. Browning pondered the situation and, according to his son John, replied, 'Well, the cartridge sounds pretty good to start. Muzzle 100 yds. If we look at the sectional densities of the ten rounds we see that there is not a huge advantage to one cartridge over the other in this regard though the 50BMG cartridge does have two rounds above the .4 mark. Barrel Lengths & Velocities for the 50 BMG. They wanted a heavy projectile at 2700 feet per second (f.p.s. 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. As the 50 BMG bullet has a high ballistic coefficient, it is used for powerful sniper rifles. To use either of these rounds, muzzle brakes and other support is needed to use rifles chambered for these cartridges. To test the power, we see that a .50 BMG cartridge can cross the .9 mark, with a flat projectile motion. 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. The .30-06 Springfield, the standard caliber for American soldiers in both World Wars and a popular caliber amongst American hunters, can produce muzzle energies between 2,000 and 3,000 foot-pounds force (3,000 and 4,000J). Some big, heavy, and efficient bullets like the .50 BMG can have a ballistic coefficient greater than one, but that topic is for another day. For further comparison, you'd be hard pressed to find a 5.56 load recipe that hits 1,400 ft-lbs. To do this, we have selected several rounds for each cartridge we are comparing. No one knows who and why is producing these strange slugs in Tarkov, but they just work. For simply comparing two different cartridges, we are going to omit it for the sake of clarity. This shows most dramatically in the case capacity where the .50 BMG can hold nearly 200 more grains of powder than the 338LM. The minimum SD for hunting medium game is .210. A 50 caliber bullet is measured to be an inch. But a higher ballistic coefficient doesn't necessarily mean it is a better bullet. Ballistic Coefficient - CHUCKHAWKS.COM Its ballistic coefficient is 1.050. And this is simplifying the topic since we are leaving out expansion, which is also going to play a role in penetration. Gain a deep knowledge of ballistic science and access our improved ballistic calculator. Huston is a hunting enthusiast who believes your success in the field is directly correlated to the amount of preparation at home. And seeing the stopping power in action, we leave that to you. .50 BMG | Panthera Armory LLC Various ammunition is also available to allow firing with lower quality bullets. The difference between the two rounds is as followed with the 50BMG showing a flatter trajectory. The cartridge itself has been made in many variants: multiple generations of regular ball, tracer, armor-piercing (AP), incendiary, and saboted sub-caliber rounds. 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. Your email address will not be published. The bullet length, shape, and weight all positively contribute to a much higher BC than the 50 Beowulf bullet. Teamed with Colt, he produced prototypes ready for testing and, ironically, completed them by Nov. 11, 1918the Great War's end. We are not going to sit and mess around with the short range trajectory. 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. 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. 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 A high number also means that the bullet will retain MORE velocity as it moves down range. Bullet: 661 gr M33 Ball Bullet Weight: 661 gr Bullet Diameter: 0.510 . Its a culmination of several factors including bullet energy, penetration, bullet expansion, and shot placement. ), but the ammunition did not exist. Hornady's original goal: "Ten bullets through one hole.". The less a bullet drops during its flight, the easier it is to make adjustments for longer distance shots. The TSX was introduced in 2003 and has become Barnes' most popular hunting bullet. They are widely used by civilians as well as military forces. 400 yds. .30/06 165-gr./.490 ballistic coefficient 5.56x45 mm 55 gr./.246 Ballistic coefficient Usually the higher the ballistic coefficient the greater the effective range of the round. A .50 BMG round will penetrate most commercial brick walls and concrete cinder blocks. Hornady Manufacturing makes the best cartridges for 50 BMG Ammunition 10 Rounds. These ballistic coefficient values are said to be accurate to within about 5%. 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. TMI50BMG ammunition is loaded to precise standards, using only the finest components, and processes. [39] However, .50 BMG rifles registered prior to the enacted bans remain lawful to possess in California[37][40] and Connecticut. 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. This is useful to get a legalized firearm with licenses. You can find an email form and contact information here. . Even so, computer generated data is a proven and safe means for comparing two cartridges as we will do here. Velocity is key for proper penetration and expansion, which is critical for hunting. 