.50 Beowulf

• Name —.50 Beowulf • Origin — United States • Type — Rifle • Design Date — 2001 • Production Date — 2001–present • Parent —.50 Action Express • Case Type — Rebated, straight • Bullet —.500 • Neck —.525 • Base —.535 • Rim Dia —.445 • Case Length — 1.65 • Length — 2.125 • Max Pressure — 33000 • Primer — Large pistol magnum • Bw1 — 300 • Btype1 — Speer Gold Dot JHP Alexander Arms • Vel1 — 1870 • En1 — 2330 • Bw2 — 325 • Btype2 — Speer JHP Alexander Arms • Vel2 — 1800 • En2 — 2338 • Bw3 — 335 • Btype3 — Rainer Plated FP Alexander Arms • Vel3 — 1771 • En3 — 2333 • Bw4 — 335 • Btype4 — Rainier Plated HP Alexander Arms • Vel4 — 1900 • En4 — 2678 • Bw5 — 400 • Btype5 — Hawk JFP Alexander Arms • Vel5 — 1800 • En5 — 2878 • Test Barrel Length — 16 inches • Balsrc — Beowulf Ballistics • Illustration —.50 Beowulf AR-15

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 against vehicles, being able to disable the engine and maintaining its trajectory when hitting windscreens or body panels. It's also advertised as being effective against body armor.

With normal bullet weights between 300 and, 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 lever-action rifles such as the Marlin Model 1895.

The.50 Beowulf is a proprietary caliber developed as a specialized cartridge. Alexander Arms and Delta Firearms oversee 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. 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 12.7×42mm.

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, including deer, moose, and black bear.

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.