Ballistic data for .50 Browning ammunition.
| Model |
Cartridge Weight |
Cartridge Length |
Propellant |
Projectile Weight |
Chamber Pressure |
Velocity
78 ft (23.8 m) from muzzle |
| M1 HPT |
2,082 gr (134.91 g) |
5.45 in (138.4 mm) |
WC 860 |
? |
65,000 psi (4,570 kg/cm²) |
N/A |
| M1 Blank |
917 gr (59.42 g) |
3.91 in (99.3 mm) |
WC 150 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| M1 Incendiary |
1,744 gr (113.00 g) |
5.45 in (138.4 mm) |
WC 860 |
? |
54,000 psi (3,796 kg/cm²) |
2,950 fps (899 mps) |
| M1 Tracer |
1,785 gr (115.66 g) |
5.45 in (138.4 mm) |
IMR 5010 |
? |
52,000 psi (3,656 kg/cm²) |
2,700 fps (823 mps) |
| M1A1 Blank |
915 to 955 gr (59.29 to 61.88 g) |
3.91 in (99.3 mm) |
Dupont Hi Skor 700X |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| M2 Ball |
1,813 gr (117.48 g) |
5.45 in (138.4 mm) |
WC 860 |
? |
55,000 psi (3,867 kg/cm²) |
2,810 fps (856 mps) |
| M2 AP |
1,812 gr (117.41 g) |
5.45 in (138.4 mm) |
WC 860 |
706.7 gr (45.8 g) |
53,000 psi (3,726 kg/cm²) |
2,810 fps (856 mps) |
| M2 Dummy |
1,248 gr (80.87 g) |
5.45 in (138.4 mm) |
N/A |
? |
N/A |
N/A |
| M8 API |
1,764 gr (114.30 g) |
5.45 in (138.4 mm) |
WC 860 |
622.5 gr (40.34 g) |
59,000 psi (4,148 kg/cm²) |
2,910 fps (887 mps) |
| M10 Tracer |
1,752 gr (113.53 g) |
5.45 in (138.4 mm) |
IMR 5010 |
? |
54,000 psi (3,796 kg/cm²) |
2,860 fps (872 mps) |
| M17 Tracer |
1,732 gr (112.23 g) |
5.45 in (138.4 mm) |
IMR 5010 |
? |
54,000 psi (3,796 kg/cm²) |
2,860 fps (872 mps) |
| M20 API-T |
1,718 gr (111.32 g) |
5.45 in (138.4 mm) |
IMR 5010 |
619 gr (40.11 g) |
55,000 psi (3,867 kg/cm²) |
2,910 fps (887 mps) |
| M23 Incendiary |
1,581 gr (102.45 g) |
5.45 in (138.4 mm) |
IMR 4831 |
? |
58,000 psi (4,077 kg/cm²) |
3,400 fps (1,036 mps) |
| M33 Ball |
1,762 gr (114.17 g) |
5.45 in (138.4 mm) |
WC 860 |
706.7 gr (45.8 g) |
55,000 psi (3,867 kg/cm²) |
2,910 fps (887 mps) |
| M858 Plastic Practice |
460 gr (29.81 g) |
5.2 in (132.1 mm) |
10B101 |
? |
26,100 psi (1,835 kg/cm²) |
2,790 fps (850 mps) |
| M860 Plastic Practice-T |
460 gr (29.81 g) |
5.2 in (132.1 mm) |
10B101 |
? |
26,100 psi (1,835 kg/cm²) |
2,790 fps (850 mps) |
| M903 SLAP |
1,466 gr (94.99 g) |
5.45 in (138.4 mm) |
WC 856 |
355 - 360 gr (23.00 - 23.33 g) |
55,000 psi (3,867 kg/cm²) |
4,000 fps (1,219 mps) |
| M962 SLAP-T |
1,466 gr (94.99 g) |
5.45 in (138.4 mm) |
WC 856 |
350 - 360 gr (22.68 - 23.33 g) |
55,000 psi (3,867 kg/cm²) |
4,000 fps (1,219 mps) |
| MK211 Mod 0 API |
1,765 gr (114.37 g) |
5.45 in (138.4 mm) |
WC 860, MR 5010 or RA-NC-167 |
671 gr (43.48 g) |
55,000 psi (3,867 kg/cm²) |
2,910 ± 30 fps (886 ± 9.1 mps) |
Cartridge, Caliber .50, Ball, High Pressure Test, M1
Used by all .50 Browning weapons. The cartridge is intended for use in proof testing weapons during manufacture, test, or repair.
The cartridge is identified by a stannic-stained (silvered) cartridge case.
