New For 2025: Auto-Ordnance Thompson TAO50

by
posted on January 11, 2025
Auto Ordnance Thompson AO50 bolt-action rifle on bipold and shown with optic and brown-colored accessories
Images courtesy of Auto-Ordnance.

The .50 BMG is a heavy machine gun cartridge that has served for nearly a century now in the equally famous M2 machine gun. In that 100 years, the round has found its way from machine guns into rifles that can be handled and fired by a single person. Long-range shooting with a .50 BMG rifle is a world unto itself, with highly specialized ammunition, optics and firearms. Auto-Ordnance, a subsidiary of the Kahr Firearms Group, is stepping into that world with the Thompson TAO50, a rifle announced last year and appearing on the market in 2025.

Right side of the Auto-Ordnance TAO50 bolt-action rifle with text overlay calling out features and parts with inset detail imagesAuto-Ordnance calls its TAO50 “a revolutionary bolt-action rifle designed to redefine long-range shooting power and precision.”

The TAO50 is a magazine-fed, bolt-action rifle. The bolt rides on a patent-pending roller bearings system and uses a left-side bolt handle. Its 10-round detachable box-magazine is of the Barrett M82/M107 pattern and one magazine is supplied with the rifle. An M1913 Picatinny rail runs the length of the surfaces of the upper receiver and handguard for the mounting of optics and accessories.   

Left side of the all-black Auto-Ordnance Thompson TAO50 bolt-action rifle.Auto-Ordnance’s Thompson TAO50 combines cutting-edge and innovative engineering with compatibility with popular firearms already on the market.

The 29” barrel is precision-rifled with a 1:15” twist-rate and its muzzle threaded 1x14 TPI for the attachment of a .50 BMG bolt-action compatible suppressor. It comes capped with Auto-Ordnance’s patent-pending, high-efficiency muzzle brake, which the company says makes it one of the the softest recoiling .50 BMG rifles on the market.

Right side of the flat dark earth colored Auto-Ordnance Thompson TAO50 bolt-action rifle.The TAO50 is available with hard-anodized finish of either matte black or flat dark earth (FDE) (pictured).

Despite being a rifle that is 61” overall and weighs 25.5 lbs., the TAO50 seeks to maintain AR-15 familiarity and compatibility, with a Magpul PRS Gen 3 precision adjustable stock, MOE+ grip and a Timney AR-style trigger. A bilateral safety lever is placed in the traditional AR position above the pistol grip. The rifle comes equipped with an Accu-Tac bipod.

Detail of the stock and open bolt of the Auto-Ordnance Thompson TAO50 bolt-action rifle.The TAO50 has AR-15 familiarity and compatibility, with its Magpul furniture and bilateral safety lever.

The TAO50 has a hard-anodized finish on metal components that can be had in matte black or flat dark earth (FDE). Lest you forget this is an Auto-Ordnance product, the classic Thompson bullet logo is etched into the rifle’s lower receiver and muzzle brake.

Detail of the flat dark earth muzzle brake on the Thompson TAO50 bolt-action rifle.The classic Auto-Ordnance Thompson bullet logo is etched into the lower receiver and muzzle brake.

The Auto-Ordnance TAO50 comes in a custom-fitted, wheeled hard case and has an MSRP of $8,700 for the matte black rifle and $8,800 for the version with the FDE finish. For more information, see the company’s website.

An Auto-Ordnance Thompson TAO50 bolt-action rifle shown inside its hard-sided, foam-lined carrying case.

The TAO50 comes in a fitted hard case with room for all of its accessories.

Latest

Fn Americana 545 Tactical Giveaway
Fn Americana 545 Tactical Giveaway

The Great FN Gun Giveaway At NRAAM 2025

Here’s a chance to win a custom, one-of-a-kind FN 545 Tactical pistol at the 154th NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits, April 24-27, in Atlanta, Ga. No purchase necessary.

Training With Moving Targets

Most target shooters understand static or bullseye-type stationary targets quite well, but did you know that adding motion into your training routine will improve practical marksmanship and the skills necessary to conquer defensive situations?

USA Shooting Celebrates 30th Anniversary

USA Shooting marks a historic milestone in April as it celebrates 30 years as the national governing body for international shooting sports within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

Rifleman Review: Rock River Arms LAR-15M .17 HMR

Building a reliable semi-automatic rifle chambered for the .17 HMR can be a challenge, but Rock River Arms seems to have solved the issue with its unique RRA .17 HMR AR-style rifle.

New For 2025: Tanfoglio Hexagon Tactical & Hexagon P

Tanfoglio manufactures CZ 75 pattern pistols in a variety of forms, and for 2025, the company is adding two new variants to its lineup with the Hexagon Tactical and Hexagon P.

See New Guns & Gear At The NRA's Annual Meetings In Georgia

Freedom-loving American patriots gather every spring at the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits to celebrate their liberty and check out the newest crop of guns, optics, ammunition and accessories. This year, 2025, the fun will take place in Atlanta, Ga.—we hope to see you there!

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.