50 bmg ballistic coefficient

There are two to three inches difference between the highest performing 50 BMG round and the highest 338 LM round. How much energy is required to take down an animal varies and the amount that actually gets transferred to the target varies. Love Ammo? By understanding these different parameters, we can not only better adjust to specific shooting conditions and be aware of our limitations, but we can also begin to tease apart certain situations each of these cartridges might be better suited. There are several variants of this 50 caliber round. The .30-06 Springfield, the standard caliber for American soldiers in both World Wars and a popular caliber amongst American hunters, can produce muzzle energies between 2,000 and 3,000 foot-pounds force (3,000 and 4,000J). So, it is evident that the bullet is dangerous and needs care while in use. Lets take it a step further and take a look at the rounds we have selected for comparison. With modern firearms, the majority of centerfire rifle cartridges can be tolerated with regards to the recoil. The incredible energy of the 50BMG overshadows the .338 Lapua Magnum, which in its own right possesses a great deal of kinetic energy. 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. Loaded specifically for precision big bore rifles, a wide variety of ammunition is available, including ball, tracer, armor-piercing, incendiary, and A-MAX rounds, with accuracy being priority number one. Both of these cartridges are going to produce a tremendous amount of recoil. 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. Zero Range (yd) When it comes to hunting, there are great options for the .338 LM. The .50 BMG (12.799mm NATO) cartridge has a capacity of 290gr (19g). ShootersCalculator.com is in the process of being massively overhauled. They can easily enter through light armors and hit targets. Barrel Length inches 36 Ballistics Coefficient (G1) 0.707 Ballistics Coefficient (G7) 0.350 Sectional Density 0.362. Usually with the sniper comes some accessories to clean and use effectively. . "[5], The round was put into use in the M1921 Browning machine gun. The longest recorded kill using a .50 BMG was over 2 miles away. While the .338 rounds have a much smaller diameter than the huge .50 cal rounds, the exponentially heavier bullet weights of the 50BMG rounds make up for the large size. FMBT bullets. The Ballistic Coefficient of tangential ogive jacketed bullets traveling at velocities above the speed of sound can be calculated to a reasonable degree of accuracy if careful measurements are made to determine the actual radius curve of the nose portion and the boat tail (if any) dimensions. a 50 caliber bullet weapon is considered violent. 338 LM Federal MatchKing BTHP Gold Medal 250gr, 338 LM Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond 300gr. [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. 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. cartridge. This Ballistic is so strong that it can literally obliterate the point it touches within its effective shooting range. Get gun deals, hand's on reviews, educational content and updates on law changes daily! This bullet weighs much less even with the large size. 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. [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. Thus, to begin zeroing on an optically centered scope, you have to come down 30 minutes at the start. . 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. .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. The .338 Lapua Magnum has a much shorter history than the other cartridge we will be examining in this article. This is because the bullet is very large, so the wound it makes is also large and deep, but still curable. Description. But, if you need the performance, its just something you have to deal with, especially if you dont reload. Most .50 BMG rounds are not designed for much expansion. In addition to the usual tables and graphs of drop, velocity, and windage, Modern Ballistics has these unique features: Sight Angle. 50 Cal 647 Grain Ball pulled bullets. 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. [citation needed], The .50 BMG round was used as a sniper round as early as the Korean War. The 338LM rounds under our specifications have recoil energies ranging between 29 and 33ft.lb. So, lets focus on the long range trajectory for these two cartridges. Try these all-copper . The AccuBond bullet used is perfect for the proper expansion needed while not sacrificing penetration for large game animals. Lake City 50 BMG Ballistic Data. DPMS LR-308 [Review]: The AR, Back to Basics. 50 BMG basic cartridge dimensions-All sizes in inches (in). The surface is dirt and water-resistant. As the 50 BMG bullet has a high ballistic coefficient, it is used for powerful sniper rifles. [14], Some civilians use .50 caliber rifles for long-range target shooting: the US-based Fifty Caliber Shooters Association holds .50 BMG shooting matches. The higher the velocity, the flatter the bullet will shoot, with less wind drift, more energy when it reaches the target, and an extended . And even then, the options you have for 50BMG factory loads is extremely limited, even when compared to the .338 LM. 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. How To Read Remington Nylon 66 Serial Number Year Codes? The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 1 in 15 in (381 mm), with 8 lands and grooves. The .50 BMG was developed during World War I when looking for an effective anti-aircraft round. A custom-made 12/70 slug shell with a shortened .50 BMG tracer bullet for 12 gauge shotguns. But a higher ballistic coefficient doesn't necessarily mean it is a better bullet. Similarly, .50 BMG weapons have attracted attention from law enforcement agencies; they have been adopted by the New York City Police Department as well as the Pittsburgh Police. The fact is, both of these cartridges produce large amounts of recoil that can easily cause the shooter to flinch during a shot. Bullet: 661 gr M33 Ball Bullet Weight: 661 gr Bullet Diameter: 0.510 200 yds. The SD comes from the diameter of the bullet and the weight of the bullet. My problem is that the upper came with a 30 minute rail. It boasts a BC of 0.874, and some indicators point to a 0.900 BC at 2,900 fps. [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. It is strong enough to hold a large volume of pressure. 50 BMG has a 12.7mm diameter and is also used in snipers and machine guns. ), but the ammunition did not exist. Ammunition is sold in 80-round cases. Where there are variables, we try to keep them as uniform as possible, but for some cases, it only makes sense to change these variables based on the cartridges. 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 Glock is a master of simplicity and reliability, Walther has gone for a more elaborate design. 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. Done (0.63 seconds). . So there is a fine line a lot of hunters try to walk when it comes to penetration. 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? 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. A ballistic coefficient is a value that is assigned to a bullet type to signify how well it can cut through the air. 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). While these two cartridges might overlap in some shooting applications, we think there are niches where they stand apart as well. 50 BMG Ballistic Coefficient. It excels in all of the ballistic categories that we have covered in this article. We can estimate penetration based on the sectional density because of what the SD is derived from. Although 50 cal is a very penetrating bullet, research has found something to stop it. The rounds intended for machine guns are made into a continuous belt using metallic links. All data created using our free ballistic calculator. We also hope that we have made clear that the BC is not a point for comparing which bullet is better or worse than others. And this is case when comparing most cartridges. So when game time comes make sure you are ready and enjoy the accuracy of Federal American Eagle 50 BMG ammunition! 200 yds. 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. If we take a closer look at the averages of the round, we see that the 50BMG rounds carry from 200fps (Muzzle-700yds) to 300fps (800-1,000yds) more than the 338LM rounds, which is quite remarkable given how much heavier the 50BMG rounds. The following improvements will be made: Please sign up for our newsletter so that you can be alerted the moment these new features are launched! Its a culmination of several factors including bullet energy, penetration, bullet expansion, and shot placement. 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.[16]. G1 projectiles are flat based bullets such as spritzer bullets, where G7 projectiles are going to cover boattail spitzers. Gun deals, hand's on reviews, educational content and news on law changes, every day! The BC of a round also plays a large role in the trajectory of a round, which we will look at next. A high number also means that the bullet will retain MORE velocity as it moves down range. It is when we move out from this marker that we begin to see a general trend between the 338 LM vs 50 BMG. Please let me know how it can be improved upon. At present, some US law enforcement use 50 BMG weapons, as well as snipers. This is especially true if that bullet also has a high ballistic coefficient. Ballistic Coefficient: 0.572 Diameter: 0.51" Material: Copper Length: 1.892" Features. The email address you entered is not valid. Unsubscribe at any time. document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Copyright Hornady, Privacy Policy | CCPA Request | Accessibility Policy | Terms of Use, Designed and developed by IdeaBank Marketing. [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. 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. Before we get into our comparisons, there is one more note that we would like to make. 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. Now I am curious about the comparison between the LM 338 and the 30-378 weathering magnum. 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. . No extra bullets are sent. So the damages can be huge, depending on the surface it will hit. 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. We also want to note that while we are taking each category and looking at them independently, all of these categories are interwoven with each other, including recoil and stopping power that we will look at shortly. The projectiles are high quality hand pulled 647 grain M8 API projectiles which have been cleaned, resized, and inspected before loading. Muzzle Velocity - 2,952 is a screaming velocity, HSM AMAXs run around 2,680, and Barrett Ball is around 2,750. [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 ability to hit distant targets is . Think of it paired with the energy of the bullet. The majority of these people are using the cartridge for long range hunting on large game such as elk, moose, and even dangerous game. Ballistic coefficient is typically measured with a 3 digit expression. Can a human survive a 50 Cal shot?How many bodies can a .50 cal penetrate? For the .50BMG, we would recommend the Hornady A-MAX Match 750gr round. We also know that this bullet can enter very tough materials easily. .338 Lapua Mag vs .50 BMG Cartridge Comparison. Your email address will not be published. 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. 50 Caliber has different types of rounds, while 50 BMG is a particular one. Pull-out cloth belts were also used at one time, but have been obsolete since 1945. The max I have ever seen anyone run is around 3,000 and that is considered to be hot. This round is packaged in 150 CT Military Surplus ammo can. It should already be clear that the difference just from the bullet diameter is quite dramatic. It is a scaled up version of the venerable .30-06 (standard issue in infantry rifles for the U.S. in both World Wars). kilojoules). A 290 grain 50 BMG is a relatively robust round. 400 yds. somehow. 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. Customer Reviews. Still, some might be unfamiliar, so we want to touch on what exactly a ballistic coefficient is before we move on to the comparison. Cartridge dimensions The 50 BMG 12.7 99 NATO cartridge has a capacity of 290 grains H2O (19 ml). This Federal American Eagle 50 BMG ammunition is perfect for target shooting, competition shooting, long-range hunting, and long-range shooting. Please let me know how it can be improved upon. The ballistic coefficient is derived from an equation that uses several bullet and cartridge variables. Spitzer. 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. In ballistics, the ballistic coefficient is used to measure the ability of something to withstand air resistance. There is no doubt that both are designed exclusively for successful performances in the field. Best Mossberg 500 Heat Shields [Ultimate Buying Guide], Best 9mm Ammo in 2021 [Self-Defense & Target], 6.5 Creedmoor vs .243 Win Cartridge Comparison. However, bullets shot from pistols are slower as the gunpowder takes longer to burn. A bull moose needs a bullet that can hold together and penetrate deeper than a bullet that is going to be used for whitetail. If you check the Internet, it is very common to find 50 BMG Ball Ammo BC values in the 0.65 to 0.67 ranges. 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. Besides military and police organizations, the .50 BMG has gained popularity in some civilian circles. A common way of comparing ammo power is checking their muzzle energies. 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. Contrary to a persistent misconception within the United States Armed Forces, using .50 BMG directly against enemy personnel is not prohibited by the laws of war. Huge bullets with enough powder to send them downrange at supersonic speeds are going to produce enough kick to knock you down. You can find an email form and contact information here. Granted, if youre firing these rounds, you most likely have gear that aids in absorbing the recoil and stabilizing the firearm. For hunters, stopping power is a critical factor in choosing a certain cartridge. Gain a deep knowledge of ballistic science and access our improved ballistic calculator. Coming up on wounded animals, especially if they are predators, can be dangerous and being able to drop them cleanly takes this risk away. The 50 BMG rounds are quite impressive with BCs all above the .7 mark and one round coming in with a 1.05BC. Fill, sign and download Ballistic Chart online on Handypdf.com Usually, these can leave a severe wound. A high number means the bullet is more efficient at resisting air friction (negative acceleration). The less a bullet drops during its flight, the easier it is to make adjustments for longer distance shots. In certain aspects and certain situations, sure, there are cartridges better suited to the task than others. On the other hand, talk to F-class competitive shooters, and the trend is the opposite. 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. No spam. Its really the only way either of these rounds can be fired accurately. My first deer at the age of 45 I joined the deer hunting fraternity a little late, but the desire to hunt has always been there. Copyright 2023 ShootersCalculator.comALL rights reserved. AP (ARMOR PIERCING) M2 They have various models for different cartridges. A sniper consists of the bipod, handle, brake, and removable magazine. Sometimes, the wound may be fragile, but it may also get fatal. ?Ballistic Coefficient: 1.070?Sectional Density: 0.412?Special attention should . 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. With that, you have a better chance at running into .338 LM rounds than a box of 50 BMG. 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. As for powder charges, we used conservative numbers for each round based on the hand loading specifications from Nosler. Caliber Multi: .50 BMG Application: Hunting . 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. As we mentioned above, firing these rounds often requires heavy firearms and other pieces of gear that help negate this recoil. The .338 LM is no slouch when it comes to long range shooting. . Aaronthal Weapon Systems When dealing with more obscure cartridges that dont have a huge market and takes quite a lot more material to make and you have the trifecta for expensive rounds. For assistance, contact customerservice@barnesbullets.com or by phone at 800-574-9200. It will a produce a line graph showing the bullet drop and flight path of the bullet. The primer type specified for this ammunition is Boxer primer that has a single centralized ignition point (US and NATO countries). 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. Since 50 BMG cartridges are unique, these have a limited number of sniper rifles built with adequate quality. Military Requirement: due to the rounds being from Lake City Ammunition . 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. 