50 BMG Ballistics From Common Ammo Manufacturers

By Wes Littlefield

Last Updated: Apr 6, 2026

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Wes Littlefield

Guns have fascinated Wes since pulling the trigger on his BB gun as a kid. He built a private gun range over a decade ago to keep his skills sharp. He loves breaking down complex ideas into understandable pieces for readers, with expertise in hunting and all aspects of shooting.

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Wes Littlefield, "50 BMG Ballistics From Major Ammo Manufacturers"
(https://ammo.com/ballistics/50-bmg-ballistics)

Congrats! You discovered our in-depth look at 50 Browning Machine Gun ballistics from major ammo manufacturers.

Save time by clicking the links below to skip to your favorite ammunition company and find the 50 BMG ballistic data you need for your favorite factory ammo. When you're ready to stock up, browse our full selection of 50 BMG ammo.

50 BMG Ballistics Charts

Jump to an ammo company producing this rifle cartridge: Hornady | PMC | Prvi Partizan

Hornady

Match 750 Grain A-MAX

PMC

Jump to a ballistics chart: Bronze 660 Grain FMJBT | X-TAC Match 740 Grain Solid Brass

Bronze 660 Grain FMJBT

X-TAC Match 740 Grain Solid Brass

Prvi Partizan

Jump to a ballistics chart: Rangemaster 625 Grain FMJ

Rangemaster 625 Grain FMJ

Administrative Note: The information above is provided by ammo manufacturers. Actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from advertised ballistics. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and type. When manufacturers' ballistic data were unavailable, they were calculated using a ballistic calculator.

50 BMG Trajectory Chart

A bullet's trajectory is its flight path. Shooters measure trajectory in inches of bullet drop, milliradians (MIL), or minute of angle (MOA). In this article, we use inches of bullet drop.

A flat trajectory is preferred for long-range (and extreme long-distance) shooting because the shooter requires fewer adjustments to compensate for bullet drop. The 50 BMG offers long-distance shooters a very flat trajectory. When zeroed in at 200 yards, a 750 grain bullet will only drop about -35.6" at 500 yards.

Here is a sample 50 BMG bullet drop chart to give you a general idea of the cartridge's trajectory.

Note: The preceding chart is an example of one 50 BMG load. Actual ballistic performance varies depending on bullet weight, lot, barrel length, and environmental conditions.

50 BMG Velocity

Muzzle velocity is the rate at which a bullet leaves the barrel, measured in feet per second (fps). Typically, a longer barrel produces a higher muzzle velocity, as the extra length gives exploding propellant more time to exert its energy against the base of the projectile.

You can expect 50 BMG muzzle velocity to vary from about 2,727 fps to 2,950 fps, depending on bullet weight and barrel length. The 50 BMG's high muzzle velocities contribute to its flat trajectory and powerful striking energy.

50 BMG Kinetic Energy

Muzzle energy is the amount of force a bullet possesses the moment it leaves the barrel, measured in foot-pounds (ft-lbs). Heavier bullets tend to have higher muzzle energy, but lower velocity.

The 50 BMG is a beast in terms of kinetic energy. For example, a 625 grain 50 BMG bullet leaving the barrel at 2,940 fps gains 11,997 ft-lbs of muzzle energy, and conserves 7,930 ft-lbs at 500 yards. A 750 grain bullet leaving the barrel at 2,815 fps gains 13,196 ft-lbs of muzzle energy, and conserves 9,538 ft-lbs at 500 yards. For instance, a 185 grain 308 Winchester bullet leaving the barrel at 2,600 fps gains 2,777 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. No wonder the 50 BMG is an anti-materiel round!

50 BMG Effective Range

In the hands of a skilled target shooter, the 50 BMG has an effective range of about 2,000 yards. It's much too powerful for hunting, as it was designed for anti-materiel (e.g., light-armored vehicles and equipment) purposes out to 3,300 yards. The projectile can travel over 7,400 yards, which requires extra effort in determining what's beyond the target.

How Do 50 BMG Ballistics Compare to Other Rifle Cartridges?

The 50 BMG offers better ballistics than powerful rifle cartridges such as the 338 Lapua Magnum, 416 Barrett, and 408 CheyTac.

50 BMG vs. 338 Lapua Magnum

Don't miss our 50 BMG vs. 338 Lapua Mag article for an in-depth look at the similarities and differences of these long-range rifle cartridges!

50 BMG vs. 416 Barrett

50 BMG vs. 408 CheyTac

For a deeper dive into how these two extreme long-range cartridges stack up, check out our full 408 CheyTac vs. 50 BMG comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Ammo.com team has compiled and answered some of the most frequently asked questions about 50 BMG ballistics.

How Much Does a 50 BMG Bullet Drop at 1000 Yards?

A 50 BMG bullet will drop about 300" at 1,000 yards when zeroed in at 200 yards (with reasonable give and take depending on atmospheric conditions, barrel length, etc).

How Far Can a 50 BMG Shoot Accurately?

In the hands of a skilled long-distance shooter, a 50 BMG can accurately shoot 2,000+ yards.

What Is the Range of 50 BMG vs. 338 Lapua?

The effective range of a 50 BMG is about 2,000+ yards, vs. 338 Lapua, which is about 1,800 yards.

Written by

Wes Littlefield