The US Navy's rimfire sidearm cartridge of the Reconstruction era. Chambered in the Remington Model 1865 rolling block pistol — a powerful, reliable single-shot that the Navy adopted as a transition from cap-and-ball revolvers to metallic cartridge arms.
Type: Pistol
Introduced: 1866, United States
Parent case: None
Standardization: Obsolete / Non-standard
Bullet diameter: 0.505" (12.83 mm)
Case length: 0.87" (22.1 mm)
Overall length: 1.25" (31.75 mm)
Max pressure: 12,000 PSI
Rim type: Rimfire
Primer: Rimfire
Typical twist rate: 1:20
Muzzle velocity: 700–800 fps
Muzzle energy: 327–426 ft-lbs
Effective range: 25 yd
Common bullet weights: 300 gr
Primary use: Military, Self-Defense
Production status: Obsolete
Also known as: .50 Remington · .50 Remington Pistol · 50 Navy
History: Following the Civil War, the US military sought to convert from percussion cap-and-ball arms to the new metallic cartridge technology. The Navy adopted Remington's rolling block pistol in 1866, chambered for this large-bore rimfire. The rolling block action was among the strongest single-shot actions of its era. The .50 Remington Navy provided a substantial step up from the earlier .44 Henry in a…
Notable firearms: Remington Model 1865 Navy Rolling Block Pistol, Remington Model 1867 Navy
Military use: {"country":"United States","years":"1866-1875","notes":"US Navy — Remington Model 1865 Navy rolling block pistol"}
Similar cartridges: .50-70 Government, .44 Henry