A super magnum is a longer and/or more powerful version of a " magnum"

cartridge Cartridge may refer to: Objects * Cartridge (firearms), a type of modern ammunition * ROM cartridge, a removable component in an electronic device * Cartridge (respirator), a type of filter used in respirators Other uses * Cartridge (surname), a ...

. Although the term "super magnum" typically refers to a handgun cartridge, created by lengthening an existing straight-case design, it can also refer to rifle and shotgun cartridges, such as the

.17 Winchester Super Magnum .17 Winchester Super Magnum, is a rimfire rifle cartridge developed by the ammunition company Winchester in 2012. It descended from the .27 caliber nail-gun blank by necking down the blank case to take a .17 caliber In guns, particu ...

and the 3" 12 Gauge Super Magnum. In this case, it simply denotes that it is of greater power than existing "magnums" of similar caliber, similar to other designations such as "

Remington Ultra Magnum Remington Ultra Magnum, or RUM, refers to a "family" of cartridges developed between 1999 and 2002 by Remington Arms. All of the RUM cartridges are based on the ''.404 Jeffery'' non-belted magnum cartridge. There is a long-case line, as well as a ...

". The most widespread of these cartridges are the "SuperMag" family of super-magnum handgun cartridges that were proposed and tested by Elgin Gates in the 1970s.

Calibers

Gates' SuperMags

Gates tested super magnum cartridges in 7mm, .357, .375, .41, .44, .45, .50, and .60 caliber. Gates' ''SuperMag'' cartridges are all 1.610 inches long—about of an inch longer than a "standard" handgun magnum (i.e.

.357 Magnum The .357 Smith & Wesson Magnum, .357 S&W Magnum, .357 Magnum, or 9×33mmR as it is known in unofficial metric designation, is a smokeless powder cartridge with a bullet diameter. It was created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, and Douglas B. ...

.41 Magnum The .41 Remington Magnum, also known as .41 Magnum or 10.4×33mmR (as it is known in unofficial metric designation), is a center fire firearms cartridge primarily developed for use in large-frame revolvers, introduced in 1964 by the Remington A ...

, and .44 Magnum, which are all the same length)—and use the same bullets as the original magnum cartridges. The extra powder capacity can increase muzzle velocity up to 30–40% over the original magnum rounds. In the 1980s,

Dan Wesson Firearms Dan Wesson Firearms (DW), part of CZ-USA, is an American handgun manufacturer. The corporate headquarters, customer service and manufacturing plant is located in Norwich, New York. Dan Wesson Firearms is known for its revolver expertise and for ...

began to produce revolvers chambered for the .357 Supermag, .375 Supermag, 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 The .327 Federal Magnum is a cartridge introduced by Federal Premium Ammunition and also sold by Sturm, Ruger & Co. It is intended to provide the power of a .357 Magnum in a six-shot, compact revolvers, whose cylinders would otherwise only h ...

, based on the .32 H&R Magnum. * The

.357 Remington Maximum The .357 Maximum, formally known as the .357 Remington Maximum or the .357 Max, is a super magnum handgun cartridge originally developed by Elgin Gates as the wildcat .357 SuperMag. The .357 Maximum was introduced into commercial production as ...

, based on the

and is virtually identical in all dimensions to the .357 SuperMag, with only a slightly shorter overall case length. * The .460 S&W Magnum, based on the

.454 Casull The .454 Casull () is a firearm cartridge, developed as a wildcat cartridge in 1958 by Dick Casull, Duane Marsh and Jack Fullmer. It was announced in November 1959 by ''Guns & Ammo'' magazine. The design is a lengthened and structurally improve ...

. The latter cartridge is effectively, though not in name, a magnum version of the

.45 Colt The .45 Colt (11.43×33mmR), is a rimmed, straight-walled, handgun cartridge dating to 1872. It was originally a black-powder revolver round developed for the Colt Single Action Army revolver. This cartridge was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1 ...

Details and performance

.357 SuperMag

Based on the

cartridge, a

revolver A revolver (also called a wheel gun) is a repeating handgun that has at least one barrel and uses a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers (each holding a single cartridge) for firing. Because most revolver models hold up to six roun ...

or single-shot pistol designed for the .357 SuperMag can also fire

.38 Special The .38 Special, also commonly known as .38 S&W Special (not to be confused with .38 S&W), .38 Smith & Wesson Special, .38 Spl, .38 Spc, (pronounced "thirty-eight special"), or 9x29mmR is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & ...

.38 Long Colt The .38 Long Colt, also known as .38 LC, is a black powder cartridge introduced by Colt's Manufacturing Company in 1875. In 1892, it was adopted as a standard military pistol cartridge by the United States Army for the Colt M1892 revolver. The ...

, and the

.38 Short Colt The .38 Short Colt, also known as .38 SC, was a heeled bullet cartridge intended for metallic cartridge conversions of the cap and ball Colt 1851 Navy Revolver from the American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 � ...

cartridges. The .357 SuperMag is essentially the same cartridge as the later-named .357 Remington Maximum that was jointly developed circa 1982–1983 by Sturm, Ruger & Company and

Remington Remington may refer to: Organizations * Remington Arms, American firearms manufacturer * Remington Rand, American computer manufacturer * Remington Products, American manufacturer of shavers and haircare products * Remington College, American c ...

, the .357 Remington Maximum brass is only 0.005" shorter than that of the .357 SuperMag brass, but identical in all other dimensions. Ruger, as well as Dan Wesson, introduced revolvers in this cartridge, followed shortly later by Thompson/Center in their single-shot Contender.Due to flame cutting of the top strap of revolvers when shooting cartridges loaded with 125 grain bullets, Ruger discontinued their revolver in this cartridge after a short production run. Dan Wesson provided a second barrel to customers, but this failed to address customer fears, and the cartridge remained popular only in the single-shot T/C Contender. Remington then dropped this cartridge from production, although brass is still manufactured for reloaders every few years.

.375 SuperMag

Based on the

.375 Winchester The .375 Winchester is a modernized version of the .38-55 Winchester, a black powder cartridge from 1884. It was introduced in 1978 along with the Winchester Model 94 “Big Bore” lever action rifle, which was in production from 1978 until ...

rifle cartridge, this custom round was meant to fit between the .357 SuperMag and the .445 SuperMag, but is no longer produced. It had a tapered case that was prone to sticking in the cylinder after firing. The .375 Super Mag took a special jacketed revolver bullet of 220 grains made by Hornady and chambered in the Dan Wesson revolver. But shooters concluded the combination did not shoot very well, and it was dropped from production with few being made. Star-Line brass is likewise rare.

.414 SuperMag

Based on the

cartridge, the .414 SuperMag never really caught on, partly due to a medium range performance that was not that different to the well-established .44 Magnum. Consequently, the cartridge was never adopted by any of the major commercial ammunition producers, although custom ammunition producers listed it, loaded with Starline brass. Dan Wesson did commence chambering their 8” barrelled, heavy frame revolver for it in 2000, the numbers were small, due to lack of demand and terminated by their Chapter 11 bankruptcy. They also offered ‘factory’ .414 Super Mag ammunition, based upon Starline cases topped with a 220-grain TC bullet, now highly collectable itself. Thompson Center were the only other manufacturer to catalogue the calibre, offering various lengths of chambered barrel for their single-shot T/C Contender. A revolver designed for the .414 SuperMag can also fire the shorter

and the

.41 Special The .41 Special—also commonly known as .41 Spl (pronounced "forty-one special"), .41 Spc, or 10.4x29mmR (metric designation)—is a wildcat (non-standardized) cartridge designed for revolvers, made to be a less powerful variant of the establish ...

cartridges.

.445 SuperMag

Based on the .44 Magnum cartridge, the .445 SuperMag is a high pressure cartridge and will allow higher muzzle velocities than most .44 Magnum cartridges. .445 cartridges are designed for long range hunting and target revolvers. Capable of knock-down performance surpassing 200 yards for Silhouette and 150 yards for hunting applications. The .445 Super Magnum can drive a heavy 300 grain bullet 120 ft/sec faster than the .44 Magnum cartridge. While Dan Wesson handguns in .445 SuperMag ceased production in 2007, custom ammunition producers like Buffalo Bore continue to offer loaded ammunition. Starline brass is still available and custom manufacturers occasionally offer T/C Encore barrels. A revolver designed for the .445 SuperMag can also fire the shorter .44 Magnum,

.44 Special The .44 Smith & Wesson Special, also commonly known as .44 S&W Special, .44 Special, .44 Spl, .44 Spc, (pronounced "forty-four special"), or 10.9x29mmR is a smokeless powder center fire metallic revolver cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson in 1 ...

, and the

.44 Russian The .44 Russian, also known as the .44 S&W Russian, is a black-powder center-fire metallic revolver cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson in 1870.Taffin, John.
The SuperMagsSixGuns.com
* Taffin, John.
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Super Magnum Cartridge families Magnum pistol cartridges