Hunting with a 50 BMG?

[375rifleman]

Hello everyone, I have heard of people hunting with a 50 BMG. Wouldn't the hydrostatic shock completely ruin any edible meat on whatever game animal that is shot with a 50 BMG especially at closer ranges and therefore be an extremely example of want and waste ? Thanks in advance for any and all thoughts, opinions, or answers.

375rifleman

 

[Deleted member 46119]

Good question.

It depends on what projectile and remaining velocity and energy at impact.

Limited/controlled expansion should leave meat alone.

No expansion has the same problem as hard cast bullets from say a 45-70 or any of the "big bore" calibers.

It's all going to be in the setup. Chambering, velicity, bullet, range.

I shoot a 50 DTC/Euro but I don't hunt with it. I am working on, as in some day I will finish it, a 50 cal based on a shortened 300 RUM case.

 

[375rifleman]

I would just be worried about using one inside of 500 yards with 750gr Hornaday A-max's if I was actually considering hunting with it velocity is still going to be up there or probably over 2500fps.

375rifleman

 

[netman]

A friend of mine used a Barrett 50 to kill a coastal brown bear in Alaska. His guide said he had never seen a more effective gun.

 

[375rifleman]

Yeah I can imagine as ballistically the 50 BMG is pretty much unmatched as far as performance. But I've heard and read of people using the 50 BMG for much smaller game such as whitetails. At least for coastal brown bear, grizzlies, cape buffalo, or other large game there actually is a need for increased performance, but whitetails can be taken down with a well placed shot from a 223. Just saying.

375rifleman

 

[HARPERC]

......A friend of mine used a Barrett 50 to kill a coastal brown bear in Alaska. His guide said he had never seen a more effective gun......

Like jfseaman indicated, the interesting part is in the particulars, bullet and terminal velocity being the 2 big ones, placement, attitude of the animal, and a little overview of the situation.

 

[HARPERC]

......Yeah I can imagine as ballistically the 50 BMG is pretty much unmatched as far as performance. But I've heard and read of people using the 50 BMG for much smaller game such as whitetails. At least for coastal brown bear, grizzlies, cape buffalo, or other large game there actually is a need for increased performance, but whitetails can be taken down with a well placed shot from a 223. Just saying........375rifleman

Again the the variables come into play, but many of the kills you're speaking of were out past conventional ranges. Especially in the earlier days of LRH. My recollection is the Idaho 16 lb limit was an effort to regulate the big .50's out of the field, and curtail LRH in general.

 

[J E Custom]

Oddly enough, The bigger bullets normally do less damage to game because if the jacket thickness, (Jackets are normally thicker because of intended use and stress from barrel engraving. They are normally built for tough skinned animals and Trucks and armored personal carriers and when used on North American game they don't meet with much resistance and pass through without transferring all of there energy to the game.

I have tried my 416 on deer and It was amazing how much energy was transferred and how little meat damage it did. (There was practically no shock damage like there is with high velocity cartridges). and when it struck the shoulder blade, it punched a neat hole through it and all of the meat was edible.

The only downside that I can see is that many states don't allow its use for hunting. and many also have a weight limit for rifles that eliminates the big 50.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Deleted member 46119]

I would just be worried about using one inside of 500 yards with 750gr Hornaday

Know your backstop.

 

[imyourhuckleberry]

I do not think hydrostatic shock will be a problem. I believe the problem will be for the bullet not expanding. There will not be enough energy transfer upon impact to damage that much meat.

 

[yobuck]

I do not think hydrostatic shock will be a problem. I believe the problem will be for the bullet not expanding. There will not be enough energy transfer upon impact to damage that much meat.

Actually, the problem is the same as with any other cartridge, that being hitting the target.
First find the wabbit, (then hit the wabbit.) lol
Mark King has been keeping busy building improved 50s for a few years now. I have several friends who have them, reason being the old gun just couldn't get out there far enough.
Well guess what?

 

[Bravo 4]

JE is right for the most part about the larger calibers having tougher bullets that don't expand as easily. jf is right about penetration, even with the 750 Amax. I have put one through a block of wood over a foot thick @ subsonic velocity. However, I have seen first hand (on many occasions) what even ball ammo (fmj) in a .50 will do to a soft target and I can tell you that it will put the hurt on anything it hits!
That Amax has a very impressive BC by the way. I have a buddy that loads the Amax in a .50 Allen Mag, don't know if he's shot an animal with it but has some ridiculous ballistics.

 

[CA48]

It Would be interesting to see how these bullets performed. The Lehigh is meant for sub sonic use.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/6...in-hollow-point-boat-tail-lead-free-box-of-20

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/8...n-controlled-fracturing-solid-brass-box-of-20

 

[Bravo 4]

I have used that Lehigh bullet on several deer and hogs (at subsonic velocity). They are very nasty?