Okay let's talk .50 cal. I remember the first time I held one of these beasts - it felt like holding a small missile. The 50 calibre bullet size isn't your everyday ammo, and honestly? That's why most folks get it wrong when they start asking questions. I've seen too many YouTube experts spreading nonsense about dimensions, uses, and ballistics. So let's cut through the noise and get practical.
Breaking Down 50 Calibre Bullet Dimensions
When people say "50 cal", they're usually talking about .50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun). But here's where it gets messy - not all 50 calibre bullet sizes are identical. I've measured dozens of rounds at my bench, and the variations matter more than you'd think.
Actual Physical Measurements
| Bullet Type | Diameter (inches) | Length (inches) | Weight (grains) |
|---|---|---|---|
| .50 BMG (standard) | 0.510" | 5.45" | 647-750 |
| .50 Beowulf | 0.500" | 2.25" | 300-400 |
| .500 S&W Magnum | 0.500" | 2.25" | 275-500 |
| 12.7x108mm (Russian) | 0.511" | 5.65" | 750-800 |
Notice how the Russian 12.7mm is actually wider than American .50 BMG? That 0.001" might seem trivial until you try forcing it into a chamber. I learned that the hard way during a desert shooting trip - spent 20 minutes with a cleaning rod extracting a stuck round.
The weight difference is crazy too. Standard .308 rounds? About 150 grains. Your basic 50 calibre bullet size? Five times heavier. That weight is why you feel like you've been kicked by a mule when you pull the trigger.
Why Diameter Doesn't Tell the Whole Story
Looking at a .500 S&W next to a .50 BMG is like comparing a golf ball to a softball. Both technically "50 cal" but completely different animals. The BMG's colossal powder charge creates pressures over 55,000 PSI - three times what your Glock generates. That's why specialty rifles like the Barrett cost more than used cars.
Practical Uses Beyond Hollywood Hype
Movies make it seem like everyone's running around with .50 cals. Reality check? Most shooters shouldn't touch these without serious training. I watched a 140-pound guy try firing my Barrett M82 - the scope kissed his eyebrow so hard he needed stitches. These aren't range toys.
Actual Applications Where 50 Calibre Bullet Size Makes Sense:
- Long Range Precision: Hitting targets beyond 1,500 yards (the sweet spot where .338 Lapua starts struggling)
- Anti-Materiel: Military use against light vehicles and equipment (engine blocks at 800 yards? Done.)
- Extreme Hunting: Taking dangerous game at distance (though I'd argue it's overkill for anything smaller than moose)
- Barrier Penetration: Testing body armor or shooting through walls (not recommending this, just stating facts)
Personal opinion time: Using 50 cal for home defense is idiotic. The round will penetrate every wall in your house and probably your neighbor's too. Stick to 5.56 if you want practical defense.
Firearms That Handle the Big Stuff
You can't just slap a 50 calibre bullet size into any old rifle. These rounds demand purpose-built platforms. After testing seven different .50 cal platforms, here's the real-world breakdown:
| Rifle Model | Weight (empty) | Avg Price | Recoil Experience | My Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrett M82/M107 | 28-31 lbs | $9,000+ | Controlled shove (recoil system works) | ★★★★☆ |
| Serbu BFG-50 | 22 lbs | $3,500 | Brutal shoulder punch (no muzzle brake) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Desert Tech HTI | 24 lbs | $8,000 | Manageable (bullpup design helps) | ★★★★★ |
| Armalite AR-50 | 34 lbs | $3,200 | Heavy but linear (simple design) | ★★★☆☆ |
The Barrett's worth every penny if you shoot often. That recoil system saves your teeth. The Serbu? Felt like getting tackled each shot - sold mine after two range trips. And spare me the bolt-action conversions; most can't handle sustained fire without shaking apart.
Ammo Costs That Hurt Your Wallet
Here's where 50 calibre bullet size becomes painful. Current prices make my eyes water:
- FMJ Practice Rounds: $4-8 per round (if you find deals)
- Match Grade: $12-18 per round (Hornady A-MAX, Berger)
- Armor Piercing: $25-40 per round (when available)
- Reloading Components: $2 per primer alone during shortages
My first time shooting .50 BMG cost me $300 in ammo for 20 minutes. You read that right. Reloading helps, but good luck finding powder. Last year I drove six hours to grab two pounds of H50BMG - only powder that consistently works.
Critical Legal Considerations
This might bore you but listen up: laws around 50 calibre bullet size vary wildly. In California, .50 BMG rifles are banned by name. Maryland restricts sales. Illinois requires special registration. Forget about shooting these in most indoor ranges too - they'll throw you out before you unzip your case.
Personal rant: The ATF's "destructive device" classification makes zero sense. My Serbu requires a tax stamp while identical bolt-actions don't? Bureaucratic nonsense.
FAQs: Real Questions from Shooters Like You
Can I convert my AR-15 to shoot .50 cal?
Technically yes with a .50 Beowulf upper. Practical? Not really. The ballistic performance is closer to .30-30 than true .50 BMG. Kicks harder than a mule too.
How far can a 50 cal bullet travel?
Way too far. Military testing shows 5+ miles maximum range. That's why responsible long-range shooting requires minimum 1,500-yard backstops. A buddy lost his range membership for skipping this rule.
Will .50 cal penetrate body armor?
Level III stops most rifles rounds but shatters against .50 BMG. Level IV might stop one shot if you're lucky. Anything less? Forget it. Saw a Level III plate get center-punched - looked like a grenade went off.
Is recoil really that bad?
Worse. Even with brakes, we're talking 80+ ft-lbs of recoil energy (a .308 has about 15). My first shot bruised my collar bone through padding. Take a professional course before trying.
Handloading: Saving Money or Headaches?
Reloading 50 calibre bullet size rounds isn't for beginners. Case preparation alone takes hours: annealing, trimming, uniforming primer pockets. Forget standard presses too - you'll need a reinforced single-stage like the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme.
My Reloading Process (Per Round):
- Inspect brass for stretch marks (common with surplus)
- Anneal neck/shoulder every 3 firings (torch required)
- Trim to 3.91" (cases grow significantly)
- Prime with #35 primers ONLY (standard large rifle won't ignite full charges)
- Measure powder charges within 0.1 grain tolerance (double-check!)
- Seat bullets with concentricity gauge (0.005" max runout)
Takes me 15 minutes per round. Mess up the powder charge? Kaboom territory. I've seen two blown-up rifles from reloading errors - both with .50 BMG. Not worth rushing.
Beyond BMG: Specialty Projectiles
Standard ball ammo is boring. The wild stuff shows what 50 calibre bullet size can really do:
| Projectile Type | Special Features | Real-World Performance | Cost Per Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raufoss Mk211 | Incendiary/explosive tip | Will ignite fuel & punch through light armor | $200+ (if available) |
| SLAP-T | Tungsten penetrator | 2" steel penetration at 500 yards | $85-120 |
| Hornady A-MAX | Match polymer tip | Sub-MOA at 1,000 yards consistently | $15-25 |
That Raufoss round? Insane performance but near-impossible to find legally. The SLAP rounds chew through barrels too - not worth it unless you're made of money. Stick with quality match bullets for best results.
Storing and Transporting Safely
People underestimate how much space .50 cal ammo consumes. Standard military cans hold 96 rounds max. At 5.5" long, they don't fit in regular safes either. My solution? Modified .50 cal ammo cans stacked in climate-controlled storage.
Bigger issue: moisture. These large cases develop condensation easily. I ruined $700 worth of ammo before learning to drop desiccant packs in every container. Now I replace them every 60 days religiously.
Why I Won't Buy Surplus Ammo Anymore
Got excited about "cheap" $2 per round surplus years back. Bad move. The corrosive primers destroyed two barrels before I identified the problem. Cleaning .50 cal rifles takes forever - imagine scrubbing 29 inches of rifling after every range session. Now I only shoot non-corrosive commercial ammo. Lesson learned.
Final thought: The 50 calibre bullet size represents ultimate power - but demands ultimate responsibility. The recoil, cost, and legal headaches aren't for casual shooters. But when you need to reach out and touch something at two kilometers? Nothing else compares.
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