Lindcott Armory Rifle · CIP
.500 Nitro Express
Holland & Holland's .50-caliber dangerous game round, introduced around 1890 and still in production.
- Caliber
- 0.5098″ · 12.95 mm
- Introduced
- 1890
- Case
- Rimmed
- Primary use
- Hunting
- Status
- Limited
- Introduced
- 1890
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Inventor
- Holland & Holland
- Manufacturer
- Kynoch / Hornady / Norma
- Standard
- CIP
- Status
- Limited
- Availability
- Specialty
- Case capacity
- 155 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:16
- Primer
- Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 41,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 100 yd
- Max range
- 250 yd
- Recoil
- 75–100 ft·lb
Ballistics
- By real loads
- 2,150–2,150 fps · 17 loads
- Parent case
- —
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Performance
Buy links open .500 Nitro Express 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.
CIP TDCC · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 12.95 | 0.510 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 13.51 | 0.532 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 14.58 | 0.574 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 16.64 | 0.655 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.02 | 0.040 | ✓ |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 76.20 | 3.000 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 95.25 | 3.750 | ✓ |
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 Nitro Express is highlighted below.
Factory loads
In production — 17 active loads across 7 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 19 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norma | FMJ | 570 | FMJ | 2,150 | 5,849 | — |
| Hornady | DGX Bonded | 570 | DGX Bonded | 2,150 | 5,849 | — |
| Hornady | Custom DGX Bonded FP | 570 | DGX Bonded FP | 2,150 | 5,849 | — |
| Hornady | DGX Bonded | 570 | DGX Bonded FP | 2,150 | 5,849 | — |
| Barnes | VOR-TX | 570 | TTSX | 2,150 | 5,849 | — |
| Hornady | Dangerous Game DGS FMJ | 570 | FMJ Solid | 2,150 | 5,849 | — |
| Hornady | DGS FMJ Solid | 570 | FMJ Solid | 2,150 | 5,849 | — |
| Federal | Premium Trophy Bonded | 570 | Trophy Bonded Bear Claw | 2,150 | 5,849 | — |
| Federal | Trophy Bonded Bear Claw | 570 | Trophy Bonded Bear Claw | 2,150 | 5,849 | — |
| Federal | Cape-Shok Trophy Bonded | 570 | Trophy Bonded | 2,150 | 5,849 | — |
| Federal | Premium Cape-Shok Woodleigh Hydro Solid | 570 | Woodleigh Hydro Solid | 2,150 | 5,849 | — |
| Woodleigh | Weldcore | 570 | Weldcore SP | 2,150 | 5,849 | — |
| A-Square | Monolithic | 570 | Monolithic Solid | 2,150 | 5,849 | — |
| A-Square | Dead Tough SP | 570 | Dead Tough SP | 2,150 | 5,849 | — |
| Norma | Oryx Bonded SP | 570 | Oryx Bonded SP | 2,150 | 5,849 | — |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Suitable powders
1 reloading powder listed for .500 Nitro Express, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →
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 Nitro Express
12 models in the database chamber .500 Nitro Express. Browse all →
Connected reference
History
Holland & Holland introduced the .500 NE around 1890 as the smokeless powder revolution transformed dangerous game cartridges. The .500 bore had a long tradition in black powder dangerous game rifles; the Nitro Express designation signified the shift to smokeless. Unlike the .450 NE, the .500 NE was never subject to the British colonial caliber ban, giving it a continuous production and service history through to the present. Professional hunters in Africa used the .500 NE in both double rifles and later bolt actions for elephant, cape buffalo, and hippo. The combination of a heavy 570-grain bullet at moderate velocity produces devastating tissue damage and bone-crushing energy with better penetration than higher-velocity smaller-bore options. Hornady, Kynoch, and Norma continue producing ammunition for the active dangerous game hunting and collector market.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .500 Nitro Express use?
- .500 Nitro Express typically uses a 1:16 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .500 Nitro Express?
- .500 Nitro Express uses a 0.5098″ (12.95 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .500 Nitro Express still in production?
- .500 Nitro Express is limited; typical availability is specialty.
- What is .500 Nitro Express used for?
- .500 Nitro Express is primarily used for hunting.
- What are the best powders for .500 Nitro Express?
- Reloading powders commonly listed for .500 Nitro Express include Reloader 25.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 17 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →