wondering

[banshee385]

do you need any traning to get a 50cal? gun lisence or anything ?

[FullClip]

At least in Maine, no special requirements regarding license or training for a .50. However, I don't think it would be a good "beginners gun". You're dancin' with the big girls when you touch off a .50 so wise iea to work your way up and have some experiance with smaller stuff first.

[glockophile]

Originally posted by banshee385
do you need any traning to get a 50cal? gun lisence or anything ?

In California, you can't buy a 50BMG at all now. But in most of the rest of the US, it's just like any other rifle. Pay your money, pass the NICS check, go home with your new gun. You need to be over 18, a resident of the state, have a clean record and a valid ID.

BUT, please forgive me if my assumptions are not correct, as I mean no offense... but from the way you asked your question, I am guessing that you haven't had much experience buying firearms. As the other poster said, a 50 BMG is NOT a good choice for a first gun. Not good at all. There are quite a few reasons for this:

1. It may be hard to find a place to practice. Most ranges won't allow it.

2. It may not be fun to practice very much. Recoil can be punishing, esp. if you aren't used to dealing with recoil. Just lugging the gun to and from a range is a hassle. Ammo is prohibitively expensive, too.

3. Negligent firearms handling is always bad but the damage that could be caused by a 50 BMG put it in its own category of danger. The bullet could go through a wall and kill someone a mile away.

4. They are quite expensive and you might not like it.

5. And, most important of all, there are very few if any opportunities to get professional training for it, unless you happen to be in the service of your country. The most valuable thing a gun owner can spend money on is professional firearms training. It will make you safe and skilled and you will get the most out of being a gun owner. I don't know of any classes that you can take with a 50 BMG. You'll miss out on some great tactical and practical classes that you could take with an ordinary rifle, shotgun or handgun.

So, forgive me if this is all stuff you already know, but I wanted to point it out just in case.

[banshee385]

i figured you just had to pass a background check but wasnt sure cause i mostly see the 50cal on tv shot by snipers and amry folks so i figure u need milatary training i have shot big cal rifles before never a 50cal

[limeyyank]

I was just wondering what you mean by "big caliber rifles" 308? 30-06? 300 mag? I not trying to be nasty but they all don't hold a candle to a 50 in recoil. As far as training goes almost any rifle training can be applyed to shooting a BMG its just you can shoot a lot further with a 50 than you can with most other long guns. "dopeing" the wind is a major factor in long distance shooting. And with 50 you have bullet climb to deal with as well if the wind is right. just so you get a idea my target round drops 128" @ 1000 yds and with a 5mph cross wind 90 degrees you can get as much as 48" drift.Now if you have a 90* wind comming from the right ( I shoot a right hand twist barrel) with wind climb you can loose 30 to 40 " of drop!!! and thats all got to be figured out BEFORE you squeeze the trigger.

Hope that helps...:soap:

Mark