This is roughly the same as saying that the projectile in question possesses low drag, although some meaning is lost in the generalization. Best Mossberg 500 Heat Shields [Ultimate Buying Guide], Best 9mm Ammo in 2021 [Self-Defense & Target], 6.5 Creedmoor vs .243 Win Cartridge Comparison. On the other hand, a 50 BMG is a type of 50 Caliber round. They do have some pull marks. Similarly, .50 BMG weapons have attracted attention from law enforcement agencies; they have been adopted by the New York City Police Department as well as the Pittsburgh Police. There are some options for bulk purchase which can save you some money in the long run. Think of it paired with the energy of the bullet. The 338LM rounds under our specifications have recoil energies ranging between 29 and 33ft.lb. Not match ammo. With ME of over 1,200ft.lb and and ME of over 5,000ft.lb at 1,000yds, there are no restrictions on the type of game you can hunt. Since a 50 cal bullet can slice through a body without protective armor, it can also kill someone. Zero Range (yd) Check TopScopesfor Barrett.50 Cal. Bullet: 661 gr M33 Ball Bullet Weight: 661 gr Bullet Diameter: 0.510 The caliber depends on the barrel diameter bore of the bullets guns. Since 50 BMG cartridges are unique, these have a limited number of sniper rifles built with adequate quality. [4] The Barrett M82 rifle was developed during the 1980s and, along with later variants, has upgraded the anti-materiel power of the military sniper. The Army then returned to John Browning for the actual gun. [38] Connecticut specifically bans the Barrett 82A1 .50 BMG rifle. The round you choose for hunting should be based on the type of game, and this is perfect for the largest animals with the thickest hides. The TSX has gained worldwide recognition as one of the deadliest, most dependable bullets you can buy. The .50 Browning Machine Gun (.50 BMG) was developed for the Browning .50 caliber machine gun in the late 1910s as countries began producing armored vehicles leading up to WWI. Since 50 BMG cartridges are unique, these have a limited number of sniper rifles built with adequate quality. Bullet velocity is a very important ingredient of successful long-range shooting. Of course, how much penetration you need is going to depend on the game you are hunting. "[5], The round was put into use in the M1921 Browning machine gun. [17] However, some other countries produce the ammunition with Berdan primers that have two flash holes. This American Eagle ammunition was produced by Lake City Arsenal to NATO specifications. This Ballistic is so strong that it can literally obliterate the point it touches within its effective shooting range. heres what ive seen on a ballistic calculator Trajectory Input Data Manufacturer: Hornady Description: A-Max Caliber: 0.510 in Weight: 750.0 gr Ballistic Coefficient: 1.050 G1 Muzzle Velocity: 2700.0 ft/s Distance to Chronograph: 10.0 ft Sight Height: 1.50 in Sight Offset: 0.00 in Its tough for us in this situation because the 50 BMG is such as unique round and it makes it seem as if the .338 LM falls short in most categories and this is not the case. We can estimate penetration based on the sectional density because of what the SD is derived from. Lake City 50 BMG Ammo Details. A very interesting and well written article by an educated man with a surprising background. There is no doubt that the cartridge has the power and the trajectory to take on this challenge, but there is always the ethical question of taking shots at animals from these ranges. The.50 BMG is quite legal for buying without the need for a special license or process. 12.799mm Technical data", "Technical Manual Small-Arms Ammunition, TM9-1990, U.S. War Department", "SHOT Show 2006 New Rifles, Shotguns, Pistols Offer Enhanced Performance", "Weaponry: .50 Caliber Rifle Crime," GAO Office of Special Investigations letter", "CHAPTER 943 OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC PEACE AND SAFETY", "Are .50 BMG rifles legal in California? This justifies the strength of the snipers and their sturdy build for heavy operation. This includes the velocity, the BC, and the trajectory of the round. From a hunting perspective, the advertised ballistic data confirms that all three cartridges have both the necessary sectional density (SD) and initial muzzle energy for both medium and large game hunting applications. PMC X-Tac Match combines all the performance of world class ballistics with a price point that is friendly for your wallet. Similar to snipers, 50 BMG pistols are also made of hard materials to support the powerful cartridge. Well, for 50 BMG, you're looking at $11-$16/round for military surplus ammo. The gathered data regarding the projectile deceleration can be derived and expressed in several ways, such as ballistic coefficients (BC) or drag coefficients (C d). A high number also means that the bullet will retain MORE velocity as it moves down range. Most importantly, they are designed to reduce the bullets recoil. Browning pondered the situation and, according to his son John, replied, 'Well, the cartridge sounds pretty good to start. .50 BMG 100yd Drag Function: G1 Ballistic Coefficient: 1.050 Bullet Weight: 750 gr Initial Velocity: 2820 fps Sight Height : 1.5 in Shooting Angle: 0 Wind Speed: 0 mph Wind Angle: 90 Zero Range: 100 yd Chart Range: 200 yd Maximum Range: 10201 yd Step Size: 20 yd International Standard Atmosphere Altitude: Sea Level (0 ft) While these two cartridges might overlap in some shooting applications, we think there are niches where they stand apart as well. In our minds, there is no one cartridge that is above and beyond better than another. It is a bit much for medium size game at short ranges, but it would give you a huge advantage at long range if you believe that hunting ethical. Shots traveling 1,000 yards are much more prone to these environmental factors, and we would bet that 99% of them are very aware of the BC. During wartime, especially WW2, the US coast guard, and military used 50 BMG rifles towards helicopters. As we mentioned earlier, the velocity has a lot of influence on other aspects of the bullets behavior such as expansion. Beretta 3032 Tomcat [Review]: A Worthy Self-Defense Pistol? They are of premium build to make precise targets with less recoil. The higher the velocity, the flatter the bullet will shoot, with less wind drift, more energy when it reaches the target, and an extended . The price for both is about equal per 20 rounds, though the 50BMG factory loads often come in boxes of ten rounds. If you do not have a Shooting Chronograph, I strongly suggest you purchase one. Almost all rounds have a ballistic coefficient of less than 1.0, but large rounds like the 50 BMG can exceed this normal BC. A bull moose needs a bullet that can hold together and penetrate deeper than a bullet that is going to be used for whitetail. 50 Caliber ITEM NO: 50A BULLET TYPE: FMJ-BT WEIGHT: 660 grain BALLISTICS (barrel length: 36 inches) VELOCITY (feet per second) Muzzle: 3080 100 Yds: 2854 200 Yds: 2639 300 Yds: 2444 400 Yds: 2248 500 Yds: 2061 ENERGY (foot-pounds) Muzzle: 13688 BULLET PATH (inches) Muzzle: +1.50 100 Yds: +3.10 200 Yds: +3.90 300 Yds: +4.70 400 Yds: +2.80 500 Yds: 0 Can a 50 cal rip your arm off? The minimum SD for hunting medium game is .210. This line of ammunition is 100% Lake City made. A 50 cal bullet has the power to cut through a human body with ease. A .50 BMG round can effectively disable a vehicle when fired into the engine block. No one knows who and why is producing these strange slugs in Tarkov, but they just work. Thread starter remrifle333; Start date Apr 23, 2011; Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum Become a supporting member. As you notice, the .50 BMG has nearly double the recoil energy than the .338 LM. With the .338 Lapua Magnum vs .50 BMG, recoil takes on a bit more of an important role. The ballistic coefficient gives you an idea of how streamlined a bullet is. Muzzle Velocity - 2,952 is a screaming velocity, HSM AMAXs run around 2,680, and Barrett Ball is around 2,750. When this is the case, we will be sure to make it clear what we are doing. We also want to note that while we are taking each category and looking at them independently, all of these categories are interwoven with each other, including recoil and stopping power that we will look at shortly. Hornady Manufacturing makes the best cartridges for 50 BMG Ammunition 10 Rounds. Even so, computer generated data is a proven and safe means for comparing two cartridges as we will do here. Most of the cluster around the same amount of energy, but there is some variation. Just from first glance, we see that the various rounds of each cartridge are pretty varied and a general trend for one cartridge over the other doesnt jump out right away. PMC X-Tac Match .50 BMG Ammunition 10 Rounds 740 Grain Solid Brass Projectile 2830fps 50XM. Subject to political controversy due to the great power of the cartridge (it is the most powerful commonly available cartridge not considered a destructive device under the National Firearms Act), it remains popular among long-range shooters for its accuracy and external ballistics. And besides, were talking a .5 diameter wound size; you dont need a whole lot of expansion anyway if you want any meat left over. Designed for long range training and target practice. Thus, to begin zeroing on an optically centered scope, you have to come down 30 minutes at the start. Its a culmination of several factors including bullet energy, penetration, bullet expansion, and shot placement. We will see more drastic differences between our selected rounds, and we cannot comment on the exact variables used for this result. The energy is only part of the equation to stopping power, but it is an important one to examine nonetheless. Be aware you may consider some of them unusable. He wanted the round to be used in a machine gun, and wanted the machine gun to be based on a scaled-up version of the M1917 Browning. This graph should give you a good idea about the major differences we are looking at here. No spam. Important: Since there are thousands of bullet shapes the Ballistic Coefficient calculations made below are not 100% accurate, if you are shooting out past 400-500+ yards your going to need to get the exact BC from the bullet's manufacturer. And like we said, if you need a large cartridge like both of these are, you probably already knew you were going to be dealing with recoil. In addition, these snipers will have less drift from the winds of the bullet. To begin, these selected rounds all have excellent BCs that most would be more than happy with. We are not huge advocates of its use in hunting, but if you have the desire to take it to the field, your biggest concern is how it flies, in which case check out the next section. Where to Buy Ammo Online [Complete 2021 Guide], Best Gun Cleaning Kits [AR-15, Pistol & Universal], Best Shooting Gloves [Hands-On Tested, 2021 Update], Best Universal Red Dot Sights [Hands-on Review]. If you're looking at doing match ammo, you could be paying $5/round just for the bullet, nevermind the powder, primer, brass and other components. In this way, the user can know how much recoil the 50 BMG round has due to impact. PMC X-Tac Match is developed around several award winning loads replicating performance down to a tee. They are intended mainly for long-range shooting. American interest in an armor-piercing cartridge was influenced by the marginal French 11 mm design, prompting U.S. Army Ordnance officers to consult Browning. While Glock is a master of simplicity and reliability, Walther has gone for a more elaborate design. Before we get into our comparisons, there is one more note that we would like to make. The guns that use these bullets were used to target troops to save from enemy guns. Copyright 2023 ShootersCalculator.comALL rights reserved. Huston is a hunting enthusiast who believes your success in the field is directly correlated to the amount of preparation at home. 50 BMG ammo is a large, round sniper bullet. a 50 caliber bullet weapon is considered violent. In some cases, it is used to detonate mounted guns or cannons. The .50 BMG round can produce between 10,000 and 15,000 foot-pounds force (14,000 and 20,000J), depending on its powder and bullet type, as well as the weapon it is fired from. Stringent quality control ensures proper bullet seating, consistent charges and pressures, optimal velocity, consistent overall length and repeatable accuracy. This bullet is 0.50 in diameter and typically 2.25-inch long. It answered a lot of my questions. Under STANAG 4383, it is a standard service cartridge for NATO forces as well as many non-NATO countries. But, if you need the performance, its just something you have to deal with, especially if you dont reload. Its really the only way either of these rounds can be fired accurately. It has a thick casting of under 4 inches long with a primer end of 0.75-inch diameter. This is the best ballistic coefficient of any bullet to date. At present, some US law enforcement use 50 BMG weapons, as well as snipers. Cartridge dimensions The 50 BMG 12.7 99 NATO cartridge has a capacity of 290 grains H2O (19 ml). When a bullet is fired from the barrel, it carries kinetic energy that upon impact is transferred to the