Pistol · Not SAAMI standardized
.500 Linebaugh
John Linebaugh's original big-bore revolver wildcat — a .510-caliber cartridge designed for hunting the largest North American game from a single-action revolver.
- Caliber
- 0.51″ · 12.954 mm
- Introduced
- 1986
- Case
- Rimmed
- Parent
- .348 Winchester
- Primary use
- Hunting
- Status
- Limited
- Introduced
- 1986
- Type
- Pistol
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- John Linebaugh
- Manufacturer
- Buffalo Bore / Grizzly Cartridge
- Standard
- Not SAAMI standardized
- Status
- Limited
- Availability
- Specialty
- Case capacity
- 62 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:24
- Primer
- Large Pistol
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 35,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 100 yd
- Max range
- 300 yd
- Recoil
- 30–45 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
Published velocity/energy data isn't available for .500 Linebaugh. Parent case: .348 Winchester (cut down).
Performance
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
SAAMI · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 12.95 | 0.510 | · |
| Neck ⌀ | 13.72 | 0.540 | · |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 14.05 | 0.553 | · |
| Rim ⌀ | 15.49 | 0.610 | · |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.65 | 0.065 | · |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 35.69 | 1.405 | ~ |
| Overall length | 44.58 | 1.755 | ~ |
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 Linebaugh is highlighted below.
Factory loads
Being verified
Advertised FPS, energy, and BC are withheld until loads clear verification.
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
John Linebaugh, a Wyoming gunsmith and hunter, developed the .500 Linebaugh in the mid-1980s by cutting down .348 Winchester brass and chambering Ruger Blackhawk single-actions. His goal was a revolver cartridge capable of cleanly taking any North American game animal — including brown bear and bison — with a single well-placed shot. The cartridge achieved that goal decisively. Linebaugh converted single-action revolvers with custom cylinders and barrels, creating a small but devoted following among big-bore revolver hunters. Buffalo Bore and Grizzly Cartridge began producing commercial ammunition, legitimizing the wildcat. The .500 S&W Magnum (2003) drew mainstream attention to the .50-caliber revolver concept, but Linebaugh's original remains preferred by purists for its manageable pressure and single-action platform.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .500 Linebaugh use?
- .500 Linebaugh typically uses a 1:24 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .500 Linebaugh?
- .500 Linebaugh uses a 0.51″ (12.954 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .500 Linebaugh still in production?
- .500 Linebaugh is limited; typical availability is specialty.
- What is .500 Linebaugh used for?
- .500 Linebaugh is primarily used for hunting.
- What is .500 Linebaugh based on?
- .500 Linebaugh is derived from the .348 Winchester (cut down) case.
Sources & provenance
- Standard SAAMI — SAAMI cartridge & chamber drawing — .500 Linebaugh archived
- Standard SAAMI — ANSI/SAAMI Z299 — Cartridge & Chamber Drawings archived
- Manufacturer Buffalo Bore Ammunition — .500 Linebaugh Ammo 435 gr. L.B.T.-L.F.N. (Item 1A) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun
- Manufacturer Grizzly Cartridge — .500 Linebaugh Ammo category — 500 LINEBAUGH 435gr WFNGC (950 fps) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
- Manufacturer Buffalo Bore Ammunition — .500 Linebaugh Pistol & Handgun Ammunition — 400 gr. J.H.P. (Item 1D/50) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
- Manufacturer Grizzly Cartridge — 500 Linebaugh 300gr KODIAK Jacketed Flat Point · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 21 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →