Rifle · Not SAAMI standardized · Not standardizedObsolete
.500/450 Nitro Express
.500/450 Nitro Express is a rimmed bottlenecked rifle cartridge of United Kingdom origin.
- Caliber
- 0.458″ · 11.633 mm
- Introduced
- 1890
- Case
- Rimmed
- Parent
- .500/450 Magnum Black Powder Express
- Primary use
- Hunting
- Status
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Introduced
- 1890
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Inventor
- Holland & Holland
- Manufacturer
- Holland & Holland
- Standard
- Not SAAMI standardized · Not standardized
- SAAMI
- Not SAAMI standardized
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Status
- Obsolete
- Availability
- Collector
- Case capacity
- 139.3 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:16
- Primer
- Berdan #40
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 18,000 psi, CIP transducer
- Eff. range
- 250 yd
- Max range
- 1250 yd
- Recoil
- 81.2 ft·lb
Introduced by Holland & Holland
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .500/450 Nitro 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
- .500/450 Magnum 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 ⌀ | 16.38 | 0.645 | · |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.02 | 0.040 | · |
| Neck length | 12.02 | 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 Nitro Express is highlighted below.
Missing a dimension for .500/450 Nitro 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
Introduced around 1890 by Holland & Holland, derived from the .500/450 Magnum Black Powder Express.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .500/450 Nitro Express use?
- .500/450 Nitro Express typically uses a 1:16 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .500/450 Nitro Express?
- .500/450 Nitro Express uses a 0.458″ (11.633 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .500/450 Nitro Express still in production?
- .500/450 Nitro Express is obsolete; typical availability is collector.
- What is .500/450 Nitro Express used for?
- .500/450 Nitro Express is primarily used for hunting.
- What is .500/450 Nitro Express based on?
- .500/450 Nitro Express is derived from the .500/450 Magnum Black Powder Express case.
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 →
