.50 GI
The.50 GI (12.7×23mmRB) pistol cartridge was developed by Alex Zimmermann of Guncrafter Industries. The.50 GI was introduced at the 2004 SHOT Show alongside the Guncrafter Industries Model No. 1, a variation of the M1911.
.50 GI

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- Field
- pistol cartridge.
- Period
- 2004.
- Region
- United States.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
The.50 GI (12.7×23mmRB) pistol cartridge was developed by Alex Zimmermann of Guncrafter Industries. The.50 GI was introduced at the 2004 SHOT Show alongside the Guncrafter Industries Model No. 1, a variation of the M1911.
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wikipedia incomplete · checked 25 September 2026
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Authority files
wikidata · Q158815 · wikipedia · .50 GI
In this article
Performance
Performance
The round has a rebated rim that is the same diameter as that of the.45 ACP. In 2006, Guncrafter Industries introduced its 1911 Model No. 2, which sports a full-length light rail/dust cover and is chambered for the.50 GI cartridge. Both the M1 and the M2 can be fitted with Guncrafter Industries'.45 ACP conversion unit. The.45 ACP magazines hold 8 rounds. Physically, the.50 GI round is wider than the.45 ACP and slightly longer. The M1 and M2 magazines can hold seven rounds. The Glock conversion can hold eight rounds in the standard magazine and nine with the extended base pad.
The.50 GI operates at pressures comparable to the.45 ACP, around 15,000 psi (100 MPa). Felt recoil is not unlike that of the.45 ACP. The.50 GI has developed a reputation for accuracy, though this may be due to the high precision of the semi-custom and very expensive Guncrafter pistols themselves. In one test, the 300 grain (19 g) jacketed flatpoint (JFP) gave a 25-yard group of 2.56 inches, and the 300-grain Jacketed hollow point (JHP) and 275-grain JHP gave a 25-yard group of 2.3 inches. The penetration in gelatin (but not necessarily the kinetic energy) of the.50 GI is significantly different than the.45 ACP. While it is one of the few examples of the largest legally allowed calibers in a semiauto handgun, it was purpose built to have a recoil impulse and kinetic energy substantially less than the magnum.50 caliber rounds such as the.50 Action Express (semiautomatic) or.500 S&W Magnum (revolver). Factory-loaded ammunition has a kinetic energy of around 500 ft·lb. The cartridge is not used in law enforcement and rarely for personal defense due to limited availability of ammunition and guns chambered for the cartridge. Currently, the only commercial handguns available in this caliber are Guncrafter Industries' own Colt 1911 handgun variants and its Glock 21/Glock 20 conversion upper receiver, and Magnum Research chambers their BFR revolver in this caliber on a custom basis.
Ballistics
Ballistics
185 gr (12 g) JHP, 1200 ft/s, 591 ft-lb, 222 power factor 275 gr (18 g) JHP, 900 ft/s, 495 ft-lb, 248 power factor 300 gr (19 g) JFP, 700 ft/s, 350 ft-lb, 210 power factor 300 gr (19 g) JHP, 860 ft/s, 493 ft-lb, 258 power factor
Chronology
Dated record
Chronology
The full dated record · 1 entries
2004
50 GI first recorded.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “.50 GI”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q158815:.50 GI
Unverified · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.50GI Proprietary. Ammo-one.com.
- 2.Petty, Charles E. Loading the .50GI. American Handgunner. 28. 171. September–October 2004.
- 3.Guncrafter Industries’ 50 GI 1911 Dream Guns.
- 4..50GI. Brass Fetcher.
- 5.Wound Profiles 45 ACP. FirearmsTactical.com.
- 6.Bowen's .50 GI Revolver. The .50GI Forums.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 1
- Anderson, Dave. Bye Bye .45. Guns. FMG Publications. 48–53. September 2007.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolvedauthority record
Unverified
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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