Rifle · Proprietary
.500/465 Nitro Express
Holland & Holland Nitro Express double rifle cartridge necked down from the .500 NE case to .465 caliber; preferred by hunters wanting .500 case capacity with slightly reduced recoil for dangerous game..
- Caliber
- 0.4681″ · 11.89 mm
- Introduced
- 1907
- Case
- Rimmed
- Status
- Limited
- Introduced
- 1907
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Inventor
- Holland & Holland
- Standard
- Proprietary
- Status
- Limited
- Availability
- Rare
- Primer
- Boxer Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 35,534 psi
- Eff. range
- 100 yd
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .500/465 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
- —
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.
CIP TDCC · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 11.89 | 0.468 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 12.47 | 0.491 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 13.56 | 0.534 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | 2.8° | — | ✓ |
| Base ⌀ | 14.58 | 0.574 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 16.64 | 0.655 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.02 | 0.040 | ✓ |
| Neck length | 16.51 | 0.650 | ≈ |
| Case length | 82.55 | 3.250 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 99.06 | 3.900 | ✓ |
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. .500/465 Nitro Express 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.
Firearms chambered in .500/465 Nitro Express
2 models in the database chamber .500/465 Nitro Express. Browse all →
Connected reference
History
Introduced by Holland & Holland around 1907, the .500/465 NE uses the large .500 NE case necked to .465 caliber, giving it exceptional powder capacity and performance for a rimmed double rifle cartridge. It was a popular choice for professional hunters who wanted the authority of a .500 case but slightly reduced recoil for all-day use on safari.
FAQs
- What bullet diameter is .500/465 Nitro Express?
- .500/465 Nitro Express uses a 0.4681″ (11.89 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .500/465 Nitro Express still in production?
- .500/465 Nitro Express is limited; typical availability is rare.
Sources & provenance
- Standard C.I.P. (Commission Internationale Permanente) — TDCC Tab II — 500/465 N.E. (data sheet, entry 1984-06-14, rev. 2002-05-15) · bullet ⌀ archived
- Reference Gun Digest Books — Cartridges of the World (Frank C. Barnes, 16th ed. 2022 / 15th ed. 2016) · year, velocity, grain weights, bullet ⌀
- Secondary Wikipedia — .500/465 Nitro Express · year, velocity, grain weights 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 →