target. The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 1 in 15in (380mm), with eight lands and grooves. . We will take a brief look at the origins and histories of these two cartridges and then jump into categories such as stopping power, trajectory, and even price among others. It possesses the ballistic performance to reach out to game at a distance and still carries the energy needed to aid in bringing down big game cleanly. Your email address will not be published. This is why it is used in heavy-duty shootings. The Kel-Tec Sub 2000 features a lightweight design and unique features that make it the perfect choice for anyone looking to take their shooting game to the next level. Both 50 BMG rounds leave the muzzle with over 13,000 ft-lbs of kinetic energy compared to about 4,700 ft-lbs for the 338. We are using computer data that was compiled from the manufacturers websites as well as from trusted ballistic calculators. Ballistic Coefficient (BC) is basically a measure of how streamlined a bullet is; that is, how well it cuts through the air. . . There are various types of weapons used for 50 caliber bullets. When we look at the graph, it is quite a stark contrast between cartridges. Gain a deep knowledge of ballistic science and access our improved ballistic calculator. How To Read Remington Nylon 66 Serial Number Year Codes? 2023 Optics Bible - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, 50 Cal Vs. 50 BMG : Which One To Choose [ Know Differences], 223 vs 3006: What to Choose After In-Depth Comparison. They are widely used by civilians as well as military forces. The first 50 BMG ammunition was the 13.2mm TuF to attack against armored targets. Gun deals, hand's on reviews, educational content and news on law changes, every day! This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it does include some of the more popular rounds for each cartridge. We are working on a massive list, but this list won't be ready for a few weeks or months. Introducing the latest products from the worldwide leader in ammunition. Steel armors can also stop it from entering. kilojoules). Sight Height (in) Must be a number greater than 0. But it differs from other types of 50 caliber bullet rounds. Since the .50 BMG (23.00 23.33 g tungsten with muzzle velocity of 4,000 ft/s (1,219 m/s)) is very large it needs heavy weapons to support it. In ballistics, the ballistic coefficient is used to measure the ability of something to withstand air resistance. What you might be looking for is how these rounds behave in flight, which is what we will look at next. A sniper consists of the bipod, handle, brake, and removable magazine. Regardless, a round with a higher BC is going to maintain a higher BC than a second bullet since both would be effected in the same way. The 50 BMG is another caliber with . In all aspects of the case proportions, the .50 BMG is much larger than the .338, which is a big round when compared to other popular hunting /shooting rounds. Federal Ammunition 50 BMG Ballistic Data. For this article, we are going to explain the BC in the simplest of terms. With that, you have a better chance at running into .338 LM rounds than a box of 50 BMG. While the .50 BMG round is able to deliver accurate shot placement (if match grade ammunition is used) at ranges over 1,000-yard (910m), smaller caliber rifles produce better scores and tighter groups in 1,000-yard (910m) competitions. According to the American Rifleman: "Actually, the Browning .50 originated in the Great War. Sometimes, the wound may be fragile, but it may also get fatal. [12][13], In addition to long-range and anti-materiel, the U.S. military uses .50 BMG weapons to detonate unexploded ordnance from a safe distance. A 50 caliber bullet is measured to be an inch. Aaronthal Weapon Systems Ammunition is sold in 80-round cases. The physics and theories behind the ballistic coefficient can get quite cluttered and complicated, though we highly recommend diving into the subject when you have the time. [1]) is a .50in (12.7mm) caliber cartridge developed for the M2 Browning heavy machine gun in the late 1910s, entering official service in 1921. A common way of comparing ammo power is checking their muzzle energies. It has the power to disable the engines of vehicles and penetrate concrete walls. It has velocities that compete with the 50 BMG rounds, one of the flattest trajectories when compared to other .338 LM factory loads, and a ballistic coefficient of nearly .8.