[Jeff Higgins]

I haven't heard of it, but that sounds a lot like Linebaugh's .50-70 Government. About the same ballistics from what I remember. There is also a ".50 Special" that either Linebaugh or one of the other single action 'smiths turns out. It is far tamer, launching that 400 grainer at about 900 fps. Still a formidable load, though.

It seems most of the big bore nuts have settled on the .45's and .475's as the best useful compromise for hunting. They apparently out-penetrate the .50's due to better sectional density. Even a 400 or 450 grain .50 has a pretty low sectional density compared to the 300-350 grain .45's. Plus, recoil and blast get beyond what most folks can ever learn to handle. Your .454 is already treading in that territory. Hell, my heavy .45 Colts will leave my ears ringing all day from one shot when hunting.

I share your interest in something like one of these .50's, even as useless as they probably are in real life. Some kind of morbid fascination with something that intimidates me, I guess. How much of this do we really need? Geez, I have never recovered a handgun bullet from a game animal, because they have all gone clear through. Including a 260-ish grain RCBS Keith style bullet launched from a 4 3/4 Peacemaker, by black powder no less. At under 900 fps, it still went clear through a mature mule deer buck at over 50 yards. Add 100 grains and 500-600 fps, and the sky's the limit. But a .50 would still be cool...