50 is 50 is 50 is 50

[Harley Quinn]

Not so sure we have been insulted to be honest Ben, The DE is heavy around 4 lbs similar to shooters that fire the 500 S&W round...The 50 GI is 2 lbs or so...

THe DE handles the 440 Corbon better than the 50 AE...The 440 Corbon is a heck of a round putting a 240 grain down range at 1800 fps and similar energy

http://zvis.com/dep/articles/aevscorb.shtml 50 AE vs 440 C....

There is no way in sin you can control the recoil but you can work with it and in no way is it too much or bothersome. I'd much rather shoot the DE over-and-over than most revolvers I've used.

The 50 AE and 500 S&W are hunting rounds and the 50 GI is still in the league of the 45ACP...

The only confusion here is in the OP and others who don't understand that...

Sort of like, talking about 500 hp veh compared to a 200 hp or less

 

[Ben86]

Not so sure we have been insulted to be honest Ben

Well I hope not, I appreciate someone buying those silly guns so I can try them out.

 

[ForumSurfer]

Sort of like, talking about 500 hp veh compared to a 200 hp or less

Nah, your analogy is all off and making the 50 GI sound less burlesque than it is...the 50 GI is still a torque turning, jacked up, 4wd turbo diesel pickup truck while the 50AE is more like a gigantic dump truck in a rock quarry.

 

[Harley Quinn]

Ok

 

[Sam1911]

less burlesque

Are you sure that's the word you meant?

 

[Harley Quinn]

I have been looking around for the benefits of the 50 GI, I can see the 185 grain bullet, but all else fails to impress me Plus the extra recoil in that particular config. is not good...Heavier bullet heavier recoil, as a rule

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.50_GI

Next would be where do you get the 185 ammo or bullets easily...I could look more but asking the ones who own it/shoot it, if there are really any here

 

[NG VI]

Sam I don't think it is but it's cracking me up over here.

I don't think it's a bad analogy, if anything it might give the GI too much credit.

 

[ForumSurfer]

Are you sure that's the word you meant?

lol...no, it isn't. Burly is what I meant. No more multi-tasking and posting for me!

I don't think it's a bad analogy, if anything it might give the GI too much credit.

I have been looking around for the benefits of the 50 GI, I can see the 185 grain bullet, but all else fails to impress me Plus the extra recoil in that particular config. is not good...Heavier bullet heavier recoil, as a rule

Exactly...the 50 gi and the giant, jacked up 4x4 turbo diesel (as compared to a regular turbo diesel for hauling) both look impressive in person and on paper...but both come with drawbacks and don't add much value. One is a pain to put gas in and now it sits up too high to hook your trailer to it. The other is a pain to purchase reloading supplies for and is hard to find a weapon to fire it in.

 

[NG VI]

http://zvis.com/dep/articles/aevscorb.shtml 50 AE vs 440 C....

Whoa...

About Cor-bon:
Cor-bon is a company that produces high velocity and energy ammunition. Pushing the limits of legality while being very safe. And yes, Cor-bon ammo is more expensive.

How does any ammunition company push the limits of legality? I've got to go let the dogs out, so I haven't read further than that first line, but that's a bad start.

 

[Justin]

i wonder if you say the same about the rediculous Large revolvers flying around now a days? In my opinion any person could carry (with comfort and concealed) with a good holster a 6" Desert Eagle easier than a few revolvers I have seen of late anyday of the week.

I've not tried carrying either a Desert Eagle nor a large-bore magnum revolver. I would submit that neither of those would appear anywhere on my list of "Guns I'd Consider Carrying."

In any case, it seems to me that some of the people who buy large-bore magnums do so for the same reasons that some people buy Hummer H2s with lift kits; not out of any need for something practical, but more as a status symbol of some sort.

Next would be where do you get the 185 ammo or bullets easily...I could look more but asking the ones who own it/shoot it, if there are really any here

As a general rule of thumb, when you start looking at buying guns chambered in exotic cartridges, it means you're going to have your ammunition selection and availability severely curtailed. If you're lucky there will be a couple of online retailers who may stock some ammunition in that caliber, but for the most part, if you want ammo in particular configuration, you'll have to load it yourself.

Basically, if you're interested in buying a gun chambered in something like 50 GI, once you've gotten past the price of the gun/conversion kit, you really ought to factor in the cost of a setup to load ammunition in that caliber as well: dies, tool head, powder drop, bullets, and cases.

Since the caliber isn't commonly available, it's unlikely you'll find dies and components locally, and you'll probably have to special order them from the manufacturer, or some guy who lives in a cave and makes no more than ten sets of dies in a year.

 

[orionengnr]

I don't know how those big DPX bullets work for the .50 GI, but I'm guessing they went with a four-petal design to reduce drag and increase penetration.

Well, for starters, it's not a DPX. It is machined by GI, and is a DPX-like-bullet.

We also offer the bullets for sale for those who prefer to load their own ammunition. Each bullet is individually turned on a high precision CNC lathe, resulting in a dimensional consistency that is absolutely astounding. Consequently, our new CHP ammunition/bullets are also exceptionally accurate.

