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.50 BMG cartridge

DraftDraft definitions, under editorial review. Informational content is not legal advice.

This entry is a cited research draft and has not been verified. Where it overlaps a core glossary term, the core definition applies.

Draftclassification

Penal Code section 30525 defines a cartridge designed and intended for a centerfire rifle through four concurrent dimensions: overall length 5.54 inches, bullet diameter .510–.511 inch inclusive, case-base diameter .800–.804 inch inclusive, and case length 3.91 inches. [1] The statute requires all those criteria. [1] This definition supplies the cartridge reference used in section 30530’s separate .50 BMG rifle classification; a caliber label alone is not the complete statutory description. [1]

  1. 1. California Penal Code assault weapon and .50 BMG definitionsretrieved 2026-10-04

Informational only, not legal advice.

See also

  • overall lengthDraft

    A dimensional criterion used in several firearm statutes with different thresholds and scopes.

  • .50 BMG rifleDraft

    Penal Code section 30530 describes a centerfire rifle capable of firing a .50 BMG cartridge that is not already an assault weapon or machinegun.

Terms that use .50 BMG cartridge

About this glossary

This entry is one of 153 defined terms in the CalGunHub glossary of California and federal firearm-law vocabulary. The 11 core terms are short plain-English definitions; the extended terms are cited research drafts, labelled as drafts, with their statutory sources listed under each entry. Every definition here is informational only and is not legal advice.

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Sources retrieved Oct 4, 2026Informational only, not legal adviceDraft entry pending editorial review

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