Rifle · Not SAAMI standardized · Not standardizedObsolete
.577 Black Powder Express
A British rimmed black-powder express cartridge of about 1870 for double rifles, firing heavy .577 bullets of roughly 520–610 gr at about 1,650–1,725 fps.
- Caliber
- 0.585″ · 14.86 mm
- Introduced
- 1870
- Case
- Rimmed
- Primary use
- Hunting
- Status
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Introduced
- 1870
- 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
- 181.8 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:16
- Primer
- Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 18,000 psi, CIP transducer
- Eff. range
- 100 yd
- Max range
- 3750 yd
- Recoil
- 86.4–110.6 ft·lb
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .577 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.
mixed/other · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 14.86 | 0.585 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 16.76 | 0.660 | |
| Rim ⌀ | 18.49 | 0.728 | |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.32 | 0.052 | |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 76.20 | 3.000 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 96.24 | 3.789 | |
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. .577 Black Powder Express is highlighted below.
Missing a dimension for .577 Black Powder Express? Some case measurements aren't in a published SAAMI/CIP drawing yet. Have a factory or reamer print? Send it → — verified hard-to-find data earns a free Lindcott sticker.
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
The .577 Black Powder Express was introduced in 1870.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .577 Black Powder Express use?
- .577 Black Powder Express typically uses a 1:16 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .577 Black Powder Express?
- .577 Black Powder Express uses a 0.585″ (14.86 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .577 Black Powder Express still in production?
- .577 Black Powder Express is obsolete; typical availability is collector.
- What is .577 Black Powder Express used for?
- .577 Black Powder Express is primarily used for hunting.
Sources & provenance
- Standard C.I.P. — TDCC Tab II — 577 N.E. 3" (nitro sibling, same bore) · bullet ⌀ archived
- Reference Gun Digest Books — Cartridges of the World (Frank C. Barnes) — British BP express section · bullet ⌀, year, velocity, grain weights
- Secondary Wikipedia — .577 Black Powder Express · bullet ⌀, 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 →
