.50 caliber handguns explained

A .50 caliber handgun / Anti-materiel pistol is a handgun firing a bullet measuring approximately 0.5inches in diameter intended with the task of penetration. Historically, many black powder pistols fired bullets with diameters well above a half inch. However, following the development of smokeless powder, the focus shifted to smaller-diameter bullets propelled at higher velocities, and the development of .50 and larger calibers in handguns became uncommon.

In the twentieth century, several new cartridges of half-inch diameter were developed, the first by John Linebaugh of Cody, Wyoming, in 1986 with the development of the .500 Linebaugh, and then later with the .50 Action Express (1988), which was the first to achieve wide popularity.[1] The .500 Linebaugh utilizes a bore diameter of .500" with the corresponding bullet diameter of .510", the same as the .50 BMG and other .50 caliber rifles, while the .50 Action Express, .500 S&W Magnum, and .500 S&W Special use .490" bore diameters and correspondingly smaller .500" bullet diameters. The smaller .500" diameter was further popularized by the development of the .500 S&W Magnum in 2003.

There are semi-automatic, revolver, and single-shot .50 caliber handgun designs. Handguns of this caliber tend to be larger and heavier than most others of their type with the exception of the Linebaugh line of revolvers. The Linebaugh revolvers are based on the standard Ruger Blackhawk with Ruger Bisley grip frames, although the cylinders have been enlarged for both structural integrity and absorbing the recoil associated with firing these rounds as have the previously mentioned .500 handguns.[2]

Despite being featured in many video games and action films as the weapon of choice for some members of elite military and law enforcement units, these guns in reality are used primarily for hunting, target shooting, and silhouette shooting.[3] [4] Such military usage would be limited as a low-level anti materiel weapon tasked with door breaching, shooting padlocks, explosive ordinance disposal of unexploded ordnance etc rather than combat.

Examples

.50 Action Express

.50 GI

500 GNR

.500 S&W Magnum

Other

See also

Notes

  1. Book: Shideler, Dan . Gun Digest 2011 . Krause . 2011 . 368 . 978-1-4402-1337-3.
  2. Book: Van Zwoll, Wayne . Hunter's Guide to Long-Range Shooting . . 2006 . 335–339 . 978-0-8117-3314-4.
  3. Book: Hartink, A.E. . The Complete Encyclopedia of Pistols and Revolvers . Chartwell Books, Inc . 2002 . 165–167 . Edison, New Jersey . 978-0-7858-1519-8.
  4. Taffin . John . The Desert Eagle of Magnum Research . Guns Magazine . 30 . 8 . 2005 . 2018-11-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120419162834/http://www.magnumresearch.com/news_detail.asp?story=gunsmagaug2005.asp# . 2012-04-19 . dead .
  5. Book: Hartink, A.E. . The Complete Encyclopedia of Pistols and Revolvers . Chartwell Books, Inc . 2003 . 132–134 . Edison, New Jersey . 978-0-7858-1871-7 .