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. For two cartridges that are touted as extreme distance shooters, the ballistic coefficient is going to be an important factor for potential users. Recoil is also a component to accuracy though most will deny it has any effect on them. By adding trajectories to the panel on the right you may produce charts and graphs that show the different trajectories side by side. Steel armors can also stop it from entering. and long-range bullets generally range from 0.5 all the way up to 1.0 with the .50 BMG! Velocity is key for proper penetration and expansion, which is critical for hunting. They are widely used by civilians as well as military forces. On the other hand, 50 BMG is designed for machine gun operations, which belongs to 50 Cal. The standard projectile on which all Hornady Bullets were compared was the G1 Model, based on work begun in France and refined at the U. S. Army Ballistic Research Laboratories, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. The 50 BMG rounds range from 72 to 87ft.lb of recoil energy. The caliber depends on the barrel diameter bore of the bullets guns. Even so, its difficult to compare the accuracy of two cartridges by the means that we have. and the speed of the bullet. '"[5], The American Rifleman further explains that development was "[r]eputedly influenced by Germany's 13.2x92 mm SR (.53-cal.) [38] Connecticut specifically bans the Barrett 82A1 .50 BMG rifle. We hope that this article has highlighted these differences and provided you with a reliable source for making your own decision of which cartridge better fits your needs. G1 Ballistic Coefficient Must be between 0.001 and 1.0. The following ins a 500 yd 270 Win ballistic trajectory and drop chart that follows a 130gr Winchester Silvertip with a ballistic coeddicient of .337 from the time it exits the muzzle until it hits the 500 yard mark. The Heat Shield tip on the ELD Match bullet creates the perfect meplat and outperforms BTHP bullets. 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. 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. Properties. This American Eagle ammunition was produced by Lake City Arsenal to NATO specifications. 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 is the Ferret .50; a top-end attachment to an AR15 lower. The primer type specified for this ammunition is a boxer primer that has a single centralized ignition point (US and NATO countries). This is why they fit perfectly to any automatic or belt-fed snipers, machine guns, or pistols designed for this cartridge. When we look at the graph, it is quite a stark contrast between cartridges. Get my premium 550+ pages handbook that compares all cartridges, for free (worth $199!) You would be surprised how many of them have never given their rounds BC a thought. Instead, we want to take an unbiased look at the data in several ballistic and other performance category and compare them. The purpose of this cartridge was to was to provide snipers with a long range round that had incredible terminal ballistics and could penetrate several layers of body armor at extreme distances. Again, this conclusions and estimates are based solely on the factory loads we have been examining here and the data that accompany them. These include heavy stopping power that can be carried over incredible ranges. Muzzle 100 yds. [4], The development of the .50 BMG round is sometimes confused with the German 13.2mm TuF, which was developed by Germany for an anti-tank rifle to combat British tanks during WWI and against aircraft. We do know that the recoil energy is nearly double even with the 50BMG using a 30lb firearm compared to the 15lb for the 338. More importantly, we are interested in how flat a bullet flies over a given distance. Three distinct and non-compatible metallic links have been used for .50 BMG cartridge belts. There are various types of weapons used for 50 caliber bullets. Description: Lake City 50 BMG ammunition consists of Lake City brass, boxer-primers and 660 Grain projectiles. 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 useful to get a legalized firearm with licenses. To do this, we have selected several rounds for each cartridge we are comparing. These are extremely large rounds that require heavy weapons as well as other equipment to shoot accurately. The bullet length, shape, and weight all positively contribute to a much higher BC than the 50 Beowulf bullet. The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 1 in 15in (380mm), with eight lands and grooves. As you can imagine, the bigger the game, the more energy you are going to need to cause enough damage for a clean kill. The trajectory is what just about every hunter or competitive shooter of every skill level will be interested in when comparing two different cartridges. To test the power, we see that a .50 BMG cartridge can cross the .9 mark, with a flat projectile motion. 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. In this section, we will take a look at bullet energy and penetration for comparing the 50 BMG vs 338 Lapua Magnum. A 50 caliber bullet is measured to be an inch. You might be asking yourself if the velocities shown here are enough for proper expansion of such a large bullet such as the .50cal. 500 yds. Special Offer: Join our private community and get exclusive gun deals, handpicked gear recommendations and updates on law changes, every day! It answered a lot of my questions. Any thoughts on where I can find an unbiased comparison? The long range (over one mile) between firing position and target allows time for the sniper to avoid enemy retaliation by either changing positions repeatedly, or by safely retreating. What is ballistic coefficient (BC)? Various ammunition is also available to allow firing with lower quality bullets. I doubt too many microbiologists discuss the BCs of ammunition! The .50 Browning Machine Gun (.50 BMG, 12.799mm NATO and designated as the 50 Browning by the C.I.P.

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