Can a 50 cal rip your arm off? Steel armors can also stop it from entering. Regardless of what youre using your rifle for and regardless of the cartridge its chambered for we are all going to be interested in its ballistic performance. 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. Since 50 BMG cartridges are unique, these have a limited number of sniper rifles built with adequate quality. Ballistic coefficient is typically measured with a 3 digit expression. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it does include some of the more popular rounds for each cartridge. I VLD was designed from the start to be as efficient as possible, remaining supersonic past 2,150 yards. It is a great investment if you want to get into long range shooting and will be especially useful if you handload. 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. According to the American Rifleman: "Actually, the Browning .50 originated in the Great War. In ballistics, the ballistic coefficient (BC) of a body is a measure of its ability to overcome air resistance in flight. The Spitzer is a very popular and aerodynamic bullet shape. only today ! This Federal American Eagle 50 BMG ammunition is perfect for target shooting, competition shooting, long-range hunting, and long-range shooting. This bullet weighs much less even with the large size. 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. So when game time comes make sure you are ready and enjoy the accuracy of Federal American Eagle 50 BMG ammunition! In certain aspects and certain situations, sure, there are cartridges better suited to the task than others. The bigger the ballistic . For hunters, stopping power is a critical factor in choosing a certain cartridge. 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. PMC X-Tac Match is developed around several award winning loads replicating performance down to a tee. Hornady's original goal: "Ten bullets through one hole.". 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. Gun deals, hand's on reviews, educational content and news on law changes, every day! Different snipers have different ranges depending on their design. Military use 50 caliber in machine guns and snipers, as well as regular shooters. When dealing with more obscure cartridges that dont have a huge market and takes quite a lot more material to make and you have the trifecta for expensive rounds. Ammunition is sold in 80-round cases. Apr 23, 2011 #1 Does anyone know the B.C. By understanding these different parameters, we can not only better adjust to specific shooting conditions and be aware of our limitations, but we can also begin to tease apart certain situations each of these cartridges might be better suited. The following improvements will be made: Please sign up for our newsletter so that you can be alerted the moment these new features are launched! Velocity fps: 2940: 2806: 2677: 2551: 2428: 2309: Energy ft lbs: 12666: 11541: 10499: 9534: You make up some cartridges and we'll do some shooting. The BC of a round also plays a large role in the trajectory of a round, which we will look at next. Excellent quality, and great customer service from Dave Moore of Spider Firearms. This large amount of force is very destructive to surrounding tissue and organs. 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. For this article, we are going to explain the BC in the simplest of terms. This is because the bullet is very large, so the wound it makes is also large and deep, but still curable. It is strong enough to hold a large volume of pressure. .50 BMG Ballistics Variables Bullet Weight: 661 grain Ballistic Coefficient: 0.62 (G1) [14], Some civilians use .50 caliber rifles for long-range target shooting: the US-based Fifty Caliber Shooters Association holds .50 BMG shooting matches. This is roughly the same as saying that the projectile in question possesses low drag, although some meaning is lost in the generalization. Sign up to receive new product announcements, special offers, and the annual product catalog. To gain more knowledge and quick learning, a comparison table is always the best form. Thus, to begin zeroing on an optically centered scope, you have to come down 30 minutes at the start. These are factory loads that are available for purchase. Lets take it a step further and take a look at the rounds we have selected for comparison. Another factor that goes into a cartridges stopping power is the penetration of the bullet. But, one can also survive the wound from a 50 BMG shot if it isnt fatal. These ballistic coefficient values are said to be accurate to within about 5%. The bullet length, shape, and weight all positively contribute to a much higher BC than the 50 Beowulf bullet. Most people who are using a .50 BMG are not hunting and are looking at extreme distance shooting. Contrary to a persistent misconception within the United States Armed Forces, using .50 BMG directly against enemy personnel is not prohibited by the laws of war. I highly recommend him and his product. Putting it all Together FMBT bullets. 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. This is the best ballistic coefficient of any bullet to date. Effect? For two cartridges that are touted as extreme distance shooters, the ballistic coefficient is going to be an important factor for potential users. A .50 BMG round will penetrate most commercial brick walls and concrete cinder blocks. You can find an email form and contact information here. The cartridge itself has been made in many variants from armor piercing to tracer rounds, though most factory loads that can be accessed by civilians are the typical bullets. A .50 BMG round can effectively disable a vehicle when fired into the engine block. Though they also carry quite a significant amount more powder and as we saw previously, you pay for it with the recoil. Still, by comparing the recoil energies, it will translate loosely into what you feel. Each cartridge is loaded with either Hornady A-MAX bullets, our high-performance boattail hollow points, or the new, radically superior ELD Match bullets. This is the Ferret .50; a top-end attachment to an AR15 lower. 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 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. a 50 caliber bullet weapon is considered violent. We arrived at these numbers by using a 15lb firearm for the 338 LM rounds and a 30lb firearm for the 50 BMG rounds, which are common weights for rifles chambered for each cartridge. [citation needed], The U.S. Coast Guard uses .50 BMG rifles onboard armed helicopters to disable the engines on boats during interdictions. Different 50 caliber bullets are used for various purposes that have individual compositions. The numbers with the 50BMG rounds are astounding, especially to some who might only be familiar with the more common hunting rounds. The following ins a 500 yd 270 Win ballistic trajectory and drop chart that follows a 130gr Winchester Silvertip with a ballistic coeddicient of .337 from the time it exits the muzzle until it hits the 500 yard mark. Our 50 BMG ammunition is ready for action. I want this to be the best ballistic trajectory calculator out there. Federal Ammunition 50 BMG Ballistic Data. When a bullet is fired from the barrel, it carries kinetic energy that upon impact is transferred to the target. A bullet's BC is typically less than 1 and recorded to the thousandth decimal place (with notable exceptions; the 50 BMG's BC exceeds 1.000). The 7.62 is the "screw you way over there" round. For the .50BMG, we would recommend the Hornady A-MAX Match 750gr round. By doing this, perhaps we can tease apart in which situations one cartridge might be better suited over the other. Basically, BC is a measure of how . Bullet: 661 gr M33 Ball Bullet Weight: 661 gr Bullet Diameter: 0.510 400 yds. ShootersCalculator.com is in the process of being massively overhauled. They are of premium build to make precise targets with less recoil. This justifies the strength of the snipers and their sturdy build for heavy operation. These bullets are magnetic. A user can shoot easily from a distance of about two kilometers. Some of them operate by recoil principle, while others use gas. 50 Cal 647 Grain Ball pulled bullets. You can find an email form and contact information here. The trajectory is what just about every hunter or competitive shooter of every skill level will be interested in when comparing two different cartridges. It might not compete with some hand loaded cartridges, but you cant get much better when it comes to a factory load. 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. Since 50 BMG bullets are powerful, they can enter through a body part with force. For example, the G1 BC of a standard 5.5645 55gr FMJ roundusually falls at around 0.243. 338 LM Federal MatchKing BTHP Gold Medal 250gr, 338 LM Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond 300gr. It will a produce a line graph showing the bullet drop and flight path of the bullet. The first 50 BMG ammunition was the 13.2mm TuF to attack against armored targets. Please let me know how it can be improved upon. 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. Heavier bullets with the same diameter are going to penetrate deeper than lighter rounds with the same diameter. In this section, we will take a look at bullet energy and penetration for comparing the 50 BMG vs 338 Lapua Magnum. Caliber means the diameter of the bullet, so a 50 caliber bullet is half an inch in diameter. The ballistic coefficient or measure of drag for the .50 BMG is 1.05 which, is higher than any other commercially available around. .338 Lapua Mag vs .50 BMG Cartridge Comparison. To measure the ballistic coefficient, we need the BC projectile that is equivalent to the ballistic coefficient in a point mass trajectory of below 20 degrees. This will differ with various models. Get gun deals, hand's on reviews, educational content and updates on law changes daily! ", "How Will Illinois Law Banning Some Firearms Affect Gun Owners? This bullet is 0.50 in diameter and typically 2.25-inch long. Within the United Kingdom, it is legal to own a bolt action .50 BMG rifle with a section 1 Firearms Certificate. 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. By sticking with this 120-year-old non-aerodynamic standard, bullet companies ensure their BCs will be as large as . 