Any info on the .50 GI??

[Aqeous]

I am looking for velocity, penetration and expansion data on the .50 GI.

I know the Ammo is rare and expensive so there is very little real info out there on it. Any takers?

[Boris Bush]

Aqeous

I can not believe it! Just today a friend told me about a 50 GI conversion for Glocks and I declared that I shall one day own one........

Then I see you post this. I can not wait to see what comes up on this one...

[Shadi Khalil]

300 gr (19 g) JFP, 700 ft/s, 350 ft-lbf
275 gr (18 g) JHP, 900 ft/s, 495 ft-lbf
300 gr (19 g) JHP, 860 ft/s, 493 ft-lbf

its a wiki, take it for what its worth...

[Aqeous]

Those look fairly impressive.

Here's more Wiki data for whoever is interested.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.50_GI

"The 300 grain (19 g) JFP (jacketed flatpoint) produces a 25-yard group of 2.24 inches, and the 300-grain JHP (jacketed hollowpoint) and 275-grain JHP produce a 25-yard group of only 1.14 inches."

"The penetration and delivered energy of this slower round is about the same as a .40 Smith and Wesson and .45 ACP cartridge. Despite its .50 Caliber classification, it is a far cry from the .50 Action Express and .500 S&W Magnum; Impact force ranges from .40 Smith and Wesson to near lighter .357 Magnum rounds, but do not break the 500 ft·lbf mark at recommended pressure loadings. This might be possible in a longer barreled 1911, but since only 2 models which chamber the cartridge exist, custom machining and hand loading would be necessary."


From this info I am suspecting that maybe its expansion won't be any more impressive then one might expect from a standard .45 ACP.

Second opinions anyone?




P.S. a 50 GI revolver might be pretty sweet . . .

[Aqeous]

Looks like a beauty doesn't it . . .

[Magnum Wheel Man]

http://guncrafterindustries.com/50gi_cartridge.shtml

[Officer's Match]

Hard hitting, I'm sure, but with the 50cal diameter traveling at low speeds, I'd be a little concerned about penetration despite the mass.

[Sarge]

I think if it can be chambered in an auto that will feed big, sharp-shouldered SWC's with a large meplat, it'll make a decent under-50 yard hunting cartridge for thin-skinned game.

Is the expense warranted by any advantage over the .45 ACP, handloaded w/255's? Not for my money- but I hope others disagree. I'm anxious to see how it performs in the real world.

[Aqeous]

Looking it over, it seems to me like this cartridge might be capable of more. It makes me think of when experiments with the .44 special lead to the .44 magnum cartridge. Something a little more then a 10mm and yet less then a 50 AE could be an amazing cartridge.

Off of the top of my head:

A .50 caliber, 300 gr bullet pushed at at least 1000 fps that opened up wide enough and reliably enough to limit its penetration. Its definitely possible with modern day technology. But as of this moment, I am not sure how much "better" a .50 GI would be VS say .45 ACP +P loads (and/or) full power 10mm loads? $3000 for a 1911 is pretty steep unless you are REALLY getting something for your money.

Definitely some really expensive fun factor though . . .

[Aqeous]

One article".50 G.I." appearing in the Shooting Times" March 2006 issue, pages 58 to 63, by David M. Fortier, makes some attempt at penetration and expansion tests:

"...I decided to have some fun by placing a heavy block of solid oak downrange and pounding it with Black Hills .45 ACP 230-grain JHP ammunition. I followed that up with one each of the five different .50 GI loads. Next, I very carefully split the piece of oak open, recovered the projectiles, and measured the depth of their penetration. Deepest penetration was obtained using Guncrafter Industrie's 275-grain JHP factory load, which went in 3.0 inches. The .45 ACP load went 2.5 inches. The shallowest penetration was obtained with the 300-grain Speer TMJ, which went in 1.6 inches. Oak is tough

"The last round I fired was a 300-grain Speer Gold Dot, and I put it into a line of water containers to check bullet expansion. Unfortunately, it pounded through 28 inches of water and was not recovered. However, the hole it left in each container (.51 caliber) seems to indicate that the velocity was too low for reliable expansion. .....To actually check the terminal performance would require the .50GI to be properly tested in 10-percent ordnance gelatin under controlled and repeatable conditions."

Surprisingly, the water test is not as amateurish as it might sound, as it somewhat would simulate the "Fackler Water Box" which generally gives decent results when compared with the more expensive and harder to use 10% Ballistic Gelatin. Mr. Fortier carefully qualifies his results and tells the reader that the testing was not the most reliable type. I applaud his article."


I had suspected that expansion would not be that grand at such low velocities. I DID NOT REALIZE 0 EXPANSION in water from a speer Gold dot would be the case! Obviously this round NEEDS more velocity (and refining) to archive its full potential.

[Sam06]

Check out the 460 Rowland. I got a Taurus PT1911 and a conversion kit from Clarks for less than the price of a Kimber. Now I have 2 guns for under the price of one! The deal is the Taurus shots like a SOB! And is a good to gun to boot(as much as I hate to say it)

Here are the stats on the rowland:
HORNADY 230 AA NO.5 - 12.5 grains 1342 FPS
Hornady 230 XTP Hodgdon Longshot 10 grains 1207 FPS
Hornady 230 XTP Hodgdon Longshot 12 grains 1336 FPS

That is 44Mag territory boys and I have not even tried .451 cast LFN(GC) bullets in the 300gr flavor yet.

The 50 GI is cool but the 460 Rowland will do everything it will do with less money and better bullet selection. Watch out you 10mm fans this is one bad ass cartridge. A semi auto that is stepping out with a 45 wildey for under a grand? Oh yea If you don't reload they have factory ammo but its spendy. How much is the 50 GI ammo?

[Boris Bush]

Aqeous


My wife is gonna kick you in the n&%s!!!