Ballistic Coefficient (BC) is basically a measure of how streamlined a bullet is; that is, how well it cuts through the air. Almost all rounds have a ballistic coefficient of less than 1.0, but large rounds like the 50 BMG can exceed this normal BC. While it is only two factors that go into stopping power, they are the best for comparing two cartridges besides comparison in the field. This ammunition usually contains Swedish brass and perfect military specifications. And this is simplifying the topic since we are leaving out expansion, which is also going to play a role in penetration. Similar to snipers, 50 BMG pistols are also made of hard materials to support the powerful cartridge. These include heavy stopping power that can be carried over incredible ranges. It uses a boxer primer with a central ignition point. It has a ballistic coefficient of .730. There is a very small circle of people out there who have turned to the 50BMG for hunting purposes. The primer type specified for this ammunition is Boxer primer that has a single centralized ignition point (US and NATO countries). But it differs from other types of 50 caliber bullet rounds. The max I have ever seen anyone run is around 3,000 and that is considered to be hot. PMC X-Tac Match .50 BMG Ammunition 10 Rounds 740 Grain Solid Brass Projectile 2830fps 50XM. Though they also carry quite a significant amount more powder and as we saw previously, you pay for it with the recoil. 50 caliber bullets can easily enter through a thick, concrete, or brick wall, a large tree, or even a person from a long distance. Most .50 BMG rounds are not designed for much expansion. 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. 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. These have the strength to destroy materials with a collection of ammunition. How much energy is required to take down an animal varies and the amount that actually gets transferred to the target varies. Introducing the latest products from the worldwide leader in ammunition. 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. Fill, sign and download Ballistic Chart online on Handypdf.com 300 yds. Barrel Lengths & Velocities for the 50 BMG. Special Offer: Join our private community and get exclusive gun deals, handpicked gear recommendations and updates on law changes, every day! Since a .50 caliber bullet is manufactured with a solid metal surface and core, it is very powerful. Put me on the Waiting List. Another factor that goes into a cartridges stopping power is the penetration of the bullet. With modern firearms, the majority of centerfire rifle cartridges can be tolerated with regards to the recoil. On 14 April 2001, 19-year old Senior Airman Jennifer Donaldson, from the Illinois Air National Guard, made history. This will differ with various models. The TSX was introduced in 2003 and has become Barnes' most popular hunting bullet. You might be asking yourself if the velocities shown here are enough for proper expansion of such a large bullet such as the .50cal. The longest recorded kill using a .50 BMG was over 2 miles away. In addition to the usual tables and graphs of drop, velocity, and windage, Modern Ballistics has these unique features: Sight Angle. Properties. ), but the ammunition did not exist. A high number also means that the bullet will retain MORE velocity as it moves down range. Typically, long range rifle bullets have a ballistic coefficient of 0.5 (G1) or above. . FMBT bullets. 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). We have compiled the ballistic coefficients for all ten rounds and graphed them here. It couldnt be more clear that the 50BMG carries exponentially more kinetic energy with it than the .338 LM rounds. Some of them operate by recoil principle, while others use gas. What you might be looking for is how these rounds behave in flight, which is what we will look at next. Muzzle 100 yds. 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. 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. . All data created using our free ballistic calculator. For this article, we are going to explain the BC in the simplest of terms. 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 especially true if that bullet also has a high ballistic coefficient. DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) contracted with Teledyne Scientific Company to develop the EXACTO program, including a .50-caliber guided bullet. 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. As the 50 BMG bullet has a high ballistic coefficient, it is used for powerful sniper rifles. Usually with the sniper comes some accessories to clean and use effectively. The long range (over one mile) between firing position and target allows time for the sniper to avoid enemy retaliation by either changing positions repeatedly, or by safely retreating. In ballistics, the ballistic coefficient ( BC, Cb) of a body is a measure of its ability to overcome air resistance in flight. [citation needed], The U.S. Coast Guard uses .50 BMG rifles onboard armed helicopters to disable the engines on boats during interdictions. .50 BMG 100yd Drag Function: G1 Ballistic Coefficient: 1.050 Bullet Weight: 750 gr Initial Velocity: 2820 fps Sight Height : 1.5 in Shooting Angle: 0 Wind Speed: 0 mph Wind Angle: 90 Zero Range: 100 yd Chart Range: 200 yd Maximum Range: 10201 yd Step Size: 20 yd International Standard Atmosphere Altitude: Sea Level (0 ft) [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 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. You will be sent the quantity of bullets that are ordered. The 50 caliber is a 5.5-inch length seated bullet. and long-range bullets generally range from 0.5 all the way up to 1.0 with the .50 BMG! This round is packaged in 150 CT Military Surplus