Almost two years ago, Brandon Herrera aka “The AK Guy”, unveiled his project AK-50, a rifle that is based on the Kalashnikov or AK that can fire the .50 BMG. Just like the AK, it will still use the e AK operating system of a long piston driven rotating bolt design. But the question is, will be up to the task of firing a big round without disintegrating?

In a video he released, he tests the AK-50 prototype, putting together just the necessary parts to fire off a round, and not a complete AK-50 .50BMG rifle. He has posted on Facebook a .50 round marked “AK-50 #1” which obviously meant that it will be the first round to be fired by the project. Indeed the video below shows the same round being inserted into the barebones prototype for the test fire:

The test fire was successful and it looks like the gun is in accordance to his expectations. The next step is putting together a full AK-50 rifle that will be able to fire the big round and be able to empty the magazine which means being able to cycle effectively. Brandon Herrera plans on taking orders for the AK-50 and we wonder if there are orders already placed. If there is a crowdfunding site for firearms, he could have already raised the funds he needed to accelerate the project.

I am much curious how the AK-50 will be. Will it become a successful product commercially? Or it will be a proof of concept? The mere thought of a Kalashnikov-like rifle that can fire a .50 BMG should send shivers down the spine on how destructive it will be and if it will perform and function like the weapon it takes inspiration from, the AK, then it will be a really fearsome one to bring to battle.