Soooo many threads running here....
Military 50cal:
I believe (and please correct me on any points here)....
The 50BMG cal was originally designed for medium machine guns. Ground/vehicle/aircraft use.
It was only after civilians developed shoulder fired rifles for the calibre, that the military started to look at that application. And initially brought civilian market firearms.
And in military use, it is mostly used in antimateriel roles, ie. against equipment. In sniping use, against lightly armoured equipment/installations or just something you want to put a hole on, such as the engine of an aircraft on the ground. This is mostly because the bullet is big enough, to aloow you st stuff interesting things into it.
Though one may use whatever is at hand is a tight corner, it is not the primary roll to use a 50BMG against soft targets.
Their main useage in modern warefare is using expolsive ammunition, for use in bomb/ordenance disposal.
(The current UK government consultation on banning these guns for civilian target shooters, is badly flawed. As it is the bullets that are the anti-materiel part of the system, and target shooters cannot legally obtain or posess those anyway.
The actual ban proposed will be for higher powered chamberings, which will catch some of the big game calibres. And the consultation seems to have missed that the compensationcosts that are being presented, could be way out if they have to pay up for just one new Holland and Holland double rifle.
I'll got off that soap box now....)
Game shooting:
In the UK, isn't hunting only when you use dogs? Stalking/shooting is when you go out with rucksack and rifle.
Is barrel wear really an issue, for the number of rounds expended on shooting game/zeroing?
.243 is mostly considered to be a fox round in the UK. It is legal for deer over here, but most people I've spoken to feel it to be too low power and risks a less than humane kill. I am in the process of adding a deer rifle to my FAC and have decided to go for 308win. It's a calibre I've used for tagret shooting for decades and would feel happier with the heavier bullet.
Military 50cal:
I believe (and please correct me on any points here)....
The 50BMG cal was originally designed for medium machine guns. Ground/vehicle/aircraft use.
It was only after civilians developed shoulder fired rifles for the calibre, that the military started to look at that application. And initially brought civilian market firearms.
And in military use, it is mostly used in antimateriel roles, ie. against equipment. In sniping use, against lightly armoured equipment/installations or just something you want to put a hole on, such as the engine of an aircraft on the ground. This is mostly because the bullet is big enough, to aloow you st stuff interesting things into it.
Though one may use whatever is at hand is a tight corner, it is not the primary roll to use a 50BMG against soft targets.
Their main useage in modern warefare is using expolsive ammunition, for use in bomb/ordenance disposal.
(The current UK government consultation on banning these guns for civilian target shooters, is badly flawed. As it is the bullets that are the anti-materiel part of the system, and target shooters cannot legally obtain or posess those anyway.
The actual ban proposed will be for higher powered chamberings, which will catch some of the big game calibres. And the consultation seems to have missed that the compensationcosts that are being presented, could be way out if they have to pay up for just one new Holland and Holland double rifle.
I'll got off that soap box now....)
Game shooting:
In the UK, isn't hunting only when you use dogs? Stalking/shooting is when you go out with rucksack and rifle.
Is barrel wear really an issue, for the number of rounds expended on shooting game/zeroing?
.243 is mostly considered to be a fox round in the UK. It is legal for deer over here, but most people I've spoken to feel it to be too low power and risks a less than humane kill. I am in the process of adding a deer rifle to my FAC and have decided to go for 308win. It's a calibre I've used for tagret shooting for decades and would feel happier with the heavier bullet.