The .50 GI (Guncrafter Industries) cartridge is a large-caliber handgun round developed by Guncrafter Industries in 2004. It was designed for use in the Guncrafter Industries Model No. 1, a custom 1911-style semiautomatic pistol. The .50 GI is notable for its .50-inch diameter bullet, which is substantially larger than more common handgun rounds like the .45 ACP.
The .50 GI offers a range of bullet weights, typically from 185 to 300 grains. Depending on the configuration, it can achieve velocities between 700 and 1,200 feet per second. This allows for a variety of ballistic performances, from subsonic rounds ideal for suppressed firing to faster rounds designed for increased stopping power.
Use cases for the .50 GI include personal defense, where its large bullets can provide significant stopping power, and hunting, specifically for bringing down medium-sized game due to its higher kinetic energy. The cartridge is less common and generally used by enthusiasts and professionals familiar with custom or rare firearms.
The .50 GI remains niche due to its limited availability and the specialized nature of the firearms designed for it, but it is respected for its impact and adaptability to a range of shooting scenarios.