Wildey with long barrel.
Posted on 04/16/2003 4:53:30 PM PDT by 45Auto
The 475 Wildey is the brainchild of Wildey J. Moore. This cartridge was designed to be used in a big bore gas operated, semi automatic handgun which was also designed by Wildey Moore. The original pistol was chambered for the 45 Winchester Magnum. In order to build the gun, Moore decided to sell stock in his company to raise capital for production. In time some of the investors wanted to take active roles in production and marketing of this particular handgun. Unfortunately, many of these were not shooters or people knowledgeable about firearms. Moore's share in the Wildey company was diluted to 25%, and without his knowledge, other shareholders in the company formed a separate investment company to gain control of Wildey Incorporated. In January 1983, Moore was fired from his company, but the new management ended up in bankruptcy less than a year later. It took a few years for Moore to get back on his feet.
Using this time to advantage, he designed an entirely new pistol with improved ballistics and a new cartridge, the 475 Wildey Magnum. The 475 Wildey is based on the 284 Winchester cartridge cut off to 1.395 inches then neck reamed to handle the 475 bullets. The cartridge is the same length as the 45 Winchester Magnum, however, of greater diameter. Case forming dies for this cartridge are available from both RCBS and Wildey Incorporated. Bullets for the 475 Wildey Magnum are available from Barnes bullets in American Fork, Utah. A real shot in the arm cam for Wildey when the pistol was featured in Charles Bronson's movie, Death Wish III.
The Wildey is a very heavy handgun designed to handle breech pressures exceeding 48,000 psi. Due to its size and weight, its usefulness will be most likely limited to hunting and some sport shooting, however, accuracy has proven to be outstanding. Five shot, 25 yard groups consistently average less than1 inch. Ballistics are also impressive with 100 yard remaining energies exceeding that of the muzzle from a 44 Magnum. Load data from Wildey indicates that 18 grains of Blue Dot powder should be used with a 300 grain jacketed bullet. With that load, a 300 grain Barnes JSP gives a muzzle velocity of 1610 fps with a muzzle energy of 1727, most impressive. At this time, preformed cases for the 475 Wildey Magnum are available directly from Wildey Inc.
475 Wildey Magnum Reloading Data Bullet (grs.) Powder / (grs.) MV ME Source 250 SP Blue Dot / 21.0 1850 1900 Wildey, Inc. 300 SP Blue Dot / 18.0 1610 1727 Wildey, Inc.
Wildey with long barrel.
Wildey with interchangeable barrel system
I still prefer the 44 Auto Mag. A 308 cut down and chambered with a 44 bullet. I've fired both the Dirty Harry Smith and Wesson Model 29 and the 44 Auto Mag and there's no comparison. You fire the revolver and the recoil kicks it over your head. On the Auto Mag you can drop back down on target in nothing flat.
I have a loose claim to inspiring Clint Eastwood to use the 44 Auto Mag in the Dirty Hary movie "Sudden Impact." He was a regular visitor to a deli near my Radio Shack store in Daly City (near SF) in the early 80s. Herb Caen (local columnist) would always note that he stopped by this deli each time he was in town. I never ran into him, but I made a point of describing this handgun to the owners of the deli and encouraging them to mention it to Mr. Eastwood the next time he was in. They specifically told me that they had told him about it some time later, and the next movie made was Sudden Impact, in which he "moved up" from the Model 29 to a "real man's gun" .
Ah, fame is so fleating
I still prefer 'Ol Painless, though :) 
The 475 Wildey looks like it would make that thing look like a popgun automatic. If course I'm waiting for a Desert Eagle to chamber 454 ....
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