Type Classification: STD - OTCM 36841
Cartridge, Caliber .50, Blank, M1
Used by the M2 machine gun (flexible only). The cartridge is used to simulate firing in training exercises.
The cartridge is identified by the absence of a bullet and has crimped cartridge case mouth.
Type Classification: CONT - OTCM 36841
Cartridge, Caliber .50, Incendiary, M1
Used by M2 and M85 machine guns. For incendiary effect, especially against aircraft.
Upon impact with a hardened or armored target, the incendiary composition bursts into flame and will ignite any flammable material.
Incendiary composition: 34 grains (2.2 g) IM 11
The cartridge is identified by a blue bullet tip.
Type Classification: OBS - MSR 11756003
Cartridge, Caliber .50, Tracer, M1
Used by M2 and M85 machine guns. The tracer is intended to permit visible observation of the
bullet's in-flight path or trajectory to the point of impact. Limited to continental US for training purposes only.
Trace range: 1,969 yards (1,800 m)
Tracer: R256
The cartridge is identified by a red bullet tip.
Type Classification: OBS - MSR 11756003
Cartridge, Caliber .50, Blank, M1A1
Used by the M2 machine gun with the M19 Blank Ammunition Firing Attachment, the M85 machine gun with the M20 Blank Firing
Attachment, and the M107 Long Range Sniper Rifle. The cartridge is used to simulate firing in training exercises.
The cartridge is identified by the absence of a bullet. The M1A1 differs from the M1 in that the M1A1 has a rosette crimp at the mouth.
Type Classification: STD - MSR 02806015
Cartridge, Caliber .50, Ball, M2
Used by M2 and M85 machine guns. The cartridge is intended for use against personnel or unarmored targets.
The cartridge is identified by a plain bullet.
Type Classification: STD - OTCM 36841
Cartridge, Caliber .50, Ball, Armor Piercing, M2
Used by M2 and M85 machine guns. The cartridge is for use against light-armored or unarmored targets, concrete shelters, and similar
bullet-resisting targets.
Armor Penetration.
500 meters: 0.75 in (19 mm)
1,200 meters: 0.39 in (10 mm)
The cartridge is identified by a black bullet tip.
Type Classification: OBS - MSR 11756003
Cartridge, Caliber .50, Dummy, M2
Used by all .50 Browning weapons. The cartridge is used for practice in loading for simulated firing and for inspecting and testing
the mechanism of the weapon.
The cartridge is identified by three drilled holes in the cartridge case and the absence of a primer.
Type Classification: STD - OTCM 36841
Cartridge, Caliber .50, Ball, Armor Piercing Incendiary, M8
Used by M2 and M85 machine guns, and the M107 Long Range Sniper Rifle. The cartridge combines the functions of the M2 armor piercing
bullet and the incendiary bullet, and is used against flammable targets and light-armored or unarmored targets, concrete shelters,
and similar bullet-resisting targets.
Armor Penetration.
500 meters: 0.63 in (16 mm)
1,200 meters: 0.32 in (8 mm)
Incendiary composition: 15 grains (0.97 g) IM 11
The cartridge is identified by an aluminum bullet tip.
Type Classification: OBS - MSR 11756003
Cartridge, Caliber .50, Tracer, M10
Used by M2 and M85 machine guns. The tracer cartridge exhibits a visible trace from a point not greater than 100 yards (91 m) from
the muzzle of the weapon to a point not less than 1,600 yards (1,463 m) from the muzzle.
Tracer: R256
The cartridge is identified by an orange bullet tip.
Type Classification: STD - OTCM 37107
Cartridge, Caliber .50, Tracer, M17
Used by M2 and M85 machine guns, and the M107 Long Range Sniper Rifle. The cartridge tracer is intended to permit visible observation
of the bullets in-flight path or trajectory to the point of impact.
Trace range: 2,679 yards (2,450 m)
Tracer: R256
The cartridge is identified by a brown bullet tip.
Type Classification: CON - MSR 11756003
Cartridge, Caliber .50, Armor Piercing Incendiary-Tracer, M20
Used by M2 and M85 machine guns, and the M107 Long Range Sniper Rifle. The cartridge combines the functions of the armor piercing
and the incendiary bullet, and is used against flammable targets and light-armored or unarmored targets, concrete shelters, and
similar bullet-resisting targets. This tracer is dim at near ranges, but increases to bright as it moves further from the gun.
Armor Penetration.
500 meters: 0.83 in (21 mm)
1,200 meters: 0.43 in (11 mm)
Incendiary composition: 27 grains (1.74 g) IM 161
Trace range: 328 - 1,914 yards (300 - 1,750 m)
Tracer: R256
The cartridge is identified by a red bullet tip with an aluminum colored ring to the rear of the red tip.
Type Classification: OBS - MSR 04776009
Cartridge, Caliber .50, Incendiary, M23
Used by M2 and M85 machine guns. The cartridge is used against flammable targets. The cartridge is capable of initiating combustion
of flammable materials upon target impact at 175 yards (160 m).
Incendiary composition: 90 grains (5.83 g) IM 28
The cartridge is identified by a blue bullet tip with a light blue ring to the rear of the blue tip.
Type Classification: STD - OTCM 36841
Cartridge, Caliber .50, Ball, M33
Used by M2 and M85 machine guns, and the M107 Long Range Sniper Rifle. The cartridge is intended for use against personnel or unarmored targets.
Armor Penetration.
500 meters: 0.32 in (8 mm)
1,200 meters: 0.16 in (4 mm)
The cartridge is identified by a plain bullet tip.
Type Classification: STD - OTCM 36841
Cartridge, Caliber .50, Ball, Plastic Practice, M858
Used by M2 machine gun with the M3 Recoil Amplifier. The cartridge is intended for scaled range training purposes, where range
restrictions limit or prohibit the use of one of the other types of live ammunition.
Maximum range: 765 yards (700 m)
The cartridge is identified by the blue bullet and case which are molded into one piece with high density polyethylene plastic.
Type Classification: STD. Type Classification Date: 24-MAY-1983
Cartridge, Caliber .50, Tracer, Plastic Practice M860
Used by M2 machine gun with the M3 Recoil Amplifier. The cartridge tracer is intended for scaled range training to permit visible
observation of the bullet's in-flight path or trajectory to the point of impact. The cartridge is intended for use with the M858
Plastic Practice Ball Cartridge.
Maximum range: 765 yards (700 m)
Trace range: 22 - 164 yards (20 - 150 m)
Tracer: DAG9591254/4
The cartridge is identified by a red bullet tip and the blue bullet and case which are molded into one piece
with high density polyethylene plastic.
Type Classification: STD. Type Classification Date: 24-MAY-1983
Cartridge, Caliber .50, Saboted Light Armor Penetrator (SLAP), M903
Used by M2HB machine gun. The SLAP is used in combat against current and future light armored targets and Armored Attack Helicopters
(AAHs). The M903 offers the capability to defeat these targets at ranges two to three times that of currently available ammunition.
Armor Penetration.
500 meters: 1.34 in (34 mm)
1,200 meters: 0.91 in (23 mm)
Projectile diameter: 0.30 inches (7.7 mm)
The cartridge consists of a heavy metal (tungsten) penetrator that is sabot-launched at a much higher velocity than standard rounds.
The sabot, which is designed to break up at the muzzle to release the penetrator, must also survive the gun environment until launch.
It is injection molded of special high strength plastic and is reinforced with an aluminum insert in the base section.
The cartridge is identified by an amber sabot (Ultem 1000).
Type Classification: STD. Type Classification Date: 31-MAR-1993
Unit cost: $8.87 (Fiscal Year 2005)
Cartridge, Caliber .50, Saboted Light Armor Penetrator-Tracer (SLAP-T), M962
Used by M2HB machine gun. For use against light armor vehicles and aircraft with the additional tracer feature. This round is also
for use in M1-series Abrams Tank gunnery training using a subcaliber insert.
Projectile diameter: 0.30 inches (7.7 mm)
Tracer: R543
The Saboted Light Armor Penetrator with Tracer (SLAP-T), M962 cartridge consists of a tungsten alloy penetrator of the same mass
as the Saboted Light Armor Penetrator (SLAP), M903. The sabot, which is designed to break up at the muzzle to release the penetrator,
must also survive the gun environment until launch. It is injection molded of special high strength plastic and is reinforced with an
aluminum insert in the base section. The tungsten alloy penetrator has a slot in the base to insure full spin-up before separation
from the sabot at the muzzle. The penetrator base is cored out to accommodate a trace mix composition.
The cartridge is identified by a red sabot (Ultem 1000).
Type Classification: STD. Type Classification Date: 31-MAR-1993
Unit cost: $12.85 (Fiscal Year 2005)
Cartridge, Caliber .50, Armor Piercing Incendiary (API), MK 211 Mod 0
Used by M2 machine gun and the M107 Long Range Sniper Rifle. For use against light armored vehicles and aircraft. This cartridge
provides improved penetration performance against enemy personnel and light armor vehicles.
Explosive: 13 grains (0.84 g) Comp A-4
Incendiary composition: 13.1 grains (0.85 g) #136
This cartridge is identified by green bullet tip identification paint. The projectile consists of a brass jacket surrounding a steel
body and tungsten core with incendiary and high explosive charges.
Type Classification: STD. Type Classification Date: FEB-1996 (for U.S. Army)
