.50 caliber handguns

There are a number of handguns that fire .50 caliber rounds, or near .50 caliber rounds, and in some cases even larger calibers. Many black powder pistols fired rounds with diameters well above ½ inch. Beginning in the 1900s .50 caliber bullets began to include larger versions of an existing, smaller bullet, such as the .50 Action Express, and specifically designed rounds, such as the .500 S&W Magnum, or rifle rounds such as .50 BMG.

There are automatic, revolver, and single-shot designs, and even some bolt-action examples. They tend to be larger and heavier than most other arms of their type, which helps absorb some of the tremendous recoil associated with firing some rounds. .50 rounds are not inherently 'high power'; they simply use large bullets. As with all firearms, recoil is a product of bullet weight, powder charge weight, projectile velocity and firearm weight. "Felt" recoil is affected by firearm design as well.

Despite being featured in many video games and action movies as the weapon of choice for some members of elite military and law enforcement units, the .50 caliber pistols' combination of heavy recoil and relatively low magazine capacity make these weapons a poor choice for tactical use.

Other large bore handgun cartridges include .460 S&W Magnum .480 Ruger, .475 Linebaugh, .50 Remington 12.90 (.508), .50 Alaskan.

.50 GI
*Model No. 2 50GI

.50 Action Express
*Desert Eagle .50AE
*Automag V
*Grizzly Mark V

.500 S&W Magnum
*BFR .500 S&W Magnum
*Raging Bull Model 500
*Smith & Wesson Model 500
*JTL-E .500 S&W Magnum 12" barrel

Other
*Model 83 .500 WE (.500 Wyoming Express revolver)
*Ruger Bisley .500 Linebaugh (.500 Linebaugh revolver)
*Ruger .500 Maximum JRH (.500 Maximum JRH revolver)
*BFR .50 Beowulf (.50 Beowulf revolver)
*BMF .500 Maximum (.500 Maximum revolver)
*Thor Raptor (.500 S&W Magnum pistol)
*Remington M1865 Navy (.50 Remington pistol)
*Tranter .577 (.577 Boxer double action revolver, 5 round cylinder)
*Braendlin .577 (.577 Boxer double action revolver, 6 round cylinder)
*Webley .577 (.577 Boxer double action revolver, 4 round cylinder)
*Gyrojet (13 mm pistol)
*Zeliska (.600 Nitro Express revolver)
*Thunder .50 BMG (.50 BMG pistol)Citation
last = Fjestad
first = S.P.
author-link =
last2 =
first2 =
author2-link =
year = 2004
date =
title = Blue Book of Gun Values
place = Minneapolis MN
publisher = Blue Book Publications, Inc.
edition = 25th
volume =
id =
isbn = 1-886768-45-5
url = ]

Notes

ee also

*List of handgun cartridges