AK-50 UPDATE - May 2021

The AK-50 project, a 10-year endeavor by Brandon Herrera, aimed to scale the AK platform to .50 BMG. Early prototypes like V1 struggled with feeding, while V2 introduced a stamped receiver and a triangular bolt head. The refined V3 prototype features a match-grade barrel and monolithic handguard, demonstrating significant reliability improvements after approximately 500 rounds.

Brandon Herrera details significant improvements to the AK-50 prototype, focusing on a new double recoil spring assembly designed to enhance reliability. While live fire testing showed progress, cycling and ejection issues persist, particularly with standard ammunition. Further adjustments to the gas system and ejection geometry are planned.

This video provides an in-depth update on Brandon Herrera's AK-50 project, detailing the transition from the V2 firing prototype to the upcoming V3 model. Key advancements include a redesigned front trunnion and receiver for enhanced strength, a hinged piston for easier disassembly, and aesthetic updates inspired by other AK platforms. The focus is on overcoming the significant engineering challenges of creating a semi-automatic .50 BMG rifle.

This video showcases a custom AK build undergoing extreme reliability tests, including sand and food-based contamination, followed by live fire. Despite the abuse, the rifle successfully cycles in semi-auto and full-auto, demonstrating remarkable resilience. Brandon Herrera expresses surprise at its performance, highlighting the robust nature of the AK platform.

Brandon Herrera provides an update on the AK-50 project, detailing the resumption of development at Mad Custom after a business growth hiatus. The V5 revision focuses on redesigning the cam group to address durability issues with the .50 BMG caliber. The video highlights the use of 3D-printed prototypes for design validation before final machining and introduces the 'Brass Valley' program for firearm design development.

Brandon Herrera provides a detailed update on the AK-50 project, addressing delays and design evolution from V1 to V4. He highlights significant machining challenges, particularly with complex one-off parts requiring specialized CNC equipment. The V4 design introduces modularity to simplify manufacturing, exploring advanced techniques like DMLS for non-critical components while ensuring critical parts like the bolt and barrel extension are CNC machined from billet steel. A functional V4 prototype is targeted for early December.

This video tests the 'magic bullet' theory surrounding the JFK assassination using a 6.5 Carcano rifle and a ballistic skull. Recovered bullets showed less deformation than expected, challenging assumptions about the original evidence. The test highlights the unpredictable nature of bullet performance after impact.

This video tests a Pedersoli Baby Philadelphia Derringer replica, the type used by John Wilkes Booth to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. The test demonstrates the .45 caliber black powder pistol's surprising close-range power, capable of penetrating a beverage can and causing significant fragmentation in a ballistic dummy head. The analysis compares the impact to historical accounts of Lincoln's skull fragments, highlighting the effectiveness of historical firearms.

This video compilation highlights critical firearm safety failures, emphasizing the dangers of ignoring basic rules. It features incidents like accidental discharges due to poor recoil management on revolvers and unsafe reholstering practices. The content serves as a stark educational tool, warning against dangerous internet trends and reinforcing the importance of responsible gun handling to prevent life-altering injuries.

This video analyzes the assassination attempt on Donald Trump by replicating the shooter's AR-15 setup and the Secret Service's counter-shot. It debunks conspiracy theories by demonstrating the difficulty of the initial shot and the terminal ballistics of both the attacker's and defender's rounds using high-speed footage and ballistic dummies. The analysis emphasizes that a precise ear-only shot from that distance with the described rifle is highly improbable.