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. 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. The less a bullet drops during its flight, the easier it is to make adjustments for longer distance shots. Brands like Smith & Wesson, Magnum Desert Eagle, Magnum Research, Guncrafter Industries, Ruger Super, Safety Harbour, etc create the best pistols for 50 BMG. They do have some pull marks. Were not going to go too specific with the comparisons here. While it is one of the more expensive rounds on our list, you are paying for incredible performance that comes close to matching hand loaded rounds from the experts. 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. So, it is evident that the bullet is dangerous and needs care while in use. Thank you. 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. and the speed of the bullet. They wanted a heavy projectile at 2700 feet per second (f.p.s. It has a large cartridge used in anti-material for longer ranges. Barrel Lengths & Velocities for the 50 BMG. 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. DPMS LR-308 [Review]: The AR, Back to Basics. Can a 50 cal rip your arm off? I want this to be the best ballistic trajectory calculator out there. 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. Some notable companies that produce 50 BMG sniper rifles include Barrett Firearms, Accuracy International, Arms Tech Ltd, Armalite, Bushmaster, Desert Tech, Serbu Firearms, etc. The .338 LM is no slouch when it comes to long range shooting. It will a produce a line graph showing the bullet drop and flight path of the bullet. Find load data for your cartridge. 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. Be aware you may consider some of them unusable. In regards to their BC a spitzer bullet has a high coefficient and is suitable for long-range shots, and the boattail spitzer is even superior making it one of the best bullets for long-range targets exceeding 1,000 yards. It has the velocity, the BC, and the trajectory to make shots of even 1,500 yards. It is a great investment if you want to get into long range shooting and will be especially useful if you handload. 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). We also know that this bullet can enter very tough materials easily. Our 50 BMG ammunition is ready for action. It is made a standard bullet for important army forces. Muzzle 100 yds. What we hope you draw from this is that both of these cartridges have a BC that corresponds with highly streamlined bullets. As we have done in previous sections, we are going to look at our ten selected rounds. 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. [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." [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. [35], In the United States, Washington, D.C. disallows registration of .50 BMG rifles, thus rendering civilian possession unlawful. 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 [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. . Lake City 50 BMG Ballistic Data. Its also not the most expensive .338 LM factory load that is available. [3], In response to the need for new anti-aircraft weaponry during World War I, John Browning developed the .50 BMG. This is because the bullet is very large, so the wound it makes is also large and deep, but still curable. 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. Besides military and police organizations, the .50 BMG has gained popularity in some civilian circles. 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. For hunting, a lot of hunters want expansion to cause a larger wound and more damage. So the damages can be huge, depending on the surface it will hit. Sight Height (in) Must be a number greater than 0. 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 ). The primer type specified for this ammunition is a boxer primer that has a single centralized ignition point (US and NATO countries). I love hunting, so I often have to deal with hunting equipment. Copyright 2023 ShootersCalculator.comALL rights reserved. We will see more drastic differences between our selected rounds, and we cannot comment on the exact variables used for this result. The time for a .50 calibre bullet to travel one mile at a constant speed of 1400feet per second is around four seconds. Weapons such as machine guns, rifles, and regular hand pistols are easily compatible with this bullet. For simply comparing two different cartridges, we are going to omit it for the sake of clarity. Even so, computer generated data is a proven and safe means for comparing two cartridges as we will do here. But it differs from other types of 50 caliber bullet rounds. The trajectory is what just about every hunter or competitive shooter of every skill level will be interested in when comparing two different cartridges. ", "How Will Illinois Law Banning Some Firearms Affect Gun Owners? .50 BMG Ballistics Variables Bullet Weight: 661 grain Ballistic Coefficient: 0.62 (G1) Scope Height: 3 inches Ambient Conditions Temperature: 59 Pressure (absolute): 29.92 inHg Cross Wind (90 or Full Value): 1 mph MODEL 82A1 .50 BMG (29 BARREL) MODEL 82A1CQ .50 BMG (20 BARREL) DOWNLOADS [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. Apart from machine guns, snipers and anti-materiel rifles use this cartridge. This is roughly the same as saying that the projectile in question possesses low drag, although some meaning is lost in the generalization. ?Ballistic Coefficient: 1.070?Sectional Density: 0.412?Special attention should . The two most important variables are the Initial Velocity and the Ballistic Coefficient. So , lets get down to business. It has velocities that compete with the 50 BMG rounds, one of the flattest trajectories when compared to other .338 LM factory loads, and a ballistic coefficient of nearly .8. a 50 caliber bullet weapon is considered violent. Gain a deep knowledge of ballistic science and access our improved ballistic calculator. The 7.62 is the "screw you way over there" round. 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. 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. Get My Cartridge Comparison Handbook! Sign up to receive new product announcements, special offers, and the annual product catalog. 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. The guns that use these bullets were used to target troops to save from enemy guns. However, the strength depends on the sturdiness and power of the rifles used for this bullet. This calculator will produce a ballistic trajectory chart that shows the bullet drop, bullet energy, windage, and velocity. [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. 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. When we look at the graph, it is quite a stark contrast between cartridges. In this section, we will take a look at bullet energy and penetration for comparing the 50 BMG vs 338 Lapua Magnum. In some cases you might be surprised. A 290 grain 50 BMG is a relatively robust round. 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. [citation needed], The .50 BMG round was used as a sniper round as early as the Korean War. There are two to three inches difference between the highest performing 50 BMG round and the highest 338 LM round. This is especially true if that bullet also has a high ballistic coefficient. Similar to snipers, 50 BMG pistols are also made of hard materials to support the powerful cartridge. Usually, a 50 cal round has a diameter of 12.7 mm diameter. Please let me know how it can be improved upon. 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! 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. I VLD was designed from the start to be as efficient as possible, remaining supersonic past 2,150 yards. While these two cartridges might overlap in some shooting applications, we think there are niches where they stand apart as well. This justifies the strength of the snipers and their sturdy build for heavy operation. This comparison is interesting because of how similar the sectional densities are despite the major differences in bullets. Since 50 BMG bullets are powerful, they can enter through a body part with force. 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. Both of these cartridges are going to produce a tremendous amount of recoil. Spitzer. The minimum SD for hunting medium game is .210. There is no doubt that both are designed exclusively for successful performances in the field. For the .338 LM, we recommend the Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond 300gr round. 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. . The biggest issue we have with the 50 BMG is the sheer weight of the rifle. 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. Typically, long range rifle bullets have a ballistic coefficient of 0.5 (G1) or above. They should show closer accuracy between each other however, because the form factor is constant. Teamed with Colt, he produced prototypes ready for testing and, ironically, completed them by Nov. 11, 1918the Great War's end. The.50 BMG is quite legal for buying without the need for a special license or process. Both of these cartridges are capable of accuracy at extreme distances, and both have enormous stopping power. It should already be clear that the difference just from the bullet diameter is quite dramatic. We dont have a single set of data we can look at to determine stopping power. Description: Lake City 50 BMG ammunition consists of Lake City brass, boxer-primers and 660 Grain projectiles. 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 bullet type and powder make the recoil force different between bullets. 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. Usually with the sniper comes some accessories to clean and use effectively. Most .50 BMG rounds are not designed for much expansion. The cartridge itself has been made in many variants: multiple generations of regular ball, tracer, armor-piercing (AP), incendiary, and saboted sub-caliber rounds. When it comes to hunting, there are great options for the .338 LM. With that being said, we wouldnt recommend hunting the majority of game on planet Earth with a 50BMG; it seems pointless with the amount of damage it would cause to perfectly good meat. 50 caliber bullets can easily enter through a thick, concrete, or brick wall, a large tree, or even a person from a long distance. With modern firearms, the majority of centerfire rifle cartridges can be tolerated with regards to the recoil. If the bullet passes through cleanly, remaining relatively intact, not all of the energy is transferred to the target. Pull-out cloth belts were also used at one time, but have been obsolete since 1945. Of course, how much penetration you need is going to depend on the game you are hunting. Coming up on wounded animals, especially if they are predators, can be dangerous and being able to drop them cleanly takes this risk away. Your email address will not be published. We are using computer data that was compiled from the manufacturers websites as well as from trusted ballistic calculators. They are widely used by civilians as well as military forces. The longest recorded kill using a .50 BMG was over 2 miles away. Barrel Length inches 36 Ballistics Coefficient (G1) 0.707 Ballistics Coefficient (G7) 0.350 Sectional Density 0.362. According to the American Rifleman: "Actually, the Browning .50 originated in the Great War. The ballistic coefficient or measure of drag for the .50 BMG is 1.05 which, is higher than any other commercially available around. In addition to the usual tables and graphs of drop, velocity, and windage, Modern Ballistics has these unique features: Sight Angle. 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.

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