To put this into perspective, the 750 gr A-MAX load has essentially the same kinetic energy at 1,500 yards as a 300 Winchester Magnum has at the muzzle. ", "How Will Illinois Law Banning Some Firearms Affect Gun Owners? Although 50 cal is a very penetrating bullet, research has found something to stop it. The round is a scaled-up version of the .30-06 Springfield but uses a case wall with a long taper to facilitate feeding and extraction in various weapons. While it travels in the air, it causes a shockwave which is equally dangerous to make a severe wound. This Ballistic is so strong that it can literally obliterate the point it touches within its effective shooting range. 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. We are working on a massive list, but this list won't be ready for a few weeks or months. A common way of comparing ammo power is checking their muzzle energies. Looking at it another way, if one is off by 5%, they're probably all off the same amount, making our comparison valid. Again, this conclusions and estimates are based solely on the factory loads we have been examining here and the data that accompany them. It can shoot up to ranges of 330 yards and floats in the air for about seven seconds, before dropping to the ground. In context of the 338 Lapua vs 50 BMG where both are popular long distance rounds and to a smaller extent hunting rounds, velocity is a key component to our comparison. Powder is matched carefully to each specific load for optimal pressure, velocity and consistent accuracy. It also has a strong recoil force as the cartridge is filled with powder. You can find an email form and contact information here. Barrel Lengths & Velocities for the 50 BMG. Lets take it a step further and take a look at the rounds we have selected for comparison. The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 1 in 15in (380mm), with eight lands and grooves. The ability to hit distant targets is . Higher velocities, with a stable bullet, also aid in long range performance, which is critical for both hunting and competition shooting. It can disable most unarmored and lightly armored vehicles. Mostly the twist rate of the rifling of 50 BMG is 1 in 15, with eight lands. It is made a standard bullet for important army forces. On the other hand, 50 BMG is one of the various types of 50 Cal. [15], A common method for understanding the actual power of a cartridge is comparison of muzzle energies. Federal Ammunition 50 BMG Ballistic Data. It has a diameter of .50 inches, with a casing length of 99 mm and an overall length of 138 mm. 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. 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. A.50 Caliber is a large bullet round with a 12.7mm diameter. All in all, 50 BMG is the best cartridge with great ballistic coefficient, diameter, and other features that expanded its use. The 7.62 is the "screw you way over there" round. If you do not have a Shooting Chronograph, I strongly suggest you purchase one. Ballistic Coefficient: 0.62 Bullet Weight: 661 gr Initial Velocity: 2750 fps Sight Height : 3 in Shooting Angle: 0 Wind Speed: 0 mph Wind Angle: 0 Zero Range: 100 yd Chart Range: 2600 yd Maximum Range: 7169 yd Step Size: 50 yd International Standard Atmosphere Altitude: Sea Level (0 ft) Barometric Pressure: 29.92 Hg Temperature: 59 F 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. .338 Lapua Mag vs .50 BMG Cartridge Comparison. For simply comparing two different cartridges, we are going to omit it for the sake of clarity. 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. 50 Caliber ITEM NO: 50A BULLET TYPE: FMJ-BT WEIGHT: 660 grain BALLISTICS (barrel length: 36 inches) VELOCITY (feet per second) Muzzle: 3080 100 Yds: 2854 200 Yds: 2639 300 Yds: 2444 400 Yds: 2248 500 Yds: 2061 ENERGY (foot-pounds) Muzzle: 13688 BULLET PATH (inches) Muzzle: +1.50 100 Yds: +3.10 200 Yds: +3.90 300 Yds: +4.70 400 Yds: +2.80 500 Yds: 0 You make up some cartridges and we'll do some shooting. Within the United Kingdom, it is legal to own a bolt action .50 BMG rifle with a section 1 Firearms Certificate. This e-mail address is already subscribed. . I VLD was designed from the start to be as efficient as possible, remaining supersonic past 2,150 yards. On the other hand, 50 BMG is designed for machine gun operations, which belongs to 50 Cal. 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). Both of these cartridges are going to produce a tremendous amount of recoil. 300 yds. 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. 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) Thank you. This graph should give you a good idea about the major differences we are looking at here. 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 Before we wrap up the article, we wanted to pick a round from each cartridge that we really like for certain applications. .510 diameter. The longest recorded kill using a .50 BMG was over 2 miles away. With the .338 Lapua Magnum vs .50 BMG, recoil takes on a bit more of an important role. How much energy is required to take down an animal varies and the amount that actually gets transferred to the target varies. We have compiled the ballistic coefficients for all ten rounds and graphed them here. For the .50BMG, we would recommend the Hornady A-MAX Match 750gr round. Cases are carefully selected based on strict criteria: wall thickness uniformity, internal capacity, case weight and consistent wall concentricity. Coming up on wounded animals, especially if they are predators, can be dangerous and being able to drop them cleanly takes this risk away. These have the strength to destroy materials with a collection of ammunition. It has the velocity, the BC, and the trajectory to make shots of even 1,500 yards. This is why their weapons are hard to find and limited in number. 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. We also know that this bullet can enter very tough materials easily. The minimum SD for hunting large game is .250. Availability: Out of Stock. Similar to snipers, 50 BMG pistols are also made of hard materials to support the powerful cartridge. ?Ballistic Coefficient: 1.070?Sectional Density: 0.412?Special attention should . It couldnt be more clear that the 50BMG carries exponentially more kinetic energy with it than the .338 LM rounds. The AccuBond bullet used is perfect for the proper expansion needed while not sacrificing penetration for large game animals. And even then, the options you have for 50BMG factory loads is extremely limited, even when compared to the .338 LM. We carefully select every component to ensure uniformity, then load to exacting specifications to provide pinpoint accuracy. Gun deals, hand's on reviews, educational content and news on law changes, every day! Any armor with composite metal foam is strong to stop a 50 cal bullet. There are some options for bulk purchase which can save you some money in the long run. The .338 LM is no slouch when it comes to long range shooting. It has a ballistic coefficient of .730. 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 ). The auctioneer claims that it is only one of twelve built and the only other known example resides at the Ford Benning sniper school. Apr 23, 2011 #1 Does anyone know the B.C. 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. 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. Since a .50 caliber bullet is manufactured with a solid metal surface and core, it is very powerful. It answered a lot of my questions. Still, by comparing the recoil energies, it will translate loosely into what you feel. Brands like Smith & Wesson, Magnum Desert Eagle, Magnum Research, Guncrafter Industries, Ruger Super, Safety Harbour, etc create the best pistols for 50 BMG. Other than armed forces, civilians use this bullet round for target shooting and sports. This can be useful in comparing cartridges or loads. kilojoules). The primer type specified for this ammunition is a boxer primer that has a single centralized ignition point (US and NATO countries). The SD comes from the diameter of the bullet and the weight of the bullet. To use either of these rounds, muzzle brakes and other support is needed to use rifles chambered for these cartridges. 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. No one knows who and why is producing these strange slugs in Tarkov, but they just work. They wanted a heavy projectile at 2700 feet per second (f.p.s. 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. Its really the only way either of these rounds can be fired accurately. 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. The first 50 BMG ammunition was the 13.2mm TuF to attack against armored targets. The higher the value, the better the bullet can travel through the air. PMC X-Tac Match .50 BMG Ammunition 10 Rounds 740 Grain Solid Brass Projectile 2830fps 50XM. 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. [35], In the United States, Washington, D.C. disallows registration of .50 BMG rifles, thus rendering civilian possession unlawful. Customer Reviews. A sniper consists of the bipod, handle, brake, and removable magazine. Well discuss this topic more in the applications section. .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 Well, for 50 BMG, you're looking at $11-$16/round for military surplus ammo. Lets first take a look at the recoil energy (ft.lb) of these two rounds in general. Looking at just the basic physics, a .50 bmg has a muzzle velocity of about 420 meters per second (1480 feet per second). 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. This is roughly the same as saying that the projectile in question possesses low drag, although some meaning is lost in the generalization. Military Applications: Note: We have selected two different 50 BMG loads to demonstrate here. It is a great investment if you want to get into long range shooting and will be especially useful if you handload. Find load data for your cartridge. 50 BMG was designed for anti-aircraft weapons during World War I. Some of them operate by recoil principle, while others use gas. 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. These rounds are listed below. The .50 BMG cartridge is also produced commercially in a wide range of specifications, including armor piercing, tracing, and incendiary. For hunters, stopping power is a critical factor in choosing a certain cartridge. KelTec Sub 2000 [Review]: Best PCC Firearm? 50 caliber bullets can easily enter through a thick, concrete, or brick wall, a large tree, or even a person from a long distance. Stringent quality control ensures proper bullet seating, consistent charges and pressures, optimal velocity, consistent overall length and repeatable accuracy. When this is the case, we will be sure to make it clear what we are doing. During operation or simply game shootings, it can make a significant wound in cases of accidents. Ammunition is sold in 80-round cases. After four seconds, the bullet will have dropped around 256 feet. Aaronthal Weapon Systems Firearm Setup. The .50 BMG is an impressive long-range cartridge, especially when paired with a high-quality bolt-action or semiautomatic rifle and a good optic. 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. This is useful to get a legalized firearm with licenses. The surface is dirt and water-resistant. This American Eagle ammunition was produced by Lake City Arsenal to NATO specifications. 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.