View source for .50 BMG

The '''.50 BMG''' or '''.50 Browning Machine Gun''' or '''12.7×99mm NATO''' is one of the most powerful rifle [[cartridge (firearms)|cartridges]] ever developed. It was first developed in 1910 by [[Browning]] for the Browning .50 caliber [[machine gun]]. Along with the [[7.62x51mm]], it is one of the most popular [[round (firearms)|rounds]] for [[sniper rifle]]s and long-range [[target practice]]. It is also still used for military and civilian use in .50-caliber machine guns.

According to [[Boston's Gun Bible]], the .50 BMG is most commonly used by civilians in [[single shot]] [[bolt action]] rifles or [[semi-automatic]] target and hunting rifles. [[Boston T. Party]] says it is very popular with civilians in long-distance (1000-1500 [[yard]]) shooting matches. The .50 BMG throws a 700 [[gr]] [[bullet]] at 2800 [[fps]] for 12,1890 [[fpe]]. According to Boston T. Party, "In 1998 and 2000 I predicted that the .50 BMG round would come under increased scrutiny, and I was right. If you can't afford a [[.50 BMG rifle]], then at least buy some ammo"<ref>[[Boston T. Party|Party, Boston T.]], ''[[Boston's Gun Bible]]''. [[Wyoming]] [[American Redoubt]] [[Javelin Press]], 2009 revision to 2002 edition, p. 1/2.</ref> such as the [[High Explosive Incendiary/Armor Piercing Ammunition]] (HEIAP). According to Boston, [[handloading]] is common among .50 BMG [[gun enthusiast]]s.

==Common .50 BMG Firearms==

===.50 BMG Rifles===
* Armalite AR-50
* [[Barrett]] M82 (Barrett M107)
* Barrett M95
* Barrett M99

===.50 BMG Machine Guns===
* M2 Browning

==California Police State Bans the .50 BMG==
The California progressive [[police state]] implemented .50 BMG [[ammunition control]] by the .50 Caliber BMG Regulation Act of 2004 which took effect on January 1, 2005. The leftist lawmakers called it the "Dangerous Weapons Control Law".<ref>"[http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/dwcl/12275.php 2007 Dangerous Weapons Control Law: 12275 thru 12290 Assault Weapons]" California Penal Code at the State Attorney General web site</ref>

==See also==
* [[Sniper rifle]] and [[sniper]]
* [[Browning]]
* [[List of rifle ammunition]]

==Bibliography - Further Reading==
* [[Boston T. Party|Party, Boston T.]], ''[[Boston's Gun Bible]]''. [[Wyoming]] [[American Redoubt]] [[Javelin Press]], 2009 revision to 2002 edition, 848 pages, ISBN 1888766069, ISBN 978-1888766066. Contains a several chapters dedicated to [[Gun rights]] and the Second Amendment.

==External links==
* [http://www.dtic.mil/dticasd/sbir/sbir032/a044a.pdf TM43-0001-27] US Army Ammunition Data Sheets – Small Caliber Ammunition, HQ Department of the Army, 6/81, Including changes (Not to be used as reloading data)
* [http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/infantry/mg/50_ammo.html .50 Caliber Browning (12.7 × 99&nbsp;mm) Ammunition]

===Suppliers of .50 BMG Ammunition===
For ammo [[preps]] - [[Essay:Invest in tangibles#Stock up on Ammunition|Suppliers of ammunition]]:
* [http://ammoseek.com/ammo/50bmg .50 BMG Sources] at [[AmmoSeek.com]]
* [http://www.slickguns.com/category/ammo?caliber=25 .50 BMG Sources] at [[SlickGuns.com]]
* [http://www.GunBot.net .50 BMG Sources] at [[GunBot.net]]
* [http://www.wikiarms.com/group/50BMG .50 BMG Sources] at [[WikiArms.com]]
* [http://www.Gun-Deals.com .50 BMG Sources] at [[Gun-Deals.com]]

==References==
<references/>

{{Ammunition topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:.50 BMG}}

[[Category:.50 BMG]]
[[Category:.50 Caliber]]
[[Category:Rifle Ammunition]]
[[Category:Military Ammunition|50 BMG]]

[[Category:Ammunition]]
[[Category:Firearms]]
[[Category:Magnum Ammunition]]
[[Category:Firearms Glossary]]
[[Category:Investments in Tangibles]]

{{Firearms glossary}}