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). Hornady Match rifle ammunition is loaded with the most accurate, consistent match bullets in the world, featuring our AMP bullet jackets. Huge bullets with enough powder to send them downrange at supersonic speeds are going to produce enough kick to knock you down. Not match ammo. [38] Connecticut specifically bans the Barrett 82A1 .50 BMG rifle. And even then, the options you have for 50BMG factory loads is extremely limited, even when compared to the .338 LM. 50 caliber refers to the bullet of this size shot by a gun, and not the casing. 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. Ballistic coefficient - Wikipedia 200 yds. As time goes, they are becoming more popular among shooters and hunters. The .50 BMG was developed during World War I when looking for an effective anti-aircraft round. I was also surprised with thebackground. Ballistic Coefficient: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know Lets first take a look at the recoil energy (ft.lb) of these two rounds in general. These are extremely large rounds that require heavy weapons as well as other equipment to shoot accurately. 50 BMG Ammo Identification Chart | Survival Monkey Forums Hi! The auctioneer claims that it is only one of twelve built and the only other known example resides at the Ford Benning sniper school. Different snipers have different ranges depending on their design. In ballistics, the ballistic coefficient ( BC, Cb) of a body is a measure of its ability to overcome air resistance in flight. Informative, interesting and well written. This bullet weighs much less even with the large size. Us has made 50 BMG the standard as the largest bullet round in terms of shell size. With the .338 Lapua Magnum vs .50 BMG, recoil takes on a bit more of an important role. Reply. . The increased interest in the .338 LM in civilian circuits has resulted in more round options though still limited compared to other competition and hunting rounds. Firearm Setup. Federal American Eagle 50 BMG Ammo 660 Grain FMJ - Ammo Deals Joined Feb 9, 2010 Messages 6. The two most important variables are the Initial Velocity and the Ballistic Coefficient. On 14 April 2001, 19-year old Senior Airman Jennifer Donaldson, from the Illinois Air National Guard, made history. The firearm has been zeroed in at 200 yards. My first deer at the age of 45 I joined the deer hunting fraternity a little late, but the desire to hunt has always been there. The numbers with the 50BMG rounds are astounding, especially to some who might only be familiar with the more common hunting rounds. 50 BMG goes subsonic at 1500 Yards? Effect? - Sniper's Hide Forum .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 However, sectional density, the relationship between . They have various models for different cartridges. 50 BMg bullets have a high ballistic coefficient of more than 1.0 to resist drifts from wind in flight. PMC X-Tac Match combines all the performance of world class ballistics with a price point that is friendly for your wallet. Even if we had all of the rounds and a couple days to generate some MOA measurements it still might differ on another day in someone elses hands. 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. These are excellent speeds for long range shooting, especially when shot from a rifle with the proper twist rate to stabilize them in flight. You might be strictly a hunter or strictly a competition shooter, but the majority of us are a mixture of both. Barrel Lengths & Velocities for the 50 BMG - Lilja : Lilja However, bullets shot from pistols are slower as the gunpowder takes longer to burn. Ballistic coefficient is typically measured with a 3 digit expression. On the other hand, 50 BMG is designed for machine gun operations, which belongs to 50 Cal. This is a hard hitting round with incredible range and power. [34], A 1999 Justice Department Office of Special Investigations briefing on .50 caliber rifle crime identified several instances of the .50 BMG being involved in criminal activities. ShootersCalculator.com is in the process of being massively overhauled. To gain more knowledge and quick learning, a comparison table is always the best form. Any armor with composite metal foam is strong to stop a 50 cal bullet. I want this to be the best ballistic trajectory calculator out there. 50 BMG (12.799) 647 Grain API Match Grade Ammunition This ammunition is manufactured in the USA by FedArm. Even after the differences between 50 Cal vs 50 BMG, we see that they are quite similar in various features. For comparison, a similar monolithic bullet in .50 BMG usually maxes out around 800 grains at 2,900 fps. It is when we move out from this marker that we begin to see a general trend between the 338 LM vs 50 BMG. 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? Doppler radar measurement results for a lathe turned monolithic solid .50 BMG very-low-drag bullet (Lost River J40 .510-773 grain monolithic solid bullet / twist rate 1:15 in) look . Barnes Solid Bore Rider Bullets 50 BMG (510 Diameter) 750 Grain Spitzer Boat Tail Box of 20 Developed to reduce pressures and allow higher velocities, this bullet is constructed of a homogenous metal throughout with no lead core or jacket to separate on impact. 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. [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. If you check the Internet, it is very common to find 50 BMG Ball Ammo BC values in the 0.65 to 0.67 ranges. That all said, there are deals out there. They do have some pull marks. It runs on all modern Windows (Win98 and greater) computers. The time for a .50 calibre bullet to travel one mile at a constant speed of 1400feet per second is around four seconds. Both of these cartridges are going to produce a tremendous amount of recoil. 50 BMG Ballistic Coefficient. The .50 BMG is a bigger, heavier bullet that delivers a reliable killing shot up to an astounding range of about 3300 yards. Its range and accuracy, however, are superior to light machine guns when fixed on tripods, and it has not been replaced as the standard caliber for Western vehicle-mounted machine guns (Soviet and CIS armored vehicles mount 12.7108mm NSVs, which have similar dimensions to .50 BMGs). Going the Distance - Shooting Times Users can easily use them for personal use. We will see more drastic differences between our selected rounds, and we cannot comment on the exact variables used for this result. Inside the cartridge consists of a core made of manganese molybdenum steel, a point filler, and a seal of the lead-antimony base. It is made a standard bullet for important army forces. The email address you entered is not valid. 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. 50 BMG is one of the types of 50 caliber cartridges used for 50 BMG machine guns. We will shortly look at the averages of these cartridges, but want to point out again that while some of the numbers might seem like drastic differences, and technically they are, its critical to observe the individual rounds, specifically the .338 LM. Machine guns use it as a continuous belt of rounds. This data was taken from the standards used by the ballistic calculator for the .338 LM and the .50 BMG rounds. But, one can also survive the wound from a 50 BMG shot if it isnt fatal. Ballistic Coefficient Calculator GunData.org It has the velocity, the BC, and the trajectory to make shots of even 1,500 yards. Special Offer: Join our private community and get exclusive gun deals, handpicked gear recommendations and updates on law changes, every day! Get gun deals, hand's on reviews, educational content and updates on law changes, daily! This e-mail address is already subscribed. From the bullet seating to the optimal charges and velocities, Hornady Match ammunition is designed to live up to company founder, J.W. [citation needed], The U.S. Coast Guard uses .50 BMG rifles onboard armed helicopters to disable the engines on boats during interdictions. Coming up on wounded animals, especially if they are predators, can be dangerous and being able to drop them cleanly takes this risk away. The max I have ever seen anyone run is around 3,000 and that is considered to be hot. 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. If you do not have a Shooting Chronograph, I strongly suggest you purchase one. The oversized bullet is formed to the bore size upon firing, forming a tight seal and engaging the rifling. Sign up to receive new product announcements, special offers, and the annual product catalog. The energy is only part of the equation to stopping power, but it is an important one to examine nonetheless. 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. You make up some cartridges and we'll do some shooting. About the previous point, a clean kill means you are not going to have to track a wounded animal sometimes a couple hundred yards and possibly in the dark and cold. 12.7 x 99mm, APEI, M 02, "Advancements in Lightweight .50 Caliber Ammunition", "DoD Wants Bullet That Can Change Direction After Being Fired", "EXACTO Guided bullet demonstrates repeatable performance against moving targets 2904152 | weapons defence industry military technology UK | analyse focus army defence military industry army", "EXACTO Guided Bullet Demonstrates Repeatable Performance against Moving Targets", "Metal link M9 for cal. Re: 50 BMG goes subsonic at 1500 Yards? Other than armed forces, civilians use this bullet round for target shooting and sports. In some cases you might be surprised. A .50 BMG round can effectively disable a vehicle when fired into the engine block. 338 LM Federal MatchKing BTHP Gold Medal 250gr, 338 LM Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond 300gr. These have the strength to destroy materials with a collection of ammunition. While these two cartridges might overlap in some shooting applications, we think there are niches where they stand apart as well. Ammunition is sold in 80-round cases. Where there are variables, we try to keep them as uniform as possible, but for some cases, it only makes sense to change these variables based on the cartridges. Recoil is also a component to accuracy though most will deny it has any effect on them. 500 yds. And like the 50BMG rounds, we will revisit this shortly. Use this ballistic calculator in order to calculate the flight path of a bullet given the shooting parameters that meet your conditions. Bullet Battle: .338 LAPUA VS .50 BMG (Which Is Deadlier?) Ballistic Chart/Table for .50 BMG M33 ball ammunition - The Firing Line It will a produce a line graph showing the bullet drop and flight path of the bullet. Designed for long range training and target practice. The ballistic coefficient or measure of drag for the .50 BMG is 1.05 which, is higher than any other commercially available around. 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. 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 A bull moose needs a bullet that can hold together and penetrate deeper than a bullet that is going to be used for whitetail. It has an aluminum color tip with a heavy build. . Federal Ammunition 50 BMG Ballistic Data. Both are considered powerful and unique bullet rounds. Ballistic Coefficient & Bullet Math : Long-Range Shooting Science 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. Materials for 50 Caliber Bullets - Lilja : Lilja In some cases, it is used to detonate mounted guns or cannons. You can find an email form and contact information here. A few of these include the bullet design (spitzer, boat tail, flat nose, etc.) 50 BMG basic cartridge dimensions-All sizes in inches (in). [35], In the United States, Washington, D.C. disallows registration of .50 BMG rifles, thus rendering civilian possession unlawful. kilojoules). The higher the velocity, the flatter the bullet will shoot, with less wind drift, more energy when it reaches the target, and an extended . Again, these numbers can vary based on the variables, but with our consistency, we think the comparisons are more than valid. Ammunition is sold in 80-round cases. Any round from this bullet produces between 10,000 and 15,000 foot-pounds force muzzle energies. This comparison is interesting because of how similar the sectional densities are despite the major differences in bullets. It has a sectional density around 0.44, a ballistic coefficient around 1.13, and it's carrying less than 15,000 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle. 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. Looking at just the basic physics, a .50 bmg has a muzzle velocity of about 420 meters per second (1480 feet per second). KelTec Sub 2000 [Review]: Best PCC Firearm? It is a great investment if you want to get into long range shooting and will be especially useful if you handload. 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. They are both quality handguns, but their makers have taken two very different approaches to the designs. Each cartridge is loaded with either Hornady A-MAX bullets, our high-performance boattail hollow points, or the new, radically superior ELD Match bullets. Sight Height (in) Must be a number greater than 0. Well, for 50 BMG, you're looking at $11-$16/round for military surplus ammo. The .338 LM is no slouch when it comes to long range shooting. . This will differ with various models. To be effective, a bullet must be able to penetrate through sometimes very thick hide and bone to reach vital organs. . We carefully select every component to ensure uniformity, then load to exacting specifications to provide pinpoint accuracy. We have compiled the ballistic coefficients for all ten rounds and graphed them here. Properties. It answered a lot of my questions. So when game time comes make sure you are ready and enjoy the accuracy of Federal American Eagle 50 BMG ammunition! The biggest issue we have with the 50 BMG is the sheer weight of the rifle. The longest recorded kill using a .50 BMG was over 2 miles away. and long-range bullets generally range from 0.5 all the way up to 1.0 with the .50 BMG! So, it is evident that the bullet is dangerous and needs care while in use. The 50 caliber is a 5.5-inch length seated bullet. 2023 Ballistic Chart - Fillable, Printable PDF & Forms | Handypdf Factory loads for civilian purchase are limited with most of the available rounds coming with bullet weights between 650 and 750gr. SHTF 50: Safety Harbor's .50-Cal Upper Conversion for AR-15s The Army then returned to John Browning for the actual gun. 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. [43] Writing for the Marine Corps Gazette, Maj Hays Parks states that "No treaty language exists (either generally or specifically) to support a limitation on [the use of .50 BMG] against personnel, and its widespread, longstanding use in this role suggests that such antipersonnel employment is the customary practice of nations." While it is only two factors that go into stopping power, they are the best for comparing two cartridges besides comparison in the field. 50 BMG has a 12.7mm diameter and is also used in snipers and machine guns. In this Article: RecoilBallisticsTrajectoryStopping PowerAccuracyPrice & AvailabilityPriceApplicationsBest Rounds In this cartridge comparison, we are going to take a look at the 6.5 Creedmoor vs .243 Winchester. Velocity fps: 2940: 2806: 2677: 2551: 2428: 2309: Energy ft lbs: 12666: 11541: 10499: 9534: [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. With extremely tight tolerances and strict quality control, all Hornady Match ammunition features superior lot-to-lot consistency. . The primary military use of this round is in the M2 Browning machine gun and anti-materiel rifles such as the Barrett M82. This gun was later developed into the M2HB Browning which with its .50 caliber armor-piercing cartridges went on to function as an anti-aircraft and anti-vehicular machine gun, capable of penetrating 0.9 inches (23mm) of face-hardened armor steel plate at 200 meters (220yd),[6] 1 inch (25mm) of rolled homogeneous armor at the same range,[7] and 0.75 inches (19mm) at 547 yards (500m).[8].