At the SHOT Show 2019, Bishop Ammunition & Firearms has introduced a new AR-10/short action cartridge called .475 Bishop Short Magnum. The company claims that this new cartridge is currently the most powerful chambering for the AR-10 platform.
The .475 BSM utilizes a proprietary case made by Robertson Cartridge Company. The cartridge has a rebated rim of .473 diameter which makes it possible to use standard AR-10 bolts. It fits single stack in modified AR-10 magazines.
The .475 Bishop Short Magnum cartridge operates at 65,000 psi pressure making it possible to launch the 390 grain .475 caliber projectile at a muzzle velocity of 2,500 fps. The solid copper hollow point bullets are specially made for Bishop Ammunition & Firearms by Cutting Edge Bullets. The .475 Bishop Short Magnum ammunition will be available at an MSRP of $189 per a box of 20 rounds.
The company has also brought to the SHOT Show a bolt action and AR-10 pattern rifles chambered in this caliber.
The company states that the AR475GAR is “The Most Powerful AR-10 Rifle in the World“. Let’s think about what applications such a weapon/cartridge system can be useful in. First of all, it would be a great tool for the military for stopping vehicles at checkpoints and punching through barriers. It would be an intermediate measure between a big bore AR-15 and a .50 caliber anti-materiel rifle – much more powerful than the former and more compact, lightweight and maneuvrable than the latter. I think law enforcement agencies may find it an interesting tool, too. And last but not least, this cartridge and rifle will make quite a potent dangerous game hunting rig. I bet it will be capable to take down any creature on the planet.
Below you can find a video where Merrisa Bishop, one of the owners of the company, fires the AR475GAR rifle.
We’ll publish a separate article dedicated to the .458 SOCOM lever-action rifle that Merrisa shoots at the very beginning of the video. Stay tuned!