Cartridge profile · 1890s · British

.500 Nitro Express 3"

Big double-rifle stopper for elephant and buffalo charges.

Good for: Africa, Double rifle

A typical factory load is a 570 gr solid bullet at about 2,150 ft/s, with roughly 5,850 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle.

Typical load

570 grsolid

Muzzle speed

2,150 ft/s

Muzzle energy

5,850 ft-lbs

Typical BC (G1)

≈ 0.33typical, varies by brand

Twist rate

1:15

Practical range

100 yd

Point-blank range

209 yd6" vital zone

Recommended platform

Double rifle, 11–12 lbVery heavy recoil

On the Big-Bore & Dangerous Game chart

Made for

Big double-rifle stopper for elephant and buffalo charges.Africa · Double rifle

Typical load

570 grsolid

Typical muzzle fps

2,150ft/s

Typical muzzle energy

5,850ft-lbs

Typical BC (G1)

≈ 0.33typical, varies by brand

Twist rate for typical load

1:15

Practical range

100 yd

MPBR

209 yd6" vital zone · Near zero 19 yd · Far zero 179 yd · Min PBR 0 yd · Max PBR 209 yd · Sight-in @100 3.00" high

Recommended platform

Double rifle, 11–12 lbVery heavy recoil

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Speed, energy and BC are typical figures for the listed load; real numbers vary by brand, lot and barrel length. Always check the ammo maker's data for your exact load.