Zero Range (yd) 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. Fill, sign and download Ballistic Chart online on Handypdf.com 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. I'm Mike, one of the oldest writer of Sniper Country! It runs on all modern Windows (Win98 and greater) computers. Your Savings: $43.50 (9%) 50 BMG M33 Ball Military Grade ammunition with a 660 Grain FMJ Bullet & Brass Case. 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]. This can be useful in comparing cartridges or loads. 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. Instead, we want to take an unbiased look at the data in several ballistic and other performance category and compare them. On the other hand, talk to F-class competitive shooters, and the trend is the opposite. 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). As we mentioned earlier, the velocity has a lot of influence on other aspects of the bullets behavior such as expansion. 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. Gain a deep knowledge of ballistic science and access our improved ballistic calculator. 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. This is why it is used in heavy-duty shootings. Within the United Kingdom, it is legal to own a bolt action .50 BMG rifle with a section 1 Firearms Certificate. 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. 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. 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. This Federal American Eagle 50 BMG ammunition is perfect for target shooting, competition shooting, long-range hunting, and long-range shooting. 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. This comparison is interesting because of how similar the sectional densities are despite the major differences in bullets. Subscribe to our newsletter and get gun deals, educational content, hand's on reviews and news on law changes! Barrel Length inches 36 Ballistics Coefficient (G1) 0.707 Ballistics Coefficient (G7) 0.350 Sectional Density 0.362. There are some options for bulk purchase which can save you some money in the long run. It is a scaled up version of the venerable .30-06 (standard issue in infantry rifles for the U.S. in both World Wars). We can estimate penetration based on the sectional density because of what the SD is derived from. As we have done in previous sections, we are going to look at our ten selected rounds. . Heck, the BC of a bullet can change based on temperature, altitude, and pressure. In addition, these snipers will have less drift from the winds of the bullet. This is especially true if that bullet also has a high ballistic coefficient. The two most important variables are the Initial Velocity and the Ballistic Coefficient. While it is only two factors that go into stopping power, they are the best for comparing two cartridges besides comparison in the field. For example, the G1 BC of a standard 5.5645 55gr FMJ roundusually falls at around 0.243. While it travels in the air, it causes a shockwave which is equally dangerous to make a severe wound. Steel armors can also stop it from entering. This is why their weapons are hard to find and limited in number. Out to 400 yards, there is little to no difference between the two cartridges. These include heavy stopping power that can be carried over incredible ranges. [34], A 1999 Justice Department Office of Special Investigations briefing on .50 caliber rifle crime identified several instances of the .50 BMG being involved in criminal activities. The 50 BMG is the winner of this section..50 BMG vs .50 Beowulf: Stopping Power. Of course, how much penetration you need is going to depend on the game you are hunting. But those that dont assault weapons are accepted by all applicable federal laws and made legal everywhere. and the speed of the bullet. This is because the bullet is very large, so the wound it makes is also large and deep, but still curable. But a higher ballistic coefficient doesn't necessarily mean it is a better bullet. [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. 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. Well discuss this topic more in the applications section. The M2 and M9 links, "pull-out" designs, are used in the Browning M2 and M3 machine guns. Pull-out cloth belts were also used at one time, but have been obsolete since 1945. The .50 BMG Flechette rifle project was contacted out by DARPA in 1960's. The projectile consisted of a saboted depleted uranium dart weighing 11.9 gram ( 183.6 grains ). . This is useful to get a legalized firearm with licenses. To begin, these selected rounds all have excellent BCs that most would be more than happy with. Unsubscribe at any time. The firearm has been zeroed in at 200 yards. But, one can also survive the wound from a 50 BMG shot if it isnt fatal. .50 BMG Ballistics Variables Bullet Weight: 661 grain Ballistic Coefficient: 0.62 (G1) Since 50 BMG cartridges are unique, these have a limited number of sniper rifles built with adequate quality. Today, there are various types of bullet rounds manufactured that are measured in 50 calibers. Try these all-copper . Both of these rounds are going to shoot flat at 300 yards, but the real reason is that if you are using these cartridges to take shots at that range, there is no helping you anyway. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it does include some of the more popular rounds for each cartridge. Hornady's original goal: "Ten bullets through one hole.". "[5], The round was put into use in the M1921 Browning machine gun. It has a large cartridge used in anti-material for longer ranges. Lake City 50 BMG Ammo Details. cartridge. 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. It has the velocity, the BC, and the trajectory to make shots of even 1,500 yards. It is when we move out from this marker that we begin to see a general trend between the 338 LM vs 50 BMG. At present, some US law enforcement use 50 BMG weapons, as well as snipers. 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. The mass is one of the bullets. In our minds, there is no one cartridge that is above and beyond better than another. 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. PMC X-Tac Match .50 BMG Ammunition 10 Rounds 740 Grain Solid Brass Projectile 2830fps 50XM. This calculator will produce a ballistic trajectory chart that shows the bullet drop, bullet energy, windage, and velocity. .338 Lapua Mag vs .50 BMG Cartridge Comparison. The caliber depends on the barrel diameter bore of the bullets guns. The SD comes from the diameter of the bullet and the weight of the bullet. FMBT bullets. heres what ive seen on a ballistic calculator Trajectory Input Data Manufacturer: Hornady Description: A-Max Caliber: 0.510 in Weight: 750.0 gr Ballistic Coefficient: 1.050 G1 Muzzle Velocity: 2700.0 ft/s Distance to Chronograph: 10.0 ft Sight Height: 1.50 in Sight Offset: 0.00 in New reloading data must be opened as a PDF document in an up-to-date compatible PDF viewer. Military Requirement: due to the rounds being from Lake City Ammunition . 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. They can easily enter through light armors and hit targets. Description: Lake City 50 BMG ammunition consists of Lake City brass, boxer-primers and 660 Grain projectiles. Usually with the sniper comes some accessories to clean and use effectively. Ballistic Coefficient is essentially a measure of air drag. Both of these cartridges are going to produce a tremendous amount of recoil. The 50 BMG rounds are quite impressive with BCs all above the .7 mark and one round coming in with a 1.05BC. The numbers with the 50BMG rounds are astounding, especially to some who might only be familiar with the more common hunting rounds. Powder is matched carefully to each specific load for optimal pressure, velocity and consistent accuracy. There are various types of weapons used for 50 caliber bullets. Your information will never be shared and you can unsubscribe with one click at anytime. If youre looking to choose between heavy, hard hitting, and far flying cartridges such as the .338 LM and 50 BMG we are pretty confident that you are well aware of the ballistic coefficient. The rounds intended for machine guns are made into a continuous belt using metallic links. PMC X-Tac Match is developed around several award winning loads replicating performance down to a tee. Before we wrap up the article, we wanted to pick a round from each cartridge that we really like for certain applications. . The .50 BMG cartridge is also produced commercially in a wide range of specifications, including armor piercing, tracing, and incendiary. 50 BMG (12.799) 647 Grain API Match Grade Ammunition This ammunition is manufactured in the USA by FedArm. Its because 90% of their shots are coming at 250 yards or less. 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. Federal Ammunition 50 BMG Ammo Details. As the 50 BMG bullet has a high ballistic coefficient, it is used for powerful sniper rifles. 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. Velocity is key for proper penetration and expansion, which is critical for hunting. and long-range bullets generally range from 0.5 all the way up to 1.0 with the .50 BMG! Coming up on wounded animals, especially if they are predators, can be dangerous and being able to drop them cleanly takes this risk away. This is the Ferret .50; a top-end attachment to an AR15 lower. 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. We also know that this bullet can enter very tough materials easily. Those values would be correct if you were shooting the ammo out of a "military weapon system" at the upper end of the velocity spectrum in the 3,000 fps range. We are working on a massive list, but this list won't be ready for a few weeks or months. An upgraded variant of the M2 Browning HB machine gun used during World War II is still in use today. The higher the number, the less drag the projectile will experience. This Ballistic is so strong that it can literally obliterate the point it touches within its effective shooting range.