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Match .50 Projectiles: A Study in Accuracy

 

When we last left off, we were talking about loading and testing the various .50 caliber match projectiles available on the market today.  The manufacturers below have graciously supplied me with new projectiles and valuable loading data for each. 

 

Many of the companies that manufacture these items are world class .50 caliber shooters, so we can see how they perform based off their competition results.  But the purpose of this article is to put them together and see how they stack up. 

 

I’m working with projectiles manufactured by TennX, Lehigh, Hornaday, Bore-Tech, and Barnes.  Each of these companies has a great reputation for quality and consistency.  The consistency is the one thing that we’re striving for in this test:

 

Tenn-X 795 Grain Solid: BC of 1.090

 

Lehigh 510-130 784 Solid: BC of 1.124

 

Barnes 750 Grain Solid: BC of 1.070

Hornaday Amax .50 BMG 750 Grain: BC of 1.050

Bore-Tech M33 Ball 650 Grain Solids: BC of .670

 

I decided to include the M33 Ball Solid Projectiles from Bore-Tech in this test because of the penetration that solid projectiles give.  They’re not Match Projectiles, but a more refined solid M33 Ball design.  With these projectiles, I’m focusing mainly on military and law enforcement snipers who utilize the M82A1/M107 Barrett .50 Cal.  One of the main problems with trying to “accurize” an M82A1/M107 semi-automatic .50 caliber rifle with the ammo is the chamber dimensions and magazine.  Most of the projectiles are too long for the magazines.  Solid Projectiles, when seated in the cases, are not as stable as Ball and other military .50 BMG ammunition.  The concentricity (or projectile’s center within the case) can and will most likely be thrown off as the cartridge is loaded from the magazine to the chamber.  

Also the chamber dimensions are designed for field use, as it was originally designed for the military.  Generally speaking, the chamber is larger to accommodate the military .50 BMG rounds and the varying case lengths that sometimes come with them.  It is also designed to be able to handle the field conditions and cycle with as little maintenance malfunctions as possible.  So they’re generous.  I am interested to see how much more accurate these solid M33 Projectiles are and what their penetration is compared to M2 AP rounds. 

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Lehigh 510-130

TenX 795 Gr. Solid

Bore Tech M33 Ball Solids

Barnes 750 Banded Solids

Not Pictured:  Hornaday 750 Gr. AMAX