50 BMG

Robert M Boren Sr · December 6, 2009, 09:02 PM

I recently acquired some 822 and 639 gr military pulled bullets and need load info for them. Can someone point me in the right direction please thanks.

IllinoisCoyoteHunter · December 6, 2009, 10:12 PM

Off Hodgdon's website:

650 GR. M-33 Hodgdon US 869 .510" 5.425" 265.0 3155
655 GR. ADI FMJ Hodgdon H50BMG .510" 5.450" 248.0 3029
750 GR. HDY A-MAX Hodgdon US 869 .510" 5.450" 250.0 2944
750 GR. HDY A-MAX Hodgdon H50BMG .510" 5.450" 233.0 2800
800 GR. BAR SOLID Hodgdon US 869 .510" 5.630" 250.0 2895
800 GR. BAR SOLID Hodgdon H50BMG .510" 5.630" 225.0 2725

Robert M Boren Sr · December 6, 2009, 10:25 PM

But what would you use for starting loads? 800 too light and 650 is to heavy.

IllinoisCoyoteHunter · December 6, 2009, 10:31 PM

depending on the powder, it would be best to call the powder manufacturer. Generally...I repeat generally, it is ok to use slightly heavier bullet load data for lighter bullets....but the opposite is not safe. With these slow powders I would be extremely cautious. Your best bet would be to make some phone calls. I would not be afraid to use the 650 grain load data for the 639 grn bullet. But that larger bullet........well, I don't know....

rg1 · December 6, 2009, 11:46 PM

You didn't say specifically which pulled military pulled bullets you have. If the bullet you say weighs 822 grains is the yellow-red tipped M48 Spotter-Tracer bullet normally 833 grains then it is not designed to be loaded to 50BMG velocity or pressure. It was designed for much lower velocity and pressure and HAS to be down-loaded in the 50 BMG to no more than 1800 fps and with a reduced powder charge. Normal load data for them is for 170 to a maximum of 180 grains of a powder such as IMR 5010.
Normal start charges for powders for 5010,870,860,872 military type powders are 647-650 grain bullets--start at 210 grains
----------- 700 grain bullets------start at 205 grains
------------750 grain bullets------start at 200 grain
------------800 grain bullets------start at 195 grains (NOT for the yellow-red tipped M48 Spotter Tracer bullet)
Really need to know what exact pulled bullets you have, what powder you intend to use, and possibly which gun you intend to shoot them in. Hornady has some data for their 750 A-Max bullet, Hodgdon has some data for their powders, Vihtavuori has data with their powders and Accurate Arms lists data for their powders. Also the start charges for 647-650 grain bullets would be ok for start loads for 630 approximate weight up to 643 approximate weight bullets.

Robert M Boren Sr · December 7, 2009, 03:18 AM

Spotter tracer, and api. Spotter were listed as 822 and the API were 639. I have H50BMG and us869. I don't normally get these bullets but my daughters boyfriend bought them, I use Barnes 750 and Hornady's A-Max 750. But he had to complicate things. We have an AR-50. Thanks rg1 for the help.

dawico · December 7, 2009, 05:29 PM

I am new to the 50 but not reloading. Info on 50 loads is hard to come by. My pet load for the 640 gr api is 247 gr of US869. In my gun, it will shoot under 1 moa and gives no pressure signs. I have not bought H50BMG or 750 gr bullets yet. I do have some 700 gr bullets to shoot, but haven't yet.

December 6, 2009, 09:02 PM	#1
Robert M Boren Sr Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Location: NW Montana Posts: 269	50 BMG I recently acquired some 822 and 639 gr military pulled bullets and need load info for them. Can someone point me in the right direction please thanks.

December 6, 2009, 10:12 PM	#2
IllinoisCoyoteHunter Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2008 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 1,527	Off Hodgdon's website: 650 GR. M-33 Hodgdon US 869 .510" 5.425" 265.0 3155 655 GR. ADI FMJ Hodgdon H50BMG .510" 5.450" 248.0 3029 750 GR. HDY A-MAX Hodgdon US 869 .510" 5.450" 250.0 2944 750 GR. HDY A-MAX Hodgdon H50BMG .510" 5.450" 233.0 2800 800 GR. BAR SOLID Hodgdon US 869 .510" 5.630" 250.0 2895 800 GR. BAR SOLID Hodgdon H50BMG .510" 5.630" 225.0 2725 __________________ ~~IllinoisCoyoteHunter~~ ~NRA LIFE MEMBER~ ~NRA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR~

December 6, 2009, 10:31 PM	#4
IllinoisCoyoteHunter Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2008 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 1,527	depending on the powder, it would be best to call the powder manufacturer. Generally...I repeat generally, it is ok to use slightly heavier bullet load data for lighter bullets....but the opposite is not safe. With these slow powders I would be extremely cautious. Your best bet would be to make some phone calls. I would not be afraid to use the 650 grain load data for the 639 grn bullet. But that larger bullet........well, I don't know.... __________________ ~~IllinoisCoyoteHunter~~ ~NRA LIFE MEMBER~ ~NRA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR~

December 6, 2009, 11:46 PM	#5
rg1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Posts: 1,125	You didn't say specifically which pulled military pulled bullets you have. If the bullet you say weighs 822 grains is the yellow-red tipped M48 Spotter-Tracer bullet normally 833 grains then it is not designed to be loaded to 50BMG velocity or pressure. It was designed for much lower velocity and pressure and HAS to be down-loaded in the 50 BMG to no more than 1800 fps and with a reduced powder charge. Normal load data for them is for 170 to a maximum of 180 grains of a powder such as IMR 5010. Normal start charges for powders for 5010,870,860,872 military type powders are 647-650 grain bullets--start at 210 grains ----------- 700 grain bullets------start at 205 grains ------------750 grain bullets------start at 200 grain ------------800 grain bullets------start at 195 grains (NOT for the yellow-red tipped M48 Spotter Tracer bullet) Really need to know what exact pulled bullets you have, what powder you intend to use, and possibly which gun you intend to shoot them in. Hornady has some data for their 750 A-Max bullet, Hodgdon has some data for their powders, Vihtavuori has data with their powders and Accurate Arms lists data for their powders. Also the start charges for 647-650 grain bullets would be ok for start loads for 630 approximate weight up to 643 approximate weight bullets. Last edited by rg1; December 6, 2009 at 11:51 PM.

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December 6, 2009, 10:25 PM	#3
Robert M Boren Sr Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Location: NW Montana Posts: 269	But what would you use for starting loads? 800 too light and 650 is to heavy.

December 7, 2009, 03:18 AM	#6
Robert M Boren Sr Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Location: NW Montana Posts: 269	Spotter tracer, and api. Spotter were listed as 822 and the API were 639. I have H50BMG and us869. I don't normally get these bullets but my daughters boyfriend bought them, I use Barnes 750 and Hornady's A-Max 750. But he had to complicate things. We have an AR-50. Thanks rg1 for the help.

December 7, 2009, 05:29 PM	#7
dawico Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2009 Location: Lampasas, TX Posts: 326	I am new to the 50 but not reloading. Info on 50 loads is hard to come by. My pet load for the 640 gr api is 247 gr of US869. In my gun, it will shoot under 1 moa and gives no pressure signs. I have not bought H50BMG or 750 gr bullets yet. I do have some 700 gr bullets to shoot, but haven't yet.