When Ian started saying: "So who's your target customer; civilian, military, law enforcement?" I thought the answer was going to just be "Yes" but this answer was even better!
serbu is a funny guy, he made a gun specifically to sell for like 20 bucks so you can give it to the police for 100. its called the GB-22 or gun buyback .22 XD
Found a quote from Serbu somewhere on the internet. "To the casual observer it may resemble the Barrett because it uses the same magazines and has a similar look. The internal system wasn't "changed to an AR-15-style gas-operated-rotating-bolt layout to avoid lawsuits", I designed it from the ground up to be what I believe to be the best system for this type of gun. The gas system is based on a MAS 49/56 or Ljungman and the 3-lug rotating bolt has true helical cuts on the locking surfaces. The barrel extension has the mating surfaces cut from the outside like an M60 or M249. The bolt rides on rails and the cam pin sticks out the left side, the hammer is custom and uses dual compression springs to drive it. The only thing AR-15 is the trigger, safety and pistol grip. Mark Serbu" So he's open about it being based on a MAS-49/56. No wonder Ian likes it!
That's a shame to hear, Mike. You would think that they would incorporate the lessons from the demo gun and implement them into the production series (things like "hey, if we copy the spring shape to mimic the wear-in effect, we could had a really smooth action out of the box.") Then again, like a lot of great designs, having a bespoke tool room model doesn't always translate to a gun you can produce in larger quantities at a profit.
As a Brit, it may be surprising that I've even heard of Mark Serbu, but he is one of my favourite "mad scientists" (or mad engineers is maybe a better term) his approach to simplicity, build quality and "a thing to do a job" is quite inspirational. I remember when the BFG-50A came out and he refused to supply the NYPD with them and he didn't beat about the bush, he as good as said "the cops don't get this if the people can't have it", then the whole Soup Nazi fiasco that followed was almost a joke in itself. The 12ga zip gun was another interesting project of his and he also made a gun (now I forget all of the specifics but you will be able to find this online somewhere) that anyone with half a workshop could make so cheaply that you could take it to a police buyback and actually make profit from it, I think the gun could be made for less than 25 dollars and they were offering 100 dollars a time, no questions asked for any gun in the buyback program. As I say, I'm British myself, but when I think of someone who is a true gun guy, absolute genius and American hero, I think Mark Serbu. He would DEFINITELY be Iron Man if he had the unlimited budget, I'm quite sure of that.
Since it is better than a Barret (more accurate, simpler to make etc.), claiming it to be a "fake Barret" isn't all that funny anyway - especially since by that metric you could claim that every black rifle with rails is an AR because they have rails and (usually) black furniture, too ;)
@@0BRAINS0 KB used old ammo, it was his fault, even though at the beginning of his video he says, “Nothing I did caused this.” Or something dumb like that.
Serbu has brought the best of all worlds with his guns. He brings an affordable sporting good into ‘everman’s reach’. It boils down to ‘If you can afford the ammunition…you can afford a Serbu!’
Generally also of good creative content. Lame stuff is made to try to appeal to a theoretical customer. Good content is made because the content maker wishes it existed. See for example forgotten weapons.
I think you could say the same about many unsuccessful inventors. Realistic expectations, timing, cost control and marketability, the list goes on. Talented people tend to say or make hard things look easy and most of the time they don't have a big ego. That special sauce that is the difference between success and failure is hard to pin down. I'd say the one main common factor is hard work.
I work for a company that does it wrong. Husband and wife owners. She provides the bank, over the years he keeps making new products to amuse himself or impress a customer, minimal market research, no return on investment research. It's amazing and depressing watching two people waste a goldmine.
Fun fact: the combined weapon system of the M-249 S.A.W. is about 21lbs. I could definitely see an infantry support sniper carrying a 25-30lbs weapon system (rifle plus ammo and accessories).
We all know what BFG 50 stands for... It is the first BFG ever developed... and such the first predecessor to the legendary BFG 9000... The Big F***ing Gun
I had the immense pleasure and honor to meet Mark Serbu at Shot Show a couple years ago. He is incredibly nice and humble with a great sense of humor! Truer ya wonderful human!
One of the magical parts of learning about the mechanics of firearms primarily through this channel is the excitement of learning what the hell "true direct gas impingement" means
Doomslayer: *Hold my plasma rifle.* Also *click* "Would you like me to disable the safety mechanism?" *click click click click click* "Safety mechanism disabled."
This is bafflingly simple. No knock on Mr. Serbu for it at all, less stuff means less parts to fail. This was possibly one of my favorite modern reviews to date. Very cool.
It's kinda fascinating to see one mans weird fire-arm ideas do well from a commercial perspective, more like something you'd see earlier on in history. Nice to see that people still appreciate a little weird.
It does also help that not only are his ideas weird but they're also good. He would sell 1000 times more of these if more people could afford them. I know I would buy two of them if I wasn't afraid my wife would shoot me with one of them after she found out LOL
@@me3333 Hell, he would sell more of any of his designs if he could produce them at the rate people want to buy them. His order backlogs are pretty impressive, especially for a niche "family" shop.
I love the design. I suspect Mark took a look at the Barrett and said, "that short recoil system is too dang complicated - I bet I can do better". While direct gas impingement means you're going to need to do more frequent cleaning, it's not like you're going to be shooting thousands or even hundreds of BMG rounds in a single session.
Exactly. The barret is over engineered to fit the needs of the US military causing the rifle to be complicated and expensive. The BFG-15 is a cheap option for civilians what want a semi auto 50 cal
@@Josh-jw3go I own a Barrett semi auto .50 cal and it's by far not even remotely over-engineered. Yeah it's a heavy bitch for sure at 30 lbs but simple in design, especially with no gas system to drive the bolt back. Ronnie Barrett took the Browning design of the semi auto shotgun and implied it into the .50 cal. Everyone else has either copied off him or made their own version since he unleashed the M82A1 in the 1980s.
