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.50 GI

Pistol cartridge

Field	Value
name	.50 GI
image	50giand45auto.png	image_size = 250px
caption	A .50 GI (left) next to a [.45 ACP](45-acp) cartridge.
origin	United States
type	Handgun
designer	Alex Zimmermann
design_date	2004
manufacturer	Guncrafter Industries
production_date	2004–present
case_type	Rebated, straight
bullet	.500
neck	.526
base	.526
rim_dia	.480
case_length	.899
length	1.221
bw3	275
btype3	JHP
vel3	875
en3	468
bw4	300
btype4	TMJ
vel4	700
en4	326
bw1	185
btype1	SCHP
vel1	1200
en1	591
bw2	230
btype2	SCHP
vel2	1000
en2	510
max_pressure	23,000 psi (160 MPa)

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. 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.

Performance

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

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

References

"50GI Proprietary".
Petty, Charles E.. (September–October 2004). "Loading the .50GI".
"Guncrafter Industries’ 50 GI 1911 Dream Guns".
".50GI".
"Wound Profiles 45 ACP".
"Bowen's .50 GI Revolver".

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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