.50 BMG
The .50 BMG (.50 Browning Machine Gun), also known as 12.7×99mm NATO, and designated as the 50 Browning by the C.I.P., is a .50 in (12.7 mm) caliber cartridge developed for the M2 Browning heavy machine gun in the late 1910s, entering official service in 1921. Under STANAG 4383, it is a standard service cartridge for NATO forces, as well as many non-NATO countries. The cartridge itself has been made in many variants: multiple generations of regular ball, tracer, armor-piercing (AP), incendiary, and saboted sub-caliber rounds. The rounds intended for machine guns are made into a continuous ammunition belt using metallic links.
| .50 BMG | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Type | Anti-materiel rifle, heavy machine gun | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of origin | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In service | 1921–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Used by | NATO and many other countries | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War Cambodian Civil War Falklands War Persian Gulf War The Troubles Global War on Terrorism Iraq War War in Afghanistan Mexican drug war Syrian Civil War Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017) Yemeni Civil War (2015–present) Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen Saudi–Yemeni border conflict (2015–present) Sri Lankan Civil War 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Production history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Designer | Winchester Repeating Arms Co. and Frankford Arsenal | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent case | .30-06 Springfield | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Case type | Rimless, bottleneck | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bullet diameter | .510 in (13.0 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Land diameter | .498 in (12.6 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Neck diameter | .560 in (14.2 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shoulder diameter | .735 in (18.7 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Base diameter | .804 in (20.4 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rim diameter | .804 in (20.4 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rim thickness | .083 in (2.1 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Case length | 3.91 in (99 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall length | 5.45 in (138 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Case capacity | 292.8 gr H2O (18.97 cm3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primer type | #35 Arsenal Primer | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum pressure (TM43-0001-27) | 54,923 psi (378.68 MPa) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum pressure (EPVAT) | 60,481 psi (417.00 MPa) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum pressure (C.I.P.) | 53,664 psi (370.00 MPa) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Test barrel length: 45 in (1,100 mm) Source(s): Ammoguide.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The .50 BMG cartridge is also used in anti-materiel rifles. A wide variety of ammunition is available, and the availability of match grade ammunition has increased the usefulness of .50 caliber rifles by allowing more accurate fire than lower quality rounds.