The numbers with the 50BMG rounds are astounding, especially to some who might only be familiar with the more common hunting rounds. A .50 BMG round can effectively disable a vehicle when fired into the engine block. It answered a lot of my questions. They should show closer accuracy between each other however, because the form factor is constant. The 50 BMG is the winner of this section..50 BMG vs .50 Beowulf: Stopping Power. Those values would be correct if you were shooting the ammo out of a "military weapon system" at the upper end of the velocity spectrum in the 3,000 fps range. Still, we think that we can get some valuable information by examining the kinetic energy associated with our various rounds as the move from the muzzle down range to 1,000 yards. This data was taken from the standards used by the ballistic calculator for the .338 LM and the .50 BMG rounds. We will see more drastic differences between our selected rounds, and we cannot comment on the exact variables used for this result. A lot of competitions wouldnt allow a .50 caliber round, but if you just enjoy taking shots upwards and beyond 1,000 yards, the 50 BMG is hard to beat. Usually, these can leave a severe wound. The rigidity and strength are used to penetrate tough surfaces easily. 400 yds. This is near impossible to handle accurately unless accessory gear is used to help absorb and stabilize the rifle. In some cases, it is used to detonate mounted guns or cannons. 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). Since the mid-1950s, some armored personnel carriers and utility vehicles have been made to withstand 12.7mm machine gun fire, restricting the destructive capability of the M2. According to the American Rifleman: "Actually, the Browning .50 originated in the Great War. Cartridge dimensions The 50 BMG 12.7 99 NATO cartridge has a capacity of 290 grains H2O (19 ml). Machine guns use it as a continuous belt of rounds. Get my premium 550+ pages handbook that compares all cartridges, for free (worth $199!) Our .50 BMG ammunition is ready for action. If we take a closer look at the averages of the round, we see that the 50BMG rounds carry from 200fps (Muzzle-700yds) to 300fps (800-1,000yds) more than the 338LM rounds, which is quite remarkable given how much heavier the 50BMG rounds. Keep in mind this is an approximation and although it is quite accurate it should never replace first-hand experience of shooting your specific firearm and ammunition to determine the bullet drop and windage at different ranges and conditions. As time goes, they are becoming more popular among shooters and hunters. Use this ballistic calculator in order to calculate the flight path of a bullet given the shooting parameters that meet your conditions. Basically, BC is a measure of how . It can disable most unarmored and lightly armored vehicles. And if you need the performance of the 50BMG, you are probably already aware of what you are in for and with todays modern gear, you are perfectly capable of using this cartridge efficiently. Ballistic Coefficient: 0.572 Diameter: 0.51" Material: Copper Length: 1.892" Features. . [15], A common method for understanding the actual power of a cartridge is comparison of muzzle energies. We will bring this up several times throughout our discussion but keep in the back of your mind that your ultimate choice should consider all of these results together rather than focusing on one independent category. The time for a .50 calibre bullet to travel one mile at a constant speed of 1400feet per second is around four seconds. The .50 BMG cartridge is also produced commercially in a wide range of specifications, including armor piercing, tracing, and incendiary. Maybe even more so when looking at these two rounds. During operation or simply game shootings, it can make a significant wound in cases of accidents. Each cartridge is loaded with either Hornady A-MAX bullets, our high-performance boattail hollow points, or the new, radically superior ELD Match bullets. They are widely used by civilians as well as military forces. 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. As we mentioned above, firing these rounds often requires heavy firearms and other pieces of gear that help negate this recoil. Mostly the twist rate of the rifling of 50 BMG is 1 in 15, with eight lands. We can estimate penetration based on the sectional density because of what the SD is derived from. That all said, there are deals out there. The caliber depends on the barrel diameter bore of the bullets guns. [4] A skilled sniper can effectively neutralize an infantry unit by eliminating several targets (soldiers or equipment) without revealing his precise location. ShootersCalculator.com is in the process of being massively overhauled. The email address you entered is not valid. Steel armors can also stop it from entering. kilojoules). Were not going to go too specific with the comparisons here. As far as the BCs go for these two cartridges, both show phenomenal numbers. Can a human survive a 50 Cal shot?How many bodies can a .50 cal penetrate? In our minds, there is no one cartridge that is above and beyond better than another. Because this is computer generated data and because each rifle has its own personality, the actual numbers that are going to come from firing one of these rounds from your rifle, the numbers shouldnt be too far off but we wanted to make it clear that these numbers are not set in stone. Still, with the categories we have examined so far, we can infer some information in a roundabout way when it comes to the potential accuracy between the 338 Lapua Mag versus 50 BMG. As you notice, the .50 BMG has nearly double the recoil energy than the .338 LM. It boasts a BC of 0.874, and some indicators point to a 0.900 BC at 2,900 fps. Now, in this section, we are not looking technically at the actual felt recoil but instead at the recoil energy(ft.lb) that is generated when firing these rounds. Within the United Kingdom, it is legal to own a bolt action .50 BMG rifle with a section 1 Firearms Certificate. Unsubscribe at any time. Caliber Multi: .50 BMG Application: Hunting . The .50 BMG is an impressive long-range cartridge, especially when paired with a high-quality bolt-action or semiautomatic rifle and a good optic. Encased in Barrett head-stamped brass, every cartridge is loaded with noncorrosive powder and primers as well as a 661 gr projectile using state-of-the-art machinery. With that being said, we wouldnt recommend hunting the majority of game on planet Earth with a 50BMG; it seems pointless with the amount of damage it would cause to perfectly good meat. Our 50 BMG ammunition is ready for action. 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. However, bullets shot from pistols are slower as the gunpowder takes longer to burn. However, the strength depends on the sturdiness and power of the rifles used for this bullet. A user can shoot easily from a distance of about two kilometers. The 50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun) is a large 50 caliber cartridge packing some serious long-range firepower in a 12.7 x 99mm NATO round. Informative, interesting and well written. Like all Federal American Eagle ammunition, the 50 BMG provides reliable feeding and great ballistics. Other than armed forces, civilians use this bullet round for target shooting and sports. Velocity is key for proper penetration and expansion, which is critical for hunting. 338 LM Federal MatchKing BTHP Gold Medal 250gr, 338 LM Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond 300gr. At present, some US law enforcement use 50 BMG weapons, as well as snipers. For the .338 LM, we recommend the Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond 300gr round. document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Copyright Hornady, Privacy Policy | CCPA Request | Accessibility Policy | Terms of Use, Designed and developed by IdeaBank Marketing. [17] However, some other countries produce the ammunition with Berdan primers that have two flash holes. [9] The former record for a confirmed long-distance kill was set by U.S. Marine sniper Carlos Hathcock in 1967 during the Vietnam War, at a distance of 2,090 meters (2,290yd; 1.30mi);[10] Hathcock used the .50 BMG in an M2 Machine Gun equipped with a telescopic sight. Both of these cartridges are going to produce a tremendous amount of recoil. Both cartridges have the velocity needed for long range shooting though the 50BMG seems to show slightly higher velocities and this gap between the cartridges widens as the rounds move downrange. For testing your limits on the range, we dont think you can go wrong with the .338 LM Hornady ELD Match 285gr. We have done our best to remove any that have major damage, but individual opinions may vary on what . So when game time comes make sure you are ready and enjoy the accuracy of Federal American Eagle 50 BMG ammunition! I agree with Michael. This Ballistic is so strong that it can literally obliterate the point it touches within its effective shooting range. Most .50 BMG rounds are not designed for much expansion. "[5], The round was put into use in the M1921 Browning machine gun. We have hunted a long time and talked to a lot of our fellow outdoorsman. In the case of the 338 Lapua vs 50 BMG, we still feel the same. .50 BMG Ballistics Variables Bullet Weight: 661 grain Ballistic Coefficient: 0.62 (G1) Scope Height: 3 inches Ambient Conditions Temperature: 59 Pressure (absolute): 29.92 inHg Cross Wind (90 or Full Value): 1 mph MODEL 82A1 .50 BMG (29 BARREL) MODEL 82A1CQ .50 BMG (20 BARREL) DOWNLOADS Hornady's original goal: "Ten bullets through one hole.". Barrel Length inches 36 Ballistics Coefficient (G1) 0.707 Ballistics Coefficient (G7) 0.350 Sectional Density 0.362. Pull-out cloth belts were also used at one time, but have been obsolete since 1945. 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. Coming up on wounded animals, especially if they are predators, can be dangerous and being able to drop them cleanly takes this risk away. Today, there are various types of bullet rounds manufactured that are measured in 50 calibers. It excels in all of the ballistic categories that we have covered in this article. Copyright 2023 ShootersCalculator.comALL rights reserved. The standard projectile on which all Hornady Bullets were compared was the G1 Model, based on work begun in France and refined at the U. S. Army Ballistic Research Laboratories, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. We have compiled the ballistic coefficients for all ten rounds and graphed them here. 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. In ballistics, the ballistic coefficient ( BC, Cb) of a body is a measure of its ability to overcome air resistance in flight. It can shoot up to ranges of 330 yards and floats in the air for about seven seconds, before dropping to the ground. 50 BMG basic cartridge dimensions-All sizes in inches (in). This comparison is interesting because of how similar the sectional densities are despite the major differences in bullets. 