My Proposal--A Five Shot .50 Cal Bulldog

[Cosmoline]

I've been reading up on a few very interesting .50 caliber cartridges. One is the .50 GI, designed to be used with beefed up 1911's. It fires a 300 grain slug at between 700 and 900 fps.

Another one, less well known, is the .50 Special (not to be confused with the .500 Special which is just a cut-down version of the .500 S&W). The .50 Special is a cut down .500 Linebaugh that pushes a 350 grain slug at 800 fps. Brian Pearce has good things to say about it in the latest "Handloader."

Now the .50 GI is designed for 1911's, and the .50 Special is designed to be a practice load for massive custom Linebaugh single actions. But what if we move them over to a much different platform--a FIVE SHOT BULLDOG. Ideally my projected revolver would have a small handle and a big frame, like the bulldogs of the 19th century. The GI could be used with special moonclips.

The revolver would be something like a S&W 8 shot performance center .357 only with five shots. Another approah might be to customize a GP-100 for the task, though I haven't done the measurements and I don't know if the big boys will fit. A 3" barrel would be perfect.

In the end you'd have a concealable revolver with massive takedown power but mild recoil.

 

[SnWnMe]

I was hoping the 500 Special's numbers would be something like what you posted. 300-400gr @ 800 fps will stop a lot of things. Instead they were like 454s.

I dunno about the concealable N frame part though. Perhaps if one were very large or live where it's very cold.

It will be a pretty awesome house gun I think.

 

[Cosmoline]

Yes, N frame might be too large. I wonder how much you'd have to inflate a "K" frame to fit five fifties. Ideally it would be very much like the old 19th century bulldogs, with compact grips, short barrel and oversized cylinders. Those were most certainly concealable--even in a large pocket.

 

[Matt-man]

Hamilton Bowen modifies Ruger Redhawks with 5-shot cylinders for .50 Action Express, using moon clips. Here's the "Alpine" model:

"The “Alpine” features a 4 inch barrel, a round-butt gripframe, fluted and chamfered cylinder and a complete action tune with an over-travel stop. This particular gun, chambered for the .50 AE, is fitted with Ashley Emmerson quick-acquisition express sights with a tritium insert in the front bead."

Elsewhere on the site, it is noted that the recoil of a Redhawk chambered for .50AE is anything but light. I suppose you could load it down... but then again, Bowen can build anything you want so .50 Special is likely an option.

 

[moxie]

The only way to get "mild recoil" in a medium size

frame with the .50 GI is if you make it heavier by quite a bit. The .50 GI 1911 is a full sized and weighted gun and I imagine has a healthy recoil to it. It would probably be a nice round in a 625 snub, but it won't be especially pocketable.

 

[rockstar.esq]

I can just see the pintle hitch for the Howitzer... Hey just make sure you pack a fire extinguisher to put out your shirt from the muzzle blast! Not to rain on anybodys parade but it seems to me that "concealed carry" for dealing with hostile elephants is a "bag of mixed nuts"! Stay safe and have fun.