In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Options

50BMG

Horse Plains DrifterHorse Plains Drifter Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 39,389 ***** Forums Admin
edited February 2008 in Ask the Experts
I was looking at ballistics on the 50BMG round. On the Barrett site they say their ammo is 11098 ft. lb. muzzle energy.

Somebody on the Barrett forum said 12600 ft. lb muzzle energy.

Over on our GD forum somebody said 16000 ft. lb. muzzle energy.

Can any of you experts pin that down any closer?
Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • Options
    heavyironheavyiron Member Posts: 1,421 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hi,

    It could be all three muzzle energies are correct depending upon the load in question.

    Muzzle energy depends upon the following formula:

    0.5MV^2

    Where:

    M=Mass of bullet (grains) This isn't weight by the way.
    V^2 = Velocity of the bullet squared

    Therefore, depending upon the particular mass and velocity of the bullet all three muzzle energies could be correct. To know for sure you have to know the details of the load which would be the weight of the bullet and the velocity.

    With these two factors the muzzle energy can be calculated.

    Hope this helps.

    Heavyiron
  • Options
    nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    MT357,

    Not everyone considers all of the variables but they look instead for the largest amount of energy or velocity. Besides the velocity and mass, the barrel length can have an impact on the velocity. There are some newer bullets that will show increases over these figures except that they are highly specialized and very expensive even when compared to today's prices.

    Ballistic performance

    Bullet weight/type Velocity Energy

    647 gr (41.9 g) Speer 3,044 ft/s (928 m/s) 13,144 ft?lbf (17,821 J)

    655 gr (42.4 g) ADI 3,029 ft/s (923 m/s) 13,350 ft?lbf (18,100 J)

    700 gr (45 g) Barnes 2,978 ft/s (908 m/s) 13,971 ft?lbf (18,942 J)

    750 gr (49 g) Lapua 2,618 ft/s (798 m/s) 11,419 ft?lbf (15,482J)

    800 gr (52 g) Barnes 2,895 ft/s (882 m/s) 14,895 ft?lbf (20,195 J)

    Best.
  • Options
    MooseyardMooseyard Member Posts: 2,541 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by MT357
    I was looking at ballistics on the 50BMG round. On the Barrett site they say their ammo is 11098 ft. lb. muzzle energy.

    Somebody on the Barrett forum said 12600 ft. lb muzzle energy.

    Over on our GD forum somebody said 16000 ft. lb. muzzle energy.

    Can any of you experts pin that down any closer?
    Thanks in advance.



    I can guarantee you that what ever you hit isn't going to notice the difference between 11098 and 12600 or even 16000 for that matter.[:D]
  • Options
    v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    What barrel lengths are we talking about?
  • Options
    dtknowlesdtknowles Member Posts: 810 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    In the .50 cal. muzzle energy is irrelevant it is retained energy that is important. I think retained energy at 1000 yards would be the proper value to compare.

    Tim
Sign In or Register to comment.