Yes, you read that title correctly 🙂 Special Interest Arms, best known for their .45 ACP and 7.62x39mm Enfields, are doing limited runs of .50 AE and .45-70 Enfield conversations. These rifles are so cool that I am declaring them the TFB Gun-o’-The-Month even though the month has barely begun.

50 AE round ready to feed, 45-70 energy in a much smaller package, and a seven round magazine that can fit in a shirt pocket.

.50 AE is the cartridge designed for the infamous .50 Desert Eagle. Out of a rifle-length barrel, it has about the same energy as a traditional .45-70 load. One customer is having his built as for use as a Grizzly bear gun. Firing test indicate that it should be head-shot-accurate out to 200 yards with a red-dot sight. Another customer is having his threaded for a suppressor. SIA’s production run of the .50 AE Enfields is very limited. They are only doing six conversions and five have already been sold. If you want one you better buy it now!

Two .50 AE carbines (top/middle) and a “K” 7.62×39 Sporter.

As an aside, the “K” model pictured above is SIA’s new model with a low Picatinny scope rail. They are making them for the No 4 or 5, the No. 1′s and Ishapore 2A Enfields. The rail features a U notch so that the iron sights can be used with the rail attached.

the most recent 45-70 conversion. Fitted with an extra robust version of the SIA Picatinny scope rail.

I asked SIA if the Enfield action would stand up to the pressure of modern .45-70 loads. They said that the Enfield No. 4, rated at 45,000 CUP might, but the No. 1 Mk. III probably would not.

.45-70 round ready to feed.

I also asked if they have considered making a .500 S&W chambered Enfield. They said it would be unlikely because the comparatively short fat rimmed revolver cartridge would make the magazine hard to design and also the chamber reamers are expensive.