Today, we are taking the PGM Precision Hecate II out to the range. It is a rifle designed for use out to 1800m, but I have neither the skills myself nor the range facility to do something like that – instead I have a target set up at 200m.
I was quite surprising by just how soft-shooting the Hecate II is for a rifle chambered for .50 BMG. I can very honestly say that many .308 precision rifles have more felt recoil than this does – although the Hecate does have a substantial muzzle blast and concussion! Unfortunately, my shooting isn’t up to the task of properly showing off the accuracy the rifle is capable of – I’ll have to leave that to better shooters to demonstrating. However, if you are curious how .50 BMG behaves on steel, check out today’s InRangeTV video!
Thanks to PGM Precision USA for the opportunity to borrow this magnificent rifle to show to you!
Gun is surprisingly docile, probably on par if not better in that regard than Barrett M95.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSeIBrNGJrQ&feature=emb_logo
Othias wears the same shirt so it all looks like the same day. Ian wears different kit so it looks like different days
Considerable dust signature it seems, would have been nice to see the dust signature from the targets point of view. I wonder if in field use folks use a tarp or something to reduce dust kick up?
They make a suppressor for that beast. But 1800 meters is more then a mile shooting at those ranges no one will notice a dust cloud from a shot they won’t even hear the report till after the bullet hits.
As a general rule, whomever this rifle targets is in no position to fight back. The reason being, perhaps, is that the standard enemy grunt is too busy dealing with whatever is right in front of him (and that might be someone with an assault rifle). Whoever tries to counter the anti-materiel rifle without dealing with the rifleman’s allies tends to receive a full magazine’s worth of copper-jacketed lead in the liver (and probably from the flank or in the back). I could be wrong.
This is even worse than expected …
It’s clear that Ian was interested in personally trying a new toy… But maybe You should call someone who knows how to play with it?..
This is not a reproach, there are simply some technical nuances without the knowledge of which accurate shooting from such things is impossible.
Well, at least now, Ian knows that he has something to strive for. 😉
Ian,
If you ever get sick of gun reviews you’ve got a future as a cosplayer/larper. You’ve got a wardrobe that’d make a drag queen jelly.
Continuing this line of thinking: cameo appearances in action movies also seems to be option.
Ian,
I understand the felt recoil has been reduced on your shoulder to that of about a .308 cartridge.
Please consider a second important recoil force, that on your cheekbone (zygomatic arch).
The concussion you felt goes through the zygomatic arch directly to your orbit of your eye.
The recoil impulse builds standing waves inside your eye.
The standing waves have been known to detach retinas.
I recommend, if 50 cal continues to interest you, you get a Finn sniper helmet to insulate your eye.
Q
It is all useless.
The BOYS rifle was much more intelligently designed to reduce the impact of recoil. Powerful muzzle brake, the ability to roll back the barrel assembly. And with all this, there were endless complaints of injuries to the neck and shoulders.
I am sure that the permanent contusion of the shooter’s head also took place.
It could not have been, since Barett’s recoil is softer and contusion is obligatory…
By the way, I hope that Ian’s head has not suffered much.
In the bitch with this “shooting device”, everything should be worse.
Lighter weight, solid butt stock and the absence of any buffers and shock absorbers.
It is not surprising that even tough legionnaires abandoned this misunderstanding in favor of the M82.
Maybe I messed up.
In France he was tested, but it is not known how it ended…
meh. probably one of the more least interesting videos.
Forgive them Gun Jesus, for they know not what they’re talking about.
Dear Ian,
Can you rank various sniper/anti-tank-anti-material rifles by felt recoil?
What is the practical range of .50 BMG ammo versus .308, .388 Lapua, 20 mm Orlikon, etc.? Given the same marksman, man-sized target, weather, terrain, etc.
Canadian Army snipers switched from .50 BMG to .338 Lapua after suffering too many detached retinas, shoulder injuries, etc. Because of the muzzle blast, Canadian Army sniper instructors are limited to coaching X number of .338 Lapua rounds per week.
Dear Matisse Enzer,
Some snipers do lay cloths under their muzzles depending upon terrain, cover, wind, arid soil, etc.
Urban snipers tend to shoot from deep inside rooms to prevent detection. IOW all the muzzle blast and most of the dust stay inside the building.
May be a gun designe for 1800 mis not that accurate at 200. Bullets requirer some time and course to reach a stable trajectory looking like a nice curved line.