It runs on all modern Windows (Win98 and greater) computers. 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. Effect? Seriously, these are heavy duty rounds that fill a very specific niche in the shooting world. The 50 BMG rounds range from 72 to 87ft.lb of recoil energy. Reply. Military Requirement: due to the rounds being from Lake City Ammunition . No spam. Apart from machine guns, snipers and anti-materiel rifles use this cartridge. But, if you need the performance, its just something you have to deal with, especially if you dont reload. ShootersCalculator.com is in the process of being massively overhauled. Military Applications: Note: We have selected two different 50 BMG loads to demonstrate here. The primer type specified for this ammunition is a boxer primer that has a single centralized ignition point (US and NATO countries). This calculator will produce a ballistic trajectory chart that shows the bullet drop, bullet energy, windage, and velocity. (We'll get to the meaning of "G1" in a moment.) Love Ammo? A .50 BMG round can effectively disable a vehicle when fired into the engine block. Lake City 50 BMG Ammo Details. 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! [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. 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. While there are parties who will place one cartridge over the other, we are not looking to do that in our comparisons. With the .338 Lapua Magnum vs .50 BMG, recoil takes on a bit more of an important role. Usually with the sniper comes some accessories to clean and use effectively. 50 BMG was designed for anti-aircraft weapons during World War I. Steel armors can also stop it from entering. As the 50 BMG bullet has a high ballistic coefficient, it is used for powerful sniper rifles. There are some options for bulk purchase which can save you some money in the long run. KelTec Sub 2000 [Review]: Best PCC Firearm? Different 50 caliber bullets are used for various purposes that have individual compositions. Some notable companies that produce 50 BMG sniper rifles include Barrett Firearms, Accuracy International, Arms Tech Ltd, Armalite, Bushmaster, Desert Tech, Serbu Firearms, etc. The majority of these people are using the cartridge for long range hunting on large game such as elk, moose, and even dangerous game. Now I am curious about the comparison between the LM 338 and the 30-378 weathering magnum. They wanted a heavy projectile at 2700 feet per second (f.p.s. Excellent quality, and great customer service from Dave Moore of Spider Firearms. [35], In the United States, Washington, D.C. disallows registration of .50 BMG rifles, thus rendering civilian possession unlawful. In this Article: RecoilBallisticsTrajectoryStopping PowerAccuracyPrice & AvailabilityPriceApplicationsBest Rounds In this cartridge comparison, we are going to take a look at the 6.5 Creedmoor vs .243 Winchester. Ballistic coefficient is typically measured with a 3 digit expression. Teamed with Colt, he produced prototypes ready for testing and, ironically, completed them by Nov. 11, 1918the Great War's end. As you can imagine, the bigger the game, the more energy you are going to need to cause enough damage for a clean kill. Coming up on wounded animals, especially if they are predators, can be dangerous and being able to drop them cleanly takes this risk away. The Barrett Mk. You will be sent the quantity of bullets that are ordered. Other than armed forces, civilians use this bullet round for target shooting and sports. I was also surprised with thebackground. 300 yds. The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 1 in 15in (380mm), with eight lands and grooves. 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. Subscribe to our newsletter and get gun deals, educational content, hand's on reviews and news on law changes! 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. Pull-out cloth belts were also used at one time, but have been obsolete since 1945. 50 Cal is generally known as the bore and the nominal bullet diameter. . For this article, we are going to explain the BC in the simplest of terms. By sticking with this 120-year-old non-aerodynamic standard, bullet companies ensure their BCs will be as large as . 50 caliber bullets can easily enter through a thick, concrete, or brick wall, a large tree, or even a person from a long distance. This bullet weighs much less even with the large size. When it comes to hunting, there are great options for the .338 LM. 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. A high number also means that the bullet will retain MORE velocity as it moves down range. Ballistic Coefficient - BC of 0.364 seems to be way low, standard BC for Ball Ammo should be in the 0.650-0.670 range. [citation needed], The U.S. Coast Guard uses .50 BMG rifles onboard armed helicopters to disable the engines on boats during interdictions. There is no doubt that the cartridge has the power and the trajectory to take on this challenge, but there is always the ethical question of taking shots at animals from these ranges. Hornady's original goal: "Ten bullets through one hole.". It has a thick casting of under 4 inches long with a primer end of 0.75-inch diameter. For simply comparing two different cartridges, we are going to omit it for the sake of clarity. 