Some of the most popular powerful cartridges out there are the 300 Win Mag and the 50 BMG. Both these rounds are extremely popular and used by most militaries in the world. However, it is important to know the difference between these two rounds as even though they are used for similar tasks they are very different.
Here is the short answer:
The 50 BMG is a far more powerful cartridge that is really only used for long range shooting and is extremely expensive to shoot. The 300 Win Mag is a versatile cartridge used for big game hunting and is far less expensive.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look closer at each cartridge, their ballistics, and see how they compare in-depth.
In-depth Look at the .50 BMG
The .50 BMG, or Browning Machine Gun cartridge, was developed for use in heavy machine guns during World War I. Today it is used for extremely long range sniping in the military. Additionally, it is a popular choice for those who want to shoot at extremely long range.
Whilst the 50 BMG is often considered too heavy to carry for anything other than stationary shooting, it is still popular for long range shooting. For those who are shooting extremely long-range, upwards of 1.5 miles, you will need a large cartridge such as the 50 BMG to have adequate power at that range.
The 50 BMG’s incredible power is also its biggest drawback, as it produces significant recoil, which can be difficult for some shooters to handle. This means that for most shooters you will need to be shooting from a prone position with a rifle equipped with a muzzle break to mitigate enough recoil to make it bearable for long periods of time.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 50 BMG with a 750-grain Hornady A-max bullet:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2820 | 13242 |
| 50 | -0.2 | 0.1 | 2774 | 12810 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.4 | 2728 | 12389 |
| 150 | -1 | 0.8 | 2682 | 11980 |
| 200 | -3.2 | 1.4 | 2637 | 11582 |
| 250 | -6.6 | 2.1 | 2593 | 11194 |
| 300 | -11.4 | 3 | 2549 | 10816 |
| 350 | -17.4 | 4 | 2505 | 10448 |
| 400 | -24.8 | 5.3 | 2462 | 10091 |
| 450 | -33.6 | 6.7 | 2419 | 9742 |
| 500 | -44 | 8.3 | 2376 | 9403 |
In-depth Look at the .300 Win Mag
The 300 Win Mag, or Winchester Magnum, was developed in the mid-1960s and has since become one of the most popular cartridges for long-range shooting. This is in large part due to the fact that this round has a controllable amount of recoil for most while still producing a ton of downrange energy.
The 300 Win Mag has seen a lot of use among many different shooters. This round has been used for everything from taking bison and moose to shooting at long range. Additionally, the 300 Win Mag has a large selection of bullet weights making it a very versatile cartridge.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 300 Win Mag with a 180-grain soft point bullet:
| Range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2960 | 3502 |
| 50 | -0.2 | 0.1 | 2852 | 3250 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.7 | 2746 | 3013 |
| 150 | -0.9 | 1.6 | 2643 | 2791 |
| 200 | -3.1 | 2.9 | 2542 | 2582 |
| 250 | -6.6 | 4.5 | 2443 | 2385 |
| 300 | -11.6 | 6.6 | 2346 | 2200 |
| 350 | -18.2 | 9.2 | 2252 | 2027 |
| 400 | -26.5 | 12.3 | 2160 | 1864 |
| 450 | -36.6 | 15.9 | 2070 | 1712 |
| 500 | -48.8 | 20 | 1982 | 1570 |
In-depth Comparison
When comparing the 50 BMG to the 300 Win Mag, there are several key differences to consider.
The 50 BMG is a much larger and more powerful cartridge that is too big to be used for hunting most game. However, the 50 BMG can be used to shoot targets are vastly longer ranges than the 300 Win Mag.
The 300 Win Mag, on the other hand, offers a better balance of power and versatility and is a far better choice for hunting a wider array of game from deer to bison.
Another factor to consider is weight. A 300 Win Mag rifle is far lighter than a 50 BMG rifle and therefore can be carried to more places. So if you are in a shooting competition that requires you to move then the 300 Win Mag is a far better choice.
Price wise the 300 Win Mag is far less expensive. You can find most 300 Win Mag rounds for under 1.5 dollars but the cheapest 50 BMG rounds are often over 5 dollars per shot. 300 Win Mag rifles are also far cheaper and easier to find than 50 BMG rifles.
Conclusion
While the 50 BMG and 300 Win Mag are both popular rounds they are two completely different rounds. The 50 BMG if for long range shooting and fills a very niche market. The 300 Win Mag is a very versatile round that is popular among hunters and target shooters alike.