ammo can. Cases are carefully selected based on strict criteria: wall thickness uniformity, internal capacity, case weight and consistent wall concentricity. In this cartridge comparison, we are going to take a look at two cartridges, the .338 Lapua and the .50 BMG, two rounds that separate the men from the boys. Think of it paired with the energy of the bullet. There are several variants of this 50 caliber round. The ballistic coefficient gives you an idea of how streamlined a bullet is. For hunting, a lot of hunters want expansion to cause a larger wound and more damage. [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. Use this ballistic calculator in order to calculate the flight path of a bullet given the shooting parameters that meet your conditions. The Army then returned to John Browning for the actual gun. .338 Lapua Mag vs .50 BMG Cartridge Comparison. 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. .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. 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). We have hunted a long time and talked to a lot of our fellow outdoorsman. Factory loads for civilian purchase are limited with most of the available rounds coming with bullet weights between 650 and 750gr. [3], In response to the need for new anti-aircraft weaponry during World War I, John Browning developed the .50 BMG. The incredible energy of the 50BMG overshadows the .338 Lapua Magnum, which in its own right possesses a great deal of kinetic energy. It possesses the ballistic performance to reach out to game at a distance and still carries the energy needed to aid in bringing down big game cleanly. 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. The rigidity and strength are used to penetrate tough surfaces easily. I doubt too many microbiologists discuss the BCs of ammunition! This bullet weighs much less even with the large size. ?Ballistic Coefficient: 1.070?Sectional Density: 0.412?Special attention should . I want this to be the best ballistic trajectory calculator out there. Teamed with Colt, he produced prototypes ready for testing and, ironically, completed them by Nov. 11, 1918the Great War's end. Hornady Manufacturing makes the best cartridges for 50 BMG Ammunition 10 Rounds. The first 50 BMG ammunition was the 13.2mm TuF to attack against armored targets. 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. . Price Per Round: $2.90. SHTF 50: Safety Harbor's .50-Cal Upper Conversion for AR-15s 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. The .50 BMG cartridge is also used in anti-materiel rifles. Like most cases, there are better performing rounds for each cartridge type, but on average, the 50 BMG rounds excel in this category, and that distinction becomes clearer the greater the distance. 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. With such differences in cartridge specs, we can assume that the ballistic performances are going to be quite different as well. After four seconds, the bullet will have dropped around 256 feet. Brands like Smith & Wesson, Magnum Desert Eagle, Magnum Research, Guncrafter Industries, Ruger Super, Safety Harbour, etc create the best pistols for 50 BMG. Dont let the comparison to the 50BMG throw off your judgment as to what this cartridge can do. Aaronthal Weapon Systems But, one can also survive the wound from a 50 BMG shot if it isnt fatal. The bigger the ballistic . You make up some cartridges and we'll do some shooting. 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. A .50 BMG round can effectively disable a vehicle when fired into the engine block. 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. The fact is, both of these cartridges produce large amounts of recoil that can easily cause the shooter to flinch during a shot. The proof/test pressure is listed as 65,000psi (450,000kPa). It is strong enough to hold a large volume of pressure. Designed for long range training and target practice. Granted, if youre firing these rounds, you most likely have gear that aids in absorbing the recoil and stabilizing the firearm. Access features of the Reloading Handbook on your mobile device with the Reloading App. It saw service with the military in both Afghanistan and Iraq and is still in use with military personnel today, but it has also found a loyal following among civilians. We have no desire to act as a moral compass, you do what you want, but the arguments are out there, and we wanted to address it. Informative, interesting and well written. 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. During wartime, especially WW2, the US coast guard, and military used 50 BMG rifles towards helicopters. A high number means the bullet is more efficient at resisting air friction (negative acceleration). We are not going to sit and mess around with the short range trajectory. Mathematically, it is the ratio of a bullet's sectional density to its coefficient of form. They can easily enter through light armors and hit targets. Our .50 BMG ammunition is ready for action. The email address you entered is not valid. A user can shoot easily from a distance of about two kilometers. Powder is matched carefully to each specific load for optimal pressure, velocity and consistent accuracy. It has a diameter of .50 inches, with a casing length of 99 mm and an overall length of 138 mm. 50 BMg bullets have a high ballistic coefficient of more than 1.0 to resist drifts from wind in flight. 50 caliber refers to the bullet of this size shot by a gun, and not the casing. We also want to note that while we are taking each category and looking at them independently, all of these categories are interwoven with each other, including recoil and stopping power that we will look at shortly. Hornady's original goal: "Ten bullets through one hole.". The guns that use these bullets were used to target troops to save from enemy guns. 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. Putting it all Together Get my premium 550+ pages handbook that compares all cartridges, for free (worth $199!) Thread starter remrifle333; Start date Apr 23, 2011; Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum Become a supporting member. A 290 grain 50 BMG is a relatively robust round. In addition, these snipers will have less drift from the winds of the bullet. Now I am curious about the comparison between the LM 338 and the 30-378 weathering magnum. Decades later, the .50 BMG was chambered in high-powered rifles as well. It is a scaled up version of the venerable .30-06 (standard issue in infantry rifles for the U.S. in both World Wars). 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 7.62 is the "screw you way over there" round. We are working on a massive list, but this list won't be ready for a few weeks or months. While there are parties who will place one cartridge over the other, we are not looking to do that in our comparisons. Most importantly, they are designed to reduce the bullets recoil. 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. Muzzle Velocity - 2,952 is a screaming velocity, HSM AMAXs run around 2,680, and Barrett Ball is around 2,750. It should already be clear that the difference just from the bullet diameter is quite dramatic. Join 212,000 avid gun enthusiasts and claim your print-at-home shooting drills. If we have two bullets with the same weight, but different diameters, the smaller diameter localizes the force to a smaller area and gives you deeper penetration. In ballistics, the ballistic coefficient (BC) of a body is a measure of its ability to overcome air resistance in flight. [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. Looking at just the basic physics, a .50 bmg has a muzzle velocity of about 420 meters per second (1480 feet per second). Full Metal Jacket, with boat tail and cannelure. 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. a 50 caliber bullet weapon is considered violent. Seriously, these are heavy duty rounds that fill a very specific niche in the shooting world. It has a thick casting of under 4 inches long with a primer end of 0.75-inch diameter. An upgraded variant of the M2 Browning HB machine gun used during World War II is still in use today. What is ballistic coefficient (BC)? The 50 BMG is another caliber with . somehow. only today ! [14], Some civilians use .50 caliber rifles for long-range target shooting: the US-based Fifty Caliber Shooters Association holds .50 BMG shooting matches. We have done our best to remove any that have major damage, but individual opinions may vary on what . 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. [38] Connecticut specifically bans the Barrett 82A1 .50 BMG rifle. Recoil is also a component to accuracy though most will deny it has any effect on them. [33], The specified maximum diameter of an unfired .50 BMG bullet is 0.510-inch (13.0mm); while this appears to be over the .50 inch (12.7mm) maximum allowed for non-sporting Title I firearms under the U.S. National Firearms Act, the barrel of a .50 BMG rifle is only .50 inch (12.7mm) across the rifling lands and slightly larger in the grooves. So there is a fine line a lot of hunters try to walk when it comes to penetration. We hope that this article has highlighted these differences and provided you with a reliable source for making your own decision of which cartridge better fits your needs. We are measuring the bullet drop (inches) from 100 out to 1,000 yards. As the 50 BMG bullet has a high ballistic coefficient, it is used for powerful sniper rifles. 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. In some cases, it is used to detonate mounted guns or cannons. 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. The price for both is about equal per 20 rounds, though the 50BMG factory loads often come in boxes of ten rounds. So, here is a table below: During the war, 50 calibers were used against light armor vehicles and aircraft due to their penetration power. Thank you. 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. The .338 Lapua Magnum has a much shorter history than the other cartridge we will be examining in this article. It still has more penetrating power than lighter weapons such as general-purpose machine guns, though it is significantly heavier and more cumbersome to transport. [citation needed], The .50 BMG round was used as a sniper round as early as the Korean War. 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. Well discuss this topic more in the applications section. How To Read Remington Nylon 66 Serial Number Year Codes? As you notice, the .50 BMG has nearly double the recoil energy than the .338 LM. Try these all-copper . These are factory loads that are available for purchase. Trajectory follows a similar trend where both show very flat trajectories, though the 50 BMG excels in this category as well. These ballistic coefficient values are said to be accurate to within about 5%. Higher velocities, with a stable bullet, also aid in long range performance, which is critical for both hunting and competition shooting. Since 50 BMG cartridges are unique, these have a limited number of sniper rifles built with adequate quality. Usually, these can leave a severe wound. . Get My Cartridge Comparison Handbook! The 408 CheyTac is a relatively new rifle caliber for sharpshooters. The trajectory is what just about every hunter or competitive shooter of every skill level will be interested in when comparing two different cartridges. This graph should give you a good idea about the major differences we are looking at here. 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. The energy is only part of the equation to stopping power, but it is an important one to examine nonetheless. Lets take it a step further and take a look at the rounds we have selected for comparison. It is a great investment if you want to get into long range shooting and will be especially useful if you handload. 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. Military Requirement: due to the rounds being from Lake City Ammunition . This is why their weapons are hard to find and limited in number. Mostly the twist rate of the rifling of 50 BMG is 1 in 15, with eight lands. The .50 BMG (12.799mm NATO) cartridge has a capacity of 290gr (19g). However, sectional density, the relationship between . Even after the differences between 50 Cal vs 50 BMG, we see that they are quite similar in various features. Love Ammo? 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. So, lets focus on the long range trajectory for these two cartridges. Joined Feb 9, 2010 Messages 6. A wide variety of ammunition is available, and the availability of match grade ammunition has increased the usefulness of .50 caliber rifles by allowing more accurate fire than lower quality rounds. 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. Some of them can also be semi auto-loading guns. Your email address will not be published. The Kel-Tec Sub 2000 features a lightweight design and unique features that make it the perfect choice for anyone looking to take their shooting game to the next level. 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. Use this ballistic calculator in order to calculate the flight path of a bullet given the shooting parameters that meet your conditions. This is near impossible to handle accurately unless accessory gear is used to help absorb and stabilize the rifle. The Spitzer is a very popular and aerodynamic bullet shape. A .50 BMG round will penetrate most commercial brick walls and concrete cinder blocks. 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. Coming up on wounded animals, especially if they are predators, can be dangerous and being able to drop them cleanly takes this risk away. 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. Effect? We also know that this bullet can enter very tough materials easily. While these two cartridges might overlap in some shooting applications, we think there are niches where they stand apart as well. It is inversely proportional to the negative acceleration a high number indicates a low negative acceleration. The minimum SD for hunting large game is .250. It boasts a BC of 0.874, and some indicators point to a 0.900 BC at 2,900 fps. Bullet velocity is a very important ingredient of successful long-range shooting. They are widely used by civilians as well as military forces. For testing your limits on the range, we dont think you can go wrong with the .338 LM Hornady ELD Match 285gr. Both of these cartridges have found a place in the long range shooting. It can shoot up to ranges of 330 yards and floats in the air for about seven seconds, before dropping to the ground. The numbers with the 50BMG rounds are astounding, especially to some who might only be familiar with the more common hunting rounds. These are excellent speeds for long range shooting, especially when shot from a rifle with the proper twist rate to stabilize them in flight. It was developed for the M2 Browning machine gun over 110 years ago, and was based on the .30-06 Springfield cartridge. 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. To begin, these selected rounds all have excellent BCs that most would be more than happy with. The 50 BMG is the winner of this section..50 BMG vs .50 Beowulf: Stopping Power. ", "How Will Illinois Law Banning Some Firearms Affect Gun Owners? The auctioneer claims that it is only one of twelve built and the only other known example resides at the Ford Benning sniper school. Be aware you may consider some of them unusable. I was also surprised with thebackground. As far as the BCs go for these two cartridges, both show phenomenal numbers. 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. 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. 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. However, it is restricted in California. Any round from this bullet produces between 10,000 and 15,000 foot-pounds force muzzle energies. With two rounds that are extremely popular in long distance shooting, accuracy is, of course, going to be a category that generated a lot of interest. These rounds are listed below. What we hope you draw from this is that both of these cartridges have a BC that corresponds with highly streamlined bullets. [35], In the United States, Washington, D.C. disallows registration of .50 BMG rifles, thus rendering civilian possession unlawful. On the other hand, a 50 BMG is a type of 50 Caliber round. 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. Please let me know how it can be improved upon. The .50 Browning Machine Gun (.50 BMG) was developed for the Browning .50 caliber machine gun in the late 1910s as countries began producing armored vehicles leading up to WWI. Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy; 647 gr (42 g) Speer: 3,044 ft/s (928 m/s) 13,310 ftlbf (18,050 J) 655 gr (42 g) ADI: 3,029 ft/s (923 m/s) This is why they fit perfectly to any automatic or belt-fed snipers, machine guns, or pistols designed for this cartridge. 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. This is why it is used in heavy-duty shootings. What is the best scope for a .50 BMG and what is the strongest 50 BMG? [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]. 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.
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