50bmg in a shotgun, how effective is it???

Published on March 25, 2021
Duration: 8:51

This video tests the effectiveness of firing a 50 BMG round from a 12-gauge shotgun. The experiment measures projectile velocity, observes casing deformation, and tests penetration in ballistic gel and reactive targets. The results show a drastic reduction in velocity and significant projectile instability, though the heavy projectile still retains considerable energy.

Quick Summary

Firing a 50 BMG round from a 12 gauge shotgun drastically reduces projectile velocity to around 869 feet per second and causes significant instability, often resulting in tumbling. Despite these drawbacks, the heavy 660-grain projectile retains enough energy to penetrate over a foot of ballistic gel and damage reactive targets.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: 50 BMG in a Shotgun Trend
  2. 00:21Testing Effectiveness
  3. 01:21Chronograph Test: Velocity Measurement
  4. 01:59Chronograph Results: 869 FPS
  5. 02:27Bullet Recovery and Instability
  6. 03:00Casing Deformation Analysis
  7. 03:10Ballistic Gel Test Setup
  8. 03:52Ballistic Gel Results: Penetration and Curve
  9. 04:43Second Ballistic Gel Test
  10. 05:15Second Gel Impact and Recovery
  11. 06:35Reactive Target Test: Watermelons
  12. 07:10Watermelon Test Results
  13. 07:53Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical velocity of a 50 BMG round fired from a 12 gauge shotgun?

When a 50 BMG round is fired from a 12 gauge shotgun, its velocity is drastically reduced. In this test, the projectile clocked in at approximately 869 feet per second, a significant drop from the typical 3000 feet per second achieved with a dedicated 50 BMG rifle.

How does firing a 50 BMG from a shotgun affect the cartridge casing?

Firing a 50 BMG round from a 12 gauge shotgun causes the casing to deform significantly. The neck of the casing expands outwards, reshaping it to resemble a shotgun shell due to the pressure escaping the larger chamber and the mismatch in design.

Is firing a 50 BMG from a 12 gauge shotgun stable?

No, firing a 50 BMG from a 12 gauge shotgun results in extreme instability. The shotgun barrel is larger than the 50 BMG projectile, causing it to tumble erratically. This instability was confirmed by a recovered bullet found lodged backwards in a target.

What kind of penetration can a 50 BMG achieve when fired from a 12 gauge shotgun?

Despite its reduced velocity and instability, a 660-grain 50 BMG projectile fired from a 12 gauge shotgun still possesses considerable energy. It achieved approximately 13-14 inches of penetration in a ballistic gel block and caused significant damage to reactive targets like watermelons.

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