Ballistic Coefficient: 0.572 Diameter: 0.51" Material: Copper Length: 1.892" Features. It is a scaled up version of the venerable .30-06 (standard issue in infantry rifles for the U.S. in both World Wars). Ammunition is sold in 80-round cases. The bigger the ballistic . But a higher ballistic coefficient doesn't necessarily mean it is a better bullet. This is useful to get a legalized firearm with licenses. This Federal American Eagle 50 BMG ammunition is perfect for target shooting, competition shooting, long-range hunting, and long-range shooting.This American Eagle ammunition was produced by Lake City Arsenal to NATO specifications. It is a great investment if you want to get into long range shooting and will be especially useful if you handload. Both of these rounds are going to shoot flat at 300 yards, but the real reason is that if you are using these cartridges to take shots at that range, there is no helping you anyway. Granted, if youre firing these rounds, you most likely have gear that aids in absorbing the recoil and stabilizing the firearm. A 50 cal bullet has the power to cut through a human body with ease. 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. In the case of the 338 Lapua vs 50 BMG, we still feel the same. As you can imagine, the bigger the game, the more energy you are going to need to cause enough damage for a clean kill. The Heat Shield tip on the ELD Match bullet creates the perfect meplat and outperforms BTHP bullets. [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. So, it is evident that the bullet is dangerous and needs care while in use. Not match ammo. There are various types of weapons used for 50 caliber bullets. The .50 BMG (12.799mm NATO) cartridge has a capacity of 290gr (19g). The TSX was introduced in 2003 and has become Barnes' most popular hunting bullet. [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. Usually with the sniper comes some accessories to clean and use effectively. They are intended mainly for long-range shooting. A ballistic coefficient is a value that is assigned to a bullet type to signify how well it can cut through the air. 200 yds. These are extremely large rounds that require heavy weapons as well as other equipment to shoot accurately. The purpose of this cartridge was to was to provide snipers with a long range round that had incredible terminal ballistics and could penetrate several layers of body armor at extreme distances. Apart from machine guns, snipers and anti-materiel rifles use this cartridge. My problem is that the upper came with a 30 minute rail. The bullet type and powder make the recoil force different between bullets. 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. Typically, long range rifle bullets have a ballistic coefficient of 0.5 (G1) or above. 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. The 408 CheyTac is a relatively new rifle caliber for sharpshooters. Today, there are various types of bullet rounds manufactured that are measured in 50 calibers. This large amount of force is very destructive to surrounding tissue and organs. 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. We have hunted a long time and talked to a lot of our fellow outdoorsman. For assistance, contact customerservice@barnesbullets.com or by phone at 800-574-9200. 50 BMG Ballistic Coefficient. This justifies the strength of the snipers and their sturdy build for heavy operation. Of course, how much penetration you need is going to depend on the game you are hunting. During operation or simply game shootings, it can make a significant wound in cases of accidents. 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. This graph should give you a good idea about the major differences we are looking at here. Thank you. Obviously, this would be an advantage for shooting round out at 1,000 yards or more. Usually, a 50 cal round has a diameter of 12.7 mm diameter. 50 Cal 647 Grain Ball pulled bullets. The projectiles are high quality hand pulled 647 grain M8 API projectiles which have been cleaned, resized, and inspected before loading. 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. It is used mainly in machine guns for various shooting and personal uses. As the 50 BMG bullet has a high ballistic coefficient, it is used for powerful sniper rifles. DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) contracted with Teledyne Scientific Company to develop the EXACTO program, including a .50-caliber guided bullet. Some notable companies that produce 50 BMG sniper rifles include Barrett Firearms, Accuracy International, Arms Tech Ltd, Armalite, Bushmaster, Desert Tech, Serbu Firearms, etc. Seriously, these are heavy duty rounds that fill a very specific niche in the shooting world. The TSX has gained worldwide recognition as one of the deadliest, most dependable bullets you can buy. The .50 BMG cartridge is also used in anti-materiel rifles. [citation needed], In June 2017, a McMillan Tac-50 was used by a sniper with Canada's Joint Task Force 2 to kill an Islamic State insurgent in Iraq, setting the new world record for the longest confirmed kill shot in military history at 3,540 meters (3,870yd; 2.20mi). Federal Ammunition 50 BMG Ammo Details. The guns that use these bullets were used to target troops to save from enemy guns. Access features of the Reloading Handbook on your mobile device with the Reloading App. The firearm has been zeroed in at 200 yards. 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. Looking at it another way, if one is off by 5%, they're probably all off the same amount, making our comparison valid. The.50 BMG is quite legal for buying without the need for a special license or process. The range and terminal ballistics of the .338 LM were such that its use could fill several niches in civilian use including long range precision shooting and big game hunting. To make it as accurate as possible, it is important that you input the most accurate information that represents shooting conditions, your firearm, and cartridge. Even so, its difficult to compare the accuracy of two cartridges by the means that we have. Looking at just the basic physics, a .50 bmg has a muzzle velocity of about 420 meters per second (1480 feet per second). Get gun deals, hand's on reviews, educational content and updates on law changes daily! Though they also carry quite a significant amount more powder and as we saw previously, you pay for it with the recoil. A custom-made 12/70 slug shell with a shortened .50 BMG tracer bullet for 12 gauge shotguns. Hornady Match rifle ammunition is loaded with the most accurate, consistent match bullets in the world, featuring our AMP bullet jackets. Its really the only way either of these rounds can be fired accurately. We are working on a massive list, but this list won't be ready for a few weeks or months. A high number means the bullet is more efficient at resisting air friction (negative acceleration). For simply comparing two different cartridges, we are going to omit it for the sake of clarity. It will a produce a line graph showing the bullet drop and flight path of the bullet. Done (0.63 seconds). The eight-year-old National Guard Sniper School is the only U.S. military sniper school open to women and Jennifer was the first female graduate to complete the first counter-sniper course for the Air Guard security personnel. We dont have a single set of data we can look at to determine stopping power. 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. Similar to snipers, 50 BMG pistols are also made of hard materials to support the powerful cartridge. It will a produce a line graph showing the bullet drop and flight path of the bullet. These are used by both civilians and military forces for various purposes. It is inversely proportional to the negative acceleration a high number indicates a low negative acceleration. Get My Cartridge Comparison Handbook! The .50 BMG was developed during World War I when looking for an effective anti-aircraft round. 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! To test the power, we see that a .50 BMG cartridge can cross the .9 mark, with a flat projectile motion. This is the web home of Modern Ballistics: the world's most sophisticated small arms exterior ballistics program for the personal computer. And seeing the stopping power in action, we leave that to you. .510 diameter. Any round from this bullet produces between 10,000 and 15,000 foot-pounds force muzzle energies. Our .50 BMG ammunition is ready for action. 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. While it travels in the air, it causes a shockwave which is equally dangerous to make a severe wound. Ballistic coefficient is typically measured with a 3 digit expression. FMBT bullets. Its a culmination of several factors including bullet energy, penetration, bullet expansion, and shot placement. 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. This bullet weighs much less even with the large size. We carefully select every component to ensure uniformity, then load to exacting specifications to provide pinpoint accuracy. As the 50 BMG bullet has a high ballistic coefficient, it is used for powerful sniper rifles. 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. They are easily portable to shoot at great ranges with destructive forces. I was also surprised with thebackground. In addition, these snipers will have less drift from the winds of the bullet. Please let me know how it can be improved upon. Were not going to go too specific with the comparisons here. [39] However, .50 BMG rifles registered prior to the enacted bans remain lawful to possess in California[37][40] and Connecticut. Different snipers have different ranges depending on their design. Any thoughts on where I can find an unbiased comparison? The auctioneer claims that it is only one of twelve built and the only other known example resides at the Ford Benning sniper school. Price Per Round: $2.90. The rounds intended for machine guns are made into a continuous belt using metallic links. By adding trajectories to the panel on the right you may produce charts and graphs that show the different trajectories side by side. At present, some US law enforcement use 50 BMG weapons, as well as snipers. [32] Applications requesting firearms in this caliber are assessed by the same criteria as smaller calibers; with the applicant having to prove they have a valid reason for owning such a weapon. Within the United Kingdom, it is legal to own a bolt action .50 BMG rifle with a section 1 Firearms Certificate. 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. The Federal Ballistics Calculator lets you quickly determine the trajectory for any rifle or handgun load, and save data for an unlimited number of loads. 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. Huston is a hunting enthusiast who believes your success in the field is directly correlated to the amount of preparation at home. Most people who are using a .50 BMG are not hunting and are looking at extreme distance shooting. The bullet length, shape, and weight all positively contribute to a much higher BC than the 50 Beowulf bullet. .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 Get my premium 550+ pages handbook that compares all cartridges, for free (worth $199!) 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 is why they fit perfectly to any automatic or belt-fed snipers, machine guns, or pistols designed for this cartridge. With the .338 Lapua Magnum vs .50 BMG, recoil takes on a bit more of an important role. No spam. The 50 BMG is another caliber with . Copyright 2023 ShootersCalculator.comALL rights reserved. That all said, there are deals out there. So , lets get down to business. 50 BMG has a 12.7mm diameter and is also used in snipers and machine guns. Higher velocities, with a stable bullet, also aid in long range performance, which is critical for both hunting and competition shooting. The 338LM rounds under our specifications have recoil energies ranging between 29 and 33ft.lb. While these two cartridges might overlap in some shooting applications, we think there are niches where they stand apart as well. 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. During wartime, especially WW2, the US coast guard, and military used 50 BMG rifles towards helicopters. The Spitzer is a very popular and aerodynamic bullet shape. [4], The development of the .50 BMG round is sometimes confused with the German 13.2mm TuF, which was developed by Germany for an anti-tank rifle to combat British tanks during WWI and against aircraft. Your Savings: $43.50 (9%) 50 BMG M33 Ball Military Grade ammunition with a 660 Grain FMJ Bullet & Brass Case. Special Offer: Join our private community and get exclusive gun deals, handpicked gear recommendations and updates on law changes, every day! You might be asking yourself if the velocities shown here are enough for proper expansion of such a large bullet such as the .50cal. Factory loads for civilian purchase are limited with most of the available rounds coming with bullet weights between 650 and 750gr. These have the strength to destroy materials with a collection of ammunition. cartridge. Caliber Multi: .50 BMG Application: Hunting . PMC X-Tac Match .50 BMG Ammunition 10 Rounds 740 Grain Solid Brass Projectile 2830fps 50XM. The Barrett Mk. . When this is the case, we will be sure to make it clear what we are doing. [11] Before that, a British sniper in Afghanistan held the record at 2,475 meters (2,707yd; 1.538mi) using a .338 Lapua Magnum (8.5870mm) rifle. Some of them operate by recoil principle, while others use gas. The first 50 BMG ammunition was the 13.2mm TuF to attack against armored targets. . They do have some pull marks. Join 212,000 avid gun enthusiasts and claim your print-at-home shooting drills. [citation needed], The .50 BMG round was used as a sniper round as early as the Korean War. . The velocity of a bullet is key for both hunting and range shooting purposes. This is why it is used in heavy-duty shootings. Be aware you may consider some of them unusable. And we know we have harped on this several times throughout the article, but we are going to talk regarding cartridge versus cartridge rather than round to round. Well discuss this topic more in the applications section. 400 yds. 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. 300 yds. Sometimes, the wound may be fragile, but it may also get fatal. The 50 caliber is a 5.5-inch length seated bullet. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it does include some of the more popular rounds for each cartridge. Out to 400 yards, there is little to no difference between the two cartridges. The primary military use of this round is in the M2 Browning machine gun and anti-materiel rifles such as the Barrett M82. In some cases you might be surprised. This can be useful in comparing cartridges or loads. Muzzle Velocity - 2,952 is a screaming velocity, HSM AMAXs run around 2,680, and Barrett Ball is around 2,750. In ballistics, the ballistic coefficient is used to measure the ability of something to withstand air resistance. 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). The ability to hit distant targets is . The max I have ever seen anyone run is around 3,000 and that is considered to be hot. Instead, we want to take an unbiased look at the data in several ballistic and other performance category and compare them. PMC X-Tac Match is developed around several award winning loads replicating performance down to a tee. A .50 in caliber cartridge developed for the M2 Browning heavy machine gun in the late 1910s, entering official service in 1921. Properties. ", "How Will Illinois Law Banning Some Firearms Affect Gun Owners? Ballistic coefficients were originally defined by Ingals as a number indicating velocity erosion due to air drag for a given bullet compared to a standard projectile of the same shape- 1 inch in diameter and weighing 1 pound. It has a ballistic coefficient of .730. 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 It also has a strong recoil force as the cartridge is filled with powder. The two most important variables are the Initial Velocity and the Ballistic Coefficient. It has a large cartridge used in anti-material for longer ranges. However, the strength depends on the sturdiness and power of the rifles used for this bullet. With modern firearms, the majority of centerfire rifle cartridges can be tolerated with regards to the recoil. 50 Caliber has different types of rounds, while 50 BMG is a particular one. Some of them can also be semi auto-loading guns. A bull moose needs a bullet that can hold together and penetrate deeper than a bullet that is going to be used for whitetail. Browning pondered the situation and, according to his son John, replied, 'Well, the cartridge sounds pretty good to start. If you do not have a Shooting Chronograph, I strongly suggest you purchase one. It uses a boxer primer with a central ignition point. 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. No spam. This is because the bullet is very large, so the wound it makes is also large and deep, but still curable. I'm Mike, one of the oldest writer of Sniper Country! [3], In response to the need for new anti-aircraft weaponry during World War I, John Browning developed the .50 BMG. The less a bullet drops during its flight, the easier it is to make adjustments for longer distance shots. 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. 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 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. 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? The .338 LM is no slouch when it comes to long range shooting. In addition, these snipers will have less drift from the winds of the bullet. They have barrel shrouds and a compensator to keep the gun in level. Put me on the Waiting List. So, lets focus on the long range trajectory for these two cartridges. 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. R. remrifle333 Member. For example, the G1 BC of a standard 5.5645 55gr FMJ roundusually falls at around 0.243. This weapon was used by other snipers, and eventually purpose-built sniper rifles were developed specifically for this round. Excellent quality, and great customer service from Dave Moore of Spider Firearms. In some cases, it is used to detonate mounted guns or cannons. We went conservative with the powder weight because these are factory loads and are not normally loaded near max capacities. With a degree in Microbiology and several years of doctoral work manipulating bacterial genes, he attempts to merge the rational and unbiased thinking of scientific research with the passions of hunting and fishing. Military Requirement: due to the rounds being from Lake City Ammunition . [42] Maryland imposes additional regulations on the sale and transfer of .50 BMG rifles and other "regulated firearms", and limits purchases of any firearm within this class to one per month, but does not impose registration requirements or any form of categorical ban.[37]. But they are also dangerous and must be used with caution during operations to avoid fatalities. The .50 BMG is a bigger, heavier bullet that delivers a reliable killing shot up to an astounding range of about 3300 yards. For testing your limits on the range, we dont think you can go wrong with the .338 LM Hornady ELD Match 285gr. . Its because 90% of their shots are coming at 250 yards or less. Now I am curious about the comparison between the LM 338 and the 30-378 weathering magnum. TMI50BMG ammunition is loaded to precise standards, using only the finest components, and processes. kilojoules). For the .338 LM, we recommend the Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond 300gr round. Smith and Wesson Serial Number Lookup: 7 Pre-Model Number Versions, Marlin Serial Number Lookup: Learn All About Factory Records, How to Install Zastava M70 Scope Mount: 4 Things You Should Know, 0.50-inch diameter and 5.5-inch long casing. The higher the ballistic coefficient, the better the bullet can resist wind drag and wind drift which would make the bullet less likely to be pulled off of its flight path and, in theory, be more accurate. For two cartridges that are touted as extreme distance shooters, the ballistic coefficient is going to be an important factor for potential users. SHTF 50: Safety Harbor's .50-Cal Upper Conversion for AR-15s What we hope you draw from this is that both of these cartridges have a BC that corresponds with highly streamlined bullets. Before we wrap up the article, we wanted to pick a round from each cartridge that we really like for certain applications. 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. 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). This American Eagle ammunition was produced by Lake City Arsenal to NATO specifications. The time for a .50 calibre bullet to travel one mile at a constant speed of 1400feet per second is around four seconds. For comparison, a similar monolithic bullet in .50 BMG usually maxes out around 800 grains at 2,900 fps. Ballistics Coefficient (abbreviated "BC") is a bullet's ability to resist air friction and stay airborne. For further comparison, you'd be hard pressed to find a 5.56 load recipe that hits 1,400 ft-lbs. By adding trajectories to the panel on the right you may produce charts and graphs that show the different trajectories side by side. This calculator will produce a ballistic trajectory chart that shows the bullet drop, bullet energy, windage, and velocity. Beretta 3032 Tomcat [Review]: A Worthy Self-Defense Pistol? It has a diameter of .50 inches, with a casing length of 99 mm and an overall length of 138 mm. The email address you entered is not valid. This is near impossible to handle accurately unless accessory gear is used to help absorb and stabilize the rifle. Coming up on wounded animals, especially if they are predators, can be dangerous and being able to drop them cleanly takes this risk away. If you decide to make a go with the .338 or the 50 BMG, with some practice, youre going to have an accurate cartridge. 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 Hornady 750gr AMAX bullet has become popular with its very high ballistic coefficient and is typically the choice for extreme ranges beyond 1500 meters. Most .50 BMG rounds are not designed for much expansion.