Welcome everyone to the 144th edition of ‘Hot Gat or Fudd Crap?’, one of our many series here on TFB. If you’re new to the series, this is where we look at the most obscure firearms that are actually for sale and ask the question – is this Gat a sweet deal or only has a Fudd appeal?  Each week the TFB staff weighs in with their thoughts, but readers get the final say in the poll at the bottom of each article.

In our last edition, our poll showed that you, the readers, decided the long Mauser C96 was a hot gat. 

HGFC – Is This Mauser a Wowser or just a Middlerbrow-ser? — Poll Results

At this time the original auction remains up with the C96 still up for grabs.  We hope this historic hot gat finds its way to a new home in the very near future.

In this week’s edition of HGFC, we look at a converted 57mm recoilless rifle chambered in .50BMG. As is tradition, this extraordinary long gat is currently up for sale on GunBroker for $8,000 Starting Bid or $10,000 Buy It Now.  

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP?

Shameless or Self Destructive?

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Shameless or Self Destructive?

Let’s see what the Staff had to say about this week’s offering:

“Bear in mind that ‘rare’ does not necessarily equal ‘good’.” – Will P.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Shameless or Self Destructive?

Selling this converted gat is GunBroker seller 1fozziebear, located in Marthasville, MO.  Let’s see what they had to say about this registered destructive device.  

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Shameless or Self Destructive?

Here is another pretty cool item for sale.  A WWII Firestone 57mm recoilless rifle that has been converted to 50BMG.  The remote trigger works, breach door opens and closes with no issue, same with the safety.  Scope is clear with a few flecks inside.  The battery box is intact but the rubber cables are brittle.  Never tested it because I pretty much assumed it didn’t work.  Easy to repair and get it working though.

This is very heavy and you can shoot it standing but… its a 2 person lift onto your sholder.  Works best off a Vickers or 1917 tripod.   I sold my Vickers 2 weeks ago and now don’t really have a way to mount it anymore.  When is the last time you saw one of these for sale?  The threads are very nice and pronounced inside the rifled barrel (57mm).  If you wanted to and had the skill and time you could probably re-activate this thing after you Form 1 it.    Ships with 100 rnds of ammo since this is the last thing I have that shoot .50cal.

recoilless rifles are cool, hard to find so keep that in mind.   Very heavy and will definitely ship LTL inside  a wooden crate or FTF only.  Buyer pays for the wood to build the crate, winning bid, LTL charges, sales tax and GB fees.

Not being a jerk but if I wanted to accept less than the opening bid, then the opening bid would be less.  Many of the unique and expensive items I’ve listed recently have had lots of “will you take xxx”.  The answer is no, don’t ask.  Buy it or don’t.   I know what I have.  You want it, buy it.  Not in the mood to give you a “deal.”

Q1:  Is this a DD?
A1:  No it is not, just a kick-ass single shot .50 cal and transfer by a Form 4473

Q2:  Can I weld the chamber shut and send it as a “non-firearm”.
A2:  No, technically it is still a firearm.  DEMIL requirement and procedures are listed on the ATF website.  A plugged barrel does not remove it from being classified as a weapon.

Nothing else included in the sale other than listed.  57mm recoilless rifle convereted to 50 BMG, scope, battery box and 100 rnds of ammo.  Anything else in photos is accidental and not for sale.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Shameless or Self Destructive?

What was once a 57mm M18 recoilless rifle is now, well this thing.  The barrel is remarkably short given the amount of real estate this builder was given to work with.  Maybe it was too heavy with a longer barrel?  Who knows as the listing indicates it’s already a whopping 65lbs.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Shameless or Self Destructive?

It’s both impressive and mildly confusing that the gun looks so much like the original.  It’s strange to look at, but maybe I’m just distracted by all the background decor.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Shameless or Self Destructive?

It even looks like it still has the original interrupted lug rotating breech-lock at the rear.  From there, things start looking a little more primitive.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Shameless or Self Destructive?

I’m not saying I’m confused, but moreover, I’m concerned.  I’m not sure what a welded in barrel should look like, but this doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.  Add on the bit about shooting this from a tripod remotely, and I’m 100% not confident in this creation.  I’d be very interested to see someone else shoot it though.

Historic firearms are always worth something, but the question becomes is this worth $8k?  I personally find that price tag hard to believe, but it’s not up to me to decide.  As always I leave it up to you, the readers, to decide.

HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Shameless or Self Destructive?

What do you think?  Is this 57mm Recoilless 50bmg a Hot Gat or cobbled together Fudd Crap?  Be sure to let us know in the comments below, and cast your vote to let us know if this 57mm Recoilless 50bmg Destructive Device is a Hot Gat or Fudd Crap: