.50 Beowulf

.50 Beowulf
5.56 mm compared to .50 Beowulf cartridges.
Type	Rifle
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designed	2001
Produced	2001
Specifications
Parent case	.50 Action Express
Case type	Rebated rim, 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 length	1.65 in (42 mm)
Overall length	2.125 in (54.0 mm)
Primer type	Large pistol magnum
Ballistic performance
Bullet weight/type	Velocity	Energy
300 gr (19 g) Speer Gold Dot	1,870 ft/s (570 m/s)	2,330 ft·lbf (3,160 J)
325 gr (21.1 g) Speer HP	2,010 ft/s (610 m/s)	2,916 ft·lbf (3,954 J)
334 gr (21.6 g) Rainer FMJ	1,980 ft/s (600 m/s)	2,908 ft·lbf (3,943 J)
334 gr (21.6 g) Rainer HP	1,980 ft/s (600 m/s)	2,908 ft·lbf (3,943 J)
400 gr (26 g) Hawk JSP	1,875 ft/s (572 m/s)	3,123 ft·lbf (4,234 J)
Test barrel length: 24 (discontinued) Source(s): Alexander Arms

The .50 Beowulf is a rifle cartridge developed by Alexander Arms for use in a modified AR-15 rifle. The cartridge utilizes a rebated rim, sized to match the rim of the 7.62×39mm and 6.5 mm Grendel rounds. 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 cartridge has its lineage in the .50 Action Express, a cartridge originally developed for the Magnum Research Desert Eagle pistol, with significant modification to improve functionality and safety in the AR-15 platform. ^[1]

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.

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, 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 modern lever action rifles such as the Marlin Model 1895.^[2]

Proprietary status

.50 Beowulf 334 gr. hollow-point shot from 16" Barrel Beowulf rifle at 36 yards penetrated 1/4" (approx. 6.35mm) thick steel plate.

The .50 Beowulf is a proprietary caliber developed as a specialized cartridge and weapon. Alexander Arms oversees all aspects of the production of the system and related accessories.

See also

• List of rifle cartridges
• .458 SOCOM
• .450 Bushmaster
• .50 Alaskan
• .50 Hush Puppy

Notes

External links

• Alexander Arms website
• "Alexander Arms .50 Beowulf", Jeff Quinn, Gunblast.com (online magazine), July 8, 2002
• "Alexander Arms' New 'Overwatch' .50 Beowulf", Jeff Quinn, Gunblast.com (online magazine), June 15, 2003
• "More Punch for the AR-15", Anthony G. Williams, The Cartridge Researcher, the bulletin of the European Cartridge Research Association, May 2005
• "BFR .50 Beowulf Revolver", Jeff Quinn, Gunblast.com (online magazine), March 12, 2004