The max I have ever seen anyone run is around 3,000 and that is considered to be hot. They are intended mainly for long-range shooting. only today ! The guns that use these bullets were used to target troops to save from enemy guns. At present, some US law enforcement use 50 BMG weapons, as well as snipers. We can estimate penetration based on the sectional density because of what the SD is derived from. It will a produce a line graph showing the bullet drop and flight path of the bullet. Its because 90% of their shots are coming at 250 yards or less. [14], Some civilians use .50 caliber rifles for long-range target shooting: the US-based Fifty Caliber Shooters Association holds .50 BMG shooting matches. Introducing the latest products from the worldwide leader in ammunition. So , lets get down to business. .510 diameter. Velocity is key for proper penetration and expansion, which is critical for hunting. For hunting, a lot of hunters want expansion to cause a larger wound and more damage. It comes in different types like tracer, armor-piercing, usual ball, incendiary, and sub-caliber rounds. This data was taken from the standards used by the ballistic calculator for the .338 LM and the .50 BMG rounds. But, if you need the performance, its just something you have to deal with, especially if you dont reload. A high number means the bullet is more efficient at resisting air friction (negative acceleration). 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. Fillable and printable Ballistic Chart 2023. Any thoughts on where I can find an unbiased comparison? The round you choose for hunting should be based on the type of game, and this is perfect for the largest animals with the thickest hides. ", "How Will Illinois Law Banning Some Firearms Affect Gun Owners? 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.. Customer Reviews. Most .50 BMG rounds are not designed for much expansion. To begin, these selected rounds all have excellent BCs that most would be more than happy with. 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. The 50 BMG is the winner of this section..50 BMG vs .50 Beowulf: Stopping Power. Description. Both of these cartridges are going to produce a tremendous amount of recoil. If you do not have a Shooting Chronograph, I strongly suggest you purchase one. I'm Mike, one of the oldest writer of Sniper Country! The cartridges have two separate links of the machine gun selected. 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 ). This ammunition usually contains Swedish brass and perfect military specifications. There's a reason militaries worldwide still use a 50 BMG bolt-action rifle for sniping. What is the best scope for a .50 BMG and what is the strongest 50 BMG? We have compiled the ballistic coefficients for all ten rounds and graphed them here. 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. The auctioneer claims that it is only one of twelve built and the only other known example resides at the Ford Benning sniper school. Out to 400 yards, there is little to no difference between the two cartridges. By doing this, perhaps we can tease apart in which situations one cartridge might be better suited over the other. The Heat Shield tip on the ELD Match bullet creates the perfect meplat and outperforms BTHP bullets. For this article, we are going to explain the BC in the simplest of terms. I doubt too many microbiologists discuss the BCs of ammunition! Can a human survive a 50 Cal shot?How many bodies can a .50 cal penetrate? [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. A 50 cal bullet has the power to cut through a human body with ease. By adding trajectories to the panel on the right you may produce charts and graphs that show the different trajectories side by side. 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. 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. 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). 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. 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. [1] It is inversely proportional to the negative acceleration: a high number indicates a low negative accelerationthe drag on the body is small in proportion to its mass. 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 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. The .338 LM is no slouch when it comes to long range shooting. To use either of these rounds, muzzle brakes and other support is needed to use rifles chambered for these cartridges. And if you need the performance of the 50BMG, you are probably already aware of what you are in for and with todays modern gear, you are perfectly capable of using this cartridge efficiently. This can be useful in comparing cartridges or loads. . Still, by comparing the recoil energies, it will translate loosely into what you feel. Done (0.63 seconds). This is the web home of Modern Ballistics: the world's most sophisticated small arms exterior ballistics program for the personal computer. With such differences in cartridge specs, we can assume that the ballistic performances are going to be quite different as well. In addition, these snipers will have less drift from the winds of the bullet. Browning pondered the situation and, according to his son John, replied, 'Well, the cartridge sounds pretty good to start. No spam. The bottom line is this. You might be asking yourself if the velocities shown here are enough for proper expansion of such a large bullet such as the .50cal. Bullet velocity is a very important ingredient of successful long-range shooting. In this section, we will take a look at bullet energy and penetration for comparing the 50 BMG vs 338 Lapua Magnum. Since 50 BMG cartridges are unique, these have a limited number of sniper rifles built with adequate quality. As the 50 BMG bullet has a high ballistic coefficient, it is used for powerful sniper rifles. The 50 BMG is another caliber with . When comparing the 9mm handguns available, two models that always top the discussion are the Walther PPQ and the Glock 19. . It is when we move out from this marker that we begin to see a general trend between the 338 LM vs 50 BMG. Granted, if youre firing these rounds, you most likely have gear that aids in absorbing the recoil and stabilizing the firearm. 50 Cal 647 Grain Ball pulled bullets. 