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. They have various models for different cartridges. Citadel 1911 Review: Best Budget-Friendly Pistol? For comparison, a similar monolithic bullet in .50 BMG usually maxes out around 800 grains at 2,900 fps. Lets first take a look at the recoil energy (ft.lb) of these two rounds in general. Still, by looking at the sectional density (SD) of the rounds, we can get an idea of how well these different bullets can penetrate and gives us a basis for comparison. Most .50 BMG rounds are not designed for much expansion. 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. The surface is dirt and water-resistant. The primer type specified for this ammunition is a boxer primer that has a single centralized ignition point (US and NATO countries). [15], A common method for understanding the actual power of a cartridge is comparison of muzzle energies. Due to the high ballistic coefficient of the bullet, the .50 BMG's trajectory also suffers less "drift" from cross-winds than smaller and lighter calibers, making the .50 BMG a good choice for high-powered sniper rifles.[16]. The term BMG means Browning Machine Gun. Calculating Trajectories . However, Los Angeles banned this bullet round. They are both quality handguns, but their makers have taken two very different approaches to the designs. The 408 CheyTac is a relatively new rifle caliber for sharpshooters. The TSX was introduced in 2003 and has become Barnes' most popular hunting bullet. [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. To put this into perspective, the 750 gr A-MAX load has essentially the same kinetic energy at 1,500 yards as a 300 Winchester Magnum has at the muzzle. How important the ballistic coefficient is with shooters often depends on the distance of shots they are taking. It is still a good idea to check legality before making a purchase. So , lets get down to business. During World War II the .50 BMG was primarily used in the M2 Browning machine gun, in both its "light barrel" aircraft mount version and the "heavy barrel" (HB) version on ground vehicles, for anti-aircraft purposes. Usually, these can leave a severe wound. A sniper consists of the bipod, handle, brake, and removable magazine. In regards to ballistics, the .50 BMG has a bigger, heavier bullet that delivers a reliable killing shot at ranges up to 3300 yards and take down medium-sized game at these incredible ranges.. 50 BMG basic cartridge dimensions-All sizes in inches (in). There are two to three inches difference between the highest performing 50 BMG round and the highest 338 LM round. This round is packaged in 150 CT Military Surplus ammo can. . We suppose it all depends on the type of hunting you do, but if you plan on doing any spot and stalk, you better be in shape. If you decide to make a go with the .338 or the 50 BMG, with some practice, youre going to have an accurate cartridge. . The .50 Browning Machine Gun (.50 BMG) was developed for the Browning .50 caliber machine gun in the late 1910sas countries began producing armored vehicles leading up to WWI. [30][31] The M15-series metal "push-through" links were used in the M85 machine gun. If you do not have a Shooting Chronograph, I strongly suggest you purchase one. To be effective, a bullet must be able to penetrate through sometimes very thick hide and bone to reach vital organs. The 50 caliber is a 5.5-inch length seated bullet. No spam. This shows most dramatically in the case capacity where the .50 BMG can hold nearly 200 more grains of powder than the 338LM. On the other hand, 50 BMG is designed for machine gun operations, which belongs to 50 Cal. In the case of the 338 Lapua vs 50 BMG, we still feel the same. The velocity of a bullet is key for both hunting and range shooting purposes. The .50 BMG (12.799mm NATO) cartridge has a capacity of 290gr (19g). This is useful to get a legalized firearm with licenses. Military Applications: Note: We have selected two different 50 BMG loads to demonstrate here. Trajectory follows a similar trend where both show very flat trajectories, though the 50 BMG excels in this category as well. No one knows who and why is producing these strange slugs in Tarkov, but they just work. It is a scaled up version of the venerable .30-06 (standard issue in infantry rifles for the U.S. in both World Wars). Gain a deep knowledge of ballistic science and access our improved ballistic calculator. [39] However, .50 BMG rifles registered prior to the enacted bans remain lawful to possess in California[37][40] and Connecticut. The fact is, both of these cartridges produce large amounts of recoil that can easily cause the shooter to flinch during a shot. The AccuBond bullet used is perfect for the proper expansion needed while not sacrificing penetration for large game animals. The .50 BMG Flechette rifle project was contacted out by DARPA in 1960's. The projectile consisted of a saboted depleted uranium dart weighing 11.9 gram ( 183.6 grains ). Thank you. 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. Users can easily use them for personal use. But it differs from other types of 50 caliber bullet rounds. Firearm Setup. To test the power, we see that a .50 BMG cartridge can cross the .9 mark, with a flat projectile motion. 300 yds. For testing your limits on the range, we dont think you can go wrong with the .338 LM Hornady ELD Match 285gr. They all can kill any game animal in the world. 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. While it is one of the more expensive rounds on our list, you are paying for incredible performance that comes close to matching hand loaded rounds from the experts. 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. Brands like Smith & Wesson, Magnum Desert Eagle, Magnum Research, Guncrafter Industries, Ruger Super, Safety Harbour, etc create the best pistols for 50 BMG. Fill, sign and download Ballistic Chart online on Handypdf.com This American Eagle ammunition was produced by Lake City Arsenal to NATO specifications. Other than armed forces, civilians use this bullet round for target shooting and sports. But a higher ballistic coefficient doesn't necessarily mean it is a better bullet. Looking at just the basic physics, a .50 bmg has a muzzle velocity of about 420 meters per second (1480 feet per second). Usually with the sniper comes some accessories to clean and use effectively. This weapon was used by other snipers, and eventually purpose-built sniper rifles were developed specifically for this round. The 50 BMG does have several rounds that break the .9 and even 1.0 mark, but the 338LM is nothing to scoff at either. This is why their weapons are hard to find and limited in number. On 14 April 2001, 19-year old Senior Airman Jennifer Donaldson, from the Illinois Air National Guard, made history. No spam. Most importantly, they are designed to reduce the bullets recoil. The 338LM rounds under our specifications have recoil energies ranging between 29 and 33ft.lb. 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. They should show closer accuracy between each other however, because the form factor is constant. They have barrel shrouds and a compensator to keep the gun in level. This ammunition usually contains Swedish brass and perfect military specifications. The bottom line is this. Since a 50 cal bullet can slice through a body without protective armor, it can also kill someone. On the other hand, talk to F-class competitive shooters, and the trend is the opposite. You would be surprised how many of them have never given their rounds BC a thought. Looking at it another way, if one is off by 5%, they're probably all off the same amount, making our comparison valid. This cartridge can easily take shots at 1,000+ yards just as the 50BMG, but there might be more dramatic adjustments needed to be made for these shots when compared to the 50 BMG. We went conservative with the powder weight because these are factory loads and are not normally loaded near max capacities. Thank you. 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? During operation or simply game shootings, it can make a significant wound in cases of accidents. Inside the cartridge consists of a core made of manganese molybdenum steel, a point filler, and a seal of the lead-antimony base. It comes in different types like tracer, armor-piercing, usual ball, incendiary, and sub-caliber rounds. The 50 BMG rounds are quite impressive with BCs all above the .7 mark and one round coming in with a 1.05BC. The .50 Browning Machine Gun (.50 BMG, 12.799mm NATO and designated as the 50 Browning by the C.I.P. 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. If youre looking to choose between heavy, hard hitting, and far flying cartridges such as the .338 LM and 50 BMG we are pretty confident that you are well aware of the ballistic coefficient. In addition to the usual tables and graphs of drop, velocity, and windage, Modern Ballistics has these unique features: Sight Angle. PMC X-Tac Match .50 BMG Ammunition 10 Rounds 740 Grain Solid Brass Projectile 2830fps 50XM. The .50 BMG round can produce between 10,000 and 15,000 foot pounds (between 14 and 18 kilojoules), depending on its powder and bullet type, as well as the rifle it was fired from. Parks theorizes that the misconception originated in historical doctrine discouraging the use of the M8C spotting riflean integral .50-caliber aiming aid for the M40 recoilless riflein the antipersonnel role. Description: Lake City 50 BMG ammunition consists of Lake City brass, boxer-primers and 660 Grain projectiles. Get My Cartridge Comparison Handbook! The higher the number, the less drag the projectile will experience. This limitation was entirely tactical in nature and was intended to hide the vulnerable M40 and its crew from the enemy until the main anti-tank gun was ready for firing; however, Parks concludes that some U.S. troops assumed the existence of a legal limitation on the use of .50-caliber projectiles more generally. Decades later, the .50 BMG was chambered in high-powered rifles as well. The majority of its use in these circles is through extreme distance shooting though there are small circles that utilize it for hunting purposes, mostly for large or dangerous game at extreme distances. No extra bullets are sent. We can estimate penetration based on the sectional density because of what the SD is derived from. At present, some US law enforcement use 50 BMG weapons, as well as snipers. A high number also means that the bullet will retain MORE velocity as it moves down range. ), but the ammunition did not exist.