@@codyantrim8700 i wish all the gunstores etc like that would do the same and would give the finger to the feds with all the other gun/weapon "laws" theres nothing they could do if we all just didnt comply and would all fight back physically against it like the second amendment intends cause tyrants dont care unless made to by force not by voting or talking to them etc like that
@ G Cart you sound like somebody trying to start a bunch of shit without knowing what you're actually talking about in the first place but that's just my hunch. You kind of sound like you're trying to insight a riot or something by pushing the confrontational energy right up to the *people start doing and saying shit that is a bit too out of hand* line but not crossing that line. Like you're prepping everybody for a riot that you're too much of a coward to start yourself. You've had time to edit your comment so let's see if I'm right about that being your immediate reaction. Either way, let me get to the killshot: I doubt the host of this page appreciates any kind of physically violent energy in the comments and if they're too busy to check you for it the rest of us still can. We study firearms here. Fighting cops isn't really on most of our to do list today and honestly I doubt anybody here would be stupid enough to scream it on the internet like a moron if it was (it isn't!). I'd ban you right now just on some "be nice, asshole" justification if I were worthy enough to wield Ian's ban hammer (is a RUclips ban even a thing??) but hey I'll let fate be your judge
I love that bolt design, looks a lot nicer than the typical rotating bolt designs. I've seen so many of these videos stripping guns right down I immediately wondered how that firing pin could be made reliably, it looks like some old designs that have been abandoned, titanium is the answer. Amazing what you can learn watching these videos.
In the videogame "doom" , which featured a gun also called BFG, the doors make a very similiar sound to that bolt, a sound so iconic many sci fi shows, movies and games used it over the decades.
I'm ex military, I've fired everything from M16 and .50 machine guns, to grenade launchers. And yet to this day it STILL amazes me how a little bit of gas is able to throw a solid steel bolt backwards against big heavy springs and still have enough force to rechamber the next round and create the recoil you feel. It's crazy to think that it's just basically AIR that makes a gun able to work the way they do. As well as the ingenious of their design.
@@Karl_Kampfwagen in one of the early civ games ghandi would move his civ towards pacifism so much that halfway through the game he would cause an underflow that made his aggression stat loop back around to the max Thus he would instantly focus on the military and usually get nukes before everyone else, launching them as soon as he got them Thus ghandi would always go for a military victory
I want to thank you Ian for helping me through some rough times. You have a very calming delivery and an enjoyable way of explaining the mechanisms of gun. I run a youtube channel but due to covid I haven't had much to post, which is driving me crazy. It seems crazy that a gun channel can calm anxiety, but I can't argue with results. I've been a mechanic in my days and think of machines as 3D puzzles, so it blows my mind on how many variations there are to a basic device such as a firearm. Your videos should be archived to ensure future generations to research. Have fun now, Zac Alleywalker Lowing.
Tell Brandon Herrera the AK50 is already done. He can keep drinking his whiteclaw & laughing at boog memes. Although, to be fair, this is more like the AR 50.
It's mentioned someplace that Serbu was inspired more by the MAS 49/56 than the AR gas system... Which might explain why Ian loves it so. And the barrel and chamber are apparently similar to an M60. So it's a 50-cal French "pig" from Florida originally designed to kill those pesky crocogators in the back yard. ( I'm not sure if that makes it a ".50BMG Au Jus" or a "Sacre Bleu Special" )
@@DD-ix3bm lmao what kind of tarded question is this? scott went on record time and time and time again saying that it was a problem with the rounds, not the rifle. hot-loaded, unusually-sized overpressure .50 BMG can easily explode ANY gun you shoot it out of, whether the receiver says BFG-50A, M82A1, or Machine Gun, Browning, .50 Caliber on it.
Yep, he used to have some great one of a kind informative videos posted! He's still trying to put out some content without getting his channel deleted, also seems like his channel is definitely "shadow banned" going by his recent view counts 🙁
1:14 Serbu’s attitude (no joke) reminds me of Steve Jobs. His designs satisfied the tastes and features HE wanted...which turned out to be what others really liked. Suddenly that “gut” made him a curator of the technology and features going forward.
Serbu also made an affordable .50 cal rifle called the "RN-50". It's inspired from the design by Royal Nonesuch, an amateur gun builder (he had a youtube channel before youtube shut him down unfortunately). We need a review on that rifle, Ian.
When I saw that anti out of battery safety pin I instantly understood why absolutely everyone was so surprised that that guys Serbu exploded recently: It just isn't supposed to happen, it's not designed to explode.
@@ScoutSniper3124 So because the receiver pin ears on the receiver broke off as a result due to over-pressure, it's a "weak AF receiver design"? :P There's a reason they stopped making SLAP's, not even original .50 cal barrels are good enough for those. I'd sooner avoid firing SLAP's through ANY .50 cal, regardless of design and materials used in building it.
Wouldn't be too surprised if they did! They did start off as the Nakajima Aircraft Company in WW2, and they're still making military aircraft as Subaru - including license-built Cobra and Apache helicopters for the Japanese defense force.
@@daviddickson412 Subaru Corporation (Japanese: 株式会社SUBARU, Hepburn: Kabushiki-gaisha Subaru), formerly known as Fuji Heavy Industries. It's all Subaru now :D
Really like Mark Serbu's attitude and work. Barrett is a solid guy, as well, of course. Nice to see him cut off sales in California when they restricted the .50 to law enforcement. A happy coincidence that two self-starters have the only real market on semi-auto .50s, rather than any of the big gun manufacturers. Great video.
From what I have heard that "cheap" one was designed to be very affordable (for a .50) and because of its design is actually incredibly precise (again, for a .50), like bolt gun level precision, and I think they even offer a version with a match barrel and chamber(?). From and engineering standpoint it is a cool gun just in its simplicity. It has been a while since I looked at that gun though.
I like to think it's like the liberator pistol/ psa ar-15 of .50 cal rifles 😄 anti-material rifles for the masses! for all citizens and all income levels!
Mark is awesome, i have the Super shorty, and when i emailed with a question he replied personally. Great guy, great company, support him because he supports us. Nothing but praise for the Serbu team.
The world can really use a great deal more Mark Serbus! If not just to show what one man with an idea can accomplish! His builds are Uber cool and I find him inspirering. He makes me want to build things of my own.
A real kickass "gun designer and gun nut", as he puts it in the opening of his videos. LoL. He has a real sarcastic humor approach to things and seems like he doesn't get too hung up on designs he makes that don't turn out exactly like he wanted. This is because he's always coming up with new ideas to make things better, or faster, or. cheaper. He's definitely an inspiration to watch just to see what new idea he comes up with next. His thinking pattern is usually outside the box and his focus never gives the impression that he does this just for the money. His yt channel has several videos of past projects that he put on the back burner that would have definitely paid off in big money if he would have stuck with them and ironed out the bugs. He created works of art really for the enjoyment and challenge that comes with it. Like he said, he made it for himself. That's always a plus in my book.
7:30 Bruh, are you telling me this .50 BMG rifle is Direct Impingement? Not even Stoner Inline Gas system, just straight, honest to god direct impingement? I'm laughing my ass off right now. That's hilarious.
"To the casual observer it may resemble the Barrett because it uses the same magazines and has a similar look. The internal system wasn't "changed to an AR-15-style gas-operated-rotating-bolt layout to avoid lawsuits", I designed it from the ground up to be what I believe to be the best system for this type of gun. The gas system is based on a MAS 49/56 or Ljungman and the 3-lug rotating bolt has true helical cuts on the locking surfaces. The barrel extension has the mating surfaces cut from the outside like an M60 or M249. The bolt rides on rails and the cam pin sticks out the left side, the hammer is custom and uses dual compression springs to drive it. The only thing AR-15 is the trigger, safety and pistol grip. Mark Serbu" So yup, based on the MAS-49/56. No wonder Ian likes it. :D
The wear on that gun is surprisingly nice for its round count. One of the reasons I drool over pretty much all of Mr. Serbu's guns: never mind all the cool ideas and engineering he incorporates into the weapons, how about that fit 'n finish?! The wear- or lack thereof- on the guide rod and locking lugs is really impressive. Construction methodology and material selection on this rifle looks a bit like a service rifle with a long development history. I need to build a GB-22; I dare not even dream about this 50cal. monster. Thank you for this look at the demo gun Ian, this is the third time I've watched the video now :D
Very interesting. I was going to ask about the charging handle and ejection port for left handed shooting, but Ian answered my questions just by demonstration. Bravo and thank you for adding a new gun to my wish list.
Having had the opportunity to shoot a lot of .50BMG rifles over the years I was given the opportunity to shoot a few of these years ago at an event and it definitely is a smoother shooting rifle than any self loading rifle I've shot. Accuracy comes very close to a match bolt gun while the recoil is much less than the bolt gun. The only drawback of this gun is that I don't own one although I wish I did. LOL It truly is a Great gun made by a guy with a great sense of humor i.e. BFG, BFG50A, I mean how many of us would not have named this gun BFG50A! Disclaimer: I do not work for Serbu Inc. even though I think it would provide a great opportunity to shoot a lot more .50's ! One thing that was neglected is that those large muzzle breaks provide an excellent location for personalized inscriptions which were not shown in the video such as: "Have a nice Day" , "Smile wait for Flash", etc. There's always room to make someone's day or put a smile on one's face.
This is one of the most fascinating parts of the history of firearms past and present: the ways that different designers have approached (and hopefully solved) the design choices and resulting compromises that go with designing a reliable, working firearm. Being a fan of Czech guns, it's been really interesting to see how they have engineered a solution, as compared to other well known developers and/or countries (eg. VZ-58 vs AK47/AKM). Browning, of course, is a whole story all by himself, and so it goes. Thanks for bringing this one on, Ian. I know it's not a "forgotten" weapon, but perhaps not as well known as Barrett or MacMillan, to name just two. Having done some engineering myself, I'm impressed by the ways Mark Serbu made this not only work, but reliable. I'd dearly love to have a crack at one of these.
@@bmstylee I see.... Well it depends on people what they want to do with their 50 cals .. blow shit up or practice headshots.... If it's the latter.. I think the Chey-Tac intervention or McMillan TAC-50 would be better choices
@@bmstylee McMillan TAC-50 is a $10.5k rifle... Chey-Tac intervention is $11-13k rifle.... And the BFG-50A will go for around $9k rifle.... However Barrett's model 99 will cost around $7k with all the accessories.. so your decision ain't so wrong... Like I said... It depends on what people need their 50cals for.... Blowing shit up or practicing headshots
@@ArcturusOTE you sure? It’s been a hot minute since I played MW but I could’ve sworn it looked very similar to this rifle and that the name “serbu” was mentioned at some point. Maybe I’m just tripping though
This video was extremely well-timed. I've been watching S2 of The Boys, and it made me realize that this rifle is used a few times in the show, both S1 and S2.
I'm subscribed to Mark's channel. He seems like a good guy and what he builds are always interesting. He also is willing to answer intelligent questions about gunsmithing and development
@@charlesmckinley29 Hell, Serbu's website is selling the walmart brand .50 for $3. Although it has a disclaimer that it's not great in some of his .50's.
"One guy with a couple employees" sounds suspiciously like "Three guys in a shed"
Hell why not, Accuracy International was pretty much that when they got their first military contract.
@@bionmccool yes he was very obviously referencing "two guys in a shed" from those videos.
and probably a few beers
@@logankalina2507 oh wow I didn’t think that he was his son!
So what's your point anyone with a brain an interest in guns and a little mechanical knowledge can easily build a gun
"Do you know your target demographic?"
Well of course I know him. He's me
😂😂
classic! +1000 points
Pure american spirit
Hello there
When Ian started saying: "So who's your target customer; civilian, military, law enforcement?"
I thought the answer was going to just be "Yes" but this answer was even better!
serbu is a funny guy, he made a gun specifically to sell for like 20 bucks so you can give it to the police for 100. its called the GB-22 or gun buyback .22 XD
a true american right there
A true American genius when it comes to guns
"I just build what I like"
*builds a gun you can sell to the cops for profit*
Troll lvl 1000
Trivia: Serbu in Malay or Indonesian means "attack"
@@rizaradri316 mark serbu should probably try sell his arms to their militaries then : )
getting a gun jesus review while you're still alive
mark serbu must be quite blessed
Blessed are the meek, for they shall be visited by the Gun Jesus.
Don't you mean Prophet Serbu?
Gotta respect a man who can make money off the design philosophy of "Hey, this would be cool and I want one."
Isn't that basically the AKG Factory too?
BFG is really an appropriate name for this thing
And an appropriate weapon to destroy demons with.
Nice sergal
wait until you see a 670 or 20mm version after 50cal they stop calling them rifles and start calling cannons. unless you can get a sporting exemption
Biggest Finest Gun
The Doomslayer approves.
Found a quote from Serbu somewhere on the internet.
"To the casual observer it may resemble the Barrett because it uses the same magazines and has a similar look. The internal system wasn't "changed to an AR-15-style gas-operated-rotating-bolt layout to avoid lawsuits", I designed it from the ground up to be what I believe to be the best system for this type of gun. The gas system is based on a MAS 49/56 or Ljungman and the 3-lug rotating bolt has true helical cuts on the locking surfaces. The barrel extension has the mating surfaces cut from the outside like an M60 or M249. The bolt rides on rails and the cam pin sticks out the left side, the hammer is custom and uses dual compression springs to drive it. The only thing AR-15 is the trigger, safety and pistol grip.
Mark Serbu"
So he's open about it being based on a MAS-49/56. No wonder Ian likes it!
But, how many rounds could you get through it?
@@mikeboxall7955 Well, according to the video (numerous times in fact), several thousand rounds have been through this gun, so there is that...
@@itatane
This weapon is a coveted possession and therefore is perfect?
I have to admit, it's one of the originals. The later one's were iffy!
That's a shame to hear, Mike. You would think that they would incorporate the lessons from the demo gun and implement them into the production series (things like "hey, if we copy the spring shape to mimic the wear-in effect, we could had a really smooth action out of the box.") Then again, like a lot of great designs, having a bespoke tool room model doesn't always translate to a gun you can produce in larger quantities at a profit.
@@itatane certainly, nothing you could drag through the mud. 😁
"I built this for Mark Serbu."
Y'know... I can respect the hell out of that.
Very based
Yup. That's Mark.
Serbu in Indonesian means "assault". What a good name
As a Brit, it may be surprising that I've even heard of Mark Serbu, but he is one of my favourite "mad scientists" (or mad engineers is maybe a better term) his approach to simplicity, build quality and "a thing to do a job" is quite inspirational.
I remember when the BFG-50A came out and he refused to supply the NYPD with them and he didn't beat about the bush, he as good as said "the cops don't get this if the people can't have it", then the whole Soup Nazi fiasco that followed was almost a joke in itself.
The 12ga zip gun was another interesting project of his and he also made a gun (now I forget all of the specifics but you will be able to find this online somewhere) that anyone with half a workshop could make so cheaply that you could take it to a police buyback and actually make profit from it, I think the gun could be made for less than 25 dollars and they were offering 100 dollars a time, no questions asked for any gun in the buyback program.
As I say, I'm British myself, but when I think of someone who is a true gun guy, absolute genius and American hero, I think Mark Serbu. He would DEFINITELY be Iron Man if he had the unlimited budget, I'm quite sure of that.
Hey, you had your own mad scientist in the form of P. A. Luty. It’s just that Britain really sucks at things like trusting others
It's called the GB22 serbu.com/gb-22-plans/
Quasi-police state is the UK!
@@callumbush1 based on? I wouldn't say it was any more of a "quasi police state" than any other western supposed-democracy to be honest.
@@TheMadTatter enjoying shooting all your guns then?
Other companies:
"The customer is always right!"
Serbu:
"I'm always right."
"Cause i'm my own customer"
"I know what's right for the customer"
'I can't believe it's not Barrett'
@Angry Muffin04 /r/yourjokebutworse
@@EvMund reddit moment
Since it is better than a Barret (more accurate, simpler to make etc.), claiming it to be a "fake Barret" isn't all that funny anyway - especially since by that metric you could claim that every black rifle with rails is an AR because they have rails and (usually) black furniture, too ;)
@@dreamingflurry2729 blablabla go write some 50 page essay about it or something
Lmfao
"I made this for Mark Serbu" -Mark Serbu
@@mmartinisgreat He truly knows what his fans want
@@snivysaur0000 to have his guns blow up in his customers faces?
@@0BRAINS0 I don’t believe that was Mark Serbu’s fault
@@0BRAINS0 KB used old ammo, it was his fault, even though at the beginning of his video he says, “Nothing I did caused this.” Or something dumb like that.
@@livelyupmyself1 it's a faulty system, never should of happened.
“Man the Barrett 50Cal is on sale, do you want one?”
“Nah i’ll build one with the boys”
And what do ya know, The Boys actually have one www.imfdb.org/wiki/Boys,_The_-_Season_1#Serbu_BFG-50A
@@heffatheanimal2200 the boys AT rifle
@@heffatheanimal2200 but still not enough to kill a supe with.
@@Raiden6277 Yeah, Butcher used the Serbu .50 on Starlight, didn't do shit, but it did hurt and knocked her down
Serbu has brought the best of all worlds with his guns. He brings an affordable sporting good into ‘everman’s reach’. It boils down to ‘If you can afford the ammunition…you can afford a Serbu!’
3:33 the slide makes the Doom door noise haha.
Except it plays the closing sound while opening and opening sound while closing
No way it actually does
Based
@@oni880 hi oni
@@r.k.1355 sup
"I make things that I would like to own and then other people buy them."
is pretty much the basis of every successful inventor.
Generally also of good creative content. Lame stuff is made to try to appeal to a theoretical customer. Good content is made because the content maker wishes it existed. See for example forgotten weapons.
I think you could say the same about many unsuccessful inventors. Realistic expectations, timing, cost control and marketability, the list goes on. Talented people tend to say or make hard things look easy and most of the time they don't have a big ego. That special sauce that is the difference between success and failure is hard to pin down. I'd say the one main common factor is hard work.
I work for a company that does it wrong. Husband and wife owners. She provides the bank, over the years he keeps making new products to amuse himself or impress a customer, minimal market research, no return on investment research. It's amazing and depressing watching two people waste a goldmine.
Except he couldn't fill an order for 2 pcs?
That's how William Ruger was.
23 pound all up weight, or about the same as any given Mall Ninja's fully-accessorized-AR.
Mall Ninja! I love it!!! 😂😂😂
Wild Bill don’t forget the ND-omatic, also known as a hair trigger
Nah it would weigh less because it's all Chinese plastic
Oh that’s a funny nick name.
Fun fact: the combined weapon system of the M-249 S.A.W. is about 21lbs. I could definitely see an infantry support sniper carrying a 25-30lbs weapon system (rifle plus ammo and accessories).
I’ve had a horrible idea. Imagine drilling the third pin on a serbu fire control group.
I am sickened yet curious
tack tack tack, your shoulder is now whack.
CERB3RU2 they don’t even recoil that bad honestly
"Bad" idea.
@tiy991 cries in PGM hecate II
very apt that this is named "BFG" because the bolt sounds like a door from DOOM every time Ian racks it
Holy shit you’re right
BFG= Big F*cking Gun
We all know what BFG 50 stands for...
It is the first BFG ever developed... and such the first predecessor to the legendary BFG 9000... The Big F***ing Gun
Nice, those were my exact thoughts when I heard that bolt.
It DOES
I had the immense pleasure and honor to meet Mark Serbu at Shot Show a couple years ago. He is incredibly nice and humble with a great sense of humor! Truer ya wonderful human!
Legend has it that Serbu named this gun after the Big Friendly Giant in Roald Dahl's book, of which, he was particularly fond.....
Lol but nope
I realize now youre probably using sarcasm, but if you arent, bfg stands for big fucking gun, and its a callback to DOOM
@@dak4465 he was joking....
One of the magical parts of learning about the mechanics of firearms primarily through this channel is the excitement of learning what the hell "true direct gas impingement" means
Wait, youre telling me BFG is literally just "big fucking gun" and not a different official designation??? Well then, today I learned.
Always was :3
FNG be like
yep its American humor
RIP AND TEAR!
This is a PATHETIC B.F.G if I've ever seen one.
YOU CAN'T JUST SHOOT A HOLE INTO THE SURFACE OF MARS
Ha ha BFG goes boom
Doomslayer: *Hold my plasma rifle.*
Also *click* "Would you like me to disable the safety mechanism?"
*click click click click click* "Safety mechanism disabled."
New Objective: Shoot a hole into the surface of Mars
No but it’s fun trying
MAC rounds, in atmosphere?!
That's one way to get their attention. Hang on to your teeth
This is bafflingly simple. No knock on Mr. Serbu for it at all, less stuff means less parts to fail. This was possibly one of my favorite modern reviews to date. Very cool.
It's kinda fascinating to see one mans weird fire-arm ideas do well from a commercial perspective, more like something you'd see earlier on in history. Nice to see that people still appreciate a little weird.
the barret .50 was designed in a garage
It does also help that not only are his ideas weird but they're also good. He would sell 1000 times more of these if more people could afford them. I know I would buy two of them if I wasn't afraid my wife would shoot me with one of them after she found out LOL
@@me3333 Hell, he would sell more of any of his designs if he could produce them at the rate people want to buy them. His order backlogs are pretty impressive, especially for a niche "family" shop.
Mark Serbu makes the rest of us think to ourselves “maybe I can too!”
Ahahaha
Would be nice if a certain Brandon Herrera thought that!
@@PaulVerhoeven2 Anything wrong with Brandon? No seriously I wanna know
So basically the Serbu motto could be "For shits and giggles"
If you watch his RUclips Channel you will understand that Yes indeed Mark Serbu makes guns for shits and giggles.
"Serbu. Making guns for shits and giggles"
"sounded kinda cool i guess"
I mean, why else would he make the Super Shorty?
Solid brass balls to name your gun "Big Fucking Gun" and try to sell it to the military a famously humourless organisation
I’m new to Serbu but Mark Serbu seems like the Willie Wonka of Weapons. Such a badass gun.
ruclips.net/video/txUcVTgM5U8/видео.html
I love the design. I suspect Mark took a look at the Barrett and said, "that short recoil system is too dang complicated - I bet I can do better". While direct gas impingement means you're going to need to do more frequent cleaning, it's not like you're going to be shooting thousands or even hundreds of BMG rounds in a single session.
Exactly. The barret is over engineered to fit the needs of the US military causing the rifle to be complicated and expensive. The BFG-15 is a cheap option for civilians what want a semi auto 50 cal
That sounds like a challenge
@@Josh-jw3go How is it overengineered, and what military requirements is it overengineered to meet?
@@Josh-jw3go I own a Barrett semi auto .50 cal and it's by far not even remotely over-engineered. Yeah it's a heavy bitch for sure at 30 lbs but simple in design, especially with no gas system to drive the bolt back. Ronnie Barrett took the Browning design of the semi auto shotgun and implied it into the .50 cal. Everyone else has either copied off him or made their own version since he unleashed the M82A1 in the 1980s.
Before watching the vid:
Bootleg M82, who would want that? D:
After watching the vid:
I'd like this over a Barrett please.
Who wouldn't want to own their own Big Fucking Gun.
Why not both?
3:32 That sounded like a space canon being loaded. So crisp and pleasant. Truly, an American space magic.
And given the name, it's an appropriate gun for a space marine.
I saw that and about exploded
@@alexanderthomas2660 Doomguy wants to know his location
@Brandon Herrera should watch this to know there is a .50 AR-15 so he feels compelled to build the AK-50 faster
Julius Mason agreed, then we can get a forgotten weapons video on the ak50 :D
I clicked this video to say something similar. Bravo
Looking forward to you doing a review on the AK-50 in 10 or 20 years. If Brandon ever gets it done.
Probably 30 years the 50 in ak50 stands for the year 2050 not 50cal
Soon™
@@CertMediocre right! AK50 mag dumps!!!
Fun fact: we are closer to 2050 than 1990... :/
That dude is garbage, he won't ever get it done
Barrett : Doesnt sell his guns to CA
Serbu : Doesnt sell his guns to NY
I love those guys
Some of the most based people right there!
he said any state or whatever that doesnt sell to "civilians" he wouldnt sell to law enforcement/military etc like that are there
@@gcart5619 yup 👍🇺🇸
@@codyantrim8700 i wish all the gunstores etc like that would do the same and would give the finger to the feds with all the other gun/weapon "laws" theres nothing they could do if we all just didnt comply and would all fight back physically against it like the second amendment intends cause tyrants dont care unless made to by force not by voting or talking to them etc like that
@ G Cart you sound like somebody trying to start a bunch of shit without knowing what you're actually talking about in the first place but that's just my hunch. You kind of sound like you're trying to insight a riot or something by pushing the confrontational energy right up to the *people start doing and saying shit that is a bit too out of hand* line but not crossing that line. Like you're prepping everybody for a riot that you're too much of a coward to start yourself. You've had time to edit your comment so let's see if I'm right about that being your immediate reaction. Either way, let me get to the killshot: I doubt the host of this page appreciates any kind of physically violent energy in the comments and if they're too busy to check you for it the rest of us still can. We study firearms here. Fighting cops isn't really on most of our to do list today and honestly I doubt anybody here would be stupid enough to scream it on the internet like a moron if it was (it isn't!). I'd ban you right now just on some "be nice, asshole" justification if I were worthy enough to wield Ian's ban hammer (is a RUclips ban even a thing??) but hey I'll let fate be your judge
I love that bolt design, looks a lot nicer than the typical rotating bolt designs.
I've seen so many of these videos stripping guns right down I immediately wondered how that firing pin could be made reliably, it looks like some old designs that have been abandoned, titanium is the answer. Amazing what you can learn watching these videos.
It's the same design as the barret m107 bolt. (but not interchangeable)
Titanium alloy*
That bolt pull at 3:32 is so adequately sci-fi-sounding it already justifies the "BFG" name
In the videogame "doom" , which featured a gun also called BFG, the doors make a very similiar sound to that bolt, a sound so iconic many sci fi shows, movies and games used it over the decades.
Camera behind Ian: Hm, this gun is remarkably quiet.
Camera next to Ian: *LAWD JESUS!*
HUH...didn't realize Billy Butcher was rocking one of those in "The Boys" till I watched the latest episode today
Yup, did a double take when i saw it
that's a FUCKING DIABOLICAL GUN !
He knew which heavy hitter to use for more accurate shots
Well, Serbu is the guy that during lockdown decided he wanted to design an SMG just out of boredom
most americans that are real ones do that even without there being a "lockdown"
0:45 ha! it obviously stands for Bright Flash Generator
its “Big Friendly Rifle” obviously :)
Big Fun Gun.
brutal fifty gun
Its a "big fucking gun"
Man that thing is a master class in K.I.S.S. ...yes I know that is Mark’s trademark
"complexity is simple to make. Simplicity is complex to make"
Paraphrasing Kalashnikov and Shpagin.
The bolt going forward honestly sounds like a sword being drawn from a scabbard
I'm ex military, I've fired everything from M16 and .50 machine guns, to grenade launchers. And yet to this day it STILL amazes me how a little bit of gas is able to throw a solid steel bolt backwards against big heavy springs and still have enough force to rechamber the next round and create the recoil you feel. It's crazy to think that it's just basically AIR that makes a gun able to work the way they do. As well as the ingenious of their design.
Honestly Mark Serbu + Ian is the strongest historical pairing since Ghandi and nukes.
Civ 2: destroying all faith in historical figures, with complete accuracy and zero bugs... 🧐 That's the joke, right?
@@Karl_Kampfwagen in one of the early civ games ghandi would move his civ towards pacifism so much that halfway through the game he would cause an underflow that made his aggression stat loop back around to the max
Thus he would instantly focus on the military and usually get nukes before everyone else, launching them as soon as he got them
Thus ghandi would always go for a military victory
@@22beesjustvibin67 I know of this hilarity in programming.
One of the most beautiful mishaps of video game programming, but found out about this a year or two ago.
@@22beesjustvibin67 when you're so friendly you end up annihilating every single civilisation on Earth.
It looks like anAR10, but Ian has shrunk...
I find that AR handle and receiver with a HUUUGE magwell very comical.
When you try to capitalize the first letter but you left capslock on.
Definitely a giant AR10/15 lol
The only thing about it that's AR is the trigger, safety and pistol grip outside of that it's based on the MAS 49/56
I want to thank you Ian for helping me through some rough times. You have a very calming delivery and an enjoyable way of explaining the mechanisms of gun. I run a youtube channel but due to covid I haven't had much to post, which is driving me crazy. It seems crazy that a gun channel can calm anxiety, but I can't argue with results. I've been a mechanic in my days and think of machines as 3D puzzles, so it blows my mind on how many variations there are to a basic device such as a firearm. Your videos should be archived to ensure future generations to research.
Have fun now, Zac Alleywalker Lowing.
Always loved Serbus bfg when they were first being tested they were awesome rifles and pretty much ahead of the curve
This was actually one of the most interesting 50cal rifles I've seen in a while! Thank you Ian!
@Jona v.K Thats a very cool one too!
@Jona v.K It is very cool
Jona v.K I heard about it from ArmA, a very neat rifle indeed
I really need one! For reasons. Like destroying dangerous cans and bottles from a mile away.
Those dastardly cans and bottles have always been a menace to society.
@RocketSurgeon IT IS COMING STRAIGHT TOWARDS US!
Pew!
...
...
...
...
dink
Lmao
To get those pesky squirrels. Think all the time you'll save not having to pick up dead squirrel because they turned into a fine red mist.
Check out the channel “Mark and Sam After Work” for some great long range shooting videos.
Alternative Title: Florida Man builds .50BMG AR
You got brandon herrera who built th ak50. Basically a 50cal AK
@@Walem_B Built? Why that past tense?
@@rrphantom8194 well, he _did_ build a few. Not successful...they chew themselves up...but he has had "working" models he's fired at his range.
@@Stevarooni He's still working on it, apparently
@@shred1894 yep, I'm subscribed to his channel. He's besieged with demands for progress reports but hasn't provided much recently.
Ian: I want a Mas 49
Mark Serbu: we have Mas49 at home
Mas49 at Serbu's home:
The sound of that carrier reciprocating puts a smile on my face.
Tell Brandon Herrera the AK50 is already done. He can keep drinking his whiteclaw & laughing at boog memes.
Although, to be fair, this is more like the AR 50.
Bruh, make a meme about this, and post it on the brandonherrah subreddit.👌 you got this.
This is more like a BRN-180 build.
@@1014p I had to search for what the 180 is, and I'm glad I was introduced to it!
It's mentioned someplace that Serbu was inspired more by the MAS 49/56 than the AR gas system...
Which might explain why Ian loves it so.
And the barrel and chamber are apparently similar to an M60.
So it's a 50-cal French "pig" from Florida originally designed to kill those pesky crocogators in the back yard.
( I'm not sure if that makes it a ".50BMG Au Jus" or a "Sacre Bleu Special" )
So we can see the old AR vs AK meme running, but this time in 50 cal.
I'd really like to see you do more videos about Serbu's other guns.
He's got some really remarkable & interesting design ideas.
Did you change your mind after the kentucky ballistics accident?
@@DD-ix3bm not OP but no
@@DD-ix3bmaw hell no you miserable bastard
@@DD-ix3bm lmao what kind of tarded question is this? scott went on record time and time and time again saying that it was a problem with the rounds, not the rifle. hot-loaded, unusually-sized overpressure .50 BMG can easily explode ANY gun you shoot it out of, whether the receiver says BFG-50A, M82A1, or Machine Gun, Browning, .50 Caliber on it.
@@milesmccollough5507gotcha!
Doom-Slayer: *HEAVY BREATHING.*
Rip and tear, until it's done
[😳]
RIP AND TEARRRRRRR!
RIP and tear!
It's a hilarious coincidence that Forgotten weapons releases the same day as The Boyz s2e6 featuring... a Serbu BGF-50A! 16:30 timestamp!
dude i just watched the episode and came back here like...i JUST saw this gun on forgotten weapons
Thank you mark for allowing Ian to share this with us, and thank you Ian for sharing your experience with us and comparing /contrasting!
And now I want an Obrez’d Serbu 50. Thanks, Ian.
thanks for profiling a gunmaker that apparently youtube has been recently harassing. love your work !
Yep, he used to have some great one of a kind informative videos posted! He's still trying to put out some content without getting his channel deleted, also seems like his channel is definitely "shadow banned" going by his recent view counts 🙁
1:14 Serbu’s attitude (no joke) reminds me of Steve Jobs.
His designs satisfied the tastes and features HE wanted...which turned out to be what others really liked.
Suddenly that “gut” made him a curator of the technology and features going forward.
I'm a fan of Mark Serbu. Glad to see his designs here!
Serbu also made an affordable .50 cal rifle called the "RN-50". It's inspired from the design by Royal Nonesuch, an amateur gun builder (he had a youtube channel before youtube shut him down unfortunately). We need a review on that rifle, Ian.
And now it's famous for a very public operator error
@@Buzz-vz2js ah yes, the Kentucky Ballistic incident
Ayy, I think we can say after the fact that the incident was a WIN-WIN for everyone at the end of the day, right? LOL
@@Buzz-vz2jsAnd an ammunition error. Maybe don't try loading .50 BMG cartridges with pistol powder?
When I saw that anti out of battery safety pin I instantly understood why absolutely everyone was so surprised that that guys Serbu exploded recently: It just isn't supposed to happen, it's not designed to explode.
@@ScoutSniper3124
So because the receiver pin ears on the receiver broke off as a result due to over-pressure, it's a "weak AF receiver design"? :P
There's a reason they stopped making SLAP's, not even original .50 cal barrels are good enough for those.
I'd sooner avoid firing SLAP's through ANY .50 cal, regardless of design and materials used in building it.
@@ScoutSniper3124 that's funny cause Scott was able to replicate his accident with a $10,000 Barrett. Weird isn't it
"I'll let you figure out what the BFG stands for."
I misread the title as “Subaru” i wondered when they had started making guns!
If you want a gun by a car company probably aim for Daewoo.
I read it at first as Seburo.
Wouldn't be too surprised if they did! They did start off as the Nakajima Aircraft Company in WW2, and they're still making military aircraft as Subaru - including license-built Cobra and Apache helicopters for the Japanese defense force.
@@kirokusanagi2648Says Fuji heavy industries on my subaru...
@@daviddickson412 Subaru Corporation (Japanese: 株式会社SUBARU, Hepburn: Kabushiki-gaisha Subaru), formerly known as Fuji Heavy Industries. It's all Subaru now :D
When the charging handle is pulled, it sounds so good
Really like Mark Serbu's attitude and work. Barrett is a solid guy, as well, of course. Nice to see him cut off sales in California when they restricted the .50 to law enforcement. A happy coincidence that two self-starters have the only real market on semi-auto .50s, rather than any of the big gun manufacturers. Great video.
That might be the most satisfying sounding fifty firing I’ve ever heard.
Have you seen the "cheap" one? Its breach loading with a screw on cap.
From what I have heard that "cheap" one was designed to be very affordable (for a .50) and because of its design is actually incredibly precise (again, for a .50), like bolt gun level precision, and I think they even offer a version with a match barrel and chamber(?). From and engineering standpoint it is a cool gun just in its simplicity. It has been a while since I looked at that gun though.
Yeah but surprisingly it's extremely accurate for a 50
Just to be clear, I've always liked the rn50 and would love to shoot one.
I like to think it's like the liberator pistol/ psa ar-15 of .50 cal rifles 😄 anti-material rifles for the masses! for all citizens and all income levels!
Did you watch the video? He literally mentions it in the first minute or two.
I laughed out loud when I figured out what BFG stands for.
My 2 favourite channels together.
Thanks Ian, wonderful as always.
Mark is awesome, i have the Super shorty, and when i emailed with a question he replied personally. Great guy, great company, support him because he supports us. Nothing but praise for the Serbu team.
Man that "SHING" sound on cocking
I've coveted this gun since it was nothing more than some posts on his forum. Gorgeous engineering in there.
The world can really use a great deal more Mark Serbus! If not just to show what one man with an idea can accomplish! His builds are Uber cool and I find him inspirering. He makes me want to build things of my own.
A real kickass "gun designer and gun nut", as he puts it in the opening of his videos. LoL. He has a real sarcastic humor approach to things and seems like he doesn't get too hung up on designs he makes that don't turn out exactly like he wanted. This is because he's always coming up with new ideas to make things better, or faster, or. cheaper. He's definitely an inspiration to watch just to see what new idea he comes up with next. His thinking pattern is usually outside the box and his focus never gives the impression that he does this just for the money. His yt channel has several videos of past projects that he put on the back burner that would have definitely paid off in big money if he would have stuck with them and ironed out the bugs. He created works of art really for the enjoyment and challenge that comes with it. Like he said, he made it for himself. That's always a plus in my book.
This has to be one of the best thought out firearms in existence - True Genius. Thanks Ian!
7:30
Bruh, are you telling me this .50 BMG rifle is Direct Impingement? Not even Stoner Inline Gas system, just straight, honest to god direct impingement?
I'm laughing my ass off right now. That's hilarious.
"To the casual observer it may resemble the Barrett because it uses the same magazines and has a similar look. The internal system wasn't "changed to an AR-15-style gas-operated-rotating-bolt layout to avoid lawsuits", I designed it from the ground up to be what I believe to be the best system for this type of gun. The gas system is based on a MAS 49/56 or Ljungman and the 3-lug rotating bolt has true helical cuts on the locking surfaces. The barrel extension has the mating surfaces cut from the outside like an M60 or M249. The bolt rides on rails and the cam pin sticks out the left side, the hammer is custom and uses dual compression springs to drive it. The only thing AR-15 is the trigger, safety and pistol grip.
Mark Serbu"
So yup, based on the MAS-49/56. No wonder Ian likes it. :D
"That's quite a large firing pin"
That's what she said 🙊
This gun is appearing quite frequently in the TV show "The Boys".
The wear on that gun is surprisingly nice for its round count. One of the reasons I drool over pretty much all of Mr. Serbu's guns: never mind all the cool ideas and engineering he incorporates into the weapons, how about that fit 'n finish?! The wear- or lack thereof- on the guide rod and locking lugs is really impressive. Construction methodology and material selection on this rifle looks a bit like a service rifle with a long development history.
I need to build a GB-22; I dare not even dream about this 50cal. monster. Thank you for this look at the demo gun Ian, this is the third time I've watched the video now :D
Very interesting. I was going to ask about the charging handle and ejection port for left handed shooting, but Ian answered my questions just by demonstration. Bravo and thank you for adding a new gun to my wish list.
Forward this to Brandon Herrara. He's having some trouble making one
I love this gun! The company that makes it is based out of Florida, and is a really good family owned small business
Having had the opportunity to shoot a lot of .50BMG rifles over the years I was given the opportunity to shoot a few of these years ago at an event and it definitely is a smoother shooting rifle than any self loading rifle I've shot. Accuracy comes very close to a match bolt gun while the recoil is much less than the bolt gun. The only drawback of this gun is that I don't own one although I wish I did. LOL It truly is a Great gun made by a guy with a great sense of humor i.e. BFG, BFG50A, I mean how many of us would not have named this gun BFG50A! Disclaimer: I do not work for Serbu Inc. even though I think it would provide a great opportunity to shoot a lot more .50's ! One thing that was neglected is that those large muzzle breaks provide an excellent location for personalized inscriptions which were not shown in the video such as: "Have a nice Day" , "Smile wait for Flash", etc. There's always room to make someone's day or put a smile on one's face.
This is one of the most fascinating parts of the history of firearms past and present: the ways that different designers have approached (and hopefully solved) the design choices and resulting compromises that go with designing a reliable, working firearm. Being a fan of Czech guns, it's been really interesting to see how they have engineered a solution, as compared to other well known developers and/or countries (eg. VZ-58 vs AK47/AKM). Browning, of course, is a whole story all by himself, and so it goes. Thanks for bringing this one on, Ian. I know it's not a "forgotten" weapon, but perhaps not as well known as Barrett or MacMillan, to name just two. Having done some engineering myself, I'm impressed by the ways Mark Serbu made this not only work, but reliable. I'd dearly love to have a crack at one of these.
the whine of the bolt moving into battery against the machined metal is orgasmic 3:35
It sounds like a slow door opening in Doom 😂
Gee, I wonder what "BFG" stands for. Is it "Big Friendly Gun?"
Giant mushroom! Maybe it's friendly! Mushy giant frieeeeeeend!
.....Big French Gun?
"Belgian Firing Group"
Boogaloo Funtime Guy, duh! Lol
"Big Fornicating Gun"
Man...it's going to be a long wait for that BFG 9000 review if we're only on 50!
What matters is that the count has begun
I think Mark is already working on it
Everyone who was thinking of buying a Barret for Christmas......
"I have a better one to buy now"....
Yes, the better gun, only the company could not mass produce = Barrett won
@@bmstylee I see.... Well it depends on people what they want to do with their 50 cals .. blow shit up or practice headshots.... If it's the latter.. I think the Chey-Tac intervention or McMillan TAC-50 would be better choices
@@bmstylee McMillan TAC-50 is a $10.5k rifle... Chey-Tac intervention is $11-13k rifle.... And the BFG-50A will go for around $9k rifle.... However Barrett's model 99 will cost around $7k with all the accessories.. so your decision ain't so wrong... Like I said... It depends on what people need their 50cals for.... Blowing shit up or practicing headshots
If you are practicing head shots the .416 Barrett is a far superior option ballistically.
@@swapniljoshi6302 The BFG-50A is $7,350 excluding shipping.
Infinity Ward: "We're gonna bring the Barrett back to CoD!"
Infinity Ward: *Adds the Serbu*
The one in MW is a Barrett rifle, specifically it's the XM109 25mm gun that can use an M82 barrel
@@ArcturusOTE Yeah idk what OP is talking about.
That’s where I remember seeing this! Swore I had seen and heard the name before
@@ArcturusOTE you sure? It’s been a hot minute since I played MW but I could’ve sworn it looked very similar to this rifle and that the name “serbu” was mentioned at some point. Maybe I’m just tripping though
This video was extremely well-timed. I've been watching S2 of The Boys, and it made me realize that this rifle is used a few times in the show, both S1 and S2.
Mark Serbu actually has a clip from the show on his youtube channel.
I'm subscribed to Mark's channel. He seems like a good guy and what he builds are always interesting. He also is willing to answer intelligent questions about gunsmithing and development
Mark is a solid dude. One day, hopefully, I'll be able to get my own example!
14:56
In 2020 Ammo Shortage prices, Ian just shot a car payment’s worth of ammo with 4 shots!
.50 ball can still be found around $3 when I checked a couple weeks ago. Not many people have one so the demand isn’t as spiked as common calibers.
@@charlesmckinley29 Hell, Serbu's website is selling the walmart brand .50 for $3. Although it has a disclaimer that it's not great in some of his .50's.
Cool video. This guy and this channel are great representations of firearms and shooting enthusiasts.
Imagine how good of marketing this video is for Serbu. The man has probably gotten a dozen or more new orders in the past few hours.
Serbu means "assault" in Indonesian. That's an appropriate name.
Imagine Pindad making a full-auto version of this.
The Pindad SS5.
@@UXB1000 that'd be awesome. The SS is assault rifle series tho, might need a new series for high cal.
@Tzuede Off the Cuff
Oh let people have their own fun, will ya?
More like ambush, attack is serang
@@wawan8759 i agree.....
BFG, eh? Well it sure is big.
Big Fun Gorgeous, BFG indeed
Surprised no one made reference to how BFG was described in Doom or Quake manuals in 90s