Rifle · Proprietary
.499 LWR
A straight-walled .50-caliber-class big-bore designed by the Leitner-Wise Rifle Company to give the AR-15 real knock-down power the 5.56 NATO lacks.
- Caliber
- 0.499″ · 12.675 mm
- Introduced
- 2000
- Case
- Rebated Rimless
- Primary use
- Hunting
- Status
- Obsolete
- Introduced
- 2000
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Leitner-Wise Rifle Company
- Manufacturer
- Leitner-Wise Rifle Company
- Standard
- Proprietary
- Status
- Obsolete
- Availability
- Scarce
- Twist (typical)
- 1:18
- Primer
- Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rebated Rimless
- Max pressure
- 35,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 200 yd
- Max range
- 1000 yd
- Recoil
- 20–30 ft·lb
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .499 LWR, so this is the shape gravity alone gives the advertised velocity. Drag would steepen it. The tool below solves real loads through their published G1 or G7 model.
Open in Ballistic Compare- Parent case
- —
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
mixed/other · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 12.68 | 0.499 | ~ |
| Neck ⌀ | 13.41 | 0.528 | ~ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 13.41 | 0.528 | ~ |
| Rim ⌀ | 10.74 | 0.423 | ~ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | — | — | |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 44.40 | 1.748 | ~ |
| Overall length | 57.40 | 2.260 | ~ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .499 LWR is highlighted below.
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Connected reference
History
Conceived in 1994 and shown at the 2000 SHOT Show, the .499 LWR drew a U.S. Coast Guard development contract that was cancelled in early 2004. It predated and paralleled the .458 SOCOM and .50 Beowulf but never reached production volume; today it survives mainly as collector ammunition and limited brass runs.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .499 LWR use?
- .499 LWR typically uses a 1:18 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .499 LWR?
- .499 LWR uses a 0.499″ (12.675 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .499 LWR still in production?
- .499 LWR is obsolete; typical availability is scarce.
- What is .499 LWR used for?
- .499 LWR is primarily used for hunting.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →