The Big Horn Armory AR500 Auto Max Pistol Model is Back!

Introduced in 2018, Big Horn Armory has made some upgrades to its AR500 Pistol for 2020.

Cody, Wyo. (June 2020) – Big Horn Armory, makers of big-bore firearms, is pleased to announce it has reintroduced the AR500 Pistol for 2020. Based on the BHA AR500 Rifle, the most powerful AR firearm, the AR500 Pistol is a large frame AR chambered in 500 Auto Max, a rimless .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum. This puts an unparalleled amount of power into the pleasant shooting, rapid firing, exceptionally compact platform. The new pistol has been updated and upgraded with a new Blade® pistol brace and M-lok handguard and also includes an ambidextrous safety and charging handle to make shooting it even more enjoyable. You can watch the video on the AR500 Pistol here:


“The original pistol version of our AR500 was great, but we knew we could improve upon it and make it even better,” Greg Buchel, president of Big Horn Armory, said. “After listening to our customers, and performing tests on our end of the new M-Lok handguard and Blade pistol brace, we knew we had created an even better version of our compact AR500 without compromising on the quality our customers expect out of our big bore firearms. We believe our customers will enjoy what the new AR500 Pistol can achieve.”

Built using lightweight black hard coat anodized 7075 aluminum receivers with a 10-inch nitrated barrel, full-length Picatinny rail, M-lok handguard and blade pistol brace, the new AR500 Pistol packs a punch yet felt recoil is similar to a .308. It comes with one five round magazine, but additional five- and nine-round magazines are available for purchase at www.bighornarmory.com.

Its size makes it ideal for SWAT officers, military, or private security use for vehicle carry or as a powerful breaching weapon capable of clearing any obstruction, including bulletproof glass. It is also perfect for hunters wanting a more compact, but powerful platform for big game, whether in a vehicle or on horseback.

The 500 Auto Max was developed by Big Horn Armory using a 500 S&W rimless straight walled casing with the same ballistics. It is capable of feeding and firing any .500 diameter bullet between 200 and 700 grains. The AR500 has an adjustable gas block to allow the user to run subsonic loads using a suppressor.
500 Auto Max ammunition is currently shipping from Buffalo Bore, Steinel Ammunition, and Underwood Ammo, with brass available from Starline Brass. It is also available at Midway USA.

Big Horn Armory AR500 Pistol Specifications:
  • Caliber: 500 Auto Max
  • Rate of Twist: 1 in 24
  • Barrel Length: 10 inches
  • Muzzle: Threaded
  • Crown: Recessed
  • Butt Stock: Pistol Brace
  • Fore-end: Forearm brace
  • Action Materials: 7075 Aluminum hard anodized
  • Metal Finishes: Hunter Black Nitride on SS parts
  • Swing Swivel Mounts: Integral rear
  • Mag Capacity: Five
  • Overall Length: Varies
  • Weight: 8.1 lbs.
  • MSRP: $2,199.00
For more on Big Horn Armory, visit www.bighornarmory.com or any of their social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter.

About Big Horn Armory:
Big Horn Armory was founded in 2008 with the expressed intention of designing a Browning-type lever-action gun chambered in 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum. The Big Horn Armory Model 89, made in America, closely follows the work of John Browning with refinements courtesy of modern metallurgy and machining capabilities. The first rifles began shipping in September of 2012 and since then, BHA has added to their big bore lineup with a Model 90 Carbine in 460 S&W, the Model 90A in 454 Casull, the Model 90B in .45 Colt, the Model 89A in 500 Linebaugh and the Model 89B in .475 Linebaugh. In 2017, Big Horn Armory took a departure from its lever-action series and developed the AR500 Auto Max, the most powerful short-range, semi-auto based on an AR .308 platform.