Super magnum

A super magnum is a longer version of a magnum handgun cartridge. The most widespread of these calibers are the SuperMag family of super magnums were proposed and tested by Elgin Gates in the 1970s.

Calibers

Gates' SuperMags

Gates tested super magnum cartridges in .357, .375, .44, .45, .50, and .60 caliber. Gates' "SuperMag" cartridges are all 1.610 inches long—about frac|3|10 of an inch longer than a standard magnum—and use the same bullets as the original magnum cartridges. The extra powder 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, .375, and .445 SuperMag cartridges. In 2000 they added .414 Supermag, and .460 Rowland.

Other "super magnums"

There have been other cartridges that were created by extending the length of existing magnum cartridges. Some of these are:
* The .327 Federal Magnum, based on the .32 H&R Magnum
* The .357 Remington Maximum, based on the .357 Magnum and virtually identical in dimension to the .357 Supermag
* The .444 Marlin, a rifle round based on the .44 Magnum

Details and performance

.357 SuperMag

Based on the .357 Magnum cartridge, a revolver designed for the .357 SuperMag can also fire .357 Magnum, and .38 Special rounds.

References

* Taffin, John. [http://www.sixguns.com/range/supermags.htm The SuperMags] [http://www.sixguns.com/ SixGuns.com]
* Taffin, John. [http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt445sm.htm Taffin Tests: The .445 SuperMag] [http://www.sixguns.com/ SixGuns.com]
* Taffin, John. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_8_46/ai_63772611 Powerhouse Sixguns Of Dan Wesson] "Guns Magazine", August, 2000
* [http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/w445supmag.html 445 Super Magnum] ©1999–2005 [http://www.reloadbench.com/ ReloadBench.com]