Rifle · Not SAAMI standardized · Not standardizedObsolete
.500/450 Magnum Black Powder Express
The .500 Black Powder Express necked down to .450; the black-powder predecessor later loaded with cordite/Nitro as the .500/450 Magnum Nitro Express..
- Caliber
- 0.458″ · 11.633 mm
- Introduced
- 1870
- Case
- Rimmed
- Parent
- .500 Black Powder Express
- Primary use
- Hunting
- Status
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Introduced
- 1870
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Inventor
- Various British
- Manufacturer
- Eley Brothers; Kynoch
- Standard
- Not SAAMI standardized · Not standardized
- SAAMI
- Not SAAMI standardized
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Status
- Obsolete
- Availability
- Collector
- Case capacity
- 136.3 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:16
- Primer
- Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 18,000 psi, CIP transducer
- Eff. range
- 150 yd
- Max range
- 3850 yd
- Recoil
- 54.5–59.7 ft·lb
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .500/450 Magnum Black Powder Express, 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
- .500 Black Powder Express
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.
Wikipedia · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 11.63 | 0.458 | · |
| Neck ⌀ | 12.17 | 0.479 | · |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 12.70 | 0.500 | · |
| Shoulder angle | 15° | — | |
| Base ⌀ | 14.48 | 0.570 | · |
| Rim ⌀ | 16.36 | 0.644 | · |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.40 | 0.055 | ~ |
| Neck length | 12.01 | 0.473 | |
| Case length | 82.55 | 3.250 | · |
| Overall length | 99.31 | 3.910 | · |
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. .500/450 Magnum Black Powder Express is highlighted below.
Missing a dimension for .500/450 Magnum Black Powder Express? Some case measurements aren't in a published SAAMI/CIP drawing yet. Have a factory or reamer print? Send it → — verified hard-to-find data earns a free Lindcott sticker.
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.
Lineage
Connected reference
History
The .500/450 Magnum Black Powder Express was based on the .500 Black Powder Express case (United Kingdom).
FAQs
- What twist rate does .500/450 Magnum Black Powder Express use?
- .500/450 Magnum Black Powder Express typically uses a 1:16 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .500/450 Magnum Black Powder Express?
- .500/450 Magnum Black Powder Express uses a 0.458″ (11.633 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .500/450 Magnum Black Powder Express still in production?
- .500/450 Magnum Black Powder Express is obsolete; typical availability is collector.
- What is .500/450 Magnum Black Powder Express used for?
- .500/450 Magnum Black Powder Express is primarily used for hunting.
- What is .500/450 Magnum Black Powder Express based on?
- .500/450 Magnum Black Powder Express is derived from the .500 Black Powder Express case.
Sources & provenance
- Reference Gun Digest Books — Cartridges of the World, 13th ed. — Frank C. Barnes · velocity, grain weights, bullet ⌀
- Secondary Wikipedia — .500/450 Magnum Black Powder Express · grain weights, bullet ⌀, velocity archived
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →
