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The AK-50 is a gas-operated, .50 BMG anti-materiel rifle based on the Kalashnikov rifle family, designed in the United States by firearms designer and enthusiast Brandon Herrera, who is otherwise known as "The AK Guy". Development on the AK-50 began in 2015, with a firing prototype made and successfully firing its first .50 BMG cartridges (blank and live) in 2017. However, a functional, cycling action only came into fruition in 2018 after extensive testing. The AK-50 seeks to keep all core design and mechanical features of Kalashnikov rifles, being essentially an AK rifle scaled up to .50 caliber.

While mainly intended for the civilian market, Herrera has expressed interest to market the rifle to "friendly foreign militaries".

Development
The AK-50 project was unveiled circa late 2015, when the first concept artworks were published, and the first predictions of its characteristics and details were made by Brandon Herrera. According to Herrera himself, the idea of a .50 caliber AK rifle was conceived initially as a joke between friends a few years prior.

In early 2016, a non-firing prototype AK-50 was made. While staying at a hotel in Las Vegas, attending that year's edition of the SHOT Show, Herrera had said prototype confiscated by security due to the hotel's zero-tolerance firearm policy. It was then returned and displayed in the show after he managed to acquire a booth.

At some point in 2017, gunsmith Chris Baker joined the project. Later in that same year, a firing AK-50 prototype consisting of a bolt carrier, bolt assembly, receiver and barrel was made. In May 30th, a video showcasing this prototype's assembly and a test fire using a blank .50 BMG round was published in Herrera's YouTube channel; in June 1st, a video showcasing its first live ammo test fire was released.

In 2018, development began on an action for the AK-50 that successfully cycles and chambers another round. Issues such as with the gas system, bolt carrier and extractor were worked on. As usual, the process was documented through a series of periodic videos on Herrera's YouTube channel, which showcased several test fires and gave general updates on the project.

Design
The AK-50 is essentially an enlarged Kalashnikov rifle, scaled up to accommodate the large .50 BMG cartridge, featuring a long-stroke, gas-operated system. According to its designer, the gun will be manufactured almost entirely with 4140 alloy steel, except for some lower-stress parts, which will be made of milled aluminum.

It is also capable of accepting some parts from regular AK or AR rifles interchangeably, such as grips, buttstocks and fire controls.

Reception
In 2016, airsoft website Popular Airsoft alleged that there were ongoing negotiations for an airsoft version of the AK-50. Later in 2020, Popular Airsoft also shared a video which speculated on how an airsoft AK-50 would work and look like.

On February 8th of 2020, hardbass musicians Alan Aztec and Vitalij released the single "Ak50" in homage to the gun.