50 on WSM case?

[BattleRifleG3]

I had a crazy idea for a 50cal round.  It would basically cut a WSM case off at the shoulder and insert a 50 cal bullet.  If loaded with 50 BMG bullets, it would fit in a standard 300 Win Mag length action, or if stretched a little, in a 300 Wby length action.  If loaded with pistol bullets from 500 S&W and 50 AE, it could fit in a short action.

Suppose BMG bullets could be used for shooting targets and a new type of heavy bullet, perhaps hollow pointed or some other concave tip for hunting?

The whole idea is a standard magnum length action and boltface, facilitating an easy rebarreling of low end boltguns like Savage or Weatherby.

Anything else out there like this?  Closest I know of is the 50 Peacekeeper based on the 378 Wby case.

[wallynut]

It might be do-able.  I'm not sure of the cartridge dimensions, but I know that the base of the round is large.  On another site, someone has worked up a 458 on the WSM case, he's getting just short of the 458 win mag velocities, that's impressive.  Getting chamber reamer/head space gauges made up is no trouble, getting loading dies made could be a little pricier, but could be done.

[BattleRifleG3]

I've thought for a while that a 458 WSM would be a great cartridge that would offer a short action and slightly milder alternative to 458 Win Mag.  That or a 375 round would seem to be good for making common semi-autos into dangerous game rifles, like the AR-10.

Any hunting bullets out there around the same size as 50 BMG?  Pardon my ignorance, but are there any solid brass bullets out there?  Perhaps they could be turned on a CNC lathe for rare hunting occasions.

Anyone know what sort of powder constraints there would be?  Have slow enough powders been developed that could provide a near constant but not too high pressure, say 50,000psi, if crammed into such a small space as a WSM case with a BMG bullet on top of it?

[handirifle]

Would that be similar to the 50 Boewolf?

[BattleRifleG3]

50 Beowulf used pistol bullets in a low pressure intermediate power round.  I'm talking about launching a 50 BMG bullet out of standard magnum length boltguns.  This is a big step upward.

[Yukon Jack]

Would you have anything to headspace on?  I don't know the specs of the WSM case, but if you are going to use standard or high pressure loads, I'd want a shoulder or a belt for headspacing.

[wallynut]

I'm far from being a reloading expert, but will still throw in my .02cents into the ring.  If you were to use a .50 cal bullet in such a small case (small compared to Africa cartridges), you would probably need to use a faster burning powder instead of slower ones.  As for .50 cal bullets that are solids, yes they are out there, but usually in very heavy wgts that would not work out well in such a small case.

[handirifle]

you might even get a whopping 1100fps out of it too.

[JOHN5111]

Ive got a 510 whisper,which is made from a 338 Lapua case,cut down to 2",and uses 50bmg bullets,also i shoot the Barnes 647gr hollow point,and the barnes 800gr soilids,great shooting rifle,lots of fun when shooting the API and APIT,and regular tracers,at steel targets out to 600yds,you can load them subsonic,or crank them up to around 1900fps,using,H110 powder,also thats on a REM 700 long action,with a 17 1/2" fluted barrel,and set in a Accuracy International Stock.i get around 320 reloads when reloading subsonic,and 200 when cranked up,out of a pound of powder.and surplus bullets run anywhere from .06 to .20 ea.

[handirifle]

A 700gr bullet at 1900fps?  In the Rem 700? that has got to hurt.  Where in the world did you guys come up with these ideas?

[BattleRifleG3]

This is what I had in mind