300 yds. Muzzle 100 yds. Beretta 3032 Tomcat [Review]: A Worthy Self-Defense Pistol? This is useful to get a legalized firearm with licenses. So the damages can be huge, depending on the surface it will hit. These rounds are listed below. While these two cartridges might overlap in some shooting applications, we think there are niches where they stand apart as well. The 338LM rounds under our specifications have recoil energies ranging between 29 and 33ft.lb. I'm Mike, one of the oldest writer of Sniper Country! In addition to the usual tables and graphs of drop, velocity, and windage, Modern Ballistics has these unique features: Sight Angle. . The .50 BMG is a bigger, heavier bullet that delivers a reliable killing shot up to an astounding range of about 3300 yards. [36][37] California prohibits the private purchase of a rifle capable of firing the .50 BMG through the .50 Caliber BMG Regulation Act of 2004. Subsequently, Frankford Arsenal took over from Winchester, producing the historic .50 BMG or 12.7x99 mm cartridge. You make up some cartridges and we'll do some shooting. [3], In response to the need for new anti-aircraft weaponry during World War I, John Browning developed the .50 BMG. This is the Ferret .50; a top-end attachment to an AR15 lower. Best Mossberg 500 Heat Shields [Ultimate Buying Guide], Best 9mm Ammo in 2021 [Self-Defense & Target], 6.5 Creedmoor vs .243 Win Cartridge Comparison. The Ballistic Coefficient of tangential ogive jacketed bullets traveling at velocities above the speed of sound can be calculated to a reasonable degree of accuracy if careful measurements are made to determine the actual radius curve of the nose portion and the boat tail (if any) dimensions. When a bullet is fired from the barrel, it carries kinetic energy that upon impact is transferred to the target. We also know that this bullet can enter very tough materials easily. Different snipers have different ranges depending on their design. This justifies the strength of the snipers and their sturdy build for heavy operation. To be able to push such large bullets to speeds that make them useful is going to take a good deal of powder and both have the casings to hold it. The BC of a round also plays a large role in the trajectory of a round, which we will look at next. In addition, these snipers will have less drift from the winds of the bullet. This can be useful in comparing cartridges or loads. Different 50 caliber bullets are used for various purposes that have individual compositions. 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]. 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. [37][41] In Illinois, it is legal to possess a .50 caliber rifle only if it was acquired by January 10, 2023, and it is registered with the state police by January 1, 2024. Just for comparison of how intense the recoil energy is for these two cartridges, some common hunting rounds such as the .30-06 and .308 are generating recoil in the 20-26ft.lb range when using a 7lb rifle with the same conservative powder loads. 50 BMG 750 gr A-MAX Match Item #8270 | 10/Box We carefully select every component to ensure uniformity, then load to exacting specifications to provide pinpoint accuracy. They are of premium build to make precise targets with less recoil. [38] Connecticut specifically bans the Barrett 82A1 .50 BMG rifle. We also hope that we have made clear that the BC is not a point for comparing which bullet is better or worse than others. In regards to their BC a spitzer bullet has a high coefficient and is suitable for long-range shots, and the boattail spitzer is even superior making it one of the best bullets for long-range targets exceeding 1,000 yards. While the .338 rounds have a much smaller diameter than the huge .50 cal rounds, the exponentially heavier bullet weights of the 50BMG rounds make up for the large size. You can find an email form and contact information here. ), but the ammunition did not exist. No extra bullets are sent. Though they also carry quite a significant amount more powder and as we saw previously, you pay for it with the recoil. A .50 in caliber cartridge developed for the M2 Browning heavy machine gun in the late 1910s, entering official service in 1921. With the .338 Lapua Magnum vs .50 BMG, recoil takes on a bit more of an important role. A few of these include the bullet design (spitzer, boat tail, flat nose, etc.) The average chamber pressure in this round as listed in TM43-0001-27,[18] the U.S. Army Ammunition Data SheetsSmall Caliber Ammunition, not including plastic practice, short cased spotter, or proof/test loads, is 54,923psi (378,680kPa). No one knows who and why is producing these strange slugs in Tarkov, but they just work. With modern firearms, the majority of centerfire rifle cartridges can be tolerated with regards to the recoil. It is used mainly in machine guns for various shooting and personal uses. The primary military use of this round is in the M2 Browning machine gun and anti-materiel rifles such as the Barrett M82. We think a flat trajectory also gives you a little more room for mistakes when it comes to judging distance quickly, as is sometimes the case when hunting. These are excellent speeds for long range shooting, especially when shot from a rifle with the proper twist rate to stabilize them in flight. These ballistic coefficient values are said to be accurate to within about 5%. The bigger the ballistic . For the 50BMG, we are not going to give a specific round. The higher the velocity, the flatter the bullet will shoot, with less wind drift, more energy when it reaches the target, and an extended . Ammunition is sold in 80-round cases. It will a produce a line graph showing the bullet drop and flight path of the bullet. Federal Ammunition 50 BMG Ballistic Data. I highly recommend him and his product. 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 A 290 grain 50 BMG is a relatively robust round.