Anyone else looking at the 480 Achilles in a Colt SAA or clone ?

[Missionary]

Read about this round and the developement that went into it. Rather a simple solution. 45 Colt brass shortened and loaded with a .475 Heeled Bullet. Accurate Molds lists the slug (48-2901). Rebarrel with a .475 groove tube.

 

[Josh]

I see why a 475 bullet would be appealing, but I'd struggle to see a reason to gain 0.025" at that expense.

 

[Snakeoil]

Just read the write-up on the caliber. I have to ask, what's the point?

 

[Missionary]

Definatelly a novelty item. If I had a frame / 45 Cylinder that needed a new barrel.... Maybe.
But we have a .475 BFR that is real easy to download.

 

[Snakeoil]

Sometimes I think people come up with new calibers just so they can claim they created a new caliber. It's not like we are on the forefront of smokeless powder cartridge development. Now, if we talking about big caliber, ultra high performance stuff like you see shot in F-class and King of 2 Miles, then I would agree that there is still room and secrets to be uncovered. But flinging pumpkin sized, sub-sonic pistol rounds downrange has pretty much run the gambit of what is possible. Sure, you can start tweaking caliber sizes so it is unique, like say a .43 or .49 caliber. But not sure that brings much to the party other than being different. It's like a crappy garage band where they all dye their hair blue. They are still just another crappy garage band.

 

[Glaciers]

I looked into the 50 SPL a few years back as slow to moderate velocities and heavy bullets in the .510 diameter sounded like a winner. And it is, but, I don’t have a couple thousand to get me from here to there.
I do have a SRH 480 that can be loaded down but it’s a chunk and an ugly chunk at that.
But, another but here, I have S&W 22-4 45 ACP/ auto rim and now a 625 that can be my substitute for the 50 SPL. The cartridge can handle 300 grain plus slugs and loaded long so bullets are in the throat. Pleasant to shoot and 300 grains at 800 to up to 900 if you choose to push it a little certainly have authority.
As a clarification here, the loads are loaded long at about 1.330 so it opens up some space in the cartridge case. And these two modern Smith’s are strong. I won’t go into loads till later this summer when I have a chance to wring it out a bit more.
But that’s my semi affordable answer to the 50 SPL or in Michael’s posting for the 480 Achilles.

 

[Snakeoil]

One of my bowling pin guns was a S&W 25-2 which is also .45ACP/rim. We used these big fat bullets that looked like the old rootbeer barrel candy. Basically a SWC on steroids. I want to say that it was 300 grains. It took the pins off the table with authority. Always used full moon clips.

 

[Glaciers]

Here we go drifting
I know that the older 455’s used to load a 290 grain slug in weaker revolvers in the 600 to 700 fps range if I’m not mistaken, but to me stretching to just over 300 grains is not a big leap. Actually the 304 NOE with my 30 to 1 is 317 grains.

 

[Missionary]

We have a Dan Wesson 45 Colt that can handle all sorts of extra heavy cast. The long cylinders are welcome space to seat even 320 grainers out to the 1st grease groove. But it is not real needy as 850-950 fps will drive heavy slugs through any direction a corn cruncher will offer. Especially at the river bottom ranges we get bean eaters moving past us. Under 15 yards is very common.

 

[CZ93X62]

Heeled bullets......I don't need that kind of busy-work at my workbench. Those went the way of dodo birds and passenger pigeons almost a century ago (excepting the 22 rimfires), and their passing is largely unmourned. Some folks LIKE that sort of recreation I suppose--but it seems like extracting teeth via the anal vent to me to attempt resuscitation of the heeled bullet in this day and age. Solamente mi dos centavos.

 

[Glaciers]

Tell us how you really feel.

 

[fiver]

i think we got the cliff notes version.... LOL

i'm sorry, but i don't see going heeled when there's already the 375 super, 480 ruger and 375 linebaugh hanging around.
maybe if i had a spare shot out 45 colt sumthin or other i could kinda see it, but then again i could also see a 375 super-'special' chop cut reload and have another player in the 200-260gr. 41-44 mag game.

 

[JustJim]

I think these days if I was going to have a custom revolver built, I'd probably go with a .41 mag on either the SAA or Ruger flattop. I considered the 480 Achilles when it was first written about, but came to my senses. Loading it looked like a lot of inconvenience with little gain.

 

[Michael]

Maybe it's just me, I can't help chuckling.
480 "Achilles" shooting a "healed" bullet... cute.

 

[Rick]

Read about this round and the developement that went into it. Rather a simple solution. 45 Colt brass shortened and loaded with a .475 Heeled Bullet. Accurate Molds lists the slug (48-2901). Rebarrel with a .475 groove tube.

From the writings of Jim Taylor.

The 480 Achilles. A New Cartridge is Born. During it's lifetime the Colt Single Action Army was produced in a

From the pages of The IHMSA News, Shooting sports, hand gun, ammo, cartridges, xp 100, reloading, firearm, cast bullet, bullet casting and more information articles

www.lasc.us

 

[Bret4207]

I think these days if I was going to have a custom revolver built, I'd probably go with a .41 mag on either the SAA or Ruger flattop. I considered the 480 Achilles when it was first written about, but came to my senses. Loading it looked like a lot of inconvenience with little gain.

"...if I was going to have a custom revolver built..." Boy, there's a line to start some thread drift!

 

[Glaciers]

"...if I was going to have a custom revolver built..." Boy, there's a line to start some thread drift!

Yeah got that right.
I’d still be looking at a 5 shot 50 SPL. 300 to 400 grain moving along at 800 to 900 fps. That would get the attention of anything in my corner of the country.
All that’s needed is coming close to the soda cans and they would shred themselves.

 

[RBHarter]

450 Mongo . A Colts level 2 ish inch case for the Colts Dragoon 5 shot conversion cylinders. It's neat in the 45/410 pistols to and gets pretty spicy souped up to 20kpsi in the 45 ACP compatible arms .

 

[JustJim]

a 5 shot 50 SPL. 300 to 400 grain moving along at 800 to 900 fps

My most-used load in the 500 Linebaugh Max I had fro a brief time. It was an absolute hoot to shoot bowling pins with!

 

[Glaciers]

In the article “480 Achilles” by Jim Taylor I found this little passage which I thought applied to this thread.

Jim Taylor's Perspective on the new caliber:

First and foremost, there exists no need for this caliber. Other than being unique it is totally without merit. Thus our motto:

Undaunted by common sense​