Another factor that goes into a cartridges stopping power is the penetration of the bullet. The fact is, both of these cartridges produce large amounts of recoil that can easily cause the shooter to flinch during a shot. While it travels in the air, it causes a shockwave which is equally dangerous to make a severe wound. Think of it paired with the energy of the bullet. Of course, how much penetration you need is going to depend on the game you are hunting. Barrel Lengths & Velocities for the 50 BMG. 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. The 408 CheyTac is a relatively new rifle caliber for sharpshooters. The ability to hit distant targets is . Retail Price: $478.50. These ballistic coefficient values are said to be accurate to within about 5%. Best Mossberg 500 Heat Shields [Ultimate Buying Guide], Best 9mm Ammo in 2021 [Self-Defense & Target], 6.5 Creedmoor vs .243 Win Cartridge 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. 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. This ammunition usually contains Swedish brass and perfect military specifications. 50 Cal 647 Grain Ball pulled bullets. PMC X-Tac Match .50 BMG Ammunition 10 Rounds 740 Grain Solid Brass Projectile 2830fps 50XM. 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. Firearm Setup. This calculator will produce a ballistic trajectory chart that shows the bullet drop, bullet energy, windage, and velocity. A .50 BMG round can effectively disable a vehicle when fired into the engine block. A.50 Caliber is a large bullet round with a 12.7mm diameter. It has a large cartridge used in anti-material for longer ranges. All of them but one .338 LM round break the .55 mark. Any armor with composite metal foam is strong to stop a 50 cal bullet. 50 BMG is one of the types of 50 caliber cartridges used for 50 BMG machine guns. Informative, interesting and well written. If you do not have a Shooting Chronograph, I strongly suggest you purchase one. [30][31] The M15-series metal "push-through" links were used in the M85 machine gun. For hunters, stopping power is a critical factor in choosing a certain cartridge. ", "How Will Illinois Law Banning Some Firearms Affect Gun Owners? From a hunting perspective, the advertised ballistic data confirms that all three cartridges have both the necessary sectional density (SD) and initial muzzle energy for both medium and large game hunting applications. Lets first take a look at the recoil energy (ft.lb) of these two rounds in general. The majority of these people are using the cartridge for long range hunting on large game such as elk, moose, and even dangerous game. While Glock is a master of simplicity and reliability, Walther has gone for a more elaborate design. As we mentioned above, firing these rounds often requires heavy firearms and other pieces of gear that help negate this recoil. . 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. A 290 grain 50 BMG is a relatively robust round. Try these all-copper . These bullets are magnetic. Still, some might be unfamiliar, so we want to touch on what exactly a ballistic coefficient is before we move on to the comparison. Ammunition is sold in 80-round cases. No spam. Almost all rounds have a ballistic coefficient of less than 1.0, but large rounds like the 50 BMG can exceed this normal BC. To be effective, a bullet must be able to penetrate through sometimes very thick hide and bone to reach vital organs. What we hope you draw from this is that both of these cartridges have a BC that corresponds with highly streamlined bullets. 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. Get gun deals, hand's on reviews, educational content and updates on law changes, daily! It is used mainly in machine guns for various shooting and personal uses. This data was taken from the standards used by the ballistic calculator for the .338 LM and the .50 BMG rounds. Even if we had all of the rounds and a couple days to generate some MOA measurements it still might differ on another day in someone elses hands. They have barrel shrouds and a compensator to keep the gun in level. We dont have a single set of data we can look at to determine stopping power. And even then, the options you have for 50BMG factory loads is extremely limited, even when compared to the .338 LM. Zero Range (yd) Various ammunition is also available to allow firing with lower quality bullets. Join 212,000 avid gun enthusiasts and claim your print-at-home shooting drills. [17] However, some other countries produce the ammunition with Berdan primers that have two flash holes. 400 yds. Even so, its difficult to compare the accuracy of two cartridges by the means that we have. Love Ammo? And this is case when comparing most cartridges. The 50 BMG is another caliber with . Still, by looking at the sectional density (SD) of the rounds, we can get an idea of how well these different bullets can penetrate and gives us a basis for comparison. . A .50 BMG round will penetrate most commercial brick walls and concrete cinder blocks. Caliber means the diameter of the bullet, so a 50 caliber bullet is half an inch in diameter. Rifles chambered for the .338 LM are a bit heavy to haul around the backcountry for most people, but it is much more manageable than a rifle chambered for a .50 BMG. These are used by both civilians and military forces for various purposes. Lake City 50 BMG Ammo Details. Copyright 2023 ShootersCalculator.comALL rights reserved. 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. However, Los Angeles banned this bullet round. The higher the number, the less drag the projectile will experience. In certain aspects and certain situations, sure, there are cartridges better suited to the task than others. Reply. And if you need the performance of the 50BMG, you are probably already aware of what you are in for and with todays modern gear, you are perfectly capable of using this cartridge efficiently. I'm Mike, one of the oldest writer of Sniper Country! document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Copyright Hornady, Privacy Policy | CCPA Request | Accessibility Policy | Terms of Use, Designed and developed by IdeaBank Marketing. This is especially true if that bullet also has a high ballistic coefficient. Looking at it another way, if one is off by 5%, they're probably all off the same amount, making our comparison valid. They have various models for different cartridges. The numbers with the 50BMG rounds are astounding, especially to some who might only be familiar with the more common hunting rounds. The Heat Shield tip on the ELD Match bullet creates the perfect meplat and outperforms BTHP bullets. [1]) is a .50in (12.7mm) caliber cartridge developed for the M2 Browning heavy machine gun in the late 1910s, entering official service in 1921. Thank you. Some of them can also be semi auto-loading guns. Teamed with Colt, he produced prototypes ready for testing and, ironically, completed them by Nov. 11, 1918the Great War's end. They can easily enter through light armors and hit targets. The email address you entered is not valid. Typically, long range rifle bullets have a ballistic coefficient of 0.5 (G1) or above. 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) 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. The longest recorded kill using a .50 BMG was over 2 miles away. [11] Before that, a British sniper in Afghanistan held the record at 2,475 meters (2,707yd; 1.538mi) using a .338 Lapua Magnum (8.5870mm) rifle. Three distinct and non-compatible metallic links have been used for .50 BMG cartridge belts. and the speed of the bullet. This is the best ballistic coefficient of any bullet to date. for the the South African 690gn. I was also surprised with thebackground. The bullet length, shape, and weight all positively contribute to a much higher BC than the 50 Beowulf bullet. These are extremely large rounds that require heavy weapons as well as other equipment to shoot accurately. Sometimes, the wound may be fragile, but it may also get fatal. The 338 LM was designed and produced in the late 1980s. 500 yds. 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. Both are considered powerful and unique bullet rounds. Other than armed forces, civilians use this bullet round for target shooting and sports. For testing your limits on the range, we dont think you can go wrong with the .338 LM Hornady ELD Match 285gr. In ballistics, the ballistic coefficient ( BC, Cb) of a body is a measure of its ability to overcome air resistance in flight. 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. For assistance, contact customerservice@barnesbullets.com or by phone at 800-574-9200. Lets take it a step further and take a look at the rounds we have selected for comparison. So when game time comes make sure you are ready and enjoy the accuracy of Federal American Eagle 50 BMG ammunition! 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). You can find an email form and contact information here. 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. 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. By doing this, perhaps we can tease apart in which situations one cartridge might be better suited over the other. From the bullet seating to the optimal charges and velocities, Hornady Match ammunition is designed to live up to company founder, J.W. I enjoyed reading it. How much energy is required to take down an animal varies and the amount that actually gets transferred to the target varies. As time goes, they are becoming more popular among shooters and hunters. 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? Barrel Length inches 36 Ballistics Coefficient (G1) 0.707 Ballistics Coefficient (G7) 0.350 Sectional Density 0.362. 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. If you decide to make a go with the .338 or the 50 BMG, with some practice, youre going to have an accurate cartridge. The Bullet Has a Superb Ballistic Coefficient compared To Other 50 Caliber Bullets That Have separately Formed driving bands . When comparing the 9mm handguns available, two models that always top the discussion are the Walther PPQ and the Glock 19. Machine guns use it as a continuous belt of rounds. ?Ballistic Coefficient: 1.070?Sectional Density: 0.412?Special attention should . 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. .338 Lapua Mag vs .50 BMG Cartridge Comparison. AP (ARMOR PIERCING) M2 [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. 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. The bigger the ballistic . With a degree in Microbiology and several years of doctoral work manipulating bacterial genes, he attempts to merge the rational and unbiased thinking of scientific research with the passions of hunting and fishing. We will see more drastic differences between our selected rounds, and we cannot comment on the exact variables used for this result. . . G1 projectiles are flat based bullets such as spritzer bullets, where G7 projectiles are going to cover boattail spitzers. But a higher ballistic coefficient doesn't necessarily mean it is a better bullet. [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. The 50 BMG rounds are quite impressive with BCs all above the .7 mark and one round coming in with a 1.05BC. 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. 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. a 50 caliber bullet weapon is considered violent. [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. As far as the BCs go for these two cartridges, both show phenomenal numbers. There are various types of weapons used for 50 caliber bullets. They are intended mainly for long-range shooting. This Ballistic is so strong that it can literally obliterate the point it touches within its effective shooting range. Put me on the Waiting List. 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. Before we get into our comparisons, there is one more note that we would like to make. How To Read Remington Nylon 66 Serial Number Year Codes? If the bullet passes through cleanly, remaining relatively intact, not all of the energy is transferred to the target. What is ballistic coefficient (BC)? Looking at just the basic physics, a .50 bmg has a muzzle velocity of about 420 meters per second (1480 feet per second). Can a 50 cal rip your arm off? 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. To use either of these rounds, muzzle brakes and other support is needed to use rifles chambered for these cartridges. Since the .50 BMG (23.00 23.33 g tungsten with muzzle velocity of 4,000 ft/s (1,219 m/s)) is very large it needs heavy weapons to support it. Smith and Wesson Serial Number Lookup: 7 Pre-Model Number Versions, Marlin Serial Number Lookup: Learn All About Factory Records, How to Install Zastava M70 Scope Mount: 4 Things You Should Know, 0.50-inch diameter and 5.5-inch long casing. 50 caliber bullets can easily enter through a thick, concrete, or brick wall, a large tree, or even a person from a long distance. The oversized bullet is formed to the bore size upon firing, forming a tight seal and engaging the rifling. 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. .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. To handle these rounds in the field, youre going to have to haul around a 30+lb rifle. It has a thick casting of under 4 inches long with a primer end of 0.75-inch diameter. Caliber Multi: .50 BMG Application: Hunting . . 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. To gain more knowledge and quick learning, a comparison table is always the best form. Even so, computer generated data is a proven and safe means for comparing two cartridges as we will do here. The ballistic coefficient or measure of drag for the .50 BMG is 1.05 which, is higher than any other commercially available around. We have compiled the ballistic coefficients for all ten rounds and graphed them here. It answered a lot of my questions. As you can imagine, the bigger the game, the more energy you are going to need to cause enough damage for a clean kill. This bullet is 0.50 in diameter and typically 2.25-inch long. .50 BMG Archives - Ballistic Magazine Tag: .50 BMG GM6 Lynx: Testing the Semi-Auto, .50 BMG Anti-Material Bullpup Rifle The saying goes that 5.56 is the "screw you" round. 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. So , lets get down to business. I want this to be the best ballistic trajectory calculator out there. Parks theorizes that the misconception originated in historical doctrine discouraging the use of the M8C spotting riflean integral .50-caliber aiming aid for the M40 recoilless riflein the antipersonnel role. And this is simplifying the topic since we are leaving out expansion, which is also going to play a role in penetration. Still, by comparing the recoil energies, it will translate loosely into what you feel.