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What is 50 AE Ammo? 🔍
.50 Action Express (AE) is a handgun cartridge developed in the late 1980s by Evan Whildin of Action Arms. It was designed to provide a more powerful cartridge than existing handgun rounds, such as the .45 ACP. It is primarily used in semi-automatic pistols such as the Desert Eagle, a large, gas-operated pistol capable of firing both .50 AE and .44 Magnum cartridges.
Features 💣
- ⚫️ Bullet diameter ➔ .500 inches
- ⚪️ Bullet weight ➔ 300 grains
- ⚫️ Muzzle velocity ➔ 1,500 feet per second
- ⚪️ Case type ➔ Straight-walled, rimless
- ⚫️ Case Material ➔ Brass
- ⚪️ Primer type ➔ Large pistol primer
Benefits 👍🏻
🔰 Large bullet diameter provides excellent stopping power. |
🔰 High muzzle velocity ensures reliable penetration. |
🔰 Heavy bullet weight provides deep penetration. |
🔰 Straight-walled case design improves reliability in semi-automatic firearms. |
🔰 Rimless case design allows for smooth feeding and ejection. |
🔰 Brass case material is durable and corrosion-resistant. |
What are the types of 50 AE Ammo? 🔢
There are several types of 50 AE ammo, including:
- 1️⃣ Full metal jacket (FMJ):
🔸 These bullets have a copper jacket covering the lead core and are primarily used for target shooting and plinking.
- 2️⃣ Jacketed hollow point (JHP):
🔸 These bullets have a hollow cavity in the nose of the bullet and are designed to expand upon impact, making them suitable for hunting and self-defense.
- 3️⃣ Semi-jacketed hollow point (SJHP):
🔸 These bullets have a partial jacket that covers only the lower portion of the bullet, leaving the nose exposed for expansion upon impact. SJHP bullets are suitable for hunting and self-defense.
- 4️⃣ Total metal jacket (TMJ):
🔸 Similar to FMJ bullets, TMJ bullets have a copper jacket covering the lead core but have an additional layer of copper plating covering the base of the bullet, which reduces lead exposure and fouling in the barrel.
🎥 Watch the video to learn more:
📢 The type of 50 AE ammo that is best for you will depend on your intended use and shooting preferences.
Our Selection 5 Best 🔥 50 Action Express Ammo – Editor’s Choice
1# 50 Action Express – 300 Grain XTP JHP – Armscor USA
If you’re looking for quality 50 Action Express ammunition at an affordable price, then Armscor USA’s 50 Action Express – 300 Grain XTP JHP is a good option for you. These rounds of ammunition come in boxer-primed brass casings and feature 300-grain XTP jacketed hollow point bullets, making them ideal for deer and wild boar hunting. With Armscor USA’s 50 Action Express – 300 Grain XTP JHP, you’ll get the same great performance as the big brand names, but at a fraction of the cost.
2# 50 Action Express – 300 Grain SP – Federal Fusion
Notice a high-powered round that can take down even the toughest game – the Federal Fusion 50 Action Express. This round is loaded with a 300-grain soft point bullet that is sure to deliver a powerful punch. The nickel-plated brass casing is boxer-primed and provides reliable ignition. With a muzzle velocity of 1500 fps, this round has the power you need to take down even the biggest game.
3# 50 Action Express – 300 Grain XTP JHP – Hornady Custom
Do you want some serious firepower? Then look at the Hornady 50 Action Express – 300 Grain XTP JHP. This impressive round packs a real punch, with a bullet that is designed for extreme terminal performance. It’s perfect for big game hunting, self-defense, or even taking down a wild boar. So if you need a round that can do it all, the Hornady 50 Action Express is the one for you.
4# 50 Action Express – 300 Grain Fusion Soft Point – Federal Premium
Presenting the Federal Premium’s Fusion Handgun. This premium ammunition features the same molecularly fused bullet construction as its rifle counterparts, providing the toughness, accuracy, and terminal performance short-barrel hunters seek. Additionally, the loads’ bullet weights and velocities have been optimized for maximum lethality on deer, without punishing the shooter. So go ahead and demand more from your handgun hunting loads – with Fusion Handgun, you can have it all.
5# 50 Action Express – 300 Grain eXtreme Terminal Performance – Hornady
Searching for some of the most powerful and dependable ammunition on the market? Then pay attention to the Hornady’s Custom .50 Action Express 300 Grain eXtreme Terminal Performance Centerfire Pistol Ammo. This top-of-the-line ammunition is perfect for any shooter wanting to cash in on some serious firepower, as the majority of the cases found in this line of ammo are from 50 ACP chambers. You can depend on Hornady bullets to be accurate and consistent every time you pull the trigger.
How to choose the best 50 AE ammo? 💡
When choosing the best 50 AE ammo, there are several factors to consider:
- 1️⃣ Purpose ⟹ Will it be used for target shooting, self-defense, or hunting?
- 2️⃣ Bullet Type ⟹ Full metal jacket (FMJ) bullets are suitable for target shooting and plinking, while jacketed hollow point (JHP) or semi-jacketed hollow point (SJHP) bullets are better suited for self-defense and hunting.
- 3️⃣ Bullet Weight ⟹ Heavier bullets provide deeper penetration, while lighter bullets offer faster muzzle velocities and flatter trajectories.
- 4️⃣ Velocity ⟹ Higher velocities generally provide better terminal performance and accuracy, but may also increase recoil.
- 5️⃣ Brand ⟹ Choose a reputable brand that is known for producing high-quality ammunition. Look for reviews and recommendations from other shooters.
- 6️⃣ Cost ⟹ Higher quality and specialized ammo may be more expensive, but may offer better performance for specific purposes.
📌 Ultimately, the best 50 AE ammo will depend on your intended use, shooting preferences, and budget.
FAQ 🤔
Conclusion ⏰
50 Action Express ammunition is a powerful round favored by many shooters for its accuracy and stopping power. In this article, we’ve compiled the best ammo on the market to help you find the perfect load for your needs. We’ve also included some tips on shooting and reloading AE rounds to help you get the most out of your ammo. We hope this information was useful for you. Thanks for reading! 😉
I have a fondness for each of these calibers, and I appreciate the performance they offer. However, I struggle to trust the advertised specifications for the Federal Fusion ammunition in my calibers. The recoil produced by the same-weight bullets seems to suggest that they are lighter than other specialized rounds, such as those made by Hornady. That being said, the Armscor rounds perform well in my 357 magnums. I particularly enjoy using the Fusion ammunition for my 500 magnums because of its cost-effectiveness. It is often priced at $20 less than competing brands.
Personally, I’ve never found the standard pistol-caliber XTP loadings to be very impressive. While they do offer good penetration, I feel that FMJs are better suited for that purpose. Instead, I’ve had great results with the Speer Gold Dots in .50AE. These rounds were able to penetrate five jugs while also expanding nicely upon impact.
Based on my experience, Armscor ammunition has consistently performed exceptionally well in all the firearms I have used.
Is this ammo legal in California?
✅ According to California law, it is legal to own and possess .50 AE ammunition, ❌ but it is illegal to use it for hunting.
⚠️ Additionally, some cities and counties in California may have their own specific regulations regarding firearms and ammunition, so it is always advisable to check with the local authorities before purchasing or possessing any firearms or ammunition.
Speaking from personal experience, I have found Hornady ammunition to be excellent. I have fired two boxes without any jamming issues. In contrast, I did experience a jam within the first four shots using Fusion ammunition. While Hornady XTP rounds are priced at around $1.48 per round, I still think it’s a reasonable cost for the quality they provide.
disagree with you. from my experience Fusion ammo showed excellent performance without jamming, as well as Hornady, to be honest
If I had to pick the absolute best round for its expansion, mass retention, high power, and reliable expansion performance round after round, I would have to go with Federal HST Ammo. In my opinion, it currently reigns as the top ammunition choice available.
Hey, want to buy some ammo, but I wonder what is more powerful 44 magnum or 50 ae?
⚖️ Both .44 Magnum and .50 AE (Action Express) are powerful cartridges designed for handguns, with the .50 AE being the larger of the two.
💣 In terms of raw power, the .50 AE is generally considered to be more powerful than the .44 Magnum due to its larger bullet diameter and higher energy transfer upon impact. The .50 AE typically fires a 300-grain bullet at around 1,500 feet per second, whereas the .44 Magnum fires a 240-grain bullet at around 1,200 feet per second.
I recently purchased a couple of boxes of inexpensive 50AE ammunition to test out with my Desert Eagle. I had to try them out since they were priced under $30 and I don’t reload my own ammunition. To my surprise, these rounds performed exceptionally well. I compared them against the branded Hornady XTP and MRI’s own comparable 300-grain hollow-point ammunition and found that the three were virtually indistinguishable in terms of function and feel. These rounds expanded effectively and delivered their energy without issue. Additionally, they cycled flawlessly and didn’t cause any feeding or cycling problems. To top it off, I found that they were no dirtier than the big-name brands. I would not hesitate to buy these rounds again, and I am actually here to purchase more. Overall, I wanted to share a positive review of this great product.