Monster BAT Discovered at Bruno’s
BAT .50 BMG — Now That’s an Action!, by GAS
A while back, I stopped into Bruno Shooters Supply for a jug of powder and looked into the display case where the new actions are kept. Amid the usual array of BAT Machine, Stolle and other actions, there was something unlike any action I’d seen before — all I can call it is the BIG BAT. I wasn’t too surprised at the weight (a beefy 13.7 lbs.), but until you lift it it’s hard to appreciate how solid, chunky, hefty, massive (pick your favorite adjective) this thing really is. The action is a 2.5″-diameter, 12″-long BAT for the .50 BMG cartridge. It is simply the biggest, slickest custom action on the planet. In order to give you some sense of scale, I photographed the action alongside a conventional BAT action for short-range Benchrest shooting and I put a .220 Russian case and a .30-06 case into the picture. I’ve handled and fired other .50 BMG actions/rifles before, but this BAT puts them all to shame, as far as fit and finish go.
The action is actually quite conventional in design and execution. The bolt is fluted and has two front lugs with a conventional, although super-sized, firing pin assembly. Any Remington-style trigger will mount by way of a normal trigger hanger, allowing for simplified maintenance or replacement in the field. The loading port is 5.5″ long and the barrel threads are 1.5″ x 16 tpi — nothing about this beast is small! There is a conventional rocker-type bolt release on the left side of the receiver body and a recoil lug is built into the bottom of the receiver. In reality, the action is very similar to any other BAT except for the size and it adheres to all of BAT’s high standards for quality of design, manufacture, fit, finish and just plain good looks. Slide that bolt back and it feels as tight as a small Benchrest action!
Given the BIG BAT’s $3,285.00 sticker price (2011 pricing), not many of us will ever have the opportunity to own or shoot one of these beauties (I certainly won’t). However, it is nice to know they exist and can be bought and enjoyed in many places.
Similar Posts:
- Supersized BAT Sighted at Bruno Shooters Supply
- Giant BAT Sighted at Bruno Shooters Supply
- .308-Boltface Rem 700 Actions at Bruno's for $425.00.
- Barnard Actions on Sale at Whidden Gunworks
- New Single-Shot Actions & Target Rifles from Vudoo Gun Works
Tags: 50 BMG, BAT Machine, Custom Action, Model EX BAT
Given that a single .50 BMG round costs upwards of $4 to reload, I doubt anyone who’d own one of these — and afford to shoot with it — would be put off by the price tag much. As a work of Art? One could always put it on a pedestal I suppose….
They are impressive! Mark King built himself a 50 Imp on one of these actions…it is truly a sight to behold!
JB
I purchased one of these possibly in the same production run. – Be ready to wait +6 months if you do order one. – And Yes, These are truely an “ultimate” action. – The BARNARD Model GP (MT Guns) is Also another “fine” action for the 50 builder.
-RM=
Great piece German!
Lucky for you it is a right hand action that you cannot use, or you would probably be the proud owner of it right now and trying to figure out what you would build it up into . . . a 50BR?
Robert Whitley
Robert, I think you’re probably right about that! If it were a lefty I might have had to sell the car to buy it and walk home. I keep thinking about a mega rail gun with this action – everything polished, just a pure display of machinery. I think that would be cool. Just a pipe dream of course, but fun to think about.
If anyones interested theres a UK rifle company ABT Rifle Systems who are building all sorts of long range rifle actions, both repeaters and single shot 408’s, 416’s, 375-50 BMG and 50BMG, and I understand they are either left or right handed,
Give Bruce a call… I’d bet he’d be willing to make you a left hand action…..