judge sam

Hi, I'm new here. This will be my second post. I have an idea bouncing around in my head for a semi automatic pistol chambered in. 454 casull. If you know where I got the idea, that makes you as big a nerd as I am. I think it would have some practical applications. For one thing, the recoil, while remaining quite stout, would be somewhat less than a revolver. You would also get a capacity advantage. I was thinking about making it work sort of like an automag. It would have a slide. In theory, this would allow for lighter recoil springs, while keeping dust, dirt, ice, and other nasty things from mucking up the works. Keep in mind that I'm not any sort of engineer. I've worked with a gunsmith, but I am not one. I realize that it would be heavy (wouldn't you want a .454 to be? ) and have a large grip. Some people just can't shoot certain guns. Such is life. So, to sum up, I'm thinking of a recoil-operated semi auto with a rotating bolt, a reciprocating barrel, and a slide/bolt carrier. Is there any reason that this just cannot possibly work? I'm hoping that some more knowledgeable person will come along and save me from a waste of resources. I don't need a large, gun-like paperweight.

George M.

Have you ever designd an auto loader magazine feeding rimed cartridges?

judge sam

No, but coonan did. I could do it like that.

George M.

What platform were you planning on using?

judge sam

Not sure what you're asking. I'm not talking about building it from any existing gun. I don't think there is anything in existence I could build it from.

danf_fl

Take a look at the 460 Rowland for substantial power if that is what you are looking for.

The AMU did have the 1911 setup for bulls-eye shooting using the .38Spl wadcutter.
S&W had one that shot the .38Spl wadcutter, also

George M.

I'm sorry Sam, I might have misjudged your thread. I thought you might have been buildong something. Yes Danf, S&W did make a 38spl semi auto, I wanted one for a while back in the day, too rare for me and I'm not a good enough shot to need a target pistol. Joy Noel Y'all.

judge sam

Dan, I'm not just looking for more power. I'm one of those people who get an idea stuck in their head and can't get rid of it until they figure put it can't be done, or try it successfully. I was really kind of hoping that someone would come along with a reason it can't be done. "Nobody's ever done it "is not a valid reason. As far as the 460 Rowland goes, I think it's yet another example of trying to make a piece of equipment do something it was never intended to do. George, if you know of anything I could build it on, let me know. Then it would be too easy, and I could let it go. Seriously, he'p me George.

thecarfarmer

Shouldn't be insurmountable; lots of semis made to eat .22LR... aren't there also some box mag semi rifles using the 7.62 X 54R Russian round?

I s'pose the thing to watch for is that as the mags get loaded, the rim of the round being inserted doesn't somehow get behind the one under it, which'd cause a jam.

Also, the 'shoe' in the bottom of my Ruger mags seems to have a lot of ability to 'wiggle' or 'float', so that it adjusts for the extra size on the rear of a .22LR cartridge as the mag goes from full to empty; either a feature like that, or maybe a curved magazine would be in order.

Now, while we're on the rimmed round idea, how 'bout scaling up that Ruger Standard to take 45/70!

-Bill

judge sam

It's not insurmountable. Like I said, it has already been done. The coonan is a .357 magnum pistol that is based on the 1911. The angle of the magazine won't allow the rims to overlap. The top has lips that go behind the case head to keep it from catching on anything.