Its because 90% of their shots are coming at 250 yards or less. These are extremely large rounds that require heavy weapons as well as other equipment to shoot accurately. Typically, long range rifle bullets have a ballistic coefficient of 0.5 (G1) or above. 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. A ballistic coefficient is a value that is assigned to a bullet type to signify how well it can cut through the air. The velocity of a bullet is key for both hunting and range shooting purposes. And we know we have harped on this several times throughout the article, but we are going to talk regarding cartridge versus cartridge rather than round to round. For hunting, a lot of hunters want expansion to cause a larger wound and more damage. Thank you. 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. Introducing the latest products from the worldwide leader in ammunition. 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. Gun deals, hand's on reviews, educational content and news on law changes, every day! . Caliber Multi: .50 BMG Application: Hunting . It has a sectional density around 0.44, a ballistic coefficient around 1.13, and it's carrying less than 15,000 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle. Any thoughts on where I can find an unbiased comparison? ), but the ammunition did not exist. But they are also dangerous and must be used with caution during operations to avoid fatalities. Videos published by DARPA show the guided bullet diverting to strike a moving target.[26][27][28][29]. 200 yds. Usually, these can leave a severe wound. We went conservative with the powder weight because these are factory loads and are not normally loaded near max capacities. And seeing the stopping power in action, we leave that to you. With modern firearms, the majority of centerfire rifle cartridges can be tolerated with regards to the recoil. Today, there are various types of bullet rounds manufactured that are measured in 50 calibers. Again, this conclusions and estimates are based solely on the factory loads we have been examining here and the data that accompany them. Copyright 2023 ShootersCalculator.comALL rights reserved. The Army then returned to John Browning for the actual gun. Military Applications: Note: We have selected two different 50 BMG loads to demonstrate here. It can disable most unarmored and lightly armored vehicles. Fill, sign and download Ballistic Chart online on Handypdf.com 338 Lapua vs 50 BMG | The Hunting Gear Guy With the .338 Lapua Magnum vs .50 BMG, recoil takes on a bit more of an important role. 500 yds. [14], Some civilians use .50 caliber rifles for long-range target shooting: the US-based Fifty Caliber Shooters Association holds .50 BMG shooting matches. Since 50 BMG cartridges are unique, these have a limited number of sniper rifles built with adequate quality. I want this to be the best ballistic trajectory calculator out there. These rounds are listed below. These have the strength to destroy materials with a collection of ammunition. '"[5], The American Rifleman further explains that development was "[r]eputedly influenced by Germany's 13.2x92 mm SR (.53-cal.) G1 projectiles are flat based bullets such as spritzer bullets, where G7 projectiles are going to cover boattail spitzers. Ballistic coefficients were originally defined by Ingals as a number indicating velocity erosion due to air drag for a given bullet compared to a standard projectile of the same shape- 1 inch in diameter and weighing 1 pound. 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. With two decades of chasing all manner of upland game, hooved mammals, strutting gobblers, and any small game that can fit in his Dutch oven, he hopes to offer new ideas and viewpoints on hunting and firearm concepts and traditions. Even so, computer generated data is a proven and safe means for comparing two cartridges as we will do here. A 50 caliber bullet is measured to be an inch. [39] However, .50 BMG rifles registered prior to the enacted bans remain lawful to possess in California[37][40] and Connecticut. Specs. Federal Ammunition 50 BMG Ammo Details. 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). 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. There are various types of weapons used for 50 caliber bullets. So , lets get down to business. Gain a deep knowledge of ballistic science and access our improved ballistic calculator. We have done our best to remove any that have major damage, but individual opinions may vary on what . If the bullet passes through cleanly, remaining relatively intact, not all of the energy is transferred to the target. For further comparison, you'd be hard pressed to find a 5.56 load recipe that hits 1,400 ft-lbs. somehow. Is it better to have a high or low ballistic coefficient? .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. Well discuss this topic more in the applications section. The ballistic coefficient or measure of drag for the .50 BMG is 1.05 which, is higher than any other commercially available around. As time goes, they are becoming more popular among shooters and hunters. Other than armed forces, civilians use this bullet round for target shooting and sports. Like all Federal American Eagle ammunition, the 50 BMG provides reliable feeding and great ballistics. No spam. Please let me know how it can be improved upon. Stringent quality control ensures proper bullet seating, consistent charges and pressures, optimal velocity, consistent overall length and repeatable accuracy. Our .50 BMG ammunition is ready for action. It should already be clear that the difference just from the bullet diameter is quite dramatic. .338 Lapua Mag vs .50 BMG Cartridge Comparison. As for powder charges, we used conservative numbers for each round based on the hand loading specifications from Nosler. Ballistic Coefficient Calculator GunData.org 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. Both of these cartridges are going to produce a tremendous amount of recoil. However, bullets shot from pistols are slower as the gunpowder takes longer to burn. To handle these rounds in the field, youre going to have to haul around a 30+lb rifle. Modern Ballistics As the 50 BMG bullet has a high ballistic coefficient, it is used for powerful sniper rifles. If you do not have a Shooting Chronograph, I strongly suggest you purchase one. The .338 Lapua Magnum has a much shorter history than the other cartridge we will be examining in this article. This round is packaged in 150 CT Military Surplus ammo can. Its really the only way either of these rounds can be fired accurately. Any armor with composite metal foam is strong to stop a 50 cal bullet. Joined Feb 9, 2010 Messages 6. As we mentioned earlier, the velocity has a lot of influence on other aspects of the bullets behavior such as expansion. Each cartridge is loaded with either Hornady A-MAX bullets, our high-performance boattail hollow points, or the new, radically superior ELD Match bullets. Of course, looking at averages might not be fair as there are .338 LM rounds that carry similar or even higher velocities than some 50BMG rounds. [43] Writing for the Marine Corps Gazette, Maj Hays Parks states that "No treaty language exists (either generally or specifically) to support a limitation on [the use of .50 BMG] against personnel, and its widespread, longstanding use in this role suggests that such antipersonnel employment is the customary practice of nations." Barrel Lengths & Velocities for the 50 BMG - Lilja : Lilja Going the Distance - Shooting Times [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. 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. Unsubscribe at any time. The projectiles are high quality hand pulled 647 grain M8 API projectiles which have been cleaned, resized, and inspected before loading. 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. Your email address will not be published. All in all, 50 BMG is the best cartridge with great ballistic coefficient, diameter, and other features that expanded its use. Federal American Eagle 50 BMG Ammo 660 Grain FMJ - Ammo Deals In the case of the 338 Lapua vs 50 BMG, we still feel the same. In some cases you might be surprised. The incredible energy of the 50BMG overshadows the .338 Lapua Magnum, which in its own right possesses a great deal of kinetic energy. Materials for 50 Caliber Bullets - Lilja : Lilja Need ballistic coefficient (BC) of American Eagle XM33 ball 660 grain We dont have a single set of data we can look at to determine stopping power. This justifies the strength of the snipers and their sturdy build for heavy operation. 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. This calculator will produce a ballistic trajectory chart that shows the bullet drop, bullet energy, windage, and velocity. Done (0.63 seconds). The two most important variables are the Initial Velocity and the Ballistic Coefficient. So, it is evident that the bullet is dangerous and needs care while in use. We are working on a massive list, but this list won't be ready for a few weeks or months. The longest recorded kill using a .50 BMG was over 2 miles away. ShootersCalculator.com | .50 BMG, 7.62mm and 5.56mm with adjusted sights For hunters, stopping power is a critical factor in choosing a certain cartridge. 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. Load Data - Barnes Bullets To gain more knowledge and quick learning, a comparison table is always the best form. Receive exclusive gun deals once a week and all our great reviews right in your inbox. .50 Caliber BMG Bullets at LG Outdoors To be effective, a bullet must be able to penetrate through sometimes very thick hide and bone to reach vital organs. Granted, if youre firing these rounds, you most likely have gear that aids in absorbing the recoil and stabilizing the firearm. This includes the velocity, the BC, and the trajectory of the round. The minimum SD for hunting medium game is .210. Factory loads for civilian purchase are limited with most of the available rounds coming with bullet weights between 650 and 750gr. This comparison is interesting because of how similar the sectional densities are despite the major differences in bullets. For example, the G1 BC of a standard 5.5645 55gr FMJ roundusually falls at around 0.243. Lets take a look at the velocities of each round from the muzzle out to 1,000 yards. Ballistic coefficient - Wikipedia A user can shoot easily from a distance of about two kilometers. 50 BMG goes subsonic at 1500 Yards? Effect? - Sniper's Hide Forum But those that dont assault weapons are accepted by all applicable federal laws and made legal everywhere. But, one can also survive the wound from a 50 BMG shot if it isnt fatal. 50 BMG 750 gr A-MAX Match - Hornady Manufacturing, Inc Hornady Manufacturing makes the best cartridges for 50 BMG Ammunition 10 Rounds. The.50 BMG is quite legal for buying without the need for a special license or process. .50 BMG | Panthera Armory LLC 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. Barrel Length inches 36 Ballistics Coefficient (G1) 0.707 Ballistics Coefficient (G7) 0.350 Sectional Density 0.362. Use this ballistic calculator in order to calculate the flight path of a bullet given the shooting parameters that meet your conditions. Try these all-copper . Browning pondered the situation and, according to his son John, replied, 'Well, the cartridge sounds pretty good to start. This is the web home of Modern Ballistics: the world's most sophisticated small arms exterior ballistics program for the personal computer. As you can imagine, the bigger the game, the more energy you are going to need to cause enough damage for a clean kill. 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. The ability to hit distant targets is . It uses a boxer primer with a central ignition point. DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) contracted with Teledyne Scientific Company to develop the EXACTO program, including a .50-caliber guided bullet. What is ballistic coefficient (BC)? In this way, the user can know how much recoil the 50 BMG round has due to impact. How To Calculate A Bullet's RPM - Banana Ballstics This is the Ferret .50; a top-end attachment to an AR15 lower. Instead, we want to take an unbiased look at the data in several ballistic and other performance category and compare them. Love Ammo? I VLD was designed from the start to be as efficient as possible, remaining supersonic past 2,150 yards. 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. When a bullet is fired from the barrel, it carries kinetic energy that upon impact is transferred to the target. 50 caliber bullets can easily enter through a thick, concrete, or brick wall, a large tree, or even a person from a long distance. trajectory of .50 bmg - AR15.COM On 14 April 2001, 19-year old Senior Airman Jennifer Donaldson, from the Illinois Air National Guard, made history. 50 Beowulf vs 50 BMG: Caliber Comparison by Ammo.com Any round from this bullet produces between 10,000 and 15,000 foot-pounds force muzzle energies. We have hunted a long time and talked to a lot of our fellow outdoorsman. 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 not huge advocates of its use in hunting, but if you have the desire to take it to the field, your biggest concern is how it flies, in which case check out the next section. 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. To begin, these selected rounds all have excellent BCs that most would be more than happy with. There are two to three inches difference between the highest performing 50 BMG round and the highest 338 LM round. 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. On the other hand, 50 BMG is designed for machine gun operations, which belongs to 50 Cal. This is why they fit perfectly to any automatic or belt-fed snipers, machine guns, or pistols designed for this cartridge. 50 BMG 750 gr A-MAX Match Item #8270 | 10/Box We carefully select every component to ensure uniformity, then load to exacting specifications to provide pinpoint accuracy. 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. [9] The former record for a confirmed long-distance kill was set by U.S. Marine sniper Carlos Hathcock in 1967 during the Vietnam War, at a distance of 2,090 meters (2,290yd; 1.30mi);[10] Hathcock used the .50 BMG in an M2 Machine Gun equipped with a telescopic sight. The .50 BMG, the 30-06 and the 5.5645mm appear (to me) to be - Quora SHTF 50: Safety Harbor's .50-Cal Upper Conversion for AR-15s 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? Since 50 BMG bullets are powerful, they can enter through a body part with force. 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. 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. only today ! 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. A very interesting and well written article by an educated man with a surprising background. So when game time comes make sure you are ready and enjoy the accuracy of Federal American Eagle 50 BMG ammunition! . It is made a standard bullet for important army forces. A lot of competitions wouldnt allow a .50 caliber round, but if you just enjoy taking shots upwards and beyond 1,000 yards, the 50 BMG is hard to beat. 50 BMG Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Ammo for Sale by Federal - 100 Rounds It is a scaled up version of the venerable .30-06 (standard issue in infantry rifles for the U.S. in both World Wars). Users can easily use them for personal use. Most of the cluster around the same amount of energy, but there is some variation. Out to 400 yards, there is little to no difference between the two cartridges.
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