Big Bore Autoloaders- Will they be ressurected?

[Palladan44]

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

The best group I've ever shot with a semi-auto is about a 4" at 25 yds. Most front sight posts cover about a relative 5" area at that distance. 5" group at 25 yds is a reasonable realistic ask for myself, and most others.

 

[someguy2800]

I’ve only personally met a few people that could actually shoot that well offhand. I would have a fighting chance with my buckmark or my Tanfoglio, but no chance with any of my carry guns.

 

[Palladan44]

I’ve only personally met a few people that could actually shoot that well offhand. I would have a fighting chance with my buckmark or my Tanfoglio, but no chance with any of my carry guns.

Yup. Precisely

 

[TonyRumore]

I've been buying, selling, and collecting big bore auto pistols since the mid 80's when I bought my first LAR Grizzly. I own many multiples of all of them.
When I was in my 20's, I could shoot them pretty well. Here's a couple of groups I shot with one of my Auto Mags around 1989. It's 7 shots with a 44 AMP barrel installed,
7 shots with the 41 JMP barrel, and 7 shots with the 357 AMP barrel installed. All at 50 feet, hand held, unsupported.

The second group is 5 shots with the 41 JMP barrel. I put the first 4 into one hole, then threw the last one out.

Tony Rumore
Tromix

P.S. If I was to rank the guns from best to worst, it would be as follows: Auto Mag, LAR Grizzly, Desert Eagle, Automag, Wildey. The Auto Mag and Automag are two completely different guns.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

We've always had a few being offered but given the price of ammo I doubt we will see much for new offerings or a big resurgence.

 

[Palladan44]

We've always had a few being offered but given the price of ammo I doubt we will see much for new offerings or a big resurgence.

I think I carried my "handloaders bias" with me to this thread, I definitely see the big deal with ammo price. I'm guessing handloading 500 Mag or something "botique" right now costs almost as much as factory ammo used to....
Looking at the price of new brass online, makes my eyebrow twitch..

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I think I carried my "handloaders bias" with me to this thread, I definitely see the big deal with ammo price. I'm guessing handloading 500 Mag or something "botique" right now costs almost as much as factory ammo used to....
Looking at the price of new brass online, makes my eyebrow twitch..

Yep. I load too and I see factory ammo costs and loading components cost and it’s rough.

 

[westernrover]

P.S. If I was to rank the guns from best to worst, it would be as follows: Auto Mag, LAR Grizzly, Desert Eagle, Automag, Wildey. The Auto Mag and Automag are two completely different guns.
View attachment 1125290

I don't know much about big bore autoloaders, but I've researched a few on your list. I found the Auto Mag, the one made in Pasadena or El Monte, CA, quite appealing. The only thing I knew about it before was that it was used in Sudden Impact. I read about its history and the guys who conceived and designed it, who basically hand-made them and underpriced themselves out of business. I would be proud to own one of those. I wonder if the 357 AMP would work with many of the Magnum bullets or if it needs a particular nose shape to feed. I find "handloaders specials" very appealing, but I don't have all the means in the world. At least there are dies.

 

[MikeInOr]

I always wanted a big bore autoloader but the only practical one, a DE, was too big, heavy and ungainly for me.

When I turned 50 Desert Eagle came out with their lite weight 5" Desert Eagle, the L5, in 50ae. I finally jumped. I love it and have never regretted it. I immediately picked up a 50ae die set and head for my Dillon 650 so ammo has never been a problem. Later I picked up a 44mag barrel for my L5 but prefer the 50ae even though the recoil between the two is pretty much indistinguishable to me. 44mag ammo is considerably cheaper to reload than 50ae but 50ae is just more of an adrenaline rush.

To me a 10mm is much more practical as a tool but the 50ae is much more fun. I think the cost and lack if practical uses is the biggest impediment to more big bore semiautos.