20/50 vs 50bmg and 338LM

millsd

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Apr 29, 2010
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Anyone thoughts on the 20/50 cartridge as a long range alternative to the 50 or 338? I have the latter and will likely have a 50 by end of year, but while I'm waiting, just looking around at other options that may or may not be better...
 
Re: 20/50 vs 50bmg and 338LM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Millsd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">yes, it's a necked down 20mm with a 50 cal bullet. Looks impressive, but I don't really know anything about how well it shoots. </div></div>

Gale McMillan created the 50 "Fat Mac" for this purpose as I recall. It supposedly throws a 750 Amax at 34-3500fps, it's essentially a 50 Short Mag, using a 20 Vulcan case chopped and necked to 50 cal.

The neck is exceedingly short, in the 1/2 caliber range it appears from pictures. Barrel life is appropriately short as well.

EDIT: I was mistaken with information that I quoted from past reading, <span style="font-weight: bold">Later</span> cleared up the actual performance of the round below.
 
Re: 20/50 vs 50bmg and 338LM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bohem</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Millsd said:
Barrel life is approprately short as well, but for what it does, it does well. </div></div>

The fat mac is different to my knowledge, but with a barrel life of 100 rounds...I suppose I can see why this hasn't gained in popularity.
 
Re: 20/50 vs 50bmg and 338LM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bohem</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
but for what it does, it does well.</div></div>

Actually that is not correct..It did NOT do well in regards to what it was designed for. They could not even complete a 1000yd BR string completed without the thing fouling so bad that the last couple in the string would be off the entire target.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Millsd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">yes, it's a necked down 20mm with a 50 cal bullet. Looks impressive, but I don't really know anything about how well it shoots.</div></div>

You don't hear anything about it because there are issues with it
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and the only people contemplating one are the people that by into the "faster is always better hype". Heck I was only about 2 steps from having my design completed but that evolved due to the same issues and I was not gonna waste any more time on something that was not gonna do what I wanted it to do. This concept as well as my concept was to bridge the gap between ELR shooting and HTI shooting....well it doesn't so it is what it is
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Thanks
 
Re: 20/50 vs 50bmg and 338LM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Later</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bohem</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
but for what it does, it does well.</div></div>

Actually that is not correct..It did NOT do well in regards to what it was designed for. They could not even complete a 1000yd BR string completed without the thing fouling so bad that the last couple in the string would be off the entire target.
</div></div>

I read one or two small articles about it and the consensus was it was a barrel burner but it shot well. I haven't seen it firsthand, I'll trust your information on it over something that I have no idea what the pedigree is.

Thanks for adding and putting out the good info, I'm going to change my post above so it doesn't get confused later.