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At every 50cal competition we always get many
questions regarding the reloading of the 50BMG cartridge, such as cost
of components and sources of reloading gear. We'll have a quick look at
the basics required to get a new 50cal shooter up and running. Reloading
the big 50 can be done two ways, the 'quick and easy' way for plinkers
and reasonable quality target ammo or the hard and laborious way for
precision match events, we'll look at the 'quick and easy' method and
attach a link to other sites that already specialise in the fine art of
match grade ammunition production.A
supply of reloading components for the 50BMG cartridge is available in
the UK thanks to people like Peter Lawman although most components are
not often found on your regular gun smiths shelves, also CCI No. 35
primers are getting harder to obtain, but don't worry there are at least
three European brands that are even better than the CCI and one
Russian brand now
available. Some parts are best purchased from mainland Europe or the US
rather than here in the UK simply because they are so much cheaper (it's
expensive enough right!), and if you're willing to pay the customs
charge the actual reloading dies can be had from the US for half the
regular UK price and better quality, however thanks to a generous
discount offered by Pete to FCSA members you only have to look as far as
Northampton
Specialist 50BMG case preparation tools and
powder throwers are now easily affordable to the average 50cal owner and
certainly make the reloading process a lot quicker, links to suppliers
of these recommended tools can be found below.
Basic equipment you will need:
Ballistic
calculator, get familiar with your ammunition, try this one (click
here), print out the resulting table, several 50cal ammunition types
are listed. Two example tables are located at the foot of this page, one
for regular military surplus 660gn FMJ and the other for 750 gn Lapua.
A set of scales that can weigh up to
at least 800gn without spilling powder all over your bench - not just
for powder to but very useful when batching reclaimed military surplus
50BMG bullets as there can be massive differences in bullet
weights for tracers.
50BMG Case trimmer tool, manual will
do fine to begin with - and help build that upper body strength required
for lifting that rifle. Power trimmers start at $275 from CH 4D tool and
Die (A USA company that many of our members have used- please see link
below)
De-burr tool
Primer pocket scraper/cleaner
Powder thrower,
large capacity- big throw (not essential but
makes the job at lot quicker!) Check out
www.hornady.com/shop
 Left:
Hornady @ only $109 + $30 shipping to the UK
A very big press attached to a very
strong bench - use big bolts and re-enforcing plates
Dies & primer ram (either full
length or neck sizing dies depending on chamber and type of cases used).
"CH 4d tool and die" dies are only $215 a
set for the rare calibers or Lee 50BMG dies are less than £90 from Peter
Lawman
 Left:
Hornady 50BMG dies @ $289
.. and if you are shooting re-claimed
mil-surplus ball/tracer heads then a bullet re-sizing die from
www.ch4d.com is a good idea if you
value your rifle.
Reloading the 50BMG round is just like reloading any other large rifle
cartridge, the same safety rules apply however beware of minute cracks
in the case neck area, these will blow out quite dramatically venting
red hot gas back through your bolt and usually results in a neck
separation. Usually a good 50BMG case can be reloaded at least 5 times.
Beware of any rifle or round of ammunition that requires the bolt to be
closed with a hammer, we've seen bolt handles break off at least twice
recently.
Primers (UK market)
Two types of primer are available in
the UK, the CCI is becoming rare now however the Russian 50BMG primer as
made by the 'Murom apparatus
producing plant', the KVB-50 is in stock with Pete Lawman.
Close-up of the CCI35 and the KVB-50 (CCI left, smooth surface, no
grind marks)
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Lapua BulleX 800gn Molly coated