The .475 Wildey Magnum is a powerful semi-automatic pistol cartridge developed specifically for the Wildey gas-operated pistol. It is one of the few truly powerful semi-automatic pistol cartridges capable of taking large and dangerous game.
Type: Pistol
Introduced: 1977, USA
Standardization: Proprietary
Bullet diameter: 0.475" (12.07 mm)
Case length: 1.285" (32.64 mm)
Overall length: 1.65" (41.91 mm)
Max pressure: 45,000 PSI
Rim type: Rimless
Primer: Large Pistol
Muzzle velocity: 1300–1700 fps
Muzzle energy: 562–1608 ft-lbs
Effective range: 75 yd
Common bullet weights: 150, 200, 230, 250 gr
Primary use: hunting, handgun_hunting
Production status: Active
Also known as: .475 Wildey · 475 Wildey Magnum
History: Developed by Wildey Moore in the late 1970s alongside the Wildey pistol, the .475 Wildey Magnum was designed to bring rifle-level power to a semi-automatic handgun platform. The cartridge gained pop culture notoriety from the 1984 film Death Wish 3. Production has been intermittent due to limited demand and the niche nature of the platform.
Notable firearms: Wildey Survivor, Wildey Hunter
Similar cartridges: .44 AutoMag, .45 Winchester Magnum, .475 Linebaugh