Cart
0
Police Find Homemade .50-Caliber Rifle Capable of Firing Machine-Gun Rounds
A Southern California police investigation led to the seizure of a fully functional homemade rifle powerful enough to fire Browning Machine Gun rounds. Authorities say the weapon lacked important safety components, and the person found with it was legally barred from possessing firearms.
A homemade .50-caliber rifle found in Menifee, Calif. (Menifee PD)
A homemade rifle with the capability to fire .50-caliber machine-gun ammunition has been taken off the streets in Southern California, raising concerns about a weapon police say was both functional and dangerously incomplete.
The Menifee Police Department announced the seizure after officers discovered the firearm while handling a call in the Riverside County city. According to police, the homemade .50-caliber rifle was capable of firing Browning Machine Gun rounds, ammunition associated with heavy machine guns and other high-caliber weapons.
Gear Spotlight- What Our Readers Are Picking Up
What made the discovery particularly concerning was the rifle’s construction. Police said the weapon lacked several important safety components typically found in manufactured firearms. Although it was functional, its unusual design created enough concern that officers sought specialized assistance before examining and clearing it.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Hazardous Device Team responded to help police safely handle the weapon. Authorities have not publicly detailed how the rifle was constructed or how long it had been in the suspect’s possession.
During the investigation, officers also determined that the person possessing the rifle was prohibited from owning firearms or ammunition. The individual was arrested and booked on multiple charges, police said. Authorities did not identify the suspect in the initial announcement.
The discovery highlights the challenges law enforcement faces when encountering unconventional or homemade weapons, particularly when those weapons are found in the possession of someone legally barred from having them.
Police did not announce that the rifle had been fired during the incident, nor did they report any injuries connected to its discovery. The immediate concern, according to authorities, was securing and safely examining the weapon.
For officers responding to calls across the country, the incident is a reminder that the risks encountered in the field can extend beyond conventional firearms. An unfamiliar weapon may require specialized personnel and careful handling before investigators can even determine its full capabilities.
Editor’s Note: Details in this article are based on reporting by KTLA 5 and statements attributed to the Menifee Police Department. Authorities have not publicly identified the arrested individual, and the charges should not be treated as proof of guilt.
