M47 Medusa

Crh1943 · #1 06-17-2021, 08:56 PM

Hello all,

Who actually has one of those or has shot one? I saw it on Forgotten Weapons via youtube and although interesting, does not seem practical even though it was meant to be practical.

Thank you,
Crh1943

stansdds · #2 06-18-2021, 07:18 AM

I had to look it up. Seems only a few hundred were made before the manufacturer folded. I don't think I have ever seen one.

BubbaBlades · #3 06-18-2021, 08:04 AM

I had this gun and a S&W 686 with a Medusa cylinder. Both guns would chamber and fire more than 20 different rounds with bullets in the .356 to .358 range. This included rimmed (.38 special, .357 magnum) and rimless (9x19, 9x21, 38 super etc).

The weak point of the design in my opinion was the little 90 degree "fingers" that held the rimless calibers. Fired rounds could sometimes stick in the cylinder and if you forced them out you could break the "fingers" (ask me how I know this).

The guns are now in the serious collector group and can sell for more than $5,000.

Truckman · #4 06-18-2021, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BubbaBlades

The weak point of the design in my opinion was the little 90 degree "fingers" that held the rimless calibers. Fired rounds could sometimes stick in the cylinder and if you forced them out you could break the "fingers" (ask me how I know this).

That is correct...Roger Hunziker sometimes drove down from Huntsville to my gun store in Conroe (Shooter's Station) to try to convince me to stock his creation...An employee of his was also a regular customer and still a friend, who showed me how the gun worked...I never bought any because I just didn't think the market existed for them...I did however transfer several of them to his customers, and each was shot on my range using various calibers...All were successful in function, although accuracy was questionable from caliber to caliber...

I haven't seen Roger in many years so I have no further information on him...As a collector/accumulator, I now wish I had culled a sample for myself...

...Ben

Rock185 · #5 06-18-2021, 02:40 PM

I got to shoot one just as in BB's photo, with different kinds of ammo. It worked pretty much as advertised, just misfiring sometimes with the .380 cartridge. I just viewed it as an oddity at the time, and wasn't interested in acquiring one for myself. Wish I had now

Truckman · #6 06-20-2021, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rock185

I got to shoot one just as in BB's photo, with different kinds of ammo. It worked pretty much as advertised, just misfiring sometimes with the .380 cartridge.

My 20+ year memory is as hazy as my pre-cataract surgery vision was, but I do recall Roger mentioning that .380 reliability was an ongoing concern from one brand to another...I don't remember any mention of .38 S&W, but I doubt that it would have chambered at all because of case diameter...I have no contact information for Roger, but I do occasionally see a former associate of his, and I will ask about his current whereabouts and welfare next time I run up on him...

...Ben

jsbethel · #7 06-21-2021, 02:39 PM

I had interest in the 686 cylinder at the time but just never happened to get one.

DWalt · #8 06-28-2021, 12:24 AM

A friend bought a Medusa at the local gun show in San Antonio early this month. In original case with paperwork, he paid $3K. I was with him when he bought it. It's an interesting concept, but nothing I would have a great deal of interest in. It would certainly be possible for someone to manufacture a cylinder of the same multi-caliber design as a drop-in replacement for use in any .38 Special/.357 revolver.