THE CARTEL BUILT A .50 CAL SUBMACHINE GUN (Kind of)

Published on October 28, 2022
Duration: 12:28

This video debunks the idea of a cartel-built .50 BMG submachine gun, presenting evidence it's likely a crude bolt-action rifle. Brandon Herrera explains the physics behind why a blowback .50 BMG SMG is impractical, requiring an impractically heavy bolt and resulting in poor ballistic efficiency due to short barrel length. The analysis highlights the engineering challenges of adapting high-pressure rounds to simple operating systems.

Quick Summary

The viral cartel-built .50 caliber firearm is likely a bolt-action rifle, not a submachine gun. Building a functional .50 BMG blowback SMG is impractical due to the immense bolt weight required (~29 lbs) and short barrels lead to poor ballistic efficiency, comparable to a .308.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: The Viral Cartel .50 Cal
  2. 00:47Origin & Skepticism: Brazilian Police Seizure
  3. 02:20Bolt-Action Theory Debunked
  4. 03:29Ballistic Inefficiency of Short Barrels
  5. 06:08Physics of Blowback Systems
  6. 08:30The 29-Pound Bolt Calculation
  7. 10:22Energy Comparison: .50 Cal vs .308

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the viral cartel .50 caliber firearm a submachine gun?

No, evidence suggests the viral firearm, allegedly built by a cartel, is likely a crude bolt-action rifle. Visual analysis shows a bolt handle, and the design is impractical for a functional automatic weapon in .50 BMG.

Why is a .50 BMG submachine gun difficult to build using a blowback system?

A .50 BMG blowback SMG would require an impractically heavy bolt, estimated at around 29 pounds, to safely cycle the high-pressure round. This makes the weapon excessively heavy and difficult to manage.

What are the ballistic limitations of a short-barreled .50 BMG firearm?

A .50 BMG round needs a long barrel (20-30 inches) for optimal powder burn. A short barrel, like the estimated 7.5 inches on the improvised weapon, results in poor velocity and significantly reduced energy output.

How much energy does a short-barreled .50 BMG produce?

When fired from a very short barrel (around 7.5 inches), a .50 BMG round would only generate approximately 2,900 ft-lbs of energy. This is comparable to the energy output of a standard .308 Winchester rifle.

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