Gun deals, hand's on reviews, educational content and news on law changes, every day! Since 50 BMG cartridges are unique, these have a limited number of sniper rifles built with adequate quality. [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. .338 Lapua Mag vs .50 BMG Cartridge Comparison. Military use 50 caliber in machine guns and snipers, as well as regular shooters. 338 LM Federal MatchKing BTHP Gold Medal 250gr, 338 LM Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond 300gr. As we mentioned earlier, the velocity has a lot of influence on other aspects of the bullets behavior such as expansion. Muzzle 100 yds. The time for a .50 calibre bullet to travel one mile at a constant speed of 1400feet per second is around four seconds. Factory loads for civilian purchase are limited with most of the available rounds coming with bullet weights between 650 and 750gr. 400 yds. 50 caliber bullets can easily enter through a thick, concrete, or brick wall, a large tree, or even a person from a long distance. Both are considered powerful and unique bullet rounds. Use this ballistic calculator in order to calculate the flight path of a bullet given the shooting parameters that meet your conditions. Bullet velocity is a very important ingredient of successful long-range shooting. 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. For comparison, a similar monolithic bullet in .50 BMG usually maxes out around 800 grains at 2,900 fps. These bullets are magnetic. Three distinct and non-compatible metallic links have been used for .50 BMG cartridge belts. Before we get into our comparisons, there is one more note that we would like to make. We dont have a single set of data we can look at to determine stopping power. 50 Cal 647 Grain Ball pulled bullets. 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. In some cases you might be surprised. It has a diameter of .50 inches, with a casing length of 99 mm and an overall length of 138 mm. As for powder charges, we used conservative numbers for each round based on the hand loading specifications from Nosler. Thus, to begin zeroing on an optically centered scope, you have to come down 30 minutes at the start. They are easily portable to shoot at great ranges with destructive forces. 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. We have compiled the ballistic coefficients for all ten rounds and graphed them here. The 50 BMG is another caliber with . The fact is, both of these cartridges produce large amounts of recoil that can easily cause the shooter to flinch during a shot. A user can shoot easily from a distance of about two kilometers. Receive exclusive gun deals once a week and all our great reviews right in your inbox. The velocity of a bullet is key for both hunting and range shooting purposes. [15], A common method for understanding the actual power of a cartridge is comparison of muzzle energies. When a bullet is fired from the barrel, it carries kinetic energy that upon impact is transferred to the target. 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. . We are working on a massive list, but this list won't be ready for a few weeks or months. If you decide to make a go with the .338 or the 50 BMG, with some practice, youre going to have an accurate cartridge. Even so, its difficult to compare the accuracy of two cartridges by the means that we have. Join 212,000 avid gun enthusiasts and claim your print-at-home shooting drills. Both of these cartridges are going to produce a tremendous amount of recoil. The .50 BMG cartridge is also produced commercially in a wide range of specifications, including armor piercing, tracing, and incendiary. How much energy is required to take down an animal varies and the amount that actually gets transferred to the target varies. With modern firearms, the majority of centerfire rifle cartridges can be tolerated with regards to the recoil. Since a .50 caliber bullet is manufactured with a solid metal surface and core, it is very powerful. No one knows who and why is producing these strange slugs in Tarkov, but they just work. In addition, these snipers will have less drift from the winds of the bullet. The guns that use these bullets were used to target troops to save from enemy guns. 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. Users can easily use them for personal use. [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. This calculator will produce a ballistic trajectory chart that shows the bullet drop, bullet energy, windage, and velocity. They wanted a heavy projectile at 2700 feet per second (f.p.s. Pull-out cloth belts were also used at one time, but have been obsolete since 1945. This e-mail address is already subscribed. There is no doubt that both are designed exclusively for successful performances in the field. More importantly, we are interested in how flat a bullet flies over a given distance. The minimum SD for hunting large game is .250. The max I have ever seen anyone run is around 3,000 and that is considered to be hot. 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]. Some of them can also be semi auto-loading guns. We suppose it all depends on the type of hunting you do, but if you plan on doing any spot and stalk, you better be in shape. 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). I want this to be the best ballistic trajectory calculator out there. Still, some might be unfamiliar, so we want to touch on what exactly a ballistic coefficient is before we move on to the comparison. The ability to hit distant targets is . No extra bullets are sent. Lake City 50 BMG Ammo Details. The bullet type and powder make the recoil force different between bullets. A .50 BMG round will penetrate most commercial brick walls and concrete cinder blocks. As we have done in previous sections, we are going to look at our ten selected rounds. To test the power, we see that a .50 BMG cartridge can cross the .9 mark, with a flat projectile motion. They are intended mainly for long-range shooting. They all can kill any game animal in the world. Out to 400 yards, there is little to no difference between the two cartridges. Fill, sign and download Ballistic Chart online on Handypdf.com I was also surprised with thebackground. It comes in different types like tracer, armor-piercing, usual ball, incendiary, and sub-caliber rounds. From the bullet seating to the optimal charges and velocities, Hornady Match ammunition is designed to live up to company founder, J.W. Both are going to penetrate just about any hide or armor that is out there, its what they were designed to do, and we have seen from the velocities that they are going to speed and power behind them to get the job done. 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. There's a reason militaries worldwide still use a 50 BMG bolt-action rifle for sniping. Since 50 BMG bullets are powerful, they can enter through a body part with force. In some cases, it is used to detonate mounted guns or cannons. For further comparison, you'd be hard pressed to find a 5.56 load recipe that hits 1,400 ft-lbs. A 290 grain 50 BMG is a relatively robust round. The energy is only part of the equation to stopping power, but it is an important one to examine nonetheless. 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. No spam. Ballistic Coefficient - BC of 0.364 seems to be way low, standard BC for Ball Ammo should be in the 0.650-0.670 range. 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. TMI50BMG ammunition is loaded to precise standards, using only the finest components, and processes. Find load data for your cartridge. Dont let the comparison to the 50BMG throw off your judgment as to what this cartridge can do. While it is only two factors that go into stopping power, they are the best for comparing two cartridges besides comparison in the field. [42] Maryland imposes additional regulations on the sale and transfer of .50 BMG rifles and other "regulated firearms", and limits purchases of any firearm within this class to one per month, but does not impose registration requirements or any form of categorical ban.[37]. During operation or simply game shootings, it can make a significant wound in cases of accidents. For simply comparing two different cartridges, we are going to omit it for the sake of clarity. Re: 50 BMG goes subsonic at 1500 Yards? Customer Reviews. 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. You can find an email form and contact information here. Properties. We have hunted a long time and talked to a lot of our fellow outdoorsman. Sign up to receive new product announcements, special offers, and the annual product catalog. DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) contracted with Teledyne Scientific Company to develop the EXACTO program, including a .50-caliber guided bullet. Velocity fps: 2940: 2806: 2677: 2551: 2428: 2309: Energy ft lbs: 12666: 11541: 10499: 9534: Our 50 BMG ammunition is ready for action. It also has a strong recoil force as the cartridge is filled with powder. A common way of comparing ammo power is checking their muzzle energies. The cartridge itself has been made in many variants from armor piercing to tracer rounds, though most factory loads that can be accessed by civilians are the typical bullets. The biggest issue we have with the 50 BMG is the sheer weight of the rifle. While Glock is a master of simplicity and reliability, Walther has gone for a more elaborate design. 300 yds. [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. 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. 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. The ballistic coefficient gives you an idea of how streamlined a bullet is. 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 . This is near impossible to handle accurately unless accessory gear is used to help absorb and stabilize the rifle. 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. Copyright 2023 ShootersCalculator.comALL rights reserved. The Federal Ballistics Calculator lets you quickly determine the trajectory for any rifle or handgun load, and save data for an unlimited number of loads. It has a thick casting of under 4 inches long with a primer end of 0.75-inch diameter. The .50 BMG cartridge is also used in anti-materiel rifles. [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." The longest recorded kill using a .50 BMG was over 2 miles away. kilojoules). But they are also dangerous and must be used with caution during operations to avoid fatalities. Introducing the latest products from the worldwide leader in ammunition. 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. This ammunition usually contains Swedish brass and perfect military specifications. Ammunition is sold in 80-round cases. They have various models for different cartridges. Even so, computer generated data is a proven and safe means for comparing two cartridges as we will do here. 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 With ME of over 1,200ft.lb and and ME of over 5,000ft.lb at 1,000yds, there are no restrictions on the type of game you can hunt. For hunting, a lot of hunters want expansion to cause a larger wound and more damage. It will a produce a line graph showing the bullet drop and flight path of the bullet. This shows most dramatically in the case capacity where the .50 BMG can hold nearly 200 more grains of powder than the 338LM. [1] It is inversely proportional to the negative acceleration: a high number indicates a low negative accelerationthe drag on the body is small in proportion to its mass. 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. 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. 500 yds. 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. All of them but one .338 LM round break the .55 mark. (We'll get to the meaning of "G1" in a moment.) This bullet is 0.50 in diameter and typically 2.25-inch long. A 50 cal bullet has the power to cut through a human body with ease.