.50 BMG Drop Chart
The big one — a 750-grain match bullet near 2,800 fps with the energy and reach for targets past a mile, and a range-day icon. Federally civilian-legal (Title I); banned in California.
Updated
Load
Barrel
Zero
Units
750 gr A-MAX Match · 2,820 fps · G7 BC 0.581 · 29″ barrel · 100-yard zero · 2″ optic height · sea level.
| Range | Drop (in) | Hold (MOA) | Hold (MIL) | Velocity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 yd | 0 | — | — | 2,739 fps |
| 200 yd | −2.6 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 2,659 fps |
| 300 yd | −10.2 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 2,581 fps |
| 400 yd | −23.0 | 5.5 | 1.6 | 2,504 fps |
| 500 yd | −41.3 | 7.9 | 2.3 | 2,428 fps |
| 600 yd | −65.5 | 10.4 | 3.0 | 2,353 fps |
| 700 yd | −96.0 | 13.1 | 3.8 | 2,280 fps |
| 800 yd | −133.2 | 15.9 | 4.6 | 2,208 fps |
| 900 yd | −177.5 | 18.8 | 5.5 | 2,138 fps |
| 1000 yd | −229.4 | 21.9 | 6.4 | 2,068 fps |
| 1100 yd | −289.4 | 25.1 | 7.3 | 2,001 fps |
| 1200 yd | −358.2 | 28.5 | 8.3 | 1,934 fps |
| 1300 yd | −436.2 | 32.0 | 9.3 | 1,868 fps |
| 1400 yd | −524.2 | 35.8 | 10.4 | 1,804 fps |
| 1500 yd | −622.9 | 39.7 | 11.5 | 1,740 fps |
| 1600 yd | −733.1 | 43.8 | 12.7 | 1,678 fps |
| 1700 yd | −855.7 | 48.1 | 14.0 | 1,616 fps |
| 1800 yd | −991.6 | 52.6 | 15.3 | 1,556 fps |
| 1900 yd | −1141.9 | 57.4 | 16.7 | 1,496 fps |
| 2000 yd | −1307.7 | 62.4 | 18.2 | 1,438 fps |
Stays supersonic to roughly 2000 yards — past that the bullet goes transonic and groups usually open up.
Estimate — confirm at the range. These figures are computed for the selected load, barrel, and zero at sea level — the barrel setting shifts muzzle velocity by a typical per-inch rate from published cut-down tests, so it’s an estimate too. Your real drop also depends on your exact ammo and lot, altitude, temperature, and conditions. Use this to get in the ballpark and to pick the right optic — then verify your actual holdovers on paper or steel before you trust them.
What this means for your optic
By the time you're holding several MOA or MIL of holdover, a plain dot stops being enough. That's where a reticle with marked holds (a BDC or MIL/MOA grid), an exposed turret you can dial, and a first-focal-plane scope earn their keep. Pick a rifle below to see the optics that fit it — and how they mount.