.500 Linebaugh

The .500 Linebaugh is a .50 caliber handgun cartridge designed for use in revolvers. It is considered one of the most powerful handgun cartridges designed in terms of kinetic energy and power factor (momentum).[1]

.500 Linebaugh
TypeRevolver cartridge
Place of originUnited States
Production history
DesignerJohn Linebaugh
Designed1986
Variants.500 Linebaugh Maximum aka .500 Linebaugh Long
Specifications
Parent case.348 Winchester
Case typeRimmed, straight
Bullet diameter.510 in (13.0 mm)
Neck diameter.540 in (13.7 mm)
Base diameter.553 in (14.0 mm)
Rim diameter.610 in (15.5 mm)
Rim thickness.065 in (1.7 mm)
Case length1.405 in (35.7 mm)
Overall length1.755 in (44.6 mm)
Primer typeLarge rifle
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
435 gr (28 g) L.B.T-L.F.N Buffalo Bore 1,300 ft/s (400 m/s) 1,632 ft⋅lbf (2,213 J)
525 gr (34 g) L.B.T-L.F.N Buffalo Bore 1,100 ft/s (340 m/s) 1,410 ft⋅lbf (1,910 J)
Source(s): http://www.buffalobore.com

History

The .500 Linebaugh cartridge was designed by John Linebaugh of Maryville, Missouri, in 1986. John Linebaugh had been converting .45 Colt six-shooters to five-shot revolvers, thus offering a stronger cylinder which could withstand the firing of higher-pressure .45 Colt ammunition. While this venture was successful, he continued to search for a more powerful cartridge, which resulted in the .500 Linebaugh.[1]

The cartridge case itself was designed by cutting off the .348 Winchester case to 1.405 in (35.7 mm), turning the rim to a diameter of .610 in (15.5 mm) and opening the case mouth to accept a .510 caliber (12.95 mm) bullet. The first revolvers converted to use the .500 Linebaugh were the Ruger Bisley and the Seville revolvers. Due to the demise of the Seville revolvers in the early 1990s, all subsequent conversions have been carried out on revolvers based on the Ruger Bisley frame.[2]

It was when the supply of .348 Winchester cases started running out that John Linebaugh began working on the .475 Linebaugh, which could be formed from the more available .45-70 Government cases. When the Winchester Model 71 was reintroduced in the .348 Winchester, the ability to form .500 Linebaugh cases became again feasible.[1] Today, Starline and Buffalo Bore offer .500 Linebaugh cases which are not dependent on the supply of .348 Winchester cases.

Cartridge design and specifications

The .500 Linebaugh is a proprietary cartridge and thus has not been adopted by mainline firearms manufacturers. Currently the only firearm manufacturer that produces a revolver for this cartridge is Magnum Research (owned by Kahr Firearms Group), in the BFR product line. Prior to January 2019, the only alternative was to have a gunsmith such as John Linebaugh of Linebaugh Custom Six guns and Hamilton Bowen of Bowen Classic Arms convert pre-existing revolvers such as the Ruger Blackhawk and Bisley to fire the cartridge. Hamilton Bowen has been known to have converted the Ruger Redhawk double-action revolver for use with this cartridge.

Due to the proprietary status of the cartridge neither the CIP nor SAAMI have published official specifications for the cartridge. As is the case, there can be some variations from gunsmith to gunsmith. No pressure standard has been published for the cartridge but according to Linebaugh pressures levels between 30,000 psi (2,100 bar) and 35,000 psi (2,400 bar) are considered safe in the converted revolvers.

The cartridge uses .510 in. (12.95 mm) diameter jacketed bullets or .511-.512 in. (12.98-13.01 mm) lead bullets.

Sporting usage

The .500 Linebaugh was designed as a hunting cartridge but would also make excellent backup firearm in areas where large bears may be encountered; particularly in Alaska. It was designed to fire a 440 gr (29 g) bullet at 1,300 ft/s (400 m/s).[3] This particular loading generates 1,650 ft⋅lbf (2,240 J) of energy making this one of the most powerful handgun cartridges put into production. In terms of energy, this is comparable to the .454 Casull cartridge. However, the .500 Linebaugh provides a larger diameter, heavier bullet with a greater sectional density than the .454 Casull. As a hunting cartridge it is capable of taking any North American game animals and most African game species.[1]

Notes
  1. Barnes, Frank C. (2006) [1965]. Skinner, Stan (ed.). Cartridges of the World (11th ed.). Gun Digest Books. p. 278. ISBN 0-89689-297-2.
  2. Quinn, Jeff (23 August 2004). "The .500 Linebaugh". gunblast.com. Gunblast. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  3. ".500 Linebaugh Ammo". Buffalo Bore Ammunition. Archived from the original on 29 December 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
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