P.O. Box 299 Geneseo IL 61254 Tel 309-944-6939 fax 309-944-6949 armalite@geneseo.net OPERATOR’S INSTRUCTIONS for the ARMALITE AR-50 RIFLE April 15, 2002 I. INTRODUCTION Figure 1, The AR-50 rifle Description: The AR-50 is a robust, front locked, manually loaded bolt action single-shot rifle chambered for the .50 caliber Browning Machine Gun cartridge. It is intended for long range target shooting. The AR-50 is a finely made rifle, a sophisticated machine built for long years of reliable use.
Figure 2 The ArmaLite .50 Caliber Early Muzzle Brake Figure 3 The ArmaLite .50 Caliber Muzzle Break The AR-50 is equipped with an extremely effective Muzzle Brake. It reduces the punishing recoil of the .50BMG to a relatively mild shove. It is effective enough that even a small-statured shooter can fire the rifle, and most shooters will be able to spend long days at the range without discomfort. The Muzzle Brake is held in place by both a lock ring and Loc-Tite.
Use only clean, high quality ammunition, in good condition. Some.50 caliber ammunition is old surplus, and is unreliable and inaccurate. ArmaLite cannot condone the use of handloaded ammunition in the AR-50. Any such use voids any ArmaLite warranty. Make sure that no cleaning patch or other obstruction is in the Barrel or Muzzle Brake. It may damage the Rifle or flying debris may injure somebody standing nearby. Keep your ArmaLite in good hands… Yours! Keep it locked up and secure.
2. Safety. The Safety is mounted at the rear of the Bolt Group. To engage the Safety, turn the Safety counterclockwise to the 1:30 “safe” position. To place the Safety to “fire,” turn the Safety to the horizontal, 3:00 position. (Note: The AR-50 design allows the Striker to shift forward about 1/8 inch if the Safety is engaged and the Trigger is then pulled. The Safety is deliberately made difficult to shift from this forward position to the fire position with normal finger pressure.
Note: the AR-50 is equipped with a very secure manual Safety. ArmaLite recommends loading the rifle immediately before firing a shot instead of leaving the rifle loaded and on safe. As a practical target shooting measure, the Rifle should be considered safe only when it is unloaded and the action is open. Emergency Procedures. If the Rifle fails to fire when the Trigger is pulled: 1. Wait 15 seconds to allow a possible “hangfire” to go off then... 2. Check to see if the Safety is engaged by mistake.
3. Removing the Extractor. Use a small diameter pin punch to press the Extractor Plunger to the rear. At the same time, pull the Extractor straight out of the side of the Bolt. It helps to have three small hands or a few extra fingers. Caution: The Extractor Spring Plunger is under spring pressure. Failure to control the Spring and Plunger may cause injury. Figures 9 and 10 Removing the Bolt Sleeve and Striker Group 3. Removing the Bolt Sleeve and Striker Group.
6. Disassembling the Bolt Sleeve and Striker Group. This is tricky and should not be done unless replacing a part, like a broken striker. Use a 4 x 4 inch piece of wood with a ¼ inch diameter hole through the center as a tool. Push the Striker tip (commonly called the firing pin) into the hole until the Striker Spring starts to compress. This will allow the Safety to be rotated to about the 12:00 position on the Sleeve, exposing the Safety Pin.
Remove the two Action Screws from the bottom of the Forestock using a ¼ inch Allen wrench. Lift the Stock Assembly straight off the Action. Figures 17 and 18 Removing the Buttstock 5. Removing the Buttstock from the Forestock. Remove the 2 or 3 Buttstock Screws at the right rear of the Forestock using a 5/32 inch Allen wrench. Pull the Buttstock down and to the rear to remove it. Figure 19 & 20 Removing the Trigger Group 8. Removing the Trigger Group.
Improper cleaning ruins more firearms than shooting does. The AR-50 will provide years of use with minimal cleaning and preservation. Wipe the rifle free of dust with a dry rag. Further clean the surface with a rag bearing a small amount of solvent. Pay particular care to the interior of the Action. It should seldom be necessary to remove the Bolt for cleaning. Use a pull-through device to clean the bore. Use a .50 caliber bore brush soaked with a good bore solvent.
Figure 21 The Scope Base 1. Remove the bolt group as instructed above. 2. Set the scope base on the receiver, with the recoil lugs of the base engaging the slots of the receiver. The high end of the base must be to the rear. 3. Insert the rear screw and tighten it. Feel inside the receiver to determine if the screw passes all the way through the receiver roof. If it does, shorten the screw until it won’t protrude. 4. Repeat the process with the other screws. 5.
Figures 23 and 24 Installing the Bipod 2. Insert the small rail of the Adapter into the front of the accessory slot running along the bottom of the Forestock. Slide the Adapter to the desired position. 3. Follow the Harris instructions to attach the Bipod to the Adapter. Tightening the Bipod will secure the Adapter in place on the Forestock. The Bipod may be attached to the Adapter when it is slid into the Stock, as illustrated. The Harris bipod may look weak, but it is actually very strong.
