Finale of a fantasy...

It is interesting to pipe dream. Knowing full well I'd likely not carry anything out further. But I've really had fun tinkering and figuring, that part is real and it does not cost anything. I make no claim to the idea, others have voiced it previously, although it's rare. A .44 Special semi-auto 1911, the ".44 Special Auto"?

My vision would be a (maybe lightweight) Commander chassis, regulated to shoot 240 gr. bullets at around 900-1000 fps. Maybe a custom recoil spring set up regulated to the duty.

Many of the sharp Misfits and our fearless leader instantly opined a necked up .400 Corbon would be the correct avenue. I wholeheartedly agree. It stops several issues before they become problems. Namely mis-identification and magazine binding with the tapered case. I mock tested the theory to great satisfaction. The cartridges align in the .45 magazines perfectly and feed slick as butter. Capacity is more than sufficient for the task. *One SERIOUS consideration is the reamer made with more than generous throating to permit revolver SWC bullets to easily enter the chamber. This is critical and often messed up by knowledgeable reamer makers! Nothing at all wrong with a Weatherby'ish freebore.

My fantasy led me to investigate how one might go about getting a .429" 1911 barrel. Stubbing is plausible but expensive. Getting the South Koreans or Philippines to help is also possible but would require more than I could manage. This leaves "relining". Almost a do it yourself project if you have mechanical aptitude and some machines. Not all that ideal but it would work, has it has in the past. That, and custom dies that are expensive and long coming. It could be done but would cost into four digits to get it accomplished. I'm not likely to pursue further but sure have had fun speculating. I'd be delighted if one day someone carried the torch into fruition. Just because I like the .44!

Cartridges compared; 230 gr. .451 ball to the .430" Sierra 240 gr. Silhouette bulleted mock .44 Special Auto.