Rifle · Not SAAMI standardized · Not standardizedObsolete
.500 Black Powder Express
Early British .500 black-powder express case; root of the .500 Express family that produced the .500/450 and .500/465 Nitro Express cartridges..
- Caliber
- 0.51″ · 12.954 mm
- Introduced
- 1860
- Case
- Rimmed
- Primary use
- Hunting
- Status
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Introduced
- 1860
- 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)
- 1:20
- Primer
- Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 18,000 psi, CIP transducer
- Eff. range
- 100 yd
- Max range
- 3900 yd
- Recoil
- 76.5 ft·lb
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .500 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
- —
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 ⌀ | 12.95 | 0.510 | · |
| Neck ⌀ | 13.59 | 0.535 | ~ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 14.73 | 0.580 | ~ |
| Rim ⌀ | 16.76 | 0.660 | ~ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.40 | 0.055 | ~ |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 76.45 | 3.010 | · |
| Overall length | 86.11 | 3.390 | ~ |
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 Black Powder 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 Black Powder Express
Lineage
Connected reference
History
The .500 Black Powder Express was introduced in 1860 (United Kingdom).
FAQs
- What twist rate does .500 Black Powder Express use?
- .500 Black Powder Express typically uses a 1:20 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .500 Black Powder Express?
- .500 Black Powder Express uses a 0.51″ (12.954 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .500 Black Powder Express still in production?
- .500 Black Powder Express is obsolete; typical availability is collector.
- What is .500 Black Powder Express used for?
- .500 Black Powder Express is primarily used for hunting.
Sources & provenance
- Reference DBI Books (Barnes & Amber) — Cartridges of the World — Frank C. Barnes & John T. Amber (1972 ed.) · grain weights, bullet ⌀, velocity
- Secondary Wikipedia — .500 Black Powder Express · grain weights, bullet ⌀, velocity, year 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 →
