Can you shoot down helicopters with a 50 cal?

Question

Since the rounds are so big I just wanted to know? I think it can and that would be the only purpose it/s used for.

Answer 1

Infantry is taught how to do this with the 5.56 (.223) round.

I was in a OH-58 hit by a German hunter with a 7mm in the VHF shark fin and he was just lucky...plus the Warrant was pulling a tight circle at tree top about 200 ft. away..so the guy had plenty of time to aim and lead.

I am not going to tell you how it's done, but it is a squad tactic.

SSG US Army 73-82

VC were damned good at it according to my CO and another Warrant that flew a few hours in Viet Nam.

Answer 2

Sure, the M2 .50 caliber can be used to shoot down helicopters.  So can a simple M16/M4.  Damage/break/destroy the tail rotor or an engine and the thing falls out of the sky.  The problem is accuracy - since choppers move, they are hard to hit... and you attract attention to yourself by shooting at them.

And the .50 cal is used on vehicles, equipment and personnel all the time... not just helicopters.  It is a very effective weapon!

Answer 3

At one time it was used as an anti aircraft weapon but you needed to saturate a target area, not very accurate. Now it is used as a anti personal weapon. It's a long distance round and is used to pierce armor. Missiles and anti aircraft guns are better suited to air defense.

Answer 4

The .50 cal. was standard equipment on U.S. WW2 fighters and bombers.  Many thousands of enemy fighters and bombers did not survive a .50 cal. onslaught.

Answer 5

You certainly could.  Of course it depends on what kind of helicopter you are shooting, and what part you hit, but there are plenty of components that could bring down the helicopter that are not resistant to a 50 cal.  

Answer 6

I can't.

At least not with a reasonable number of rounds.

I sucked with the .50