Will there ever be a rifle caliber pistol?

David spargenator · February 25, 2014, 09:41 AM

Today I'm asking if you guys think a handgun will ever be chambered for a rifle Cartridge. Do you guys think it's even possible? For me I love hanguns, but I don't like how they lack a lot of power. Even a 357 or 44 I would never really trust if I ever had to shoot a bear. I mean, rifles and shotguns just have soo much more power. Anyway, what do u guys think of the possibility of this?

Marty8613 · February 25, 2014, 09:44 AM

Does the FN57 count? Also check out the FN P90

Microgunner · February 25, 2014, 09:48 AM

Thompson/Center Contender and Encore.

9x19 · February 25, 2014, 09:50 AM

I think you must be new to handguns...

There have been several hand-rifle designs over the past 30 years. Few enjoyed much commercial success.

For me, handguns are a compromise between easy portability and power. I really can't envision carrying a .308 handgun on my belt... and if I need a sling, might as well have a butt stock (which makes accurate shots much easier for me).

Compact rifles (folding stocks, 16" barrels) aren't hard to assemble / find... and if you want the added expense/paperwork you can build a short-barrel rifle.

Brian Pfleuger · February 25, 2014, 09:58 AM

For practical defensive use, not really.

Rifles cartridges are built for long barrels. Short barrels sacrifice power, loading for the short barrel sacrifices more power.

Encores/Contender/etc are good hunting guns but single shots are lousy for defense, 2 legged or 4.

A gun built to fire multiple shots and be as small as any reasonable handgun would be ridiculously unwieldy, heavy, recoil would be hell if it wasn't heavy, and worse than any normal handgun even if it was heavy. Muzzle blast would be ridiculous. It would almost certainly have to be a revolver and cylinder gap blast would also be hellacious. (It is on the magnum revolvers already)

It'd be impossible from a practical standpoint for a semi-auto handgun (traditional 1911/Glock/etc) design. The grip would be 3" or more long. Look at the Desert Eagle and similar. They're already ridiculous and those cartridges are 1/2 the length of many rifles cartridges.

Short answer.... No.

jmr40 · February 25, 2014, 09:59 AM

There are AR-15 pistols

http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.c...ategory_id=231

Remington has made several bolt action handguns.

https://www.google.com/search?q=remi...w=1366&bih=622

Not to mention the TC Pistols

https://www.google.com/search?q=remi...stols&tbm=isch

Even a few 45-70 revolvers

https://www.google.com/search?q=remi...45-70&tbm=isch

40CalGuy · February 25, 2014, 10:00 AM

FN Five-SeveN immediately came to mind, but I'm late to the party

Cheapshooter · February 25, 2014, 10:01 AM

Been done. http://www.magnumresearch.com/search/bfi-revolver.aspx
But because of the length of the barrel, ballistics will not be the same as a rifle.

Brian Pfleuger · February 25, 2014, 10:04 AM

I don't think the 5.7 counts, particularly considering that the OP mentions bear defense.

Besides, it's only a rifle cartridge in the sense that it's marketed that way. I could design a cartridge identical to 9mm Luger, name it 9mm Pfleuger and release the first versions chambered in a new, semi-auto rifle but that doesn't make it a "rifle cartridge".

By that reasoning, any 22LR handgun meets the OP's criteria.

Hairbag · February 25, 2014, 10:04 AM

Yeah this one! PTR PDW 7.62x39 and shoots like a pussycat

PetahW · February 25, 2014, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David spargenator

Today I'm asking if you guys think a handgun will ever be chambered for a rifle Cartridge.
Do you guys think it's even possible ?

I would say so, since some have been made for many years, now:

The break-open T/C Contender was available in .30-30 & .44 Mag as long ago as the late -60's, & the .45-70 in the late 70's, IIRC.

The newer break-open T/C Encore is available in a whole range of CF "rifle" chamberings.

Freedom Arms (break-open)

Wichita Arms (break-open)

Magnum Research Lone Eagle (cannon rotary breech)

Competitor Arms (cannon rotary breech)

Merrill (break-open)

MOA Maximum (break-open)

EABCO (E.Arthur Brown Co) falling block

EAA Thor

BF (falling block)

RPM Excel (break-open)

Remington XP-100 (boltgun)

Savage Striker (boltgun)

Rossi Mare's Leg (levergun)

Plus, a plethora of AR-type "pistols".

.

Hal · February 25, 2014, 10:21 AM

Does a Howdah pistol count?

Unlicensed Dremel · February 25, 2014, 10:23 AM

How about .50 BMG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMkiDguYtGw

ricko · February 25, 2014, 10:25 AM

I think a .30-06 Derringer would be kind of cool....

buck460XVR · February 25, 2014, 10:31 AM

In the last few years the trend has been instead of making a handgun to fire a rifle cartridge, to make a handgun cartridge than is almost comparable to a rifle. The .500 Linebaugh, .500 S&W and the .460 S&W come to mind. These are handguns that reliably take other dangerous game besides just bears. The issue of a handgun compared to a rifle will always be accuracy from the average shooter. This is something that is a problem even in T/Cs chambered in rifle cartridges and is a problem no amount of technology will ever change.

loose_holster_dan · February 25, 2014, 11:19 AM

you mean like this?

Ambishot · February 25, 2014, 11:27 AM

Don't forget the Remington XP-100.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remington_XP-100

skizzums · February 25, 2014, 11:29 AM

30 carbine automag III

James K · February 25, 2014, 11:29 AM

The big S&W's and Rugers in .460, .480 and .500 are about as far as one can go and still have a practical handguh. Beyond that, IMHO, even though the gun may be legally a handgun, it becomes too big and too heavy to be practical as a such.

Further, for carry while hiking and the like, the mass and weight of such a "handgun" prevent carrying other items that might, in the long run, be more useful.

Jim

Colt46 · February 25, 2014, 11:46 AM

They run the gamut from the absurd to the barely practical. Bridging the gap between handgun and rifle is a pretty tough niche to fill. I can't think of too many general purpose designs that work.

TRX · February 25, 2014, 02:21 PM

There have been several different revolvers in .45-70. And that's *definitely* a rifle caliber...

BillM · February 25, 2014, 02:31 PM

Heck--- 44-40, 38-40, 32-20 were ALL originally rifle cartridges.

SO, there have been handguns chambered for rifle cartridges for
over 140 years.

P5 Guy · February 25, 2014, 03:34 PM

http://www.wildeyguns.com/wildey.html

Well this might not be what you are looking for. .308Winchester rifle brass modified to be 45 Wildey Magnum.

Doyle · February 25, 2014, 03:45 PM

I've got an XP-100R in .260 with a 2.5-8 Leupold scope. MUCH more accurate than I am.

zincwarrior · February 25, 2014, 03:51 PM

Just off the top of my head: items you can get in both:
.45 long colt lever action and pistol
.357 lever action and pistol
.44 mag lever action and pistol
.22LR: the one the only the now mythically hard to find ammo for
.30 cal M1 Carbine: rifle and revolver
.22WMR

and as a bonus:
.410 shotgun and revolver

February 25, 2014, 09:41 AM	#1
David spargenator Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2013 Posts: 131	Will there ever be a rifle caliber pistol? Today I'm asking if you guys think a handgun will ever be chambered for a rifle Cartridge. Do you guys think it's even possible? For me I love hanguns, but I don't like how they lack a lot of power. Even a 357 or 44 I would never really trust if I ever had to shoot a bear. I mean, rifles and shotguns just have soo much more power. Anyway, what do u guys think of the possibility of this?

February 25, 2014, 09:44 AM	#2
Marty8613 Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2014 Location: Grapevine TX Posts: 378	Fn57 - fn p90 Does the FN57 count? Also check out the FN P90

February 25, 2014, 09:48 AM	#3
Microgunner Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 3,324	Thompson/Center Contender and Encore. __________________ *Proud NRA Benefactor Member*

February 25, 2014, 09:50 AM	#4
9x19 Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 1998 Location: Sherman, TX USA Posts: 3,750	I think you must be new to handguns... There have been several hand-rifle designs over the past 30 years. Few enjoyed much commercial success. For me, handguns are a compromise between easy portability and power. I really can't envision carrying a .308 handgun on my belt... and if I need a sling, might as well have a butt stock (which makes accurate shots much easier for me). Compact rifles (folding stocks, 16" barrels) aren't hard to assemble / find... and if you want the added expense/paperwork you can build a short-barrel rifle. __________________ Make mine lean, mean, and 9x19!

February 25, 2014, 10:00 AM	#7
40CalGuy Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2005 Location: southwest usa Posts: 424	FN Five-SeveN immediately came to mind, but I'm late to the party __________________ Entirely too many toys to list.

February 25, 2014, 09:58 AM	#5
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	For practical defensive use, not really. Rifles cartridges are built for long barrels. Short barrels sacrifice power, loading for the short barrel sacrifices more power. Encores/Contender/etc are good hunting guns but single shots are lousy for defense, 2 legged or 4. A gun built to fire multiple shots and be as small as any reasonable handgun would be ridiculously unwieldy, heavy, recoil would be hell if it wasn't heavy, and worse than any normal handgun even if it was heavy. Muzzle blast would be ridiculous. It would almost certainly have to be a revolver and cylinder gap blast would also be hellacious. (It is on the magnum revolvers already) It'd be impossible from a practical standpoint for a semi-auto handgun (traditional 1911/Glock/etc) design. The grip would be 3" or more long. Look at the Desert Eagle and similar. They're already ridiculous and those cartridges are 1/2 the length of many rifles cartridges. Short answer.... No.

February 25, 2014, 09:59 AM	#6
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,809	There are AR-15 pistols http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.c...ategory_id=231 Remington has made several bolt action handguns. https://www.google.com/search?q=remi...w=1366&bih=622 Not to mention the TC Pistols https://www.google.com/search?q=remi...stols&tbm=isch Even a few 45-70 revolvers https://www.google.com/search?q=remi...45-70&tbm=isch

February 25, 2014, 10:01 AM	#8
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	Been done. http://www.magnumresearch.com/search/bfi-revolver.aspx But because of the length of the barrel, ballistics will not be the same as a rifle. __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

February 25, 2014, 10:04 AM	#9
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Will there ever be a rifle caliber pistol? I don't think the 5.7 counts, particularly considering that the OP mentions bear defense. Besides, it's only a rifle cartridge in the sense that it's marketed that way. I could design a cartridge identical to 9mm Luger, name it 9mm Pfleuger and release the first versions chambered in a new, semi-auto rifle but that doesn't make it a "rifle cartridge". By that reasoning, any 22LR handgun meets the OP's criteria.

February 25, 2014, 10:21 AM	#12
Hal Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 8,563	Does a Howdah pistol count?

February 25, 2014, 10:23 AM	#13
Unlicensed Dremel Junior member Join Date: February 13, 2014 Location: Flathead Valley, MT Posts: 2,187	How about .50 BMG http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMkiDguYtGw

February 25, 2014, 10:25 AM	#14
ricko Member Join Date: February 2, 2013 Posts: 96	I think a .30-06 Derringer would be kind of cool....

February 25, 2014, 10:31 AM	#15
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	In the last few years the trend has been instead of making a handgun to fire a rifle cartridge, to make a handgun cartridge than is almost comparable to a rifle. The .500 Linebaugh, .500 S&W and the .460 S&W come to mind. These are handguns that reliably take other dangerous game besides just bears. The issue of a handgun compared to a rifle will always be accuracy from the average shooter. This is something that is a problem even in T/Cs chambered in rifle cartridges and is a problem no amount of technology will ever change.

February 25, 2014, 11:19 AM	#16
loose_holster_dan Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2011 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 2,461	you mean like this? __________________ Favorite range gun for the money - CZ 75B or STI Spartan V 9mm Go-to carry setup - Walther PPS or PPQ in FIST kydex holster 1AK Favorite semi-auto design - HK P7 "A Sig is like a lightsaber - not as clumsy or random as a Glock."

February 25, 2014, 11:27 AM	#17
Ambishot Senior Member Join Date: April 29, 2011 Location: US Posts: 274	Don't forget the Remington XP-100. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remington_XP-100

February 25, 2014, 11:29 AM	#18
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	30 carbine automag III __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

February 25, 2014, 11:29 AM	#19
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The big S&W's and Rugers in .460, .480 and .500 are about as far as one can go and still have a practical handguh. Beyond that, IMHO, even though the gun may be legally a handgun, it becomes too big and too heavy to be practical as a such. Further, for carry while hiking and the like, the mass and weight of such a "handgun" prevent carrying other items that might, in the long run, be more useful. Jim

February 25, 2014, 11:46 AM	#20
Colt46 Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: Campbell Ca Posts: 1,090	There are They run the gamut from the absurd to the barely practical. Bridging the gap between handgun and rifle is a pretty tough niche to fill. I can't think of too many general purpose designs that work.

February 25, 2014, 02:21 PM	#21
TRX Senior Member Join Date: September 24, 2008 Location: central Arkansas Posts: 400	There have been several different revolvers in .45-70. And that's definitely a rifle caliber...

February 25, 2014, 02:31 PM	#22
BillM Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Amity Oregon Posts: 791	Heck--- 44-40, 38-40, 32-20 were ALL originally rifle cartridges. SO, there have been handguns chambered for rifle cartridges for over 140 years.

February 25, 2014, 03:34 PM	#23
P5 Guy Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2005 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 1,804	http://www.wildeyguns.com/wildey.html Well this might not be what you are looking for. .308Winchester rifle brass modified to be 45 Wildey Magnum.

February 25, 2014, 03:45 PM	#24
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	I've got an XP-100R in .260 with a 2.5-8 Leupold scope. MUCH more accurate than I am.

February 25, 2014, 03:51 PM	#25
zincwarrior Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2011 Location: Texas, land of Tex-Mex Posts: 2,259	Just off the top of my head: items you can get in both: .45 long colt lever action and pistol .357 lever action and pistol .44 mag lever action and pistol .22LR: the one the only the now mythically hard to find ammo for .30 cal M1 Carbine: rifle and revolver .22WMR and as a bonus: .410 shotgun and revolver