What do you do with what is arguably the most popular, affordable and accurate high-powered .50 caliber rifle in the world? If you're Armalite, you make it even better.

And that's what ArmaLite has done with its introduction of the AR-50A1 National Match, unveiled at the 2011 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The AR-50A1 National Match is similar to the standard AR-50A1 with some very important differences. The AR-50A1 NM is produced from selected components: The National Match’s 33 inch barrel is three inches longer than the standard AR-50A1’s barrel. The barrel has eight flutes. The flutes help with cooling and reduce unnecessary weight while maintaining accuracy-enhancing stiffness. The barrel has a 50 BMG Match chamber instead of a standard military chamber.

The result: sub MOA accuracy.

ArmaLite has also developed a “Skid System” for the AR-50A1 National Match. It’s meant for serious match use and comes standard, not as an expensive add-on. The ArmaLite Skid System provides parallel rests on the rifle that are parallel with the bore of the rifle so when it recoils it will recoil straight back. This has been requested by match shooters, some of whom have made their own. The front skid attaches to the slot in the forestock similar to the way bipod rails are attached. The rear skid attaches to the buttstock. Armalite developed the Skid System without modification to the AR-50A1’s original parts so the system can be used by shooters who already own an AR-50A1 and want to use their original stock with no modifications.

Looking for more reasons the AR-50A1 NM achieves sub-MOA accuracy? Here they are:

The heart of the rifle is its metallic stock-to-action interface. The patented V-Lock™ Bedding Wedge and V-Block Stock assure absolute strength and repeatability for superb accuracy. The aluminum stock reinforces the receiver like a bench-rest sleeve. It’s not just the bedding that improves accuracy. Independent testing has proven the AR-50A1 muzzle brake to be the best in the industry for both recoil control and accuracy. It scrapes away turbulent muzzle gasses and lets the bullet break into clean air for amazing accuracy.

The only question we have is, when can we get our hands on this beast?