine under recoil.
Also, there have been a couple really serious KaBooms with single-shot .50BMG uppers (NOT Zel Custom uppers, AFAIK). Maybe there were other forces at play, such as adjustable triggers, but I don’t know that I could remember to engage the safety before working the bolt each time, which one company was emphatic about in the manual for a .50BMG upper.
Cobb Arms did this several years back with a single shot. The mass and muzzle brake keep the stress on the lower manageable.
@Joshua
Crossbow upper? yep.
Blackpowder upper? yep.
Rubberband upper? well, not yet.
84mm upper? Yeah.
Bullzebub,
That’s it! Great searching skills!
d’oh! maybe i should have pasted the link too!
http://www.weaponeer.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8035&PN=2&TPN=2
jdun1911: thats orions hammer’s AR, he made a wood lower first (in PINE!) but it dint work so well.
primussucks, all the options I saw on that page included the “semi automatic lower receiver,” meaning they were selling the complete gun. I might guess that was to avoid pissing off the BATFE by basically selling a machine gun that only needed a lower with a full auto sear. Just a guess though.
The law as I understand it considers the serialized part of the firearm the “gun.” The frame on your Glock, the lower on your AR, the main receiver in most traditional guns. This was the reason Magpul was considering serializing the upper on their Masada (before it went to Bushmaster). That way, they could switch out lowers with different dimension magwells and only change the bolt face and barrel on the upper to accommodate different calibers.
Technically, this isn’t any different than ordering any other upper for you AR. If I can order a .50 Beowulf upper from Alexander Arms for my AR, why not a .50 BMG? In reality, I can see where this is just begging the gun grabbers to take to their million mom marches again.
AIM Surplus has some cheap 50 BMG from Singapore, 5+ cans shipped is $2/round
About the lower and stress. While the lower is a pretty recoil stress free component, the joint between the lower and the stock isn’t. High speed camera work shows noticeable flex there (and at the barrel/upper junction). Eventually, you’re likely to tear some threads out if you aren’t careful.
BTW don’t watch AKs in slow motion, it’s scary how much they flex. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Zel Customs: If you’re reading this, I’d love a mag-fed upper in regular magnum chamberings, like 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, or .338 Win Mag. Maybe even a RUM or .338 Edge.
Make an upper that can take Savage barrels/locking nuts, and you’d be golden.
Best,
JBR
Here is an AR15 lower that is made out of cutting board.
http://rpginn.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1026&Itemid=39
Someone posted a long time ago an AR15 lower made out of wood. Shame that I didn’t save the picture.
Can anyone say for sure which stocks would work with this and which wouldn’t?
Obviously most AR-15 stocks will never see this much recoil and weren’t designed to cope.
NICE :>)
This is of course, asking for a ban on “accessories”.
Mother of God….
Barrett owner here -How will the AR lower assy/stock handle the recoil?
Seems kind of a light weight frame to fire the .50 from.
Pure genius!
Oh wow…. If I wasnt buying an new motorcycle next year…
maybe i can eat ramen for a few months
I would think that it would put more stress on the AR lower receiver than is intended, especially the Take down pins. Also you would need to get a good stock to absorb recoil.
Still not legal in California. I’d take one chambered in .416 though.
Wouldn’t this upper be treated as a firearm if it has the magwell on it? The XMG upper for AR lowers is pretty much the same idea and it has to be shipped to an FFL – http://www.brpguns.com/categories/Firearms/XMG-Belt%252dFed-AR%252d15%7B47%7DM16-Upper-Receiver/.
Well, that’s it. I’ve seen it all. You can officially put ANYTHING on top of an AR-15 lower.
That’s actually pretty attractive. I like the WW1 anti tank rifle aesthetic about it.
Very cool. Although I can see this being ammunition in the stricter state control of “firearm accessories.”
As awesomely cool as this thing is, I can imagine it becoming one of the world’s most expensive dust collectors after the AR-15 crowd take it to the range once and then never use it again.
With the limited availability of 1000 yard ranges, ammo at $5 a round and a brick ton of recoil, you’d have to be a pretty dedicated shooter to enjoy the .50 BMG experience.
On the plus side, if you have an old AR-15 receiver, then this is certainly the cheapest option for acquiring a .50 caliber rifle.
I’m confused; why would you need Paperwork for this? California, maybe?
Holy fraggle rock. Expensive, considering a range trip will also cost a lot. Bipod included?
I’m not an engineering expert or anything, but are they sure an aluminium lower will be able to keep up with .50BMG recoil for a high number of rounds ?
Vak, the lower does not come under stress. It could be made out of plastic or wood and it would be fine.