Rifle · CIP
.700 Nitro Express
The most powerful commercial rifle cartridge ever produced.
- Caliber
- 0.7″ · 17.78 mm
- Introduced
- 1988
- Case
- Rimmed
- Primary use
- Hunting
- Status
- Limited
- Introduced
- 1988
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Inventor
- Holland & Holland / Jim Bell & William Feldstein
- Manufacturer
- Kynoch / Woodleigh
- Standard
- CIP
- Status
- Limited
- Availability
- Specialty
- Case capacity
- 380 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:22
- Primer
- Large Rifle Magnum
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 39,885 psi
- Eff. range
- 75 yd
- Max range
- 200 yd
- Recoil
- 90–130 ft·lb
Ballistics
Published velocity/energy data isn't available for .700 Nitro Express.
Performance
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 ⌀ | 17.78 | 0.700 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 18.54 | 0.730 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 19.81 | 0.780 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 22.61 | 0.890 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 2.18 | 0.086 | ✓ |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 88.90 | 3.500 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 106.68 | 4.200 | ✓ |
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. .700 Nitro Express is highlighted below.
Factory loads
Being verified
Advertised FPS, energy, and BC are withheld until loads clear verification.
Suitable powders
1 reloading powder listed for .700 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 .700 Nitro Express
3 models in the database chamber .700 Nitro Express. Browse all →
Connected reference
History
The .700 NE was commissioned in 1988 by American hunters Jim Bell and William Feldstein, who approached Holland & Holland requesting the most powerful sporting rifle that could be made. H&H obliged. The cartridge fires a 1,000-grain bullet — heavier than many .50 BMG projectiles — at 2,000 fps from a double rifle weighing approximately 19 pounds. Holland & Holland made the first rifles; a small number of other makers have since produced examples. Fewer than 14 rifles are believed to exist. The cartridge has technically been used on elephant and cape buffalo, but its practical application is essentially academic — the .500 NE or .600 NE is considered more than sufficient for any living animal. The .700 NE exists as an engineering statement and the ultimate expression of the British double rifle tradition.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .700 Nitro Express use?
- .700 Nitro Express typically uses a 1:22 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .700 Nitro Express?
- .700 Nitro Express uses a 0.7″ (17.78 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .700 Nitro Express still in production?
- .700 Nitro Express is limited; typical availability is specialty.
- What is .700 Nitro Express used for?
- .700 Nitro Express is primarily used for hunting.
- What are the best powders for .700 Nitro Express?
- Reloading powders commonly listed for .700 Nitro Express include Reloader 33.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 19 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →