Has anyone had any practical range time with one of these buggers?

I know it's been chambered in the .44 AMP and .45 WinMag but just recently tripped across the fact that it's also chambered in a .475 Wildey Magnum cartridge.  This is a new cartridge on me.  For the last two days I've been doing a little investigating and now I'm trying to convince myself this cartridge isn't anything interesting.  Been failing miserably.  Kinda thought the $$$ commanded by these guns would deter me but that doesn't seem to be working either.

I doubt this fascination will amount to anything but was just curious if anyone's had the pleasure?  >>  klallen  

I held one a gun show a few years ago. The guy was begging me to buy it for $1200. Told him I'd never be able to find ammo for  it and he said you could cut down .284 Win brass but I'm not sure if that's true. All I remember was it was a monster handful. That gas thing looks fun to play with. Never shot one though.

DD

Yeah, the .45 and .475 Wildey are both made from a trimmed .284 case.  So running outa fodder to make cases from wouldn't be an issue.  Also, the Wildey company is a compete supplier of loaded ammo and ready to load brass for these things so that angle is covered pretty well.

Just wish I could get one in hand.  Squeeze off a couple rounds.  I think grip wise, I'd be ok.  The cartridge isn't any longer then the .45 WinMag and isn't any bigger in diameter then the .50 AE so I can't imagine it's any larger at the grip then either of these AutoMag IV's or V's.

I tell ya, where I'm at right now, if someone were to put a new .475 in my hand with an 8" or 10" barrel and say $1200 and it's yours     ...     I don't think I'd be able to walk away from that.

It does look like a fun one to work with.  That might be why I'm having a hard time shaking the desire.  Chat with ya later.  >>  klallen

Something along these lines would do the trick :

I have smaller hands and thought it was big but not bigger than a Desert Eagle .50A&E. I haven't shot one of those either but do have a good amount of trigger time on a .44 Desert Eagle. That thing was seemed big to me too but was probably closer to the size of the Wildey. It's been a few years since I held the Wildey but my impression was it was top heavy,"high center of gravity" but still pointed OK. Another impression was that much of it's weight was concentrated toward the rear of the gun as opposed to my 500 S&W being barrel heavy. Without the gas system I bet that thing would have a nasty barrel flip during recoil. I don't remember how Charlie Bronson carried his in those "Death Wish" movies but it's not going to be confused with a pocket pistol anyway you pack it.

DD