50 Action Express

Freedom Arms offered a discount on a 50AE cylinder fitted to a 500WE frame which I took advantage along with laminated wood grips. I did not know much about the cartridge until recently and have to say I was impressed with its ballistics. Very impressed... At this point I don`t intend to handload the 50AE
as its made for a semi auto and bought factory ammo of different weights. Underwood 300 and 325 grain JHP`s.. Hornady 300gr XTP.. Fusion 300gr JHP and Magnum Research 350gr JSP.. The Underwood 325gr JHP has a listed MV of 1475fps... That my friends is power...No need to download my 500WE for deer or boar cause all that power, in a spec load, is not needed for medium game if you place your bullet correctly. Anyone here used the 50AE??

No but is has caught my interest before. There was a article several years ago about a company building custom Rugers in .50 A&E. It nagged me for a while but not enough to do anything about it. I will be watching to see what you do with it.

I have definitely used the 50 Action Express, and not just a little bit either. I have taken many medium and big game animals with a 50 AE. I read an article in the 1995 Handguns Annual written by John Taffin about the Freedom Arms 555, and I had to have one. The Freedom Arms Model 555 was my first "high dollar" single action revolver. It was my gateway drug to big bore handgun power. Make NO mistake, the 50 Action Express, is a powerful pistol round. I had read about "maybe" having problems with bullets slipping in the cylinder due to it being a semi automatic round....I never had a problem with that....not at all. I have reloading data that will satisfy anyone's craving for revolver pistol power. I liked the 50 AE enough to get a Competitor Single Shot and an SSK Encore chambered in that round. It is a very formidable pistol round, plain and simple.

I had a 10 inch Encore chambered in 50 AE. I used it to take a few animals including groundhogs,deer,and hogs. It was plenty accurate and powerful with the Speer factory load featuring a bonded 325 grain HP at 1520 fps from my gun. I prefer the Contender platform and never took to the Encore. I traded my 50 AE away, but have in the past considered a BFR so chambered.

I have the following guns chambered in 50 AE: DE,6"; FA355,4"; FA355,7"; BFR,6"; AMT MkV; T/C Encore,10". I have fired them extensively over the years and have used the cartridge on game: ground squirrels, rabbits, antelope, deer, 1 elk. Excellent results on all, generally 1 shot kills (I know a 300 to 350 gr. bullet on a ground squirrel is a bit much!). Initially had bullet jump on heavy loads; however, reducing the expander ball to 0.496" - 0.497" solved the problem for both cast and jacketed projectiles.

Doc

Doc, Never knew you were that much of a 50AE shooter. I also never knew just how much power the cartridge is capable of until I read up on Ballistic 101. The only factory 44 mag that came close to the 50AE was Garretts 330gr Hammerhead load comparing both cartridges on that site....

My Son-n-Law has both a Desert Eagle and a BFR in 50 AE. They are both surprisingly accurate. Killed a couple of Texas deer with the BFR. Good round.

Have been working loads up with the Berrys 300 and 350 grain TCJ bullets. Priced right and shoot terrific.

Doc

Just as you have discovered the 500 AE for your revolver. I have discovered Starline 500 S&W Special brass for use in my BFR Bisley 500 JRH.

Internally, The 2 cartridges are identical. Just wish I had a spare cylinder for the 500 Special. Brass is easily obtainable.