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. If you have any feedback or question about my articles, please submit it here, it's always appreciated! Thank you. It has a ballistic coefficient of .730. These bullets are magnetic. . G1 Ballistic Coefficient Must be between 0.001 and 1.0. The Spitzer is a very popular and aerodynamic bullet shape. 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. Your information will never be shared and you can unsubscribe with one click at anytime. This is roughly the same as saying that the projectile in question possesses low drag, although some meaning is lost in the generalization. [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. This is especially true if that bullet also has a high ballistic coefficient. The Heat Shield tip on the ELD Match bullet creates the perfect meplat and outperforms BTHP bullets. Firearm Setup. . But a higher ballistic coefficient doesn't necessarily mean it is a better bullet. So the damages can be huge, depending on the surface it will hit. 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. 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. Similarly, .50 BMG weapons have attracted attention from law enforcement agencies; they have been adopted by the New York City Police Department as well as the Pittsburgh Police. It uses a boxer primer with a central ignition point. The trajectory is what just about every hunter or competitive shooter of every skill level will be interested in when comparing two different cartridges. The email address you entered is not valid. Users can easily use them for personal use. The 408 CheyTac is a relatively new rifle caliber for sharpshooters. 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. There are several variants of this 50 caliber round. Putting it all Together They have barrel shrouds and a compensator to keep the gun in level. Muzzle Velocity - 2,952 is a screaming velocity, HSM AMAXs run around 2,680, and Barrett Ball is around 2,750. It is a great investment if you want to get into long range shooting and will be especially useful if you handload. And even then, the options you have for 50BMG factory loads is extremely limited, even when compared to the .338 LM. When comparing the 9mm handguns available, two models that always top the discussion are the Walther PPQ and the Glock 19. And like the 50BMG rounds, we will revisit this shortly. I'm Mike, one of the oldest writer of Sniper Country! Since a 50 cal bullet can slice through a body without protective armor, it can also kill someone. From over 4,000ft.lb of energy out of the muzzle to between 1,000 and 2,000ft.lb at 1,000 yards, it too has incredible range when it comes to having the energy needed for most game animals in the world. Machine guns use it as a continuous belt of rounds. [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]. It comes in different types like tracer, armor-piercing, usual ball, incendiary, and sub-caliber rounds. The AccuBond bullet used is perfect for the proper expansion needed while not sacrificing penetration for large game animals. [14], Some civilians use .50 caliber rifles for long-range target shooting: the US-based Fifty Caliber Shooters Association holds .50 BMG shooting matches. .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. We are measuring the bullet drop (inches) from 100 out to 1,000 yards. How important the ballistic coefficient is with shooters often depends on the distance of shots they are taking. Your email address will not be published. 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. To test the power, we see that a .50 BMG cartridge can cross the .9 mark, with a flat projectile motion. You might be strictly a hunter or strictly a competition shooter, but the majority of us are a mixture of both. We also see that all rounds for both cartridges leave the muzzle at more than 2,500fps and maintain supersonic speeds out to the 1,000-yard mark. The time for a .50 calibre bullet to travel one mile at a constant speed of 1400feet per second is around four seconds. Stringent quality control ensures proper bullet seating, consistent charges and pressures, optimal velocity, consistent overall length and repeatable accuracy. Federal Ammunition 50 BMG Ballistic Data. Both of these cartridges are capable of accuracy at extreme distances, and both have enormous stopping power. Properties. You make up some cartridges and we'll do some shooting. . The 50 caliber is a 5.5-inch length seated bullet. This is useful to get a legalized firearm with licenses. While these two cartridges might overlap in some shooting applications, we think there are niches where they stand apart as well. Most people who are using a .50 BMG are not hunting and are looking at extreme distance shooting. These ballistic coefficient values are said to be accurate to within about 5%. The energy is only part of the equation to stopping power, but it is an important one to examine nonetheless. Because this is computer generated data and because each rifle has its own personality, the actual numbers that are going to come from firing one of these rounds from your rifle, the numbers shouldnt be too far off but we wanted to make it clear that these numbers are not set in stone. 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. You can find an email form and contact information here. 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 The difference between the two rounds is as followed with the 50BMG showing a flatter trajectory. To be effective, a bullet must be able to penetrate through sometimes very thick hide and bone to reach vital organs. Where there are variables, we try to keep them as uniform as possible, but for some cases, it only makes sense to change these variables based on the cartridges. It answered a lot of my questions. The bigger the ballistic . In ballistics, the ballistic coefficient (BC) of a body is a measure of its ability to overcome air resistance in flight. The auctioneer claims that it is only one of twelve built and the only other known example resides at the Ford Benning sniper school. And like we said, if you need a large cartridge like both of these are, you probably already knew you were going to be dealing with recoil. On 14 April 2001, 19-year old Senior Airman Jennifer Donaldson, from the Illinois Air National Guard, made history. 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. The incredible energy of the 50BMG overshadows the .338 Lapua Magnum, which in its own right possesses a great deal of kinetic energy. Important: Since there are thousands of bullet shapes the Ballistic Coefficient calculations made below are not 100% accurate, if you are shooting out past 400-500+ yards your going to need to get the exact BC from the bullet's manufacturer. No one knows who and why is producing these strange slugs in Tarkov, but they just work. What is ballistic coefficient (BC)? A bull moose needs a bullet that can hold together and penetrate deeper than a bullet that is going to be used for whitetail. The two most important variables are the Initial Velocity and the Ballistic Coefficient. The higher the number, the less drag the projectile will experience. 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. Huston is a hunting enthusiast who believes your success in the field is directly correlated to the amount of preparation at home. We have done our best to remove any that have major damage, but individual opinions may vary on what . Caliber means the diameter of the bullet, so a 50 caliber bullet is half an inch in diameter. Join 212,000 avid gun enthusiasts and claim your print-at-home shooting drills. Access features of the Reloading Handbook on your mobile device with the Reloading App. '"[5], The American Rifleman further explains that development was "[r]eputedly influenced by Germany's 13.2x92 mm SR (.53-cal.) The mass is one of the bullets. It excels in all of the ballistic categories that we have covered in this article. This calculator will produce a ballistic trajectory chart that shows the bullet drop, bullet energy, windage, and velocity. This line of ammunition is 100% Lake City made. Hornady Match rifle ammunition is loaded with the most accurate, consistent match bullets in the world, featuring our AMP bullet jackets. Usually, these can leave a severe wound. Ballistic Coefficient: 0.572 Diameter: 0.51" Material: Copper Length: 1.892" Features. In addition, these snipers will have less drift from the winds of the bullet. The cartridges have two separate links of the machine gun selected. For further comparison, you'd be hard pressed to find a 5.56 load recipe that hits 1,400 ft-lbs. With its trajectory and energy and bullet design options there are no limits to the type of hunting you can do with it. Your information will never be shared and you can unsubscribe with one click at anytime. Generally, the heavier the projectile the better the BC, so most .22 pellets will have a better BC than .177, and most .25 pellets better than .22 and so forth. The proof/test pressure is listed as 65,000psi (450,000kPa). For hunters, stopping power is a critical factor in choosing a certain cartridge. 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. Our 50 BMG ammunition is ready for action. The minimum SD for hunting medium game is .210. The .50 BMG cartridge is also used in anti-materiel rifles. It has the velocity, the BC, and the trajectory to make shots of even 1,500 yards. Most of the cluster around the same amount of energy, but there is some variation. 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. We are not going to sit and mess around with the short range trajectory. 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. All in all, 50 BMG is the best cartridge with great ballistic coefficient, diameter, and other features that expanded its use. 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. So when game time comes make sure you are ready and enjoy the accuracy of Federal American Eagle 50 BMG ammunition! It is a great investment if you want to get into long range shooting and will be especially useful if you handload. 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.. On the other hand, 50 BMG is designed for machine gun operations, which belongs to 50 Cal. Velocity fps: 2940: 2806: 2677: 2551: 2428: 2309: Energy ft lbs: 12666: 11541: 10499: 9534: 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).