The .50 GI 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. 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 jacketed flatpoint gave a 25-yard group of 2.24 inches, and the 300-grain Jacketed hollow point and 275-grain JHP gave a 25-yard group of 2.14 inches. The penetration in gelatin of the.50 GI is significantly different than the.45 ACP. While it is one of the few examples of the largest legally allowed caliber projectile 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 or.500 S&W Magnum. 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 JHP, 1200 ft/s, 591 ft-lb, 222 Power Factor
