What would a 50 bmg do to a deer or elk...

[gandilamont]

What would a 50 bmg do to a deer or elk @ long range(like 1/2 to 1 mile)?

You know, it might justkill it. Just a thought

Its .50 in diameter. At 2000 yards, probably do less damage than a muzzleloader with a conical. Nothing special

[frizzellr]

The only thing I have ever seen for a 50 BMG is FMJ ammo, so it would just punch a .50 caliber hole.

[bigbulls]

Depends on the bullet being used and the distance to the animal. Basically, inside of about 500 or 600 yards it would turn everything inside the animal to jelly. The hydrostatic shock from a 50 caliber projectile (even a solid) passing through the body of an animal at 2000+ fps (about 600 yards & 7400 ft lbs) would be nothing short of tremendous. It would very likely take a good portion of the insides of the animal with it as it pased through the other side.


As far as ammo goes there is factory loaded ammo with 750 grain Hornady A-Max bullets, hollow points, frangable, lead core hunting bullets, AP, API, APIT, Tracer, Incendiary, FMJ, Solids, and even more types of bullets.

[Zoomer]

Please...a 750 grain projectile at 2000 fps on a 150 - 200 lb animal?? Just like friz says punch a 50 cal hole in one side and out the other.

[James B]

Some here will say you are undergunned with that pea-shooter.. You could do the Improved job and eek out close to enough power. Of course you can't have to much gun.

[IL Hunter]

I bet it would probably kill the animal

[Mike from Texas]

There's a reason it was/is used as a long range sniper round.

[handloader1]

A friend of mine shot a pronghorn with a .50 cal. BMG at 780 yds. using a Hornady 750 gr. A-Max. The animal was broadside when he fired taking the bullet in the ribs. The lungs and heart were destroyed, but none of the meat was. He feels the Hornady A-Max is too fragile for elk sized animals, so he is going with a Barnes 647 gr. XBT for elk this year.Good luck.

[moosehunter21]

I saw it would devistate the innards of an elk at that range!