50 GI - opinions

I'm not to impressed with the .50GI.
It's a big, slow cartridge.
Compare it to the other .50 calibered handgun cartridges and you'll see it's very enemic.

If you want a .50 in a 1911, check out the LAR Grizzly Mark V. It's an upscaled 1911 platform chambered in .50AE.

If you want a revolver, you can get Casulls in .50AE and then there's the S&W .500Magnum.

However, (IMO the way to go) you can go bigger than that by getting an AR pistol in .50Beowulf.


That said...
Get a 10mm 1911 instead.
You'll have more fun and versatility with it, than a .50GI 1911.
It'll also be cheaper to shoot.

Agreed, the .50GI is simply a slightly wider .45ACP. Has almost the same muzzle energy, and similar ballistics. If you want a more powerful 1911, get one in 10mm Auto.

Check out the Dan Wesson.

Kimber does make a 10mm 1911.
As does Dan Wesson and Colt is bring back the Delta Elite (10mm 1911).

I think the Dan Wesson is the better buy.

Kimber, Dan Wesson, Colt Delta Elite, there's a few others I'm missing. Or you can get a 1911 in .40S&W, and get a 10mm Auto conversion barrel (which is what I did with my Para Ordnance S16-40 Limited).

better conversion imo.
http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/rowland.htm

I love 1911's but the .50 GI really don't do much for me. If you shoot bowling pin matches it might be the ticket otherwise I don't se much use for it.

I get alot of other gun enthusiasts that feel a little intimidated when i pull out my glock conversion and they have a few negative things to say about it..But before i start getting loud and defensive with them..i try to educate them on the round and its performace versus a .45 or 50AE... The thing that they dont realize is that you get the best of both worlds..Which is you are shooting a huge ass bullet at .50 in diameter with controlability and speeds depending on bullet type going anywhere between 780fps - 1200fps ..How could you go wrong with this? The new copper hollow point 185 grain bullet traveling at 1200fps which is now available to the public has some great reviews from professional companies that have done a full ballistic gelatin test showing expansion and speeds here is a link to one of them.....http://www.brassfetcher.com/index_files/Page729.htm ....For some reason i think wikpedia might need to revamp there facts on this round..someone gave them premature info when the 50gi was just getting started..I personaly own the 185gr copper hollow points and also the 300gr metal jackets..I use the metal jackets as my practice loads and i use the 185gr coppers as personal defense..a few weeks back i took my glock to a friends outdoor range...They couldnt believe the expansion of the 185gr..Next time i will take photos..cuz some people reading this might think im blowing hot air up there ass....It was very impressive shooting them into some wet soggy soapy phone books they expanded about an inch or so..Sorry to those of you who are wondering why the hell did he shoot into soapy soggy phone books.. i was trying to immitate Balistic gelatin lol..Also from previous conversations from the owner of reeds ammo....http://www.reedsammo.com/ ....He will be in the process in the near future to be loading these at 1300fps... he hasnt released the bullet type as of yet to the public..but might be pricing them anywhere between $25-$30 per box of 20..His company make some of the best quality and hottest rounds that i have ever fired through my 454 casual.. this man knows his stuff... This is just the start of an outside company making these fantastic rounds... Sooner or later it will catch on and the more guns and conversion units sold the more potential this caliber will attract loading companies...
For those of you who are 10mm fans..Im also a big fan and owner of a glock29 10mm pistol..Gotta love that magnum power in a auto loading pistol...and also from time to time i will swap my conceal carry 50gi to my 10mm ..either way both calibers will get the job done.. The 50gi basically sweetens the deal a little better just because bigger holes bleed better and also of its rarity and unusual concept of conceal carry that no one expects the average person to pull out when showing off to your buddies at the range.Deffinately an eye opener to those who have never seen one...In conclusion to all of this the 50Gi might not be for everybody but only those who have it know what a controlable spectacular round it is...I believe in the near future it shows potential to be a great main stream caliber like the 45 and 9mm..For those of you who still dont like it..you should give it time and let it build up some credibility just as the .45 did back in its hayday..for me right now it looks great when shot through phones books ..i sure as hell would not like to be on the other end when that thing hits flesh and expands to over an inch.

i saw an episode of "handguns" on the outdoors channel the other day where they were testing out one of those 50gi pistols.

that thing kicks like a mule! and the ammo is extremely expensive and hard to find. i would defenitely pass.

Pass. As DasFriek posted, the .460 Rowland conversion is MUCH more fun and a bit easier to work with. The Guncrafters thing seems more like a rich man's toy: Little to No defensive or hunting value (IMHO), hard to get ammo (if not non-existant) and terrible ballistics compared to the .50 AE. Heck, the .50 AE in a friend's DE was bad enough, this thing would be probably as bad!

Wait, did someone JUST say they conceal one of these conversions? Whoa....

After firing the .460 Rowland, its a fun cartridge with some actual anti-bear and some deer purposes. The .50 GI seems more like a "hey look at me, I am making up for something", sort of like the .500 Smith in the short barreled form (they lose HORRIBLE velocity in short barrels and just make big BOOMS).

460 rowland is a very cool cartridge... I might in future pick one up one of these days... Before i start to reply..my statements on this thread is not to sell or influence anyone on buying this gun/conversion,but to rather educate someone who has no knowledge that has passed incorrect judgment on this round..One thing you must understand after tests and positive results of the 50gi... How can one person go wrong with this caliber? As i can see its not the fact that it looks good on paper or it is proven to work..It seems as though no matter how this cartridge performs the most of you will still dislike it either if it were good or bad.. Its ok to be old fashion and stick to what you know but you should also be more open minded to newer and practical things...The 50gi ammo is also not hard to find... major vendors carry and stock it such as impact guns and many other online stores even my local pawn shop have a few in stock..I usually buy the bulk of my ammo either online or from gunshows..I tend to save more that way... Also other ammo companies will be loading these at lower and higher pressures...So you have the choice to shoot hot or waterdown loads..As for price..The 50gi is almost on par with the .45acp when it comes to self defense loads..for example ...A 20 round box of gold dots might run somewhere between $23-$29 depending where you get them from.. 50gi can run you for a box of 20 anywhere from $21-$36 depending on which self defense load you choose..I am able to state most of these facts because i own and have tested this caliber...