G1 projectiles are flat based bullets such as spritzer bullets, where G7 projectiles are going to cover boattail spitzers. 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. Your information will never be shared and you can unsubscribe with one click at anytime. Similar to snipers, 50 BMG pistols are also made of hard materials to support the powerful cartridge. You will be sent the quantity of bullets that are ordered. A .50 BMG round can effectively disable a vehicle when fired into the engine block. 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. A sniper consists of the bipod, handle, brake, and removable magazine. We are measuring the bullet drop (inches) from 100 out to 1,000 yards. The trajectory is what just about every hunter or competitive shooter of every skill level will be interested in when comparing two different cartridges. '"[5], The American Rifleman further explains that development was "[r]eputedly influenced by Germany's 13.2x92 mm SR (.53-cal.) Three distinct and non-compatible metallic links have been used for .50 BMG cartridge belts. A.50 Caliber is a large bullet round with a 12.7mm diameter. The mass is one of the bullets. Velocity fps: 2940: 2806: 2677: 2551: 2428: 2309: Energy ft lbs: 12666: 11541: 10499: 9534: Since 50 BMG bullets are powerful, they can enter through a body part with force. 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. You might be strictly a hunter or strictly a competition shooter, but the majority of us are a mixture of both. A few of these include the bullet design (spitzer, boat tail, flat nose, etc.) 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. 400 yds. It is still a good idea to check legality before making a purchase. With extremely tight tolerances and strict quality control, all Hornady Match ammunition features superior lot-to-lot consistency. It is when we move out from this marker that we begin to see a general trend between the 338 LM vs 50 BMG. The.50 BMG is quite legal for buying without the need for a special license or process. Spitzer. The .50 BMG (12.799mm NATO) cartridge has a capacity of 290gr (19g). When a bullet is fired from the barrel, it carries kinetic energy that upon impact is transferred to the target. After four seconds, the bullet will have dropped around 256 feet. By adding trajectories to the panel on the right you may produce charts and graphs that show the different trajectories side by side. 50 Cal 647 Grain Ball pulled bullets. With such differences in cartridge specs, we can assume that the ballistic performances are going to be quite different as well. Get my premium 550+ pages handbook that compares all cartridges, for free (worth $199!) We are using computer data that was compiled from the manufacturers websites as well as from trusted ballistic calculators. This is because the bullet is very large, so the wound it makes is also large and deep, but still curable. . .510 diameter. 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. Barrel Lengths & Velocities for the 50 BMG. 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. 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. To test the power, we see that a .50 BMG cartridge can cross the .9 mark, with a flat projectile motion. We arrived at these numbers by using a 15lb firearm for the 338 LM rounds and a 30lb firearm for the 50 BMG rounds, which are common weights for rifles chambered for each cartridge. Before we get into our comparisons, there is one more note that we would like to make. Lake City 50 BMG Ballistic Data. Zero Range (yd) 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. 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. 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). These ballistic coefficient values are said to be accurate to within about 5%. While these two cartridges might overlap in some shooting applications, we think there are niches where they stand apart as well. As the 50 BMG bullet has a high ballistic coefficient, it is used for powerful sniper rifles. 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. To do this, we have selected several rounds for each cartridge we are comparing. . During wartime, especially WW2, the US coast guard, and military used 50 BMG rifles towards helicopters. The average chamber pressure in this round as listed in TM43-0001-27,[18] the U.S. Army Ammunition Data SheetsSmall Caliber Ammunition, not including plastic practice, short cased spotter, or proof/test loads, is 54,923psi (378,680kPa). 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. 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. The less a bullet drops during its flight, the easier it is to make adjustments for longer distance shots. 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). They are intended mainly for long-range shooting. The caliber depends on the barrel diameter bore of the bullets guns. 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. 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. There is no doubt that both are designed exclusively for successful performances in the field. The 408 CheyTac is a relatively new rifle caliber for sharpshooters. Both are considered powerful and unique bullet rounds. Instead, we want to take an unbiased look at the data in several ballistic and other performance category and compare them. Beretta 3032 Tomcat [Review]: A Worthy Self-Defense Pistol? 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. Lets take it a step further and take a look at the rounds we have selected for comparison. A bull moose needs a bullet that can hold together and penetrate deeper than a bullet that is going to be used for whitetail. 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. The incredible energy of the 50BMG overshadows the .338 Lapua Magnum, which in its own right possesses a great deal of kinetic energy. Use this ballistic calculator in order to calculate the flight path of a bullet given the shooting parameters that meet your conditions. It has a diameter of .50 inches, with a casing length of 99 mm and an overall length of 138 mm. 500 yds. It is a great investment if you want to get into long range shooting and will be especially useful if you handload. [15], A common method for understanding the actual power of a cartridge is comparison of muzzle energies. Typically, long range rifle bullets have a ballistic coefficient of 0.5 (G1) or above. [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]. .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 This includes the velocity, the BC, and the trajectory of the round. Those values would be correct if you were shooting the ammo out of a "military weapon system" at the upper end of the velocity spectrum in the 3,000 fps range. Unsubscribe at any time. Military Requirement: due to the rounds being from Lake City Ammunition . Lets take a look at the velocities of each round from the muzzle out to 1,000 yards. Within the United Kingdom, it is legal to own a bolt action .50 BMG rifle with a section 1 Firearms Certificate. 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. Maybe even more so when looking at these two rounds. 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? Ballistic Coefficient: 0.572 Diameter: 0.51" Material: Copper Length: 1.892" Features. This will differ with various models. Like all Federal American Eagle ammunition, the 50 BMG provides reliable feeding and great ballistics. This Ballistic is so strong that it can literally obliterate the point it touches within its effective shooting range. It also has a strong recoil force as the cartridge is filled with powder. The 50 caliber is a 5.5-inch length seated bullet. The term BMG means Browning Machine Gun. The ballistic coefficient of the Barrett 50 BMG bullet is 0.64. Barrett Tillman, American Rifleman,February 23, 2017, Last edited on 14 February 2023, at 19:38, SaudiYemeni border conflict (2015present), world record for the longest confirmed kill, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/2/23/the-50-cal-browning-machine-gun-the-gun-that-won-the-war/, "MCWP 3-15.1 Machine Guns and Machine Gunnery", "Browning Machine Gun Caliber .50 HB, M2", "Canadian elite special forces sniper makes record-breaking kill shot in Iraq", "Hotshot sniper in one-and-a-half mile double kill", "British sniper Craig Harrison (The Silent Assassin) breaks record, kills target from 1.5miles away", NATO Infantry Weapons Standardization, Per G. Arvidsson, ChairmanWeapons & Sensors Working GroupLand Capability Group 1 - Dismounted Soldier NATO Army Armaments Group, "Army Ammunition Data Sheets for Small Caliber Ammunition", Cartridges for Long-Range Sniping Rifles by Anthony G Williams, Igman Ammunition Cal. However, sectional density, the relationship between . 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. Subscribe to our newsletter and get gun deals, educational content, hand's on reviews and news on law changes! It might not compete with some hand loaded cartridges, but you cant get much better when it comes to a factory load. ), but the ammunition did not exist. 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. Designed for long range training and target practice. Us has made 50 BMG the standard as the largest bullet round in terms of shell size. Of course, how much penetration you need is going to depend on the game you are hunting. Use this ballistic calculator in order to calculate the flight path of a bullet given the shooting parameters that meet your conditions. But, one can also survive the wound from a 50 BMG shot if it isnt fatal. 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. Some of them can also be semi auto-loading guns. Most importantly, they are designed to reduce the bullets recoil. This is roughly the same as saying that the projectile in question possesses low drag, although some meaning is lost in the generalization. This line of ammunition is 100% Lake City made. Hornady's original goal: "Ten bullets through one hole.". [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. G1 Ballistic Coefficient Must be between 0.001 and 1.0. This is why they fit perfectly to any automatic or belt-fed snipers, machine guns, or pistols designed for this cartridge. Lets first take a look at the recoil energy (ft.lb) of these two rounds in general. anti-tank rifle" and that then "Ordnance contracted with Winchester to design a .50-cal. 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. Out to 400 yards, there is little to no difference between the two cartridges. The max I have ever seen anyone run is around 3,000 and that is considered to be hot. It excels in all of the ballistic categories that we have covered in this article. The first 50 BMG ammunition was the 13.2mm TuF to attack against armored targets. Velocity fps: 2940: 2806: 2677: 2551: 2428: 2309: Energy ft lbs: 12666: 11541: 10499: 9534: There's a reason militaries worldwide still use a 50 BMG bolt-action rifle for sniping. All data created using our free ballistic calculator. I love hunting, so I often have to deal with hunting equipment. Looking at it another way, if one is off by 5%, they're probably all off the same amount, making our comparison valid. And this is case when comparing most cartridges. This graph should give you a good idea about the major differences we are looking at here. This large amount of force is very destructive to surrounding tissue and organs. 50 BMG basic cartridge dimensions-All sizes in inches (in). While this is important to understand, its equally important to remember that the SD, while a good means for comparing two cartridges, only tells part of the story when it comes to penetration. 300 yds. 200 yds. Powder is matched carefully to each specific load for optimal pressure, velocity and consistent accuracy. A common way of comparing ammo power is checking their muzzle energies. 50 BMG is one of the types of 50 caliber cartridges used for 50 BMG machine guns. Since a .50 caliber bullet is manufactured with a solid metal surface and core, it is very powerful. 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. The ability to hit distant targets is . Before we wrap up the article, we wanted to pick a round from each cartridge that we really like for certain applications. and long-range bullets generally range from 0.5 all the way up to 1.0 with the .50 BMG! These rounds are listed below. . The higher the number, the less drag the projectile will experience. Even so, computer generated data is a proven and safe means for comparing two cartridges as we will do here. We have hunted a long time and talked to a lot of our fellow outdoorsman. The rigidity and strength are used to penetrate tough surfaces easily.