Lets take a look at the velocities of each round from the muzzle out to 1,000 yards. It also has a strong recoil force as the cartridge is filled with powder. These include heavy stopping power that can be carried over incredible ranges. You would be surprised how many of them have never given their rounds BC a thought. Apart from machine guns, snipers and anti-materiel rifles use this cartridge. You will be sent the quantity of bullets that are ordered. Join 212,000 avid gun enthusiasts and claim your print-at-home shooting drills. It was developed for the M2 Browning machine gun over 110 years ago, and was based on the .30-06 Springfield cartridge. For the .338 LM, we recommend the Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond 300gr round. These are extremely large rounds that require heavy weapons as well as other equipment to shoot accurately. [12][13], In addition to long-range and anti-materiel, the U.S. military uses .50 BMG weapons to detonate unexploded ordnance from a safe distance. The .50 Browning Machine Gun (.50 BMG) was developed for the Browning .50 caliber machine gun in the late 1910s as countries began producing armored vehicles leading up to WWI. As the 50 BMG bullet has a high ballistic coefficient, it is used for powerful sniper rifles. Typically, long range rifle bullets have a ballistic coefficient of 0.5 (G1) or above. [citation needed], The .50 BMG round was used as a sniper round as early as the Korean War. 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. With that being said, we wouldnt recommend hunting the majority of game on planet Earth with a 50BMG; it seems pointless with the amount of damage it would cause to perfectly good meat. 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. The.50 BMG is quite legal for buying without the need for a special license or process. The .50 BMG is a bigger, heavier bullet that delivers a reliable killing shot up to an astounding range of about 3300 yards. Any round from this bullet produces between 10,000 and 15,000 foot-pounds force muzzle energies. New reloading data must be opened as a PDF document in an up-to-date compatible PDF viewer. [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. Ammunition is sold in 80-round cases. During World War II the .50 BMG was primarily used in the M2 Browning machine gun, in both its "light barrel" aircraft mount version and the "heavy barrel" (HB) version on ground vehicles, for anti-aircraft purposes. 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. By doing this, perhaps we can tease apart in which situations one cartridge might be better suited over the other. In addition, these snipers will have less drift from the winds of the bullet. When a bullet is fired from the barrel, it carries kinetic energy that upon impact is transferred to the target. The caliber depends on the barrel diameter bore of the bullets guns. 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. Fillable and printable Ballistic Chart 2023. 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. Granted, if youre firing these rounds, you most likely have gear that aids in absorbing the recoil and stabilizing the firearm. The range and terminal ballistics of the .338 LM were such that its use could fill several niches in civilian use including long range precision shooting and big game hunting. Zero Range (yd) .510 diameter. 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. 338 LM Federal MatchKing BTHP Gold Medal 250gr, 338 LM Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond 300gr. 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. I agree with Michael. The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 1 in 15in (380mm), with eight lands and grooves. So the damages can be huge, depending on the surface it will hit. Different snipers have different ranges depending on their design. Users can easily use them for personal use. By adding trajectories to the panel on the right you may produce charts and graphs that show the different trajectories side by side. The projectiles are high quality hand pulled 647 grain M8 API projectiles which have been cleaned, resized, and inspected before loading. 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. SHTF 50: Safety Harbor's .50-Cal Upper Conversion for AR-15s This bullet weighs much less even with the large size. Our .50 BMG ammunition is ready for action. 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? Usually with the sniper comes some accessories to clean and use effectively. The 50 BMG is another caliber with . 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. 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 TSX was introduced in 2003 and has become Barnes' most popular hunting bullet. Its also not the most expensive .338 LM factory load that is available. And this is simplifying the topic since we are leaving out expansion, which is also going to play a role in penetration. The email address you entered is not valid. By adding trajectories to the panel on the right you may produce charts and graphs that show the different trajectories side by side. 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. 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). Doppler radar measurement results for a lathe turned monolithic solid .50 BMG very-low-drag bullet (Lost River J40 .510-773 grain monolithic solid bullet / twist rate 1:15 in) look . "[5], The round was put into use in the M1921 Browning machine gun. The energy is only part of the equation to stopping power, but it is an important one to examine nonetheless. The time for a .50 calibre bullet to travel one mile at a constant speed of 1400feet per second is around four seconds. for the the South African 690gn. Even after the differences between 50 Cal vs 50 BMG, we see that they are quite similar in various features. On the other hand, 50 BMG is one of the various types of 50 Cal. It runs on all modern Windows (Win98 and greater) computers. What is the best scope for a .50 BMG and what is the strongest 50 BMG? It is used mainly in machine guns for various shooting and personal uses. Your information will never be shared and you can unsubscribe with one click at anytime. To gain more knowledge and quick learning, a comparison table is always the best form. 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 American Eagle ammunition was produced by Lake City Arsenal to NATO specifications. 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. Get gun deals, hand's on reviews, educational content and updates on law changes, daily! I was also surprised with thebackground. There is no doubt that both are designed exclusively for successful performances in the field. Still, we think that we can get some valuable information by examining the kinetic energy associated with our various rounds as the move from the muzzle down range to 1,000 yards. Velocity fps: 2940: 2806: 2677: 2551: 2428: 2309: Energy ft lbs: 12666: 11541: 10499: 9534: The 408 CheyTac is a relatively new rifle caliber for sharpshooters. somehow. But, one can also survive the wound from a 50 BMG shot if it isnt fatal. This can be useful in comparing cartridges or loads. The fact is, both of these cartridges produce large amounts of recoil that can easily cause the shooter to flinch during a shot. The higher the velocity, the flatter the bullet will shoot, with less wind drift, more energy when it reaches the target, and an extended . Usually, these can leave a severe wound. Caliber means the diameter of the bullet, so a 50 caliber bullet is half an inch in diameter. What you might be looking for is how these rounds behave in flight, which is what we will look at next. Firearm Setup. In the case of the 338 Lapua vs 50 BMG, we still feel the same. As we mentioned earlier, the velocity has a lot of influence on other aspects of the bullets behavior such as expansion. The 338 LM was designed and produced in the late 1980s. Since a .50 caliber bullet is manufactured with a solid metal surface and core, it is very powerful. Federal Ammunition 50 BMG Ammo Details. The guns that use these bullets were used to target troops to save from enemy guns. The rigidity and strength are used to penetrate tough surfaces easily. A .50 BMG round can effectively disable a vehicle when fired into the engine block. Specs. ), but the ammunition did not exist. The ballistic coefficient of the Barrett 50 BMG bullet is 0.64. TMI50BMG ammunition is loaded to precise standards, using only the finest components, and processes. 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. Copyright 2023 ShootersCalculator.comALL rights reserved. This is near impossible to handle accurately unless accessory gear is used to help absorb and stabilize the rifle. Ballistic Coefficient is essentially a measure of air drag. Ballistic coefficient is typically measured with a 3 digit expression. Thank you. Ballistic Coefficient (BC) is basically a measure of how streamlined a bullet is; that is, how well it cuts through the air. Federal Ammunition 50 BMG Ballistic Data. 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 it travels in the air, it causes a shockwave which is equally dangerous to make a severe wound. According to the American Rifleman: "Actually, the Browning .50 originated in the Great War. 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). Almost all rounds have a ballistic coefficient of less than 1.0, but large rounds like the 50 BMG can exceed this normal BC. Under STANAG 4383, it is a standard service cartridge for NATO forces as well as many non-NATO countries. 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. This is the web home of Modern Ballistics: the world's most sophisticated small arms exterior ballistics program for the personal computer. For the .50BMG, we would recommend the Hornady A-MAX Match 750gr round. For hunters, stopping power is a critical factor in choosing a certain cartridge. Besides military and police organizations, the .50 BMG has gained popularity in some civilian circles. 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. It can disable most unarmored and lightly armored vehicles. They are both quality handguns, but their makers have taken two very different approaches to the designs. ShootersCalculator.com is in the process of being massively overhauled. All in all, 50 BMG is the best cartridge with great ballistic coefficient, diameter, and other features that expanded its use. Its ballistic coefficient is 1.050. Both of these cartridges have found a place in the long range shooting. Not match ammo. The SD comes from the diameter of the bullet and the weight of the bullet. This is why their weapons are hard to find and limited in number. Bullet velocity is a very important ingredient of successful long-range shooting. We are using computer data that was compiled from the manufacturers websites as well as from trusted ballistic calculators. 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. . This graph should give you a good idea about the major differences we are looking at here. Most hunters also want enough stopping power to be able to make a clean and humane kill of the animal with causing unneeded suffering and risk losing it in the field. .338 Lapua Mag vs .50 BMG Cartridge Comparison. Since 50 BMG cartridges are unique, these have a limited number of sniper rifles built with adequate quality. The ability to hit distant targets is . The .50 BMG (12.799mm NATO) cartridge has a capacity of 290gr (19g).