A super magnum is a longer and/or more powerful version of a "magnum" cartridge. Although the term "super magnum" typically refers to a handgun cartridge, created by lengthening an existing straight-case design, it can also refer to rifle and shotgun cartridges, such as the .17 Winchester Super Magnum and the 31⁄2" 12 Gauge Super Magnum. In this case, it simply denotes that it is of greater power than existing "magnums" of a similar caliber or gauge, this is comparable to other designations, such as the "Remington Ultra Magnum". The most widespread of these cartridges are the "SuperMag" family of super-magnum handgun cartridges that were proposed and tested by Elgin Gates in the 1970s.
Gates tested super magnum cartridges in 7mm, .357, .375, .41, .44, .45, .50, and .60 caliber. Gates' SuperMag cartridges are all 1.610 inches long—about 3⁄10 of an inch longer than a "standard" handgun magnum (i.e. .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, and .44 Magnum, which are all the same length)—and use the same bullets as the original magnum cartridges. The extra powder capacity can increase muzzle velocity up to 30–40% over the original magnum rounds.
In the 1980s, Dan Wesson Firearms began to produce revolvers chambered for the .357 Supermag, .375 Supermag, and .445 SuperMag cartridges. In 2000, they added .414 Supermag, and .460 Rowland. [1]
Other cartridges that were created by extending the length of existing magnum cartridges include:
Based on the .357 Magnum cartridge, a revolver or single-shot pistol designed for the .357 SuperMag can also fire .357 Remington Maximum, .360 Dan Wesson, .357 Magnum, .38 Special, .38 Long Colt, and .38 Short Colt cartridges. The .357 SuperMag is essentially the same cartridge as the later-named .357 Remington Maximum that was jointly developed circa 1982–1983 by Sturm, Ruger & Company and Remington; the .357 Remington Maximum brass is only 0.005" shorter than the .357 SuperMag brass, but identical in all other dimensions. Ruger, as well as Dan Wesson, introduced revolvers for this cartridge, followed shortly later by Thompson/Center in their single-shot Contender. [1] Due to flame cutting of the top strap of revolvers when shooting cartridges loaded with 110 and 125 grain bullets, Ruger discontinued their revolver in this cartridge after a short production run. Dan Wesson provided a second barrel to customers, but this failed to address customer fears, and the cartridge remained popular only in the single-shot T/C Contender. Remington then dropped this cartridge from production, although brass is still manufactured for reloaders every few years.
Bullet | Load | MV (ft/s) | ME |
---|---|---|---|
RCBS #35-200FN | 19.0 GRS. H4227 | 1468 | 1,297 J (957 ft⋅lbf) |
19.0 GRS. WW296 | 1489 | 1,335 J (985 ft⋅lbf) | |
Lyman #358627GC (210 gr) | 19.0 GRS. H4227 | 1495 | 1,413 J (1,042 ft⋅lbf) |
19.0 GRS. WW296 | 1526 | 1,472 J (1,086 ft⋅lbf) | |
Speer 180 FMJ | 20.0 GRS. H4227 | 1371 | 1,018 J (751 ft⋅lbf) |
Hornady 180 FMJ | 20.0 GRS. H4227 | 1427 | 1,103 J (814 ft⋅lbf) |
Speer 200 FMJ | 19.0 GRS. H4227 | 1286 | 996 J (735 ft⋅lbf) |
Based on the .375 Winchester rifle cartridge, this custom round was meant to fit between the .357 SuperMag and the .445 SuperMag, but is no longer produced. It had a tapered case that was prone to sticking in the cylinder after firing. The .375 Super Mag took a special jacketed revolver bullet of 220 grains made by Hornady and chambered in the Dan Wesson revolver. But shooters concluded the combination did not shoot very well, and it was dropped from production with few being made. Star-Line brass is likewise rare.
Bullet | Load | MV (ft/s) | ME |
---|---|---|---|
Hornady 220 FMJ | 23.0 GRS. H110 | 1267 | 1,063 J (784 ft⋅lbf) |
22.0 GRS. H4227 | 1258 | 1,048 J (773 ft⋅lbf) | |
27.0 GRS. WW680 | 1364 | 1,232 J (909 ft⋅lbf) |
Based on the .41 Magnum cartridge, the .414 SuperMag never really caught on, partly due to medium-range performance not that different to the well-established .44 Magnum. Consequently the cartridge was never adopted by any of the major commercial ammunition producers, although custom ammunition producers listed it, loaded with Starline brass. Dan Wesson did commence chambering their 8"-barrelled, heavy frame revolver for it in 2000; numbers were small due to lack of demand, and production was terminated by their Chapter 11 bankruptcy. They also offered 'factory' .414 Super Mag ammunition, based upon Starline cases topped with a 220-grain TC bullet, now highly collectable. Thompson Center were the only other manufacturer to catalogue the calibre, offering various lengths of chambered barrel for their single-shot T/C Contender. A revolver designed for the .414 SuperMag can also fire the shorter .41 Magnum and .41 Special cartridges. [1]
Based on the .44 Magnum cartridge, the .445 SuperMag is a high pressure cartridge and will allow higher muzzle velocities than most .44 Magnum cartridges. .445 cartridges are designed for long range hunting and target revolvers, capable of knock-down performance surpassing 200 yards for Silhouette and 150 yards for hunting applications. The .445 Super Magnum can drive a heavy 300-grain bullet 120 ft/sec faster than the .44 Magnum cartridge. While Dan Wesson handguns in .445 SuperMag ceased production in 2007, custom ammunition producers such as Buffalo Bore continue to offer loaded ammunition. Starline brass is still available and custom manufacturers occasionally offer T/C Encore barrels. A revolver designed for the .445 SuperMag can also fire the shorter .44 Magnum, .44 Special, and .44 Russian cartridges. [1]
Introduced: | 1986 |
Cartridge Length: | 1.965" |
Case Diameter: | 0.457" |
Case Length: | 1.610" |
Use: | Revolver |
Bullet Diameter: | 0.429" |
Case Type: | Rimmed, Straight |
Velocity: | 1850 ft/sec |
Energy: | 1520 ft⋅lbs |
Bullet Mass: | 220 grain |
Bullet | Load | MV (ft/s) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
10" | 8" | 6" | ||
Sierra 300 JFP | 31.0 GRS. H110 | 1395 | 1394 | 1295 |
34.0 GRS. WW680 | 1284 | 1247 | 1191 | |
NEI #295.429GC | 30.0 GRS. H110 | 1512 | 1502 | 1477 |
31.0 GRS. H110 | 1608 | 1572 | 1498 | |
34.0 GRS. WW680 | 1554 | 1496 | 1442 | |
SSK #310.429 | 31.0 GRS. H110 | 1546 | 1494 | 1491 |
34.0 GRS. WW680 | 1572 | 1521 | 1500 | |
Hornady 265 FN | 31.0 GRS. H110 | 1486 | 1459 | 1310 |
Speer 240 FMJ | 33.0 GRS. H110 | 1516 | 1517 | 1387 |
31.0 GRS. H4227 | 1514 | 1493 | 1326 | |
38.0 GRS. WW680 | 1504 | 1432 | 1353 | |
Sierra 220 FMJ | 34.0 GRS. H4227 | 1648 | 1635 | 1541 |
35.0 GRS. H4227 | 1759 | 1705 | 1561 | |
36.0 GRS. H4227 | 1793 | 1780 | 1640 |
The .357 Smith & Wesson Magnum, .357 S&W Magnum, .357 Magnum, or 9×33mmR is a smokeless powder cartridge with a 0.357 in (9.07 mm) bullet diameter. It was created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, and Douglas B. Wesson of firearm manufacturers Smith & Wesson and Winchester. The .357 Magnum cartridge is notable for its highly effective terminal ballistics.
The .45 Colt (11.43×33mmR), is a rimmed, straight-walled, handgun cartridge dating to 1872. It was originally a black-powder revolver round developed for the Colt Single Action Army revolver. This cartridge was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1873 and served as an official US military handgun cartridge for 19 years, before being replaced by the .38 Long Colt in 1892.
The .44 Remington Magnum, also known as .44 Magnum or 10.9x33mmR, is a rimmed, large-bore cartridge originally designed for revolvers and quickly adopted for carbines and rifles. Despite the ".44" designation, guns chambered for the .44 Magnum round, its parent case, the .44 Special, and the .44 Special's parent case, the .44 Russian all use 0.429 in (10.9 mm) diameter bullets. The .44 Magnum is based on the .44 Special case but lengthened and loaded to higher pressures for greater velocity and energy.
The .44 Smith & Wesson Special, also commonly known as .44 S&W Special, .44 Special, .44 Spl, .44 Spc, or 10.9×29mmR, is a smokeless powder center fire metallic revolver cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson in 1907 as the standard chambering for their New Century revolver, introduced in 1908.
The .357 Maximum, formally known as the .357 Remington Maximum or the .357 Max, is a super magnum handgun cartridge originally developed by Elgin Gates as the wildcat .357 SuperMag. The .357 Maximum was introduced into commercial production as a joint-venture by Remington Arms Company and Ruger in 1983 as a new chambering for the Ruger Blackhawk. Shortly thereafter, Dan Wesson Firearms and Thompson/Center Arms introduced firearms in this cartridge. United Sporting Arms chambered it in their Silhouette series single-action revolvers. It is a .357 Magnum case lengthened 0.300 inches (7.6 mm). Based on the .357 Magnum cartridge, a revolver or single-shot pistol designed for the .357 Remington Maximum will chamber and fire the .360 Dan Wesson, .357 Magnum, .38 Special, .38 Long Colt, and .38 Short Colt cartridges. Intended primarily as a silhouette cartridge, such high velocity and energy levels have hunting applications. SAAMI pressure level for this cartridge is set at 40,000 pounds per square inch (280 MPa).
The .41 Remington Magnum, also known as .41 Magnum or 10.4×33mmR, is a center fire firearms cartridge primarily developed for use in large-frame revolvers, introduced in 1964 by the Remington Arms Company, intended for hunting and law enforcement purposes.
The .256 Winchester Magnum is a firearms cartridge developed by Winchester, and was produced by necking-down a .357 Magnum cartridge to .257 diameter. It was designed for shooting small game and varmints.
The .475 Linebaugh (12.1x36mmR) is a rimmed revolver cartridge developed by John Linebaugh in the late 1980s in response to the scarcity of the .348 Winchester brass required to form his .500 Linebaugh cartridge. The cartridge is based on the .45-70 Government case trimmed to 1.4 inches and loaded with .475-inch-diameter (12.1 mm) bullets. While dimensionally similar to the older .45 Silhouette cartridge, the .475 Linebaugh is loaded to considerably higher pressures, resulting in significantly different ballistic performance.
The .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, also known as the .22 WMR, .22 Magnum, .22 WMRF, .22 MRF, or .22 Mag, is a rimfire cartridge. Originally loaded with a bullet weight of 40 grains (2.6 g) delivering velocities in the 2,000 feet per second (610 m/s) range from a rifle barrel, .22 WMR is now loaded with bullet weights ranging from 50 grains (3.2 g) at 1,530 feet per second (470 m/s) to 30 grains (1.9 g) at 2,200 feet per second (670 m/s).
A wildcat cartridge, often shortened to wildcat, is a custom-made cartridge for which ammunition and/or firearms are not mass-produced. These cartridges are often created as experimental variants to optimize a certain ballistic performance characteristic of an existing commercial cartridge, or may merely be intended as novelty items.
The .44 Auto Mag pistol (AMP) is a large caliber semi-automatic pistol. It was designed between 1966 and 1971 by the Auto Mag Corporation to make a semi-automatic pistol chambered in .44 AMP.
The Ruger Blackhawk is a six-shot, single-action revolver manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Co. It is produced in a variety of finishes, calibers, and barrel lengths.
Elmer Merrifield Keith was an American rancher, firearms enthusiast, and author. Keith was instrumental in the development of the first magnum revolver cartridge, the .357 Magnum (1935), as well as the later .44 Magnum (1956) and .41 Magnum (1964) cartridges, credited by Roy G. Jinks as "the father of big bore handgunning." Keith was born in Hardin, Missouri, and overcame serious injuries that he had sustained at age 12 in a fire when he was living in Missoula, Montana.
The .44 Russian / 10.9x24mmR,, is a black-powder center-fire metallic revolver cartridge developed and produced by Smith & Wesson in 1870. The .44 Russian design was the first use of an internally lubricated bullet in modern firearm ammunition.
The Smith & Wesson Model 57 is a large frame, double-action revolver with a six round cylinder, chambered for the .41 Magnum cartridge, and designed and manufactured by the Smith & Wesson firearms company. The gun was designed as a weapon for law enforcement agencies. However, due to size and recoil it found more favor with civilian target shooters and hunters.
The .40 Super (10.2x25mm) is a powerful automatic pistol cartridge developed through the collaboration of Fernando Coelho and Tom Burczynski and introduced by Triton Cartridge in 1996. It delivers ballistics comparable to the .41 Magnum revolver cartridge, yet functions in standard 1911s and other full-size pistols. A 5” 1911 chambered in the cartridge is capable of penetrating 46” of Clear Ballistics gel.
The .500 S&W Magnum or 12.7×41mmSR is a .50 caliber semi-rimmed revolver cartridge developed by Cor-Bon in partnership with the Smith & Wesson "X-Gun" engineering team for use in the Smith & Wesson Model 500 X-frame revolver and introduced in February 2003 at the SHOT Show. From its inception, it was intended to be the most powerful handgun cartridge to date, with the capacity to harvest all North American game species. While more powerful handgun cartridges, such as the .500 Bushwhacker, have emerged since, they are only available in custom firearms, and the .500 S&W remains the most powerful production handgun cartridge.
The .41 Special—also commonly known as .41 Spl, .41 Spc, or 10.4x29mmR —is a wildcat (non-standardized) cartridge designed for revolvers, made to be a less powerful variant of the established .41 Remington Magnum. The cartridge was intended for police work, security and personal defense, using a 200 grain bullet at 900 feet per second. While proposed as early as 1955, it remains a niche, custom cartridge.