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. Trajectory follows a similar trend where both show very flat trajectories, though the 50 BMG excels in this category as well. Thread starter remrifle333; Start date Apr 23, 2011; Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum Become a supporting member. So there is a fine line a lot of hunters try to walk when it comes to penetration. No spam. Hornady Match rifle ammunition is loaded with the most accurate, consistent match bullets in the world, featuring our AMP bullet jackets. You might be strictly a hunter or strictly a competition shooter, but the majority of us are a mixture of both. 50 caliber refers to the bullet of this size shot by a gun, and not the casing. 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. Still, some might be unfamiliar, so we want to touch on what exactly a ballistic coefficient is before we move on to the comparison. The Ballistic Coefficient of tangential ogive jacketed bullets traveling at velocities above the speed of sound can be calculated to a reasonable degree of accuracy if careful measurements are made to determine the actual radius curve of the nose portion and the boat tail (if any) dimensions. A very interesting and well written article by an educated man with a surprising background. Be aware you may consider some of them unusable. A custom-made 12/70 slug shell with a shortened .50 BMG tracer bullet for 12 gauge shotguns. Mathematically, it is the ratio of a bullet's sectional density to its coefficient of form. 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). 200 yds. a 50 caliber bullet weapon is considered violent. The numbers with the 50BMG rounds are astounding, especially to some who might only be familiar with the more common hunting rounds. kilojoules). It couldnt be more clear that the 50BMG carries exponentially more kinetic energy with it than the .338 LM rounds. As we mentioned earlier, the velocity has a lot of influence on other aspects of the bullets behavior such as expansion. Use this ballistic calculator in order to calculate the flight path of a bullet given the shooting parameters that meet your conditions. This will differ with various models. A bull moose needs a bullet that can hold together and penetrate deeper than a bullet that is going to be used for whitetail. Ballistic Coefficient (BC) is basically a measure of how streamlined a bullet is; that is, how well it cuts through the air. 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. It has a diameter of .50 inches, with a casing length of 99 mm and an overall length of 138 mm. 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. The first 50 BMG ammunition was the 13.2mm TuF to attack against armored targets. 400 yds. It also has a strong recoil force as the cartridge is filled with powder. This is especially true if that bullet also has a high ballistic coefficient. This American Eagle ammunition was produced by Lake City Arsenal to NATO specifications. While Glock is a master of simplicity and reliability, Walther has gone for a more elaborate design. It is a scaled up version of the venerable .30-06 (standard issue in infantry rifles for the U.S. in both World Wars). Obviously, this would be an advantage for shooting round out at 1,000 yards or more. Most importantly, they are designed to reduce the bullets recoil. A high number also means that the bullet will retain MORE velocity as it moves down range. Where to Buy Ammo Online [Complete 2021 Guide], Best Gun Cleaning Kits [AR-15, Pistol & Universal], Best Shooting Gloves [Hands-On Tested, 2021 Update], Best Universal Red Dot Sights [Hands-on Review]. I agree with Michael. Teamed with Colt, he produced prototypes ready for testing and, ironically, completed them by Nov. 11, 1918the Great War's end. The higher the value, the better the bullet can travel through the air. Even so, computer generated data is a proven and safe means for comparing two cartridges as we will do here. This calculator will produce a ballistic trajectory chart that shows the bullet drop, bullet energy, windage, and velocity. AP (ARMOR PIERCING) M2 This is why their weapons are hard to find and limited in number. 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. somehow. That all said, there are deals out there. 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. [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. Your email address will not be published. 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 longest recorded kill using a .50 BMG was over 2 miles away. Since a .50 caliber bullet is manufactured with a solid metal surface and core, it is very powerful. A .50 in caliber cartridge developed for the M2 Browning heavy machine gun in the late 1910s, entering official service in 1921. 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. Please let me know how it can be improved upon. [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). A few of these include the bullet design (spitzer, boat tail, flat nose, etc.) Ammunition is sold in 80-round cases. 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. 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. For two cartridges that are touted as extreme distance shooters, the ballistic coefficient is going to be an important factor for potential users. Each cartridge is loaded with either Hornady A-MAX bullets, our high-performance boattail hollow points, or the new, radically superior ELD Match bullets. 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]. To do this, we have selected several rounds for each cartridge we are comparing. [4] A skilled sniper can effectively neutralize an infantry unit by eliminating several targets (soldiers or equipment) without revealing his precise location. For assistance, contact customerservice@barnesbullets.com or by phone at 800-574-9200. Maybe even more so when looking at these two rounds. This is near impossible to handle accurately unless accessory gear is used to help absorb and stabilize the rifle. 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. Re: 50 BMG goes subsonic at 1500 Yards? With its trajectory and energy and bullet design options there are no limits to the type of hunting you can do with it. This is the best ballistic coefficient of any bullet to date. 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. The BC of a round also plays a large role in the trajectory of a round, which we will look at next. In certain aspects and certain situations, sure, there are cartridges better suited to the task than others. Both of these cartridges are capable of accuracy at extreme distances, and both have enormous stopping power. 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. The ballistic coefficient is derived from an equation that uses several bullet and cartridge variables. Coming up on wounded animals, especially if they are predators, can be dangerous and being able to drop them cleanly takes this risk away.