Anyone else think it would be pretty cool if they made a short barreled lever gun in a .50 S&W or .460 S&W. In a 16 inch carbine they'd probably rival the power of a 45-70 in a much shorter gun. In addition, the .460 might give you the ability to shoot 3 different calibers. Magazine capacity would be more than the 45-70 as well.
Anyone else want a lever gun in a 50 S&W?
- Thread starter sam700
- Start date
- Status
Acera
Member
Yes, I would be interested. (I assume you are taking about the .500 S&W Magnum.)
Bobarino
member
Acera
Member
Bobarino, I believe that those guns are in .50 Alaskan, not the S&W cartridge I think he means. Now I don't know if they are interchangeable, but I doubt it.
Not that the .50 Alaskan is a bad choice.
http://www.z-hat.com/The Fifty.htm
Not that the .50 Alaskan is a bad choice.
http://www.z-hat.com/The Fifty.htm
arizcowboy
Member
I'm not sure I could afford the ammo since I don't reload.
Tifosi
Member
Why not build a 16" 45/70 so you have a rifle cartridge. Here's mine.
B.D. Turner
Member
With the price of 500 S&W ammo???? No thanks.
Bobarino
member
hhmmm, it seems they did make one in .500 S&W at one time: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=123188
i guess they don't anymore? trademark issues perhaps?
Bobby
i guess they don't anymore? trademark issues perhaps?
Bobby
atblis
Member
What does
What does 500 S&W do that 45/70 can't?
What does 500 S&W do that 45/70 can't?
marksman13
Member
Nope, the .500 S&W ammo I have seen is twice the cost of 45/70. I'll pass.
garyhan
Member
The .500 does nothing that a .45/70 won't do. It does, however, have a really big hole in the barrel and the cool factor is high. If you want practical, you could just use a .30-06 for all big game in the lower 48. I would love a .500 lever gun.
gary
gary
ThomasT
Member
Doesn't Legacy Sports import the Puma in 500 S&W? I think Paco Kelly had an article on them at leverguns .com.
JesseL
Member
Is there actually anyone with a gun chambered for 500 S&W who only shoots factory ammo and doesn't reload? That's crazy.
aspade
Member
I figure most people with 500 S&Ws go through maybe three boxes in their entire ownership of the gun, two of which are letting their friends shoot it once, so the $2.00 a bang factor doesn't really matter.
60K psi working pressure in a lever gun to a 19th century design, beefed up 19th century design that it may be, wouldn't make me real happy. What's wrong with 45-70?
60K psi working pressure in a lever gun to a 19th century design, beefed up 19th century design that it may be, wouldn't make me real happy. What's wrong with 45-70?
wyocarp
Member
I have seen a few references to Wild West Guns making the .500 S&W in the Marlin lever gun, and they were calling it the model 04. I have two of their guns and have a third on order through them. I have hounded them for a couple of years but as of yet, they have not started manufacturing them. They say they have worked on it and they have done some testing.
I have to say that there is a hugh difference between the 45-70 and the .50 Alaskan. The 45-70 has a little longer effective range but the .50 has a WHOLE LOT more punch. I would expect that the .500 would fall in between the two and possibly not be as effective as either of them which might be why it still isn't being made.
I would still love to have one because I enjoy my .500's and I have told Mr. West that if they get them going to put my name on list for one right away.
Someone mention having one in the .460 which I think might be a really unique lever gun to have and possibly more exciting than the .500 for most people.
Someone asked about the .50 Alaskan and .500 possibly being interchangable. They are NOT. Just tried the .50 in the .500 and it doesn't work. That being said, it might be possible to shoot the .500 out of the .50 Alaskan rifle but I'm not ready to try it until I get my new .50.
I have to say that there is a hugh difference between the 45-70 and the .50 Alaskan. The 45-70 has a little longer effective range but the .50 has a WHOLE LOT more punch. I would expect that the .500 would fall in between the two and possibly not be as effective as either of them which might be why it still isn't being made.
I would still love to have one because I enjoy my .500's and I have told Mr. West that if they get them going to put my name on list for one right away.
Someone mention having one in the .460 which I think might be a really unique lever gun to have and possibly more exciting than the .500 for most people.
Someone asked about the .50 Alaskan and .500 possibly being interchangable. They are NOT. Just tried the .50 in the .500 and it doesn't work. That being said, it might be possible to shoot the .500 out of the .50 Alaskan rifle but I'm not ready to try it until I get my new .50.
The .460 Smith and .50 are a bit shorter than the 45-70 which would allow for a greater magazine capacity. Plus, the gun would be lighter and shorter for a given barrel length because of the shorter action. Plus both cartrages pretty much meet the 45-70's performance out of 7 1/2 inch pistol barrels. I would imagine that a 16 inch carbine in either may even exceed or at least meet what the 45-70 could do in a 24 inch barrel.
The cool thing about the 460 is that you would also be able to shoot .454 or .45 colt for practice, at least that's the case with the .460 revolver.
Basically the .460 and .50 would be like a short action 45-70 that had a higher magazine capacity. The .460 would have the additional advantage of being able to use the lighter and cheaper practice loads.
The cool thing about the 460 is that you would also be able to shoot .454 or .45 colt for practice, at least that's the case with the .460 revolver.
Basically the .460 and .50 would be like a short action 45-70 that had a higher magazine capacity. The .460 would have the additional advantage of being able to use the lighter and cheaper practice loads.
wyocarp
Member
Actually, the .50 is barely shorter than the 45-70 so there is no added magazine capacity but there would be with the .500 which is considerably shorter than the 45-70.
A .460 lever gun would be awesome. A rifle with the punch of a .444 or 45/70 in something lcoser to the form factor of an 1894 in 357 or 44 magnum.
I'm not sure it serves a pracical purpose given what it would be good for, but it would be cool.
I'm not sure it serves a pracical purpose given what it would be good for, but it would be cool.
aspade
Member
Not more dangerous at the muzzle.
Not more dangerous at the butt.
But in between the two, getting that power out of 15-30% less powder space depending on bullet length means the .500 is running 50K+ PSI. A hot 45-70 lever load only goes to 35-40K.
I'm not convinced running bolt gun pressures in a lever action is a good idea.
Since I own two other firearms in .45 Colt, a lever gun in .460 S&W would make more sense. I've not shot either the .460 or the .500, but I suspect that if a solid hit from the smaller round won't down whatever you're shooting at, then a solid hit from the larger round would not have done the job, either. My impression might change upon closer examination.
- Status
