AK-50
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.
| AK-50 | |
|---|---|
| Type | 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 |
| Effective firing range | 3,000 yards (2,743 m) |
| Feed system | 10-round detachable box magazine |
History
Development of the AK-50 began in 2015 by Brandon Herrera, founder of The AK Guy Inc. because "sometimes bad guys hide behind shit."[1]
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."[2]
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.[3]
In 2017, the AK-50's bolt, bolt carrier, and receiver were completed, and the weapon successfully fired its first round.[4][5]
In 2020, Brandon uploaded a video to his YouTube channel, showcasing a functional breechloading version of the AK-50. In a later video, he claimed that he would be receiving all the parts needed to complete the first "ghetto prototype" within the first weeks of 2021.[6]
Design
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,[7] and uses Barrett M82 magazines.[8]
Designer
The AK-50 was created by Brandon Herrera (a.k.a. The AK Guy),[9] a firearm designer and YouTuber from Fayetteville, North Carolina who specialises in Kalashnikov rifles.[10] 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 gun builder.[11] Brandon's YouTube channel features gun-related content, including updates on the progress of the AK-50. As of 2020, his channel has a total of 110,000,000 views.[12]
References
- Fischer, Ford. "INSIDE THE AK-50: AN AK ON STEROIDS". News 2 Share.
- Hrachya, H. "AK-50 Project: Progress and Current Status". The Firearm Blog.
- Miles. "[SHOT 2016] AK50 prototype". The Firearm Blog.
- Hrachya, H. "AK-50 Successfully Fires its First .50 BMG Round". The Firearm Blog.
- "VIDEO: First Official Test Fire of the Long-Awaited AK-50". Tactical Life.
- Herrera, Brandon. "IT'S FINALLY OVER". YouTube.
- Bowan, Spike. "Introducing the AK-50: Pushing the AK Platform to the limits*Update*". Tactical Shit.
- Humphries, Michael. "AK-50: An Exclusive Sneak Peek at The AK Guy's New .50 BMG". Tactical Life.
- Eger, Chris. "A SOMEWHAT SLANTED VIEW OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AK GUYS AND AR GUYS (VIDEOS)". Guns.com.
- "About". The AK Guy.
- Baates, Graham. "Q&A With the 'AK Guy' and a Look at His Successful, Sub-$1,000 AKG-47". Tactical Life.
- "Brandon Herrera". Archived from the original on 2020-11-29. Retrieved 2020-04-12.