.50 caliber handguns

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S&W Model 500 night firing.

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 .5 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, 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. It is the barrel length and amount and nature of the cartridge powder that primarily determine the recoil generated.

Though some rounds are seen in heavy machine guns like the M2 machine gun, the bore size has also seen limited usage in sniper rifles, such as the Barrett M82 and the bull-pup Barrett M95. There are also many older fiearms that have much lower impluse, used in handguns in the 19th century.

Other pistol rounds include .480 Ruger , .475 Linebaugh , .500 Linebaugh, .500 S&W Magnum , .50 Remington 12.90 (.508), .50 Alaskan. There are larger modern rounds as well, including .577 Tyrannosaur, .600 Nitro Express, .700 Nitro Express. The two main rifle caliber .50 cal rounds are .50 BMG, and also 12.7 x 107 mm.

.50 AE:

• Desert Eagle
• AMT Automag V
• LAR Grizzly
• Freedom Arms model 555
• Magnum Research BFR revolver

• Smith & Wesson Model 500 revolver
• Janz JTL-E 500 revolver
• Tanfoglio Thor Raptor single-shot break-open
• Magnum Research BFR revolver

• Maadi-Griffin .50 BMG Handgun
• Thunder .50 BMG handgun

• Gyrojet pistol

• Webley Boxer Revolver

• Zeleska 600 Nitro Express Revolver

• Guncrafter Industries Model One .50 GI Handgun

• Remington M1865 Navy (.50 Cartridge)

See also

• List of firearms
• List of handgun cartridges

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