[Trez]

The Medusa is a very unusual revolver produced by Phillips & Rodgers that have the ability to chamber multiple calibers in the same revolver. The Medusa chambers, fires, and extracts 25 different cartridges in the .38/9mm/.357 ammunition range. (This does not include the .357 sig because the round is a .40 caliber cartridge that necks down to .357.)
The reason why the revolver can use multiple calivers is because of its special cylinder. The Medusa six shot cylinder design originally was designed by Jonathan Phillips. He was also a computer specialist for NASA and a competition shooter. To withstand the varying pressures involved in the various rounds, the revolvers cylinder is made with mil spec 4330 modified vanadium steel (the same alloy used in the Gatling gun barrels of F-16 Falcon fighters) and is specially hardened. This cylinder is about twice as stong as any other revolver cylinder on the market. The Medusa uses special rims and springs to hold rimless (automatic pistol) cartridges
The Medusa Model 47 is patterned after the Smith & Wesson K-Frame pistols. The Medusa's frame constructed from 8620 steel which has been spacially hardened. The match grade barrel is constructed from 4150 chromemoly steel with available barrel lengths of 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 inches. The barrel has 9 rifle grooves instead of the normal 6 to 8 for revolvers. The revolver comes standard with adjustable rear sights and changeable front sights.

heres some pics of mine....

[Trez]

some pics of the cylinder and extractor....

[danf_fl]

Nice write up. Great pictures.

How well does it shoot. And I don't mean with different calibers in the cylinder, but with one caliber loaded.

[robocop10mm]

Weren't they made in Conroe, TX? I believe they made a replacement cylinder for Smith K-frames also.

[HKSlinger]

How long of a run did the Medusa have? Its not in production any more,right?

[canebrake]

Introduced in 1996 they produced ~500 before they went out of business in 2001.

Here's a neat graphic:



The only other revolver with a similar extractor is the German Korth.

[Trez]

Originally Posted by danf_fl

Nice write up. Great pