Author Topic: 50cal. ballistics  (Read 1042 times)

Offline P1Tiger

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50cal. ballistics
« on: April 16, 2009, 06:42:38 PM »
under rated much? theres times when i pump a wing or any other vital parts full of them, and they still manage to fly?
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Offline SmokinLoon

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Re: 50cal. ballistics
« Reply #1 on: April 16, 2009, 07:02:17 PM »
Ballistics = flight path of projectile.  I think you're speaking of projectile performance.

Just remember that the .30 cals and .50cals are firing an FMJ (solid projectile, or full metal jacket) and not a "warhead" per say.  The 20mm, 30mm, 37mm air to air, 40mm, are all firing an HE warhead that shred to pieces upon impact.
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Offline moot

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Re: 50cal. ballistics
« Reply #2 on: April 16, 2009, 07:12:55 PM »
under rated much? theres times when i pump a wing or any other vital parts full of them, and they still manage to fly?
Show the film.
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Offline Babalonian

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Re: 50cal. ballistics
« Reply #3 on: April 16, 2009, 07:27:38 PM »
Show the film.

Why?  Nine outa ten chance he's shooting at targets 200 or 800 meters infront of him with a gun convergence set ~500.


Tiger, all MG rounds in this game (even the more robust .50 cals) are pretty weak/useless unless you get a good concentration/shot at the proper weapon converegence that you set in the hanger.  When used properly, they are very potent.
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Offline moot

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Re: 50cal. ballistics
« Reply #4 on: April 16, 2009, 07:35:11 PM »
Because it would trump any speculation.
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Offline Saxman

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Re: 50cal. ballistics
« Reply #5 on: April 16, 2009, 07:56:28 PM »
Ballistics = flight path of projectile.  I think you're speaking of projectile performance.

Just remember that the .30 cals and .50cals are firing an FMJ (solid projectile, or full metal jacket) and not a "warhead" per say.  The 20mm, 30mm, 37mm air to air, 40mm, are all firing an HE warhead that shred to pieces upon impact.

I thought our Browning M2 rounds were modeled as API instead of the standard ball round?
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Offline Ack-Ack

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Re: 50cal. ballistics
« Reply #6 on: April 16, 2009, 08:00:43 PM »
under rated much? theres times when i pump a wing or any other vital parts full of them, and they still manage to fly?

Hit at the convergence point and you'll shred pretty much any plane with .50s.


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Offline Motherland

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Re: 50cal. ballistics
« Reply #7 on: April 16, 2009, 08:12:26 PM »
under rated much? theres times when i pump a wing or any other vital parts full of them, and they still manage to fly?
The M2 .50 cal is the best weapon in the game beside the Hispano.

Offline Tom5572

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Re: 50cal. ballistics
« Reply #8 on: April 16, 2009, 10:21:01 PM »
I was under the impression they were using .50 API in WWII in the fighters.  Does someone have the right answer?
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Offline P1Tiger

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Re: 50cal. ballistics
« Reply #9 on: April 16, 2009, 10:37:59 PM »
i know you guys are right, thank you for the posting, but still, shouldnt i be hitting something vital to the wing, im not even peeling off the ailerons or flaps, not even gas, and it seems like everyone else who uses 50's will kill me, but hey, sometimes i make a better target
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Offline moot

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Re: 50cal. ballistics
« Reply #10 on: April 16, 2009, 10:45:23 PM »
Film would clear up any confusion.
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Offline SmokinLoon

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Re: 50cal. ballistics
« Reply #11 on: April 16, 2009, 11:36:22 PM »
The difference between API and FMJ in terms of dmg on target would minimal.  Actually, AP would be less than an FMJ due to an even tougher projectile and that much less of a chance for fragmention, the AP would be more apt to go on through vs the standard FMJ.  Add in the "I" and *shrugs* who knows. 
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Offline P1Tiger

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Re: 50cal. ballistics
« Reply #12 on: April 17, 2009, 10:04:47 AM »
Film would clear up any confusion.
i wish, the only time i record, is when something weird happens. like flying sheep, i dont usually ever rec. during a fight, to laggy
VMF-214'Black Sheep' here since tour 93.
 
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"It was war. We were defending our country. We had a strict code of honor: you didn't shoot down a cripple and you kept it a fair fight."
— Captain Wilfrid Reid 'Wop' May, RFC

Offline whiteman

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Re: 50cal. ballistics
« Reply #13 on: April 17, 2009, 10:22:51 AM »
what's your convergence and what do you fire at? I shred most planes I fire at, spits seem to loose their wings in a short burst and most other loose parts fast if they don't explode. My convergence is 375 and soon as I see D400 I fire, not that I won't shoot at further and closer but try to wait till I see D400.
« Last Edit: April 17, 2009, 10:56:46 AM by whiteman »

Offline Saurdaukar

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Re: 50cal. ballistics
« Reply #14 on: April 17, 2009, 10:51:03 AM »
Ballistics = flight path of projectile.  I think you're speaking of projectile performance.

+1.

.50 cal ballistics in AH are pretty much as good as your going to get.  "Bullet drop" doesnt seem to be in Browning's vocabulary.

That said, I have no problem with their hitting power but I have no technical information to fall back on.  I think if their impact performance was increased, the weapon would be grossly unbalancing.  One can already hit targets 600-800 yards away with impunity; which is a far cry from the historical deployment of the weapon, in real life, air to air scenarios, to begin with.

Remember that machine gun rounds are dependent upon kinetic force to inflict damage.  Cannon rounds, by definition, add explosive damage to the equation.
« Last Edit: April 17, 2009, 10:53:35 AM by Saurdaukar »