My mind automatically goes to the Barrett shoulder-fired rifle when conversations turn to the .50 BMG caliber
. The appropriately named .50 BMG
was developed back in the early 1900s for the .50 caliber Browning Machine Gun, hence the designation of BMG. It is not a new round by any means, as it has been around for 100 years. Mostly used by the military, there are however variants of the .50 BMG
that have been approved for civilian use. Why would any civilian want such a round? Well, it goes far and it makes big holes! In the civilian world .50 BMG
rounds are generally used by long-range marksmen. There are even .50 BMG Shooting Clubs specifically for this caliber and the folks who love to shoot this round. I am not going to bore you with the history of the round, other than to simply tell you that it has been proven in action on many occasions to be one of the best war rounds. I do, however, want to give you some examples of its incredible capabilities.

PMC Bronze .50 BMG 660gr FMJ Boat Tail Ammunition

MILITARY USE

Just like civilian ammo, the .50BMG has colored tips that define each variant of the .50BMG. Unlike civilian color-coding, the Military has a standardized color code. The colored tips are very specific to the features of each specific round. Aluminum Tipped - .50 BMG caliber M8 armor-piercing round. This cartridge has incendiary compositions. It is used in M2, M3, and M85 machine guns against armored personnel vehicles. Green Tipped - .50 caliber MK211 is also an armor-piercing round. This round can be used in Barrett SASR's, M82 rifles, and M2's, M3's, and M85 machine guns. This variant will penetrate hard or bullet-resistant targets. It can also be used against armored personnel vehicles. Red Tipped - .50 caliber M20 API-T causes a massive amount of damage upon impact due to its hardened steel core. Brown Tipped - .50 caliber M17 produces a red trace and is mostly used against unarmored targets. This round is for use in M2, M3, and M85 machine guns. Plain Tip - The .50 caliber M33 Ball has a soft steel core bullet therefore it is mainly used for target practice in M2, M3, and M85 machine guns. There are many, many other colored tipped variants used by the military. Other designations of the round include different armor-piercing, penetration, tracer, and incendiary capabilities. The.50 BMG is a hard-hitting round trusted by the U.S Military and 30 countries around the world.

Magazine Of A Barrett M82A1 .50 BMG

 

BONAFIDE EXAMPLES

  • The .50 MBG allows the military to detonate unexploded ordnance from a safe distance.
  • The United States Coast Guard uses a .50 caliber rifle from a helicopter to disable boats outboard engines during official interdictions.
  • Some Law Enforcement agencies are now using .50 BMG caliber to penetrate brick and concrete walls as a way to breach barriers.
  • .50 BMG rounds can also effectively disable vehicle engine blocks.


Hornady Match .50BMG 750gr A-MAX Ammunition

PRACTICAL USES

All of these capabilities that the .50 BMG caliber offers to military and law enforcement are amazing and incredible. So, you might be wondering if there is a reasonable practical use in the civilian market. Although some would say, no, not really, there actually is. The .50 BMG has excellent ballistics and is perfect for long-range marksmanship. The Barrett M82
and M99
are .50 BMG rifles used by civilians to reach targets over 1,000 yards and up to 1,500 yards . Some ranges will not allow .50 BMG due to its energy. They must have adequate range, berms, or backstops that can contain the bullet within range limits. .50 BMG is the darling of the dance among shooting sports that include long-range marksmanship events. It is not for everyone, but for those who love sports shooting in the long-range events, this is right up your alley! It is pretty difficult to achieve marksman at this level, but the difficulty makes it all incredibly satisfying once achieved.  

The Barrett M82A1 Chambered in .50 BMG is the most fun you'll have shooting



Just ask Clint

FINAL THOUGHTS

We have a great variety of rifles and ammo to choose from, and competitive pricing to get you on your way to achieving that marksmanship designation that will set you apart and in an elite classification. Don't forget that we have a financing option available. Check out that link on our homepage and Happy Shooting! Shop All .50 BMG Ammunition
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