Question about .338 Lapua vs. .50 BMG and pumpkins

[truckemup97]

While watching the new USA series "Shooter" last night, I watched a .338 Laupa round go right through a pumpkin, leaving a small entry hole and a considerably larger exit hole. I remembered seeing a .50 BMG completely destroy (blow up) a pumpkin previously, so of course I was off to youtube to watch videos of both. It seems to be true that the .338 goes right through and the .50 causes a pumpkin explosion. So what makes the difference? Mass? Velocity? Bullet composition? Bullet design? Anyone have an educated guess?

 

[Arik]

Well it's almost half the size. 50BMG is 13mm and 338 is 8.6mm. Has low drag, around 3000 fts and around 5000ft-lbs. The 50 has about the same 3000fts but has 13000 ft-lbs of energy

Few weeks ago I was shooting my 303 at pumpkins a 100 yards away and it was leaving small(er) entrance holes while make large exits. The 303 has 2500fts and 2500ft-lbs of energy

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[steelslaver]

Energy and energy transfer. The 50 BMG with a 750gr bullet at 2800fps and a 250gr Lapua at 3000fps. The BMG has over 2.6 times as much energy due to its mass with near the same velocity. Plus, both have the same shape but the area of the 50 is way more. area of 50=.19625 vs 338=.08968 so the 50 has 2.2 times the area and 2.6 times the energy when it hits. Huge advantage in energy, but also a huge mass and area advantage to transfer it with. Shoot a pumpkin with a 357. then smack it with even a small sledge hammer. A 158gr 357 at 1350fps has 640ft/lb. A little 4# sledge (28000gr) at 100fps has 622ft/lb. Mass and frontal area are a bigger factor than many think.

Thats why I prefer a 1000fps 255 gr .452 over a 1300fps 240 gr .429.
The 45 has a frontal area of 1.1 times larger than the 44 and 1.06 more mass. to transfer energy with. Might not have quite as much energy, but it does transmit it better. I fail to believe that anything shot with a 44 mag will be any deader than if shot by a good 45 colt load in the same place.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

A lot can also depend on how solid the pumpkin is, also dependent on moisture content. Most all of my 338 Lapua Mag rounds are 300 grain and around 2700fps! Match hollow points won't open on a soft target like pumpkin, so the larger exit hole must be from accumulated tissue!

Ivan

 

[steelslaver]

Yes, pumpkins are pretty much air inside once they are ripe. If it was a watermelon both would splatter it form hydraulics. With a 50 bmg hollow point (if they make such a thing) would make it into a very fine mist.

Don't have a 338 Lapua which is a fantastic long range heavy hitter. Do have a 338 WM and everything I have shot with it stayed right where it was. But, the 50 BMG isi n a class all by itself except for things like the 416 Barret. 20mm cases have been necked down to a 50 BMG. 750 gr bullet at over 4200fps. Monster gun.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I think I'm in love!

 

[steelslaver]

I think I'm in love!

Do a search on 20mm necked to 50 cal. Evidently they tried it with the parent round for the 20mm, there are also a couple of WILDCATS based on the 20mm case. Huge rifles and I am sure bore eaters. I remember seeing a single shot 20mm anti tank gun from WWII that was decommissioned at a gun show.

Kind of want a 50 BMG or 416 Barret, but the idea of buying a big block of 4140, a long piece of 50 barrel and going to machining does have a certain appeal. Wonder what Clymer would charge to grind a reamer. Never happen, but it is fun to think about. Have a cousin who runs a CNC shop, could have him run me off a thousand solid brass bullets, but I don't think I could afford the powder once had everything else. LOL

There is a picture of a 20mm 50 wildcat in this thread
20mm knecked down to .50 - Page 1 - AR15.COM

 

[Arik]

Do a search on 20mm necked to 50 cal. Evidently they tried it with the parent round for the 20mm, there are also a couple of WILDCATS based on the 20mm case. Huge rifles and I am sure bore eaters. I remember seeing a single shot 20mm anti tank gun from WWII that was decommissioned at a gun show.

Kind of want a 50 BMG or 416 Barret, but the idea of buying a big block of 4140, a long piece of 50 barrel and going to machining does have a certain appeal. Wonder what Clymer would charge to grind a reamer. Never happen, but it is fun to think about. Have a cousin who runs a CNC shop, could have him run me off a thousand solid brass bullets, but I don't think I could afford the powder once had everything else. LOL

There is a picture of a 20mm 50 wildcat in this thread
20mm knecked down to .50 - Page 1 - AR15.COM

Somewhere I have a decommissioned 20mm and a 50BMG. Next to the 20, the 50 looks like a 223 next to a 3006

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