doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com firing .500S&W magnum from a double gun

Hello Ladies and Gents,
I am wondering if there is a possibility of firing a .500 magnum from a double gun meant for another cartridge (i.e. .500 Nitro Express) or would it have to be a custom build. If the latter is the way to go how much would the cost be to build a gun like that.

Thanks for all the help

Dominik Rudnicki

IMO: It is NEVER a good idea to fire a cartridge in a firearm for which it wasn't intended. I don't know what the pressures would be for a 500 Nitro Express but they are substantial for a 500S&W Magnum
Jim

I was think that too just didn't know if it wasn't the same as say a .38 and a .357 magnum. What would the cost be to manufacture a gun such as this, the reason I am interested is because I have a S&W 500 magnum and would like to have a double gun in the same caliber.

I went back and checked and pressure with the 500S&W Magnum round runs from 26,000 to 49,000 psi depending upon the loading. so this is NOT a cartridge to be trifled with. I can't comment on the cost of having a custom double rifle built in this caliber other than to state it would be substantial.
Jim

No it is not possible. The chamber dimensions are all wrong.

A custom built double rifle will begin somewhere around $10,000 and will go up very quickly.
Because of the working pressures, you can NOT use a shotgun action as it would not be safe.

.500 S&W
Bullet diameter .50 in (13 mm)
Neck diameter .526 in (13.4 mm)
Base diameter .526 in (13.4 mm)
Rim diameter .556 in (14.1 mm)
Rim thickness .056 in (1.4 mm)
Case length 1.6 in (41 mm)
Overall length 2.300 in (58.4 mm)
Primer type Large pistol originally, now Large rifle

500grn with muzzle velocity of 1500 fps will have 1967 ft lbs at 50 yards.

500 Nitro Express
Bullet diameter .510 in (13.0 mm)
Neck diameter .535 in (13.6 mm)
Base diameter .580 in (14.7 mm)
Rim diameter .660 in (16.8 mm)
Case length 3.01 in (76 mm)
Overall length 3.68 in (93 mm)
Primer type .251 (6.38 mm) Berdan (Kynoch #31A)

A 570grn with a muzzle velocity of 2100 fps will have 5064 ft lbs at 50 yds.

You will spend a lot of money on what will essentially be a deer rifle.

Have a look at these Sabatti that Cabelas is selling.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/conten...oryId=SEARCH_gl

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/conten...oryId=SEARCH_gl

If they had been around when I started my double rifle project, I would have snapped one up and walked away saving money over a custom built gun.



Pete

WOW that is a great price. Yeah, it would have been nice to have a rifle and a handgun in the same caliber, but not for that price.

You can have a double rifle and handgun in the same caliber. Pick up a Sabatti in 45-70 and a Magnum Research BFR 45-70 or a Thompson Encore, if you prefer single shot. With the 45-70 you get a large caliber and you handload it up or down as you prefer.

Pete

If you want to stick with the 500 S&W. There is also the Big Horn Armory model 89
http://www.bighornarmory.com/