.50 Beowulf

Last updated
.50 Beowulf
Beowulf Cartridges.JPG
5.56 mm compared to .50 Beowulf cartridges.
TypeRifle
Place of originUnited States
Production history
Designed2001
Produced2001–present
Specifications
Parent case .50 Action Express
Case typeRebated, straight
Bullet diameter.500 in (12.7 mm)
Neck diameter.525 in (13.3 mm)
Base diameter.535 in (13.6 mm)
Rim diameter.445 in (11.3 mm)
Case length1.65 in (42 mm)
Overall length2.125 in (54.0 mm)
Primer typeLarge pistol magnum
Maximum pressure33,000 psi (230 MPa)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/typeVelocityEnergy
300 gr (19 g) Speer Gold Dot JHP Alexander Arms1,870 ft/s (570 m/s)2,330 ft⋅lbf (3,160 J)
325 gr (21 g) Speer JHP Alexander Arms1,800 ft/s (550 m/s)2,338 ft⋅lbf (3,170 J)
335 gr (22 g) Rainer Plated FP Alexander Arms1,771 ft/s (540 m/s)2,333 ft⋅lbf (3,163 J)
335 gr (22 g) Rainier Plated HP Alexander Arms1,900 ft/s (580 m/s)2,678 ft⋅lbf (3,631 J)
400 gr (26 g) Hawk JFP Alexander Arms1,800 ft/s (550 m/s)2,878 ft⋅lbf (3,902 J)
Test barrel length: 16 inches
Source(s): Beowulf Ballistics
.50 Beowulf AR-15 AR-1550Beowulf.jpg
.50 Beowulf AR-15

The .50 Beowulf (12.7x42mmRB) is a 12mm caliber rifle cartridge developed by Bill Alexander of Alexander Arms for use in an AR-15 rifle. [1]

Contents

Design and specifications

The cartridge utilizes a rebated rim, sized to match the rim of the 6.5mm Grendel round. The case body is very similar in dimensions to the .500 S&W Magnum revolver cartridge, being slightly longer and fully tapered for automatic feeding in the weapon.

The round is intended to improve stopping power greatly at short- to medium-range as compared to the standard 5.56×45mm NATO round. One of its advertised uses is at vehicle checkpoints, since the heavy bullet's flight path is not easily deflected by auto glass or standard vehicle body panels.[ citation needed ]

Design limitations

With normal bullet weights between 300 and 400 grains (19 and 26  g ), overall cartridge length shorter than that of an AR-15 magazine well, and holding to pressures of 33,000 psi limited by the AR bolt strength system, [2] the .50 Beowulf is best described as a low-velocity, heavy caliber, making its ballistics roughly equivalent to those of early .45-70 Government rounds rather than the higher pressure rounds tolerated by lever-action rifles such as the Marlin Model 1895. [3]

Proprietary status

The .50 Beowulf is a proprietary caliber developed as a specialized cartridge. Alexander Arms and Delta Firearms oversees all aspects of the production of the system and related accessories. Their reluctance to divulge information has been a source of irritation to some writers. [3] Because Alexander Arms holds a trademark on the name .50 Beowulf, a number of other companies produce weapons and ammunition reverse-engineered to the same dimensions under the name 12.7x42mm.

Sporting uses

Although much has been written about its tactical uses, the .50 Beowulf is gaining recognition as a sporting cartridge. It is becoming more widely recognized as being usable for a wide variety of North American game, [4] including deer, moose, and black bear. [3]

Similar cartridges

The cartridge has its lineage in the .50 Action Express, starting with the L.A.R. Grizzly and in modern times, the Magnum Research Desert Eagle pistol, with significant modification to improve functionality and safety in the AR-15 rifle. [5]

See also

Notes

  1. Berger, Matt (December 2011). "ALEXANDER ARMS .50 BEOWULF". Special weapons for military & police. Tactical-life.com. Archived from the original on November 15, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  2. Cutshaw, Charlie (Jul–Aug 2006). ".50 caliber Beowulf". Tactical Response. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 D'Alessandro, Joseph. "The 50 Beowulf: A Reluctant Retrospective". Archived from the original on 2007-08-16. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  4. Youngblood, Paul (July 14, 2011). "What's the .50 Beowulf good for?". Guns & Ammo. Archived from the original on 2013-02-06. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  5. "Alexander Arms - Frequently Asked Questions". Archived from the original on 2012-01-04. Retrieved 2012-01-11.

Related Research Articles

The 7.62 mm caliber is a nominal caliber used for a number of different cartridges. Historically, this class of cartridge was commonly known as .30 caliber, the equivalent in Imperial and United States Customary measures. It is most commonly used in hunting cartridges. The measurement equals 0.30 inches or three decimal lines, written .3″ and read as three-line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cartridge (firearms)</span> Pre-assembled firearm ammunition consisting of a casing, projectile, propellant, and primer

A cartridge, also known as a round, is a type of pre-assembled firearm ammunition packaging a projectile, a propellant substance and an ignition device (primer) within a metallic, paper, or plastic case that is precisely made to fit within the barrel chamber of a breechloading gun, for convenient transportation and handling during shooting. Although in popular usage the term "bullet" is often used to refer to a complete cartridge, the correct usage only refers to the projectile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">.45 Colt</span> Revolver cartridge designed by the U.S. Army

The .45 Colt (11.43×33mmR), is a rimmed, straight-walled, handgun cartridge dating to 1872. It was originally a black-powder revolver round developed for the Colt Single Action Army revolver. This cartridge was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1873 and served as an official US military handgun cartridge for 19 years, before being replaced by the .38 Long Colt in 1892.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">.44 Magnum</span> Revolver cartridge designed by Elmer Keith and Smith & Wesson (S&W)

The .44 Remington Magnum, also known as .44 Magnum or 10.9x33mmR, is a rimmed, large-bore cartridge originally designed for revolvers and quickly adopted for carbines and rifles. Despite the ".44" designation, guns chambered for the .44 Magnum round, its parent case, the .44 Special, and its parent case, the .44 Russian all use 0.429 in (10.9 mm) diameter bullets. The .44 Magnum is based on the .44 Special case but lengthened and loaded to higher pressures for greater velocity and energy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">.44 Special</span> Revolver cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson (S&W)

The .44 Smith & Wesson Special, also commonly known as .44 S&W Special, .44 Special, .44 Spl, .44 Spc, or 10.9×29mmR, is a smokeless powder center fire metallic revolver cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson in 1907 as the standard chambering for their New Century revolver, introduced in 1908.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">.22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire</span> Rimfire cartridge

The .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, also known as the .22 WMR, .22 Magnum, .22 WMRF, .22 MRF, or .22 Mag, is a rimfire cartridge. Originally loaded with a bullet weight of 40 grains (2.6 g) delivering velocities in the 2,000 feet per second (610 m/s) range from a rifle barrel, .22 WMR is now loaded with bullet weights ranging from 50 grains (3.2 g) at 1,530 feet per second (470 m/s) to 30 grains (1.9 g) at 2,200 feet per second (670 m/s).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildcat cartridge</span> Custom cartridge for firearms

A wildcat cartridge, often shortened to wildcat, is a custom cartridge for which ammunition and/or firearms are not mass-produced. These cartridges are often created in order to optimize a certain performance characteristic of an existing commercial cartridge, or may merely be intended as novelty items.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IWI Jericho 941</span> Semi-automatic pistol

The Jericho 941 is a double-action/single-action semi-automatic pistol developed by Israel Weapon Industries that was introduced in 1990.

A rim is an external flange that is machined, cast, molded, stamped, or pressed around the bottom of a firearms cartridge. Thus, rimmed cartridges are sometimes called "flanged" cartridges. Almost all cartridges feature an extractor or headspacing rim, in spite of the fact that some cartridges are known as "rimless cartridges". The rim may serve a number of purposes, including providing a lip for the extractor to engage, and sometimes serving to headspace the cartridge.

The .376 Steyr (9.5x59mmRB) cartridge is a rebated rim rifle cartridge jointly developed by Hornady and Steyr for use in the Steyr Scout rifle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6.5mm Grendel</span> Rifle cartridge

The 6.5mm Grendel is an intermediate cartridge jointly designed by British-American armorer Bill Alexander, competitive shooter Arne Brennan and Lapua ballistician Janne Pohjoispää, as a low-recoil, high-precision rifle cartridge specifically for the AR-15 platform at medium/long range. It is an improved variation of the 6.5mm PPC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnum Research BFR</span> Revolver

The Magnum Research BFR is a single-action revolver manufactured by Magnum Research. Modeled after the Ruger Blackhawk, it is constructed of stainless steel and chambered for a number of powerful handgun cartridges, such as .460 S&W Magnum and .500 S&W Magnum; popular rifle chamberings, including .30–30 WCF, .444 Marlin, and .45-70 Government; and even .410 bore shotshells. Notably, the BFR platform has also served as the basis for custom caliber conversions to 19th century big game cartridges such as the .50–110 WCF and .50-90 Sharps, as well as the .500 Bushwhacker, which is currently considered to be the most powerful handgun cartridge in the world in terms of muzzle energy. The name "BFR" originally stood for "Brainerd’s First Revolver", in reference to Brainerd, Minnesota, where the early BFRs were manufactured. Officially the acronym now stands for "Biggest, Finest Revolver", though it was rebranded for a time as the "Big Frame Revolver" after Magnum Research's 2010 acquisition by Kahr Arms. It is sometimes referred to as the "Big Fucking Revolver", but this is a misnomer often used for humorous effect and has never been officially sanctioned by manufacturers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">.458 SOCOM</span> Rifle cartridge

The .458 SOCOM (11.63×40mmRB) is a moderately large round designed to work in an AR-15 platform. This is achieved by installing a 458 bolt and barrel. The 300-grain (19 g) round offers a supersonic muzzle velocity of 1,900 ft/s (580 m/s) and 2,405 ft⋅lbf (3,261 J), similar to a light .45-70 but with a much smaller case.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">.22 caliber</span> Index of articles associated with the same name

.22 caliber, or 5.6 mm, refers to a common firearms bore diameter of 0.22 inch (5.6 mm) in both rimfire and centerfire cartridges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">.450 Bushmaster</span> Rifle cartridge

The .450 Bushmaster (11.48x43mmRB) is a rifle cartridge developed by Tim LeGendre of LeMag Firearms, and licensed to Bushmaster Firearms International. The .450 Bushmaster is designed to be used in standard M16s and AR-15s, using modified magazines and upper receiver assemblies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">.500 Linebaugh</span> Revolver cartridge

The .500 Linebaugh is a .50 caliber handgun cartridge designed for use in revolvers. It is considered one of the most powerful handgun cartridges designed in terms of kinetic energy and power factor (momentum).

The .500 S&W Magnum or 12.7×41mmSR is a .50 caliber semi-rimmed revolver cartridge developed by Cor-Bon in partnership with the Smith & Wesson "X-Gun" engineering team for use in the Smith & Wesson Model 500 X-frame revolver and introduced in February 2003 at the SHOT Show. From its inception, it was intended to be the most powerful handgun cartridge to date, with the capacity to harvest all North American game species. While more powerful handgun cartridges, such as the .500 Bushwhacker, have emerged since, they are only available in custom firearms, and the .500 S&W remains the most powerful production handgun cartridge.

The .375 SOCOM (9.5x40mmRB) round is a custom developed round created by Tony Rumore of Tromix Lead Delivery Systems. Cases are formed from .458 SOCOM run through a custom .375 SOCOM sizing die.

Nosler produces six different rebated rim hunting cartridges. The first to be introduced was .26 Nosler, followed by .28 Nosler, .30 Nosler, .33 Nosler, .22 Nosler, and .27 Nosler.