223 in X Frame

[Hired Gun]

Something I have been considering building for a time is a 500 S&W revolver with the cylinder bushed down to .223 and a custom barrel set up to match.

Does anyone know if it has been done yet or believe they would want to own such a beast?

Of course the .223 wildcat variants would apply such as necking it up to 6mm for a little more efficiency.

Thanks
Shawn

 

[beaker]

Sounds like a nice hunting pistol. Probably be easier recoiling, but probably have serious gas cutting at the top strap.

 

[Hired Gun]

The operating pressures are similar plus the smaller caliber should be quite aways farther from the frame.

 

[sar4937]

Magnum Research built the BFR in rifle calibers. I'm not sure how the twist rates compare between the .223 and the .500. And for hunting you could use an AR pistol.

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

Make is a 6 shot. The gun will be heavy....

 

[Hired Gun]

I'm not sure what you mean, "Make is 6 shot."? The .223 case is way to large to make it a six shot. It will be very similar in weight to a regular X Frame revolver. Taurus makes it's Raging Bull series in .218 Bee. Several guys around here think that pistol is pretty neat. I just was thinking that the S&W version in .223 would be just a lot more power in a far nicer platform. If there is no interest I will just make mine in a maxed out 6mm version just for me. Just looking for improved varmint performance with a lot less recoil than the 460 with light bullets.

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

I didn't measure the cartriges & bores, I'd assume a 6th chamber could work, but like I just said, I didn't measure the chambers etc...

I believe the cartridges are the same length or very close, so the frame would be long enough.
I'd figure the gun would be very heavy because of the 22 cal rifling, compared to a 50 cal rifled barrel.

edited to add, they could put a skinny barrel under that barrel cover, then the weight would be reasonable. I think this was the thinking back then with the X frame, as they have a platform that could be used in the future to introduce many different calibers if so desired.