ArmaLite AR-50

Bolt-Action Anti-Tank (AT) / Anti-Material Rifle (AMR)

United States | 1999

"The ArmaLite AR-50, introduced in 1999, entered a crowded - and ever-growing - market for .50 caliber anti-material type weapons."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 06/03/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Image from official ArmaLite marketing material.

The Anti-Material Rifle (AMR) rifle is a burgeoning one with many different flavors available to suit customer requirements. In the late 1990s, ArmaLite undertook development of a new .50 caliber system all their own as the "AR-50". The weapon relies on a manually-actuated, bolt-action system firing either the .50 BMG or .416 Barrett cartridge. It has been in production since 1999.

Weighing in at 34lb, the AR-50 sports many of the features commonly associated with guns of this caliber: long, heavy-duty barrel assembly, an over-receiver optics fit, and a forend bipod assembly. Overall length is 59.5 inches. The exterior design is smooth with many fine lines running horizontally. The bolt lever is set over the right side of the weapon, favoring right-handing shooters. The trigger unit sits under the receiver in the traditional way. The skeletal shoulder stock helps reduce recoil and features such creature comforts as a buttpad and cheekpiece. At the business end of the barrel is a large, multi-baffled brake which also aids in recoil. Internally, the barrel has 1:15 right-handed rifling and is octagonal in shape. A monopod is fitted under the shoulder stock as an additional support point. The optics fit is installed over the receiver in the usual way though the Picatinny rail system lets the user customize the optics fit.

Under the AR-50 product name are three major variants of the base design: the AR-50A1B is the standard offering (an upgrade from the original AR-50A1) and chambered for .50 BMG. The AR-50-A1BNM is chambered for match grade ammunition in .50 BMG. AR-50-A1B-416 is chambered for the aforementioned .416 Barrett cartridge. The AR.30 is a dimensionally smaller version of the AR-50 and appropriately chambered for smaller caliber rifle cartridges such as .308 Winchester and .338 Lapua Magnum.

The .416 serves as an alternative to the .50 BMG and was introduced in 2005 following a request by the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division. It is decidedly shorter than its BMG cousin.

The AR-50 is in circulation in the United States and Malaysia. In the latter, it serves PASKAL special forces elements.

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Physical
The physical qualities of the ArmaLite AR-50. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

1,511 mm
59.49 in
O/A Length

34.17 lb
15.50 kg
Weight

Manually-Actuated Bolt-Action System
Action

12.7x99mm NATO (.50 BMG); .416 Barrett
Caliber(s)

10-round detachable box magazine
Feed

Various Optics
Sights

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the ArmaLite AR-50. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

8,000 ft
2,438.4 m | 2,666.7 yds
Max.Eff.Range

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the ArmaLite AR-50 Bolt-Action Anti-Tank (AT) / Anti-Material Rifle (AMR) family line.

AR-50 - Base Series Deisgnation

AR-50-A1 - Original product offering

AR-50-A1B - Improved model with revised bolt stop and action; reinforced muzzle brake; chambered for .50 BMG.

AR-50-A1BNM - Chambered for .50 BMG match grade ammunition.

AR-50-A1B-416 - Chambered for .416 Barrett ammunition.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the ArmaLite AR-50. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): ArmaLite - USA

[ Malaysia; United States ]

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Image from official ArmaLite marketing material.

Design Qualities
Some designs are single-minded in their approach while others offer a more versatile solution to requirements.

ACCURACY/PRECISION

ANTI-TANK/MATERIAL

Recognition
Some designs stand the test of time while others are doomed to never advance beyond the drawing board; let history be their judge.

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Going Further...
The ArmaLite AR-50 Bolt-Action Anti-Tank (AT) / Anti-Material Rifle (AMR) appears in the following collections:

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