In the midst of all the kerfuffle surrounding the ATF Project Gunwalker scandal we’ve learned that the feds have let more than a few Barrett 5o’s flow down the so-called Iron River to Mexico. As with most things media, over time, the shock value of drug lords equipped with large-caliber rifles has worn off. Besides, when it comes to tooling-up for dirty deeds, a .50 is too big to hide under a coat and it can’t be done dirt cheap. That equation could change. defensereview.com has a hard-on for a prototype bull-pup .50-cal. “Mark our words, the Leader 50 BMG has the potential to become the single most effective and viable semi-auto .50 BMG anti-materiel/sniper rifle for military Special Operations Forces (SOF), period, provided the production version proves to be accurate, reliable, and durable under high round count and adverse conditions, and features a good trigger.” And if my grandmother had wheels I’d be a trolly car. Still . . .
Unlike the current .50 BMG weapons on the market, the Leader 50 BMG does not use any castings, MIM parts, or unsightly weldments, and offers a sleek design with an easy to manage weight distribution, allowing for a compact overall length of only 39 inches and a full 24-inch (24″) barrel. The short breech mechanism and side-mounted trigger mechanism contributes to its reduced overall length and balance.
That bad boy better be balanced. Unless our heart attack serious friend above is Tom Cruise small, the LSR50 BMG is a handful—and then some.
The really good news? Although Sabre Defense displayed the gun at the SHOT show, Leader has found a new manufacture–one that hasn’t been indicted and shuttered—to produce the $7k-ish LSR50. That honor now belongs to Micor Industries.
Is the bullpup .50 firearms vaporware? defense-review.com says the gun will be aviable for demo at the NDIA small arms exposition [International Infantry & Joint Services Small Arms Systems Symposium, Exhibition & Firing Demonstration 2011. So will we, playing follow the leader.