Lindcott Armory 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
- By real loads
- 1,300–1,350 fps · 21 loads
- Parent case
- .348 Winchester
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Performance
Buy links open .500 Linebaugh ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.
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
In production — 21 active loads across 15 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 21 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garrett | Hammerhead | 440 | SP | 1,350 | 1,780 | — |
| Underwood | JHP | 400 | JHP | 1,350 | 1,618 | — |
| Grizzly Cartridge | Hard Cast WFNGC | 440 | Hard Cast | 1,300 | 1,651 | — |
| Buffalo Bore | Hard Cast WFNGC | 440 | Hard Cast | 1,300 | 1,651 | — |
| Buffalo Bore | JFN | 440 | JFN | 1,300 | 1,651 | — |
| Hornady | Custom | 440 | XTP | 1,300 | 1,651 | — |
| Doubletap | DT Defense | 440 | Hard Cast | 1,300 | 1,651 | — |
| HSM Ammunition | Self Defense | 440 | Hard Cast | 1,300 | 1,651 | — |
| DoubleTap | Hard Cast WFNGC | 440 | Hard Cast | 1,300 | 1,651 | — |
| Buffalo Bore | Heavy Outdoorsman | 440 | Hard Cast | 1,300 | 1,651 | — |
| Black Hills | Match | 440 | Hard Cast | 1,300 | 1,651 | — |
| Buffalo Bore | Heavy | 440 | Hard Cast | 1,300 | 1,651 | — |
| Buffalo Bore | Heavy | 440 | LFN | 1,300 | 1,651 | — |
| Cor-Bon | DPX | 440 | Hard Cast | 1,300 | 1,651 | — |
| DoubleTap | Defense | 440 | JHP | 1,300 | 1,651 | — |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
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 Linebaugh
1 model in the database chamber .500 Linebaugh. Browse all →
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
- StandardSAAMI — SAAMI cartridge & chamber drawing — .500 Linebaugharchived
- StandardSAAMI — ANSI/SAAMI Z299 — Cartridge & Chamber Drawingsarchived
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 →