50 Cal is generally known as the bore and the nominal bullet diameter. Regardless of what youre using your rifle for and regardless of the cartridge its chambered for we are all going to be interested in its ballistic performance. Each cartridge is loaded with either Hornady A-MAX bullets, our high-performance boattail hollow points, or the new, radically superior ELD Match bullets. 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. It has an aluminum color tip with a heavy build. The longest recorded kill using a .50 BMG was over 2 miles away. The 50 BMG rounds range from 72 to 87ft.lb of recoil energy. Get My Cartridge Comparison Handbook! The difference between the two rounds is as followed with the 50BMG showing a flatter trajectory. 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. KelTec Sub 2000 [Review]: Best PCC Firearm? As far as availability goes for the 50 BMG vs 338 Lapua Magnum, both are going to be harder to come by then smaller, more traditional hunting and target cartridges. 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. It is a great investment if you want to get into long range shooting and will be especially useful if you handload. . The projectiles are high quality hand pulled 647 grain M8 API projectiles which have been cleaned, resized, and inspected before loading. For example, the G1 BC of a standard 5.5645 55gr FMJ roundusually falls at around 0.243. Apart from machine guns, snipers and anti-materiel rifles use this cartridge. 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 Bullet Has a Superb Ballistic Coefficient compared To Other 50 Caliber Bullets That Have separately Formed driving bands . 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 velocity of a bullet is key for both hunting and range shooting purposes. As we have done in previous sections, we are going to look at our ten selected rounds. The email address you entered is not valid. Excellent quality, and great customer service from Dave Moore of Spider Firearms. To handle these rounds in the field, youre going to have to haul around a 30+lb rifle. Thank you. Since 50 BMG bullets are powerful, they can enter through a body part with force. This is because the bullet is very large, so the wound it makes is also large and deep, but still curable. PMC X-Tac Match combines all the performance of world class ballistics with a price point that is friendly for your wallet. . .338 Lapua Mag vs .50 BMG Cartridge Comparison. The minimum SD for hunting large game is .250. A user can shoot easily from a distance of about two kilometers. 50 BMG basic cartridge dimensions-All sizes in inches (in). As far as the BCs go for these two cartridges, both show phenomenal numbers. A .50 in caliber cartridge developed for the M2 Browning heavy machine gun in the late 1910s, entering official service in 1921. 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. Since a .50 caliber bullet is manufactured with a solid metal surface and core, it is very powerful. Cartridge dimensions The 50 BMG 12.7 99 NATO cartridge has a capacity of 290 grains H2O (19 ml). We will see more drastic differences between our selected rounds, and we cannot comment on the exact variables used for this result. Still, with the categories we have examined so far, we can infer some information in a roundabout way when it comes to the potential accuracy between the 338 Lapua Mag versus 50 BMG. The auctioneer claims that it is only one of twelve built and the only other known example resides at the Ford Benning sniper school. Basically, BC is a measure of how . From the bullet seating to the optimal charges and velocities, Hornady Match ammunition is designed to live up to company founder, J.W. The .50 Browning Machine Gun (.50 BMG) was developed for the Browning .50 caliber machine gun in the late 1910sas countries began producing armored vehicles leading up to WWI. Well, for 50 BMG, you're looking at $11-$16/round for military surplus ammo. 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. 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. The primer type specified for this ammunition is Boxer primer that has a single centralized ignition point (US and NATO countries). Under STANAG 4383, it is a standard service cartridge for NATO forces as well as many non-NATO countries. . 300 yds. 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. The price for both is about equal per 20 rounds, though the 50BMG factory loads often come in boxes of ten rounds. [4], The development of the .50 BMG round is sometimes confused with the German 13.2mm TuF, which was developed by Germany for an anti-tank rifle to combat British tanks during WWI and against aircraft. Heck, the BC of a bullet can change based on temperature, altitude, and pressure. As the 50 BMG bullet has a high ballistic coefficient, it is used for powerful sniper rifles. 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! A sniper consists of the bipod, handle, brake, and removable magazine. It has velocities that compete with the 50 BMG rounds, one of the flattest trajectories when compared to other .338 LM factory loads, and a ballistic coefficient of nearly .8. [37][41] In Illinois, it is legal to possess a .50 caliber rifle only if it was acquired by January 10, 2023, and it is registered with the state police by January 1, 2024. 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. Hornady's original goal: "Ten bullets through one hole.". The .338 LM is no slouch when it comes to long range shooting. Lets take it a step further and take a look at the rounds we have selected for comparison. As we mentioned above, firing these rounds often requires heavy firearms and other pieces of gear that help negate this recoil. [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. Looking at just the basic physics, a .50 bmg has a muzzle velocity of about 420 meters per second (1480 feet per second). This calculator will produce a ballistic trajectory chart that shows the bullet drop, bullet energy, windage, and velocity. Cases are carefully selected based on strict criteria: wall thickness uniformity, internal capacity, case weight and consistent wall concentricity. . 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. 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. In some cases, it is used to detonate mounted guns or cannons. While there are parties who will place one cartridge over the other, we are not looking to do that in our comparisons. Specs. Military use 50 caliber in machine guns and snipers, as well as regular shooters. 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. DPMS LR-308 [Review]: The AR, Back to Basics. [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. So, here is a table below: During the war, 50 calibers were used against light armor vehicles and aircraft due to their penetration power. Put me on the Waiting List. This will differ with various models. Usually, a 50 cal round has a diameter of 12.7 mm diameter. The majority of these people are using the cartridge for long range hunting on large game such as elk, moose, and even dangerous game. 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. . We are working on a massive list, but this list won't be ready for a few weeks or months. a 50 caliber bullet weapon is considered violent. More importantly, we are interested in how flat a bullet flies over a given distance. 50 Cal 647 Grain Ball pulled bullets. It is inversely proportional to the negative acceleration a high number indicates a low negative acceleration. 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. 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. Be aware you may consider some of them unusable. What is the best scope for a .50 BMG and what is the strongest 50 BMG? Before we get into the meat of the article with our comparisons, we want to briefly touch on how these two cartridges look up next to each other. On the other hand, talk to F-class competitive shooters, and the trend is the opposite. 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. Any thoughts on where I can find an unbiased comparison? 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. cartridge. Velocity is key for proper penetration and expansion, which is critical for hunting. It has a diameter of .50 inches, with a casing length of 99 mm and an overall length of 138 mm. You can find an email form and contact information here. 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 Spitzer is a very popular and aerodynamic bullet shape. [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. Both of these cartridges are capable of accuracy at extreme distances, and both have enormous stopping power. The numbers with the 50BMG rounds are astounding, especially to some who might only be familiar with the more common hunting rounds. 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 With extremely tight tolerances and strict quality control, all Hornady Match ammunition features superior lot-to-lot consistency. No spam. Any round from this bullet produces between 10,000 and 15,000 foot-pounds force muzzle energies. The 338 LM was designed and produced in the late 1980s. Retail Price: $478.50. In addition, these snipers will have less drift from the winds of the bullet. [30][31] The M15-series metal "push-through" links were used in the M85 machine gun. Of course, how much penetration you need is going to depend on the game you are hunting. Instead, we want to take an unbiased look at the data in several ballistic and other performance category and compare them. Please let me know how it can be improved upon. Velocity fps: 2940: 2806: 2677: 2551: 2428: 2309: Energy ft lbs: 12666: 11541: 10499: 9534: This ammunition usually contains Swedish brass and perfect military specifications. We dont have a single set of data we can look at to determine stopping power. Looking at it another way, if one is off by 5%, they're probably all off the same amount, making our comparison valid. Most people who are using a .50 BMG are not hunting and are looking at extreme distance shooting. Hi! Done (0.63 seconds). We think a flat trajectory also gives you a little more room for mistakes when it comes to judging distance quickly, as is sometimes the case when hunting. 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. On the other hand, a 50 BMG is a type of 50 Caliber round. 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. 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 have done our best to remove any that have major damage, but individual opinions may vary on what . There are several variants of this 50 caliber round. During operation or simply game shootings, it can make a significant wound in cases of accidents. I doubt too many microbiologists discuss the BCs of ammunition! 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. I VLD was designed from the start to be as efficient as possible, remaining supersonic past 2,150 yards. document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Copyright Hornady, Privacy Policy | CCPA Request | Accessibility Policy | Terms of Use, Designed and developed by IdeaBank Marketing. If you do not have a Shooting Chronograph, I strongly suggest you purchase one. 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. With that, you have a better chance at running into .338 LM rounds than a box of 50 BMG. This bullet is 0.50 in diameter and typically 2.25-inch long. Copyright 2023 ShootersCalculator.comALL rights reserved. 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. We went conservative with the powder weight because these are factory loads and are not normally loaded near max capacities. The two most important variables are the Initial Velocity and the Ballistic Coefficient. Gain a deep knowledge of ballistic science and access our improved ballistic calculator. Today, there are various types of bullet rounds manufactured that are measured in 50 calibers. You can find an email form and contact information here. The primer type specified for this ammunition is a boxer primer that has a single centralized ignition point (US and NATO countries). 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). 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. 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. This is why it is used in heavy-duty shootings. A common way of comparing ammo power is checking their muzzle energies. 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 minimum SD for hunting medium game is .210. 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. But it differs from other types of 50 caliber bullet rounds. '"[5], The American Rifleman further explains that development was "[r]eputedly influenced by Germany's 13.2x92 mm SR (.53-cal.) This includes the velocity, the BC, and the trajectory of the round. 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. Caliber Multi: .50 BMG Application: Hunting . It is strong enough to hold a large volume of pressure. Barrel Length inches 36 Ballistics Coefficient (G1) 0.707 Ballistics Coefficient (G7) 0.350 Sectional Density 0.362. This is why they fit perfectly to any automatic or belt-fed snipers, machine guns, or pistols designed for this cartridge. Get gun deals, hand's on reviews, educational content and updates on law changes, daily! 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). Hornady Match rifle ammunition is loaded with the most accurate, consistent match bullets in the world, featuring our AMP bullet jackets. It is used mainly in machine guns for various shooting and personal uses. As time goes, they are becoming more popular among shooters and hunters. According to the American Rifleman: "Actually, the Browning .50 originated in the Great War. Its ballistic coefficient is 1.050. This justifies the strength of the snipers and their sturdy build for heavy operation. So , lets get down to business. For comparison, a similar monolithic bullet in .50 BMG usually maxes out around 800 grains at 2,900 fps. As you can imagine, the bigger the game, the more energy you are going to need to cause enough damage for a clean kill. 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. Thus, to begin zeroing on an optically centered scope, you have to come down 30 minutes at the start. 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. We are using computer data that was compiled from the manufacturers websites as well as from trusted ballistic calculators. Since a 50 cal bullet can slice through a body without protective armor, it can also kill someone. Aaronthal Weapon Systems The Barrett Mk. In certain aspects and certain situations, sure, there are cartridges better suited to the task than others. 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]. The 50 BMG is another caliber with . ?Ballistic Coefficient: 1.070?Sectional Density: 0.412?Special attention should . [17] However, some other countries produce the ammunition with Berdan primers that have two flash holes. Please let me know how it can be improved upon. Military Requirement: due to the rounds being from Lake City Ammunition . Though they also carry quite a significant amount more powder and as we saw previously, you pay for it with the recoil. Just from first glance, we see that the various rounds of each cartridge are pretty varied and a general trend for one cartridge over the other doesnt jump out right away. This is near impossible to handle accurately unless accessory gear is used to help absorb and stabilize the rifle.