AK-50
| AK-50 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Semi automatic anti-materiel rifle |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Brandon Herrera |
| Manufacturer | The AK Guy Inc. |
| Unit cost | $6,999 (estimated) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 32 pounds (14.5 kg) (estimated) |
| Barrel length | 20 inches (508 mm) 28 inches (711 mm) |
| Cartridge | .50 BMG |
| Action | Gas operated rotating bolt |
| Feed system | 10-round detachable box magazine |
The AK-50 is a prototype Kalashnikov anti-materiel rifle created by The AK Guy Inc. The first example was revealed to the public in 2016 and the weapon has been in active development since.
History[edit]
The rifle's design faced several problems in its earliest stages. Due to an undersized gas port, the rifle could not eject spent casings, preventing it from properly cycling the next round in the magazine. Herrera said that in the development process, "fixing one problem leads to the discovery of other issues. And this is a continuous process until the design is finally perfected and the gun works flawlessly."[1]
In 2016, a model AK-50 was displayed at SHOT Show, and though this model lacked any moving parts, it served as a basic silhouette for the weapon, and is the only completed AK-50 that has been shown to the public.[2]
In 2017, the V1 AK-50's bolt, bolt carrier, and receiver were completed, and the weapon successfully fired its first round.[3][4]
In 2020, Brandon uploaded a video to his YouTube channel, showcasing a prototype breechloading version of the AK-50, with the gas piston removed. In a later video, he claimed that he would be receiving all the parts needed to complete the first "ghetto prototype" within the first few weeks of 2021.[5]
In May 2021, in response to complaints that the AK-50 still was not done, Brandon "decided to jokingly offer a treat to his impatient fans" by building an AK in .50 Beowulf, which he called the 'AK-50 Lite'.[6]
In June 2021, a video was uploaded to Brandon Herrera's YouTube channel recording the first test firing of the V2 AK-50 prototype. During this test, the rifle successfully fired and ejected eight rounds consecutively. The rifle performed very well after tweaks to the bolt carrier were made to allow the gun to cycle. "This janky junkyard AK-50 prototype had already performed and done more than any AK-50 prototype so far has ever done." In total, the rifle fired 68 rounds.[7] In Early July 2021, Herrera uploaded a follow up video to his YouTube channel explaining what happened with the AK-50 during the test fire and how they fixed some of the gun's problems.[8]
In Mid July 2021, Herrera uploaded another test fire video entitled "Firing Round #69", a reference to the internet meme. The Rifle failed to cycle numerous times because several components were lightly welded or soldered and often broke in an attempt to allow for easy interchangeability of components. The rifle fired 16 rounds in the video, for a new total of 84 rounds.[9]
Design[edit]
Though not designed by Kalashnikov Concern, internally the AK-50 is mostly identical to a regular Kalashnikov rifle, utilising the same long-stroke piston gas operated rotating bolt design. The AK-50 is compatible with a standard AK stock, pistol grip and trigger group,[10] and uses Barrett M82 magazines.[11]
Designer[edit]
The AK-50 was created by Brandon Herrera (a.k.a. The AK Guy),[12] a firearm designer and YouTuber from Fayetteville, North Carolina who specialises in Kalashnikov rifles.[13] His decision to build the AK-50 started "as a joke", but after people told him that it was impossible, he wished to prove them wrong. Herrera dropped out of law school at Campbell University to become a gunsmith.[14] Brandon's YouTube channel features gun-related content, including updates on the progress of the AK-50. As of 2020, his channel had a total of 110,000,000 views.[15]
External links[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ Hrachya, H. "AK-50 Project: Progress and Current Status". The Firearm Blog. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Miles. "[SHOT 2016] AK50 prototype". The Firearm Blog. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Hrachya, H. "AK-50 Successfully Fires its First .50 BMG Round". The Firearm Blog. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "VIDEO: First Official Test Fire of the Long-Awaited AK-50". Tactical Life. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Herrera, Brandon. "IT'S FINALLY OVER". YouTube. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ O, Giorgio (2021-05-21). "AK-50? Not Quite! AK-50 Lite by Brandon Herrera". The Firearm Blog. Retrieved 2021-05-21. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Herrera, Brandon. "Test Firing The AK-50". Youtube. Brandon Herrera.
- ↑ Herrera, Brandon. "AK-50: What Went Wrong?". Youtube. Brandon Herrera.
- ↑ Herrera, Brandon. "AK-50 Update - Firing Round #69". Youtube. Brandon Herrera.
- ↑ Bowan, Spike. "Introducing the AK-50: Pushing the AK Platform to the limits*Update*". Tactical Shit. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Humphries, Michael. "AK-50: An Exclusive Sneak Peek at The AK Guy's New .50 BMG". Tactical Life. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Eger, Chris. "A SOMEWHAT SLANTED VIEW OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AK GUYS AND AR GUYS (VIDEOS)". Guns.com. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "About". The AK Guy. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Baates, Graham. "Q&A With the 'AK Guy' and a Look at His Successful, Sub-$1,000 AKG-47". Tactical Life. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Brandon Herrera". Archived from the original on 2020-11-29. Retrieved 2020-04-12. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
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