Big Bore Autoloaders- Will they be ressurected?

[defjon]

I don't see it presently. 10mm does seem to be a rising tide, but the overall current trends seem to suggest tinier gun/more rounds as the end goal.

 

[Blue1]

I think a big-bore semi-auto would go over big with people that travel in brown bear country.

No one seems to concern themselves with the bulk of a big-bore revolver in a shoulder holster, and the ballistic edge over 10mm could be significant, as well as capacity over a revolver.

 

[TTv2]

10mm is really the end of the line for anything to reach mainstream popularity that's a big bore, powerful autoloader and I think capacity and backwards compatability with .40 that most doublestack 10mm's have is what is making and keeping the 10mm viable.

If there is going to be any cartridge that can come out with some success, it will be .44 Automag as cases can be made from trimmed .308 or .30-06 brass and those are easy to acquire, but how many reloaders out there would be compelled enough to go out and buy a $1500 hand cannon just because the brass is available? A few thousand? That's not enough for a company to tool up a completely different pistol than what they currently make, they'd lose their shirt doing it just for a few thousand sales of which half would be re-sold within the first two years after the novelty wears off.

For anything over 1000 ft-lbs tho it's going to require a really uncommon case and that means ammo will cost a lot. That's a turn off for people and a reason why these types of pistols have died out as the days of Dirty Harry and Paul Kersey are now measured in the half century ago.

Sorry to say, but those days are long gone and so to is the concept of the autoloading hand cannon.

 

[Targa]

I know this, a new .44 Automag is on my bucket list but with a price pushing $4,000 that is where it will stay.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

A big bore auto priced at 1500 bucks is, well very wishful thinking.

 

[Leon tP]

They could come back but the price tag has to come way down and if they appear in a popular movie then they, at least, have a chance.
Movies are great at highlighting the perceived positives while glossing over any negatives. At that point, folks will want one just "Because..."
This route has worked for cars, clothes and just about anything else you want to sell.

Keep your fingers crossed but don't hold your breath!

 

[Riomouse911]

Convert a Gen 3 Glock 20 or 21 into 50 GI
https://www.glockstore.com/50-Cal-Glock-Conversion-Upper?quantity=1&custcol7=52

50 GI ammo
https://www.guncrafterindustries.com/50-gi-ammunition/

That is exactly the round I was thinking of when I saw this thread. Kind of a cool set up IMHO.

I went to my local range last Friday. It is one of those ranges where you sweep your fired-unwanted brass forward past the shooting tables after you are done and they collect it after they close. (You can keep your brass if you want to.)

When I got there, whoever had been shooting in the lane next to me before I arrived had left a nice pile of once fired .38 Spl. on the shooting table. Since no one else seemed to want it I took that brass, then noticed a couple of new starline .50 AE cases were mixed into the pile. I looked over the shelf towards the target area and on the ground was at least 85-90 more .50 AE cases lying out there amongst the others .

I guess either someone just bought their Desert Eagle and haven’t figured out yet how expensive they are to feed, or the shooter has more money than time and didn’t care. Either way, I have another oddball case for my collection.

Stay safe.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I recently circled back to an old favorite big bore sidearm for EDC (again). I aquired a Wilson XTAC to replace an aging, but completely reliable Kimber. The venerable old .45 acp may not be up to the numbers you quoted. But it is more than enough.

Bingo!

If I need more than the .45 ACP, I need a revolver -- such as my Colt New Service or Ruger Blackhawk, both in .45 Colt. I can handload .45 Colt to nearly the same level the OP spoke of -- 250 grains + at around 1300+ fps. The revolvers are cheap -- compared to fancy automatics -- strong, accurate and reliable and they don't sling my brass all over the place in the woods.

 

[highlander 5]

I'd love to have a Wildey or the new Automag but both are way out of my budget. I did have a DE ages ago fun range toy was reliable
but was a huge hunk of steel to carry around.

 

[Jimfern]

Yeah, the folks inclined to really powerful cartridges seem to gravitate toward revolvers. As one of those folks, I've always been intrigued by the Desert Eagle in .50, but it's hard to see how the thing is practical for any real task. Like most such things, it ends up being an expensive range toy.

You could also use it to star in your own action movie!

 

[1KPerDay]

One of my friends of Russian decent has the gold tiger stripped version. An elegant weapon for the understated gentleman.

LOLOL you win the thread

 

[SDGlock23]

I wouldn't mind a Desert Eagle .50AE, I had a 44 mag DE years ago and it was okay, definitely a hoss and shooting .44 in it was fairly tame. Overall, very impractical and not really anything I would ever use, it's the quintessential BBQ gun as they call it. I don't see them taking off in popularity, they're impractical due to size and capacity is usually not great because the grip is already too big for most. People complain about recoil, what me might perceive as cool to others would be a deal breaker, the trend is towards smaller guns with increasingly less and less recoil...or that's the goal at least.

 

[Palladan44]

I'm thinking another 1911 style gun. New. 6" to 7" barrel. ported and compensated
Automags, Wildeys are already out there....

Here's what I'm envisioning:
Step up the 1911 one more notch above the 10mm sized Dan Wessons, such as the Bruin or the Kodiak. Chamber in 10mm Magnum, 45 Win Mag, or 44 Automag, or a new proprietary cartridge possibly the 41 Auto Mag. Have the ballistic performance match 41 Magnum...And make them look something like this:
I'm just simply stating something to compete with all of the big bore revolvers out there, would be interesting.
A few hurdles would be reliability, a well designed recoil spring/shock buffer system, and chamber support (coupling that with reliability can be tricky)
With today's technology, alloys, etc. I believe this can be done.

 

[StrykerByte.45]

I'm happy with my Glock 30S in 45auto. Its reliable. 10 rounds. I trust a 255 grain hardcast @900FPS to take anything in the lower 48 and its reliable. Underwood 45super 255gr Hardcasts get 1050FPS and 268PF out of my 4.5" KKM barrel. I need nothing else while I can still function standard pressure rounds just fine for plinking.

Glock 30S 100% reliable
KKM Threaded Barrel
DPM Systems Telescopic Recoil Spring(26lbs Shock Buffer)
15/17/19 lbs. Main Spring
H&K Mini Compensator 5-15% recoil reduction

I have a few other compensators that reduce recoil quite a bit more, but are finicky.

 

[cfullgraf]

First, let me say that each individual has different likes from others so the desire to have a big bore semi-auto may be different to mine.

For years, I had no use for any 44 Magnum revolver. A 45 Colt was adequate for my needs and I did not need the power of the 44 Magnum. This includes higher power revolver rounds such as 454 Casull. After about 30 years of reloading and shooting, I took the plunge and bought a S&W 629 44 Magnum.

I still really did not have any use for a 44 Magnum but I bought an 8-3/8" 41 Magnum because it was a 8-3/8" barrel revolver. I stumbled into a 8-3/8" S&W 460XVR for a good price because it was the fastest revolver cartridge and a good high power revolver cartridge.

Many moons ago, I had a chance to fire a 357 magnum Desert Eagle and a 454 Casull Freedon Arms SA revolver. A good experience, but did not sell me on big bore revolvers. I competed in IHMSA handgun silhouette with a 7mm International Rimmed Super 14 barrel with reasonable success. It helped me control the recoil of a high power handgun round that made shooting the 44 magnum and 460 S&W Magnum guns easier.

Anyway, I'd be interested in a 357 Auto Mag pistol, I have an interest in bottle neck pistol rounds. I'll leave the 44 and 45 caliber high pressure rounds for others.

 

[Varminterror]

I have had an STI 2011 frame for a couple of years which I’ve intended to finish as a 460 Rowland, but I just can’t bring myself to finish it.

There just aren’t that many folks who need major power out of handguns, AND who aren’t satisfied by a 10mm AND who can’t be bothered to carry a revolver.

 

[tarosean]

Even the 40 cal hasn't made the cut and is fading from existence.

There is probably more 40SW shot per weekend than you could imagine . As long as competitions remain legal, with literally millions of guns out there, I don’t think it’s going anywhere. I shoot more 40 than anything else, Not because I particularly like it, but it’s a requirement for major power factor.

 

[Hangingrock]

I get by day to day with the 45ACP and 9X19MM.

 

[someguy2800]

There is probably more 40SW shot per weekend than you could imagine . As long as competitions remain legal, with literally millions of guns out there, I don’t think it’s going anywhere. I shoot more 40 than anything else, Not because I particularly like it, but it’s a requirement for major power factor.

Preaching to the choir, I am also a 40 s&w fan. I moved away from it in the past because it was easier logistically to just have 9mm and 45, but in the past few months I bought 2 40's and fell back in love with it.

Sadly it is continuing to decline. Is there any new gun released in the last 5 years chambered in 40? I know of a few that have been discontinued but I know of no new ones. Its a shame too because something like a P365 scaled up just enough to hold 40 s&w would be awesome.

 

[GarrettJ]

This is a tangent, but another thing I would really like is a 16” desert eagle carbine with a stock and forend.

I came up with a design for one, with an ATF-approved barrel extension several years ago. Of course, ATF has a history of approving an initial design, then changing their mind after a person has invested a bunch of money into the project.

I don't have any manufacturing capabilities, otherwise I'd build just the stock adapter and SBR one of my Desert Eagles.

 

[GarrettJ]

Reality is, the Desert Eagle is the only viable option currently being produced in any numbers, or at an affordable price. I like the Auto Mag, but not for $4,000.

The DE is as viable for hunting as any large revolver. However, I would not use it for dangerous animal protection. The safety is too awkward to reach with the thumb of the shooting hand, making it a 2-handed proposition to get into action. And one of those hands might be otherwise occupied fending off an attack.

I'm a fan of the big pistols, but for bears, etc. it's tough to beat a double action revolver. Only one hand required.

 

[Targa]

The more I visit this thread the more I visit the idea of an Auto Mag. It is kind of a grail gun to me like a Manhurin, Korth, Freedom Arms etc..would be to something else. I need to block this thread..

 

[SDGlock23]

I'm thinking another 1911 style gun. New. 6" to 7" barrel. ported and compensated
Automags, Wildeys are already out there....

Here's what I'm envisioning:
Step up the 1911 one more notch above the 10mm sized Dan Wessons, such as the Bruin or the Kodiak. Chamber in 10mm Magnum, 45 Win Mag, or 44 Automag, or a new proprietary cartridge possibly the 41 Auto Mag. Have the ballistic performance match 41 Magnum...And make them look something like this:
I'm just simply stating something to compete with all of the big bore revolvers out there, would be interesting.
A few hurdles would be reliability, a well designed recoil spring/shock buffer system, and chamber support (coupling that with reliability can be tricky)
With today's technology, alloys, etc. I believe this can be done.
View attachment 1123809

There is the .45 Super/460 Rowland which fit in standard sized handguns and both have the ability to run 185gr-300gr+ bullets. They won't match a hot loaded 45 Win Mag but do a good job at mimicking more standard to warm-ish 45 Win Mag (230gr @ 1300+ fps). You do have to port or comp the barrel in order to slow slide speed down but at least you get to keep a normal sized gun that can give you typical 44Mag ballistics.

 

[silicosys4]

Sorry to all the detractors, but the Desert Eagle has cemented itself in pop culture as an icon. Its not going anywhere and it sells.
It sells far more than a 4 1/2lb semi auto should, and it sells so well because as a pop culture icon it has surpassed its utility and now resides in the realm of legend.

The reason there are no other big bore semi autos worth mentioning is because there is only one big bore auto that is well enough designed and built to survive the transition from boutique to common.

 

[dartor]

5" group at 25 yds. Two-handed.

I wouldn't own a gun that shot that poorly.