50 BMG bullet - Would you shoot it?

[MFG_BOP]

Hey guys, need a hand here. Would you shoot this .50 cal bullet? It’s 0.511" in diameter. I know I could run it through a sizer, but that’s another step I don’t want to bother with. I want the bullets to be match grade (yeah… I made this one from tube just for testing the die — this one definitely isn’t match). Do you think it’s safe in a match barrel?

The problem is, I’ve got a carbide point-up die that I lapped a bit too far, since I’m still learning the craft. You wouldn’t believe how quickly you can open up a carbide insert hole with the right (or almost right) tools. I will still add the alum tip similar to A-Max. 9mm swaged bullet for comparison beside it.

Cheers,
MFG

50_cal_Bullet.jpg

[Winger Ed.]

I want the bullets to be match grade

If that was easy, everybody would be doing it.

If you want match grade, you'll probably need for them to all be within proper specs, consistent weights,
and aerodynamic.

[MFG_BOP]

Thanks, Winger. I think people believe it’s hard just because they don’t try. I didn’t have anyone to teach me — just the will to do it.

Let’s say all of them come out of the die at .511", same weight, same everything. Question is: would you shoot a .50 cal bullet that’s 0.001" oversized?

[Winger Ed.]

would you shoot a .50 cal bullet that’s 0.001" oversized?

Sure. Especially if the jacket is on the thin side and you're using a Lead core instead of steel.
But I'd carefully work up to a full house load with it keeping a eye out for pressure signs.

Back in my Serbu BFG 50 and State Arms Big Bertha days, both with Lothar match barrels, I never measured
the hundreds of GI bullet pulls I got from Mr. Bartlett or even the Hornady AMAXs I shot in them.

I never was a super long range guy, or tried to make a .50BMG into a 20mm.
For accuracy in my rifles, right around 80-90& of max. loads did real well for me at 2-300 yards.

[William Yanda]

Sure. Especially if the jacket is on the thin side and you're using a Lead core instead of steel.
But I'd carefully work up to a full house load with it keeping a eye out for pressure signs.

Back in my Serbu BFG 50 and State Arms Big Bertha days, both with Lothar match barrels, I never measured
the hundreds of GI bullet pulls I got from Mr. Bartlett or even the Hornady AMAXs I shot in them.

I never was a super long range guy, or tried to make a .50BMG into a 20mm.
For accuracy in my rifles, right around 80-90& of max. loads did real well for me at 2-300 yards.

Should I read that 200-300 yards?

[Winger Ed.]

Should I read that 200-300 yards?

Right.

My old range was set up to go out 300 yards. But the older I get, the less walking out that far I wanted to do.
So I did most of my shooting at 200, then go on out to 300 if I felt energetic that day.

Back then, I was tempted to get a mold for a 750 grain cast Lead, but at the time GI bullet pulls
were cheap enough that it wasn't really practical and worth the effort or expense of the mold.

[BT Sniper]

Let’s say all of them come out of the die at .511", same weight, same everything. Question is: would you shoot a .50 cal bullet that’s 0.001" oversized?

Obviously you will have to use standard reloading precautions and work up your loads accordioning.

In regard to shooting a .511" diameter bullet in 50 BMG...... I know I have done it safely. My personal 50 BMG bullets are all .511" in diameter, not by choice just because that is how my personal die turned out. They have shot great. For me personally with my guns.... I have had no problem shooting .511" bullets in my 50 BMGs. Of course your experience may differ but I suspect they will shoot very well.

The biggest concern I see with shooting bullets .001 oversized is not the bullet to bore size...... the main concern i think is if you had a very tight tolerance in the neck of the chamber. An oversized bullet in a tight neck chamber would be more concern if the larger diameter neck of the loaded case did not provide enough clearance to the neck of the chamber.

Some threads of the 50 BMG success I had. Your bullets look very similar. Nice work and swage on!

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...50-BMG-Success!

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...253391-50-bmg-!!!!

BT

[MFG_BOP]

Hey Brian, thanks for your comment, man — much appreciated.
I’ve never shot anything beyond what’s usually spec’d by the industry, and since this is a .50 cal, I was a bit worried it might cause overpressure issues.
Yeah, you’re right — if your gun’s got a tight throat, it could jam in there.

By the way, have you ever tried working with carbide?

Cheers,
MFG

[rolltide999]

Thanks, Winger. I think people believe it’s hard just because they don’t try. I didn’t have anyone to teach me — just the will to do it.

Let’s say all of them come out of the die at .511", same weight, same everything. Question is: would you shoot a .50 cal bullet that’s 0.001" oversized?

Nope. If they are .001 over, they are not match grade for the 50bmg and I would not shoot them until I resized them. Resizing could induce slight eccentricity, although reducing only .001, I doubt it would have any real effect. I would not waste time developing loads that could be over pressure i.e under velocity for bullet weight at best, and possibly dangerous. Why fool with all that when you can resize a thousand bullets in an hour? It is just not worth the bother or the risk to me to shoot oversized bullets trying to achieve match grade results. YMMV.