What twist rate does .50 BMG use?

.50 BMG typically uses a 1:15 twist rate.

What bullet diameter is .50 BMG?

.50 BMG uses a 0.511″ (12.98 mm) diameter bullet.

Is .50 BMG still in production?

.50 BMG is active; typical availability is common.

What is .50 BMG used for?

.50 BMG is primarily used for military, target.

What are the best powders for .50 BMG?

Reloading powders commonly listed for .50 BMG include Accurate 3100, Reloader 33, N105, H50BMG, among 5 suitable options.

Rifle · NATO

.50 BMG

.50 Browning12.7x99mm12.7x99mm NATO

Heavy machine gun and anti-materiel cartridge.

Caliber: 0.511″ · 12.98 mm
Introduced: 1921
Case: Rimless
Primary use: Military, Target
Status: Active

Velocity2,800–3,000 fps

Energy12,000–14,000 ft·lb

Typical grains647 · 650 · 750 gr

Identity

Introduced: 1921
Type: Rifle
Origin: United States
Inventor: John Moses Browning
Manufacturer: Winchester
Standard: NATO
Status: Active
Availability: Common

Build

Case capacity: 295 gr H₂O
Twist (typical): 1:15
Primer: .50 BMG primer
Case type: Rimless

Pressure & range

Max pressure: 55,000 psi
Eff. range: 2000 yd
Max range: 7400 yd
Recoil: 100–200 ft·lb

Ballistics

Real trajectory computed from a representative load — Hornady ELD-M Match 750gr 750 gr, 2,820 fps, BC 0.530 G7 · 100 yd zero.

Compare tooverlay up to 2

Range	Velocity	Energy	Drop (in)	Drop (MOA)
0 yd	2820	13237	-1.5″	—
100 yd	2733	12439	0.0″	0.0
200 yd	2648	11677	-3.2″	-1.5
300 yd	2564	10950	-11.3″	-3.6
400 yd	2482	10257	-24.7″	-5.9
500 yd	2401	9600	-43.7″	-8.3
600 yd	2321	8973	-68.8″	-11.0
700 yd	2243	8380	-100.4″	-13.7
800 yd	2167	7818	-138.8″	-16.6

Point-mass G7/G1 drag model, standard atmosphere — within ~2% of reference solvers to 1000 yd; real barrels and conditions vary. Open in Ballistic Compare →

Performance

Best for HuntingBarnes TSX BT647 gr · TSX BT · 3,000 fpsBuy now →

Best for TargetHornady ELD-M Match 750gr750 gr · ELD-M · 2,820 fps · BC 0.530 G7Buy now →

Buy links open .50 BMG ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.

Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds

Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.

CIP TDCC · verified

Measure	mm	in	✓
Bullet ⌀	12.98	0.511	✓
Neck ⌀	14.22	0.560	✓
Shoulder ⌀	18.14	0.714	✓
Shoulder angle	15.7°	—	✓
Base ⌀	20.42	0.804	✓
Rim ⌀	20.42	0.804	✓
Belt ⌀	n/a
Rim thickness	2.26	0.089	✓
Neck length	16.01	0.630	≈
Case length	99.31	3.910	✓
Overall length	138.43	5.450	✓

Size vs familiar rounds

Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .50 BMG is highlighted below.

Factory loads

In production — 280 active loads across 43 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 281 →.

Brand	Load	Grain	Bullet	FPS	ft·lb	BC
Hornady	ELD-M Match 750gr	750	ELD-M	2,820	13,241	0.530 G7
Hornady	AMAX	750	ELD-M	2,820	13,241	0.530 G7
Hornady	ELD Match	750	ELD-M	2,820	13,241	0.530 G7
Lapua	B408 OTM	422	OTM	3,120	9,120	—
Federal	American Eagle FMJ-BT Training	660	FMJ-BT	3,080	13,900	—
PPU	FMJ	660	FMJ	3,080	13,900	—
Barnes	TSX BT	647	TSX BT	3,000	12,927	—
Lapua	B408 FMJBT 420gr	420	FMJBT	3,000	8,392	—
Remington	FMJ	660	FMJ	2,910	12,408	—
Lake City Army Ammunition Plant	M8 API 647gr	647	API	2,910	12,163	—
Lake City Army Ammunition Plant	M20 APIT 619gr	619	APIT	2,910	11,637	—
Lake City Army Ammunition Plant	M17 Tracer 619gr	619	Tracer	2,910	11,637	—
Lake City	M33 Ball	660	FMJ	2,910	12,408	—
Lake City	API	660	AP-I	2,910	12,408	—
Norma	FMJ	660	FMJ	2,910	12,408	—

Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.

Suitable powders

5 reloading powders listed for .50 BMG, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →

Accurate 3100 Reloader 33 N105 H50BMG Reloader 50

Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory

Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.

Powder $/lbCharge (gr)Bullet $/eaPrimer $/eaBrass reusesBrass $/ea

Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.

Firearms chambered in .50 BMG

12 models in the database chamber .50 BMG. Browse all →

Cadex CDX-50 Tremor .50 BMG 29-inchMcMillan Firearms TAC-50A1-R2 .50 BMG 29-inchSerbu Firearms RN-50Cadex Defence CDX-50 TremorCadex Defence CDX-50 TREMOR .50 BMGBarrett Firearms M107A1 CQ .50 BMG 20-inchDesert Tech SRS-A2 .308 WinDesert Tech HTI .375 CheyTacBarrett M107A1 .50 BMG 20-inchBarrett M107A1 .50 BMG 29-inchBarrett M107A1 .416 BarrettSerbu Firearms BFG-50A .50 BMG 26-inch

Lineage

Immediate parent

Root — no documented parent

Direct descendants (2)

.416 Barrett .510 DTC EUROP

Family TreeOpen .50 BMG in the interactive cartridge family tree↗

Connected reference

Loads281 factory loads for .50 BMG↗Reloading5 suitable powders — cross-reference↗FirearmsFirearms in .50 BMG↗ToolCompare ballistics↗

History

Designed by John Browning in 1918 to defeat armored vehicles and aircraft. Officially adopted by the US military in 1921 as the primary heavy machine gun round. Over 100 years later, it remains the standard heavy MG cartridge worldwide. Also used in the Barrett M82/M107 sniper rifle for extreme long-range precision and anti-materiel roles.

FAQs

What twist rate does .50 BMG use?: .50 BMG typically uses a 1:15 twist rate.
What bullet diameter is .50 BMG?: .50 BMG uses a 0.511″ (12.98 mm) diameter bullet.
Is .50 BMG still in production?: .50 BMG is active; typical availability is common.
What is .50 BMG used for?: .50 BMG is primarily used for military, target.
What are the best powders for .50 BMG?: Reloading powders commonly listed for .50 BMG include Accurate 3100, Reloader 33, N105, H50BMG, among 5 suitable options.

Sources & provenance

Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 280 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →