The .50 Beowulf is a powerful cartridge requiring meticulous attention to detail during the handloading process to ensure safety and optimal performance. This comprehensive guide provides all the necessary specifications, safety warnings, and detailed load data derived directly from Alexander Arms to assist handloaders. Please review all safety instructions and case dimensions carefully before proceeding with your reloading process.
Comprehensive .50 Beowulf Reloading Data Table
| Bullet | Primer | Overall Length | Powder | Minimum Charge Weight (grains) | Minimum Charge Velocity (FPS) | Maximum Charge Weight (grains) | Maximum Charge Velocity (FPS) |
| Alexander Arms* 240g copper split hollow-point | CCI #350 | 2.100″ | Hodgdon® Lil’Gun® | 35.8 | 2,120 | 38.2 | 2,240 |
| Alexander Arms* 240g copper split hollow-point | CCI #350 | 2.100″ | Hodgdon® H110® | 40.0 | 2,090 | 41.6 | 2,150 |
| Alexander Arms* 240g copper split hollow-point | CCI #350 | 2.100″ | Alliant Powder® 2400® | 35.0 | 1,920 | 42.0 | 2,235 |
| Alexander Arms* 240g copper split hollow-point | CCI #350 | 2.100″ | IMR® 4227 | 42.1 | 2,102 | 43.0 | 2,160 |
| Speer™ 300g Gold Dot (DCHP) | CCI #350 | 2.085″ | Hodgdon® Lil’Gun® | 33.4 | 1,832 | 40.0 | N/A |
| Speer™ 300g Gold Dot (DCHP) | CCI #350 | 2.085″ | IMR® 4227 | 39.0 | 1,734 | 44.2 | 2,052 |
| Speer™ 300g Gold Dot (DCHP) | CCI #350 | 2.085″ | Hodgdon® H4227M | N/A | N/A | 38.5 | N/A |
| Speer™ 300g Gold Dot (DCHP) | CCI #350 | 2.085″ | Alliant Powder® 2400® | 37.6 | 1,816 | 39.3 | 1,963 |
| SinterFire® 300g leadfree-frangible | CCI #350 | 2.220″ | Hodgdon® Lil’Gun® | 33.4 | 1,832 | 40.0 | N/A |
| SinterFire® 300g leadfree-frangible | CCI #350 | 2.220″ | Accurate® 1680® | N/A | N/A | 48.0 | N/A |
| Barnes® 325g XM copper hollow-point | CCI #350 | 2.153″ | Accurate® 1680® | N/A | N/A | 46.0 | N/A |
| Speer™ 325g hollow-point (DCHP) | CCI #350 | 2.100″ | IMR® 4227 | 40.9 | 1,660 | 42.5 | 1,803 |
| Speer™ 325g hollow-point (DCHP) | CCI #350 | 2.100″ | Alliant Powder® 2400® | 37.3 | 1,799 | 38.8 | 1,861 |
| Speer™ 325g hollow-point (DCHP) | CCI #350 | 2.100″ | Hodgdon® Lil’Gun® | 33.1 | 1,766 | 38.0 | 1,995 |
| Speer™ 325g hollow-point (DCHP) | CCI #350 | 2.100″ | VihtaVuori N120 | N/A | N/A | 48.0 | 1,780 |
| Speer™ 325g hollow-point (DCHP) | CCI #350 | 2.100″ | Hodgdon® H110® | N/A | N/A | 42.0 | 1,850 |
| Rainier 335g flat-point full metal jacket | CCI #350 | 2.110″ | Hodgdon® Lil’Gun® | 36.0 | N/A | 37.7 | 1,900 |
| Rainier 335g hollow-point | CCI #350 | 2.110″ | Hodgdon® Lil’Gun® | 36.0 | N/A | 37.7 | 1,900 |
| Power Belt®** 348g Aerotip™ | CCI #350 | 2.160″ | Hodgdon® Lil’Gun® | 34.0 | N/A | 35.5 | N/A |
| Hornady® 350g XTP® | CCI #350 | 2.110″ | Alliant Powder® 2400® | 31.8 | 1,614 | 34.0 | 1,715 |
| Hornady® 350g XTP® | CCI #350 | 2.110″ | Alliant Powder® Reloder® 7 | 48.0 | 1,696 | 51.0 | 1,821 |
| Hornady® 350g XTP® | CCI #350 | 2.110″ | Hodgdon® Lil’Gun® | 33.0 | 1,725 | 35.4 | 1,850 |
| Alexander Arms* 350g brass spitzer | CCI #350 | 2.240″ | IMR® 4227 | 33.5 | 1,467 | 35.2 | 1,600 |
| Alexander Arms* 350g brass spitzer | CCI #350 | 2.240″ | Hodgdon® Lil’Gun® | 30.2 | 1,590 | 32.0 | 1,723 |
| Sierra 350g JHP | CCI #350 | 2.110″ | Hodgdon® Lil’Gun® | 33.0 | 1,730 | 35.4 | 1,870 |
| Sierra 350g JHP | CCI #350 | 2.110″ | Hodgdon® H4227M | N/A | N/A | 38.5 | N/A |
| Alexander Arms* 385g brass hollow-point | CCI #350 | 2.250″ | IMR® 4227 | 31.8 | 1,396 | 33.0 | 1,513 |
| Hawk 400g JSP | CCI #350 | 2.180″ | Hodgdon® H4198® | 45.0 | 1,612 | 48.4 | 1,820 |
| Hawk 400g JSP | CCI #350 | 2.180″ | Alliant Powder® Reloder® 7 | 47.2 | 1,542 | 48.0 | 1,710 |
| Sierra 400g | CCI #350 | 2.180″ | Alliant Powder® Reloder® 7 | N/A | N/A | 48.6 | 1,738 |
| Power Belt®** 420g DG steel-tip | CCI #350 | 2.240″ | Accurate® 1680® | N/A | N/A | 45.2 | N/A |
| Power Belt®** 420g DG steel-tip | CCI #350 | 2.240″ | Alliant Powder® Reloder® 7 | N/A | N/A | 45.0 | N/A |
| Sierra 500g | CCI #350 | 2.180″ | Alliant Powder® Reloder® 7 | N/A | N/A | 40.0 | 1,450 |
| Power Belt®** 530g DG steel-tip | CCI #350 | 2.240″ | Alliant Powder® Reloder® 7 | N/A | N/A | 37.7 | N/A |
Notes on Projectiles:
- Indicates Alexander Arms purpose-designed projectiles.
- You must remove the plastic belt from these projectiles before loading.
.50 Beowulf Reloading Data
Ammunition reloading can be dangerous if done improperly and should not be attempted by persons unwilling to read and follow instructions exactly. It is expected that the person reloading is proficient in reloading or is acting under the supervision of an experienced reloader.
Safety Precautions:
- Children should not be permitted to reload ammunition without strict parental supervision.
- Always wear safety glasses when reloading and shooting.
- New and reloaded ammunition should only be used in modern guns in good condition.
- Primers and gun powders, like gasoline and matches, can be dangerous if handled improperly or misused.
- Please read your reloading dies instructions set before proceeding.
- We do not accept responsibility for any reloaded ammunition as we have no control over the manufacture and storage of components or the loading procedure and techniques.
- Note: This data comprises all available reloading data developed or confirmed by Alexander Arms. If you wish to use different materials and cannot find a matching load here, there is no such information to offer.
Case and Dimensional Specifications:
- Primer: .50 Beowulf® ammunition requires large pistol magnum primers.
- Case Length: The minimum case length is 1.644 inches. The maximum case length is 1.655 inches.
- Brass Preparation: New brass does not require resizing before use.
- Projectile Diameter: 0.500 inches.
- Crimping: Ensure that the taper crimp allows the round to chamber easily. Do not over-crimp!
FAQs
Where can I find .50 Beowulf reloading data?
Reliable data can be found in the Lyman 50th Edition Handbook, the Hornady Reloading Handbook, Alexander Arms’ official literature, and specialized manufacturer PDFs like those from Inceptor Ammunition.
What powders are used in published .50 Beowulf data?
Common powders include Hodgdon Lil’ Gun, H4227, H110, Alliant 2400, Alliant Blue Dot, and Alliant Reloder 7 (RL-7).
What bullet weights have .50 Beowulf reloading data?
Published data exists for bullets ranging from lightweight 200-grain monolithic projectiles up to heavy 500-grain jacketed flat points.
What is the best source for .50 Beowulf reloading data?
The Lyman 50th Edition Handbook and the Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading are among the best offline sources, while Alexander Arms provides the most authoritative online reference material.
Why does .50 Beowulf reloading data vary between sources?
Variations occur due to differences in bullet profile, primer choice, case capacity (brass thickness), test barrel tolerances, and atmospheric conditions during pressure testing.
Does barrel length affect .50 Beowulf velocity?
Yes, but less severely than bottleneck rifle cartridges. A 12-inch SBR barrel will typically lose about 100 fps compared to a standard 16-inch barrel when firing heavy 300+ grain bullets.
Can the same powder charge be used with a different bullet?
No. Even if two bullets weigh the same, differences in bearing surface and seating depth will drastically alter internal case pressure.
What is the difference between starting and maximum published load data?
The starting load is the safe baseline for working up a load, while the maximum load is the absolute pressure ceiling tested by the ballistic laboratory. Exceeding the maximum load can destroy the firearm.
Where can I find pressure-tested .50 Beowulf data?
Pressure-tested data is available directly from major reloading manuals like Hornady and Lyman, as well as official data sheets from projectile manufacturers like Inceptor.
Does Hodgdon publish .50 Beowulf reloading data?
Yes, Hodgdon powders (specifically Lil’ Gun and H4227) are heavily featured in .50 Beowulf reloading data published in association with Alexander Arms and other projectile makers.
Does Hornady publish .50 Beowulf reloading data?
Yes, starting with their 8th Edition Handbook, Hornady provides comprehensive data for their 300, 350, and 500-grain projectiles.
Does Nosler publish .50 Beowulf reloading data?
Nosler’s traditional reloading manuals have historically focused on their own proprietary bottleneck rifle cartridges and standard pistol calibers. Dedicated .50 Beowulf load data is better sourced from Hornady, Lyman, or Alexander Arms.
Does Alexander Arms publish .50 Beowulf data?
Yes, Alexander Arms, the creator of the cartridge, publishes authoritative load data for a wide variety of bullets and powder combinations, including specialty muzzleloader projectiles.