The 50 AE was designed around 1988 by Bob Olsen who owned ODL (Olsen Development Laboratory) together with Evan Whildin from Action Arms. The original barrels were done by Fred Wells, who developed the 510 Wells Express and the first cartridges were headstamped A.A.L. for Action Arms and were made by BELL. The original bullet was the Barnes 300gr. Flat Tip Soft Nose bullet #5011010 that Barnes made for the 50/110 Winchester rifle. When trying to market the 50 AE, they fell afoul of the BATF because the diameter of the bullet was above .50”, making it a ‘destructive device’. That was rectified and Speer manufactured the 50 AE with the correct .50cal. bullet. (IAA Forum).