Next, factory ammo is available at different levels. 300 gr at 720, 275 at 890, 300 at 860.

Better yet, handloading data for the .50GI exists that will put the 300 grain at 850-880 FPS. I have not done the math on the energy or momentum levels, but that is a substantial increase.

The brass is pricey...about 40 cents per. That is a definite downside (so keep track of where they go...I do, much like my 10mm brass). Bullets (if you buy them from GI) are picey as well. Buying or handloading SD ammo will not be cheap. But 'most any .50 cal lead bullet will work for range ammo.

There is also data for 325 gr at 799 FPS. It's not .50AE level power, but it is useable in a 1911 sized handgun...and the GI is available in a Commander size, too.

To me that's the difference between a range toy and a carry-able pistol. Yes, it's an expensive carry pistol, but not much moreso than a Wilson/Brown/Baer/etc. Also, the .50GI is also available with a .45 conversion kit, so you can shoot it at the range as a .45acp and carry it as a .45 or as a .50.

I am not going to post loading data here, but if you PM me, I will forward the references.

The .50 GI is a real world carry .50 caliber 1911. The recoil is approximately equal to a 230 gr .45+P. In a full (or Commander)sized steel framed 1911, that is nothing.

Yeah, it's pricey. But it is a pretty neat cartridge, and a pretty clever approach to putting a big bore cartridge into an every day sized pistol.

If you are a 1911 fan, don't take my word for it; read a few reviews on the .50 GI. I did, before I bought mine. The consensus seems to be that the Guncrafter Industries 1911 is every bit the equal of a Wilson or Brown in quality, perhaps moreso.

I cannot speak to that as I own neither...but I have handled both. I own a Baer and a DW (some would say "the next step down"; others might disagree.

One day I will own each. Give me a bit. In the mean time, I find the .50 GI to be an interesting and "somewhat practical" extension of the 1911 concept (much the same way that I find the 10mm).

YMMV. And if you are not a 1911 guy, I'm sure it will.

 

[Harley Quinn]

As mentioned the 185 is my choice if ever inclined...
Ballistic performance
Bullet weight/type Velocity Energy
185 gr (12.0 g) SCHP 1,200 ft/s (370 m/s) 591 ft·lbf (801 J)
230 gr (15 g) SCHP 1,000 ft/s (300 m/s) 510 ft·lbf (690 J)
275 gr (17.8 g) JHP 875 ft/s (267 m/s) 468 ft·lbf (635 J)
300 gr (19 g) TMJ 700 ft/s (210 m/s) 326 ft·lbf (442 J)

It appears it would be a reloader situation

Others reload for economy etc... Of course that is one thing that is a given when entering into this kind of cartridge and shooting IMHO...

Be interesting to see the pressures comparing the 185 at 12.0 g and the 230 at 15 g If that is right, means you could go a little higher for better performance in the 185

Since no mention is made about powder it becomes a guesstiment

 

[Loosedhorse]

the .50 GI probably has more utility

This is a somehwat silly statement, as it all depends on what type of utility we're talking about.

For CCW self-defense, it can easily be argued that neither has utility, as there are for both much less expensive, at least equally effective alternatives readily available. But true, in this narrow context you'd have to give the nod to the .50 GI, either in its GI (1911) platform, as as a slide replacement for a Glock 20 or 21. And part of that nod is because the .50AE was never intended for SD, so no big surprise there.

Other "utilities" could include OC or home SD, defense against large animals, hunting, collecting...and fun.

When I was looking at .50s years back there were three, all .50 AEs: AMT, Grizzly, and IMI. If you know what the AMT and Grizzly looked like, perhaps you understand why I went IMI.

Haven't hunted with it, or used it as bear back up. As an older IMI registered in MA it has some collector appreciation. It has remained chiefly a range toy; it's pretty predictable that when I take it out, someone will wander over, begin to say how ridiculous and Hollywood it is...and then ask to try it. I say sure. The typical reaction after shooting is positive--amazing what experience can do.

For me, it started my interest in mastering heavy recoil handguns, and that's been fun, too.

some of the people who buy large-bore magnums do so for the same reasons that some people buy Hummer H2s with lift kits; not out of any need for something practical, but more as a status symbol of some sort.

Maybe, but perhaps you should also mention what other reasons folks have. Last I checked, a Hummer well over 50k, not counting gas, my DE was under 1k (but those were real dollars, back then).

The only status I think it conveys is "that guy knows a neat gun when he sees it," but I understand that the appeal is not universal.

 

[NG VI]

Better yet, handloading data for the .50GI exists that will put the 300 grain at 850-880 FPS. I have not done the math on the energy or momentum levels, but that is a substantial increase.

That's actually pretty respectable, I was under the impression to get to 800 feet per second you had to go with the sub-300 grain bullets, which to me seem like a 100 grain .40 or a 70 grain 9mm.

 

[9teenEleven]

If I were going to convert a 1911, I would be much more likely to go the 460 rowland route than the 50 GI. Same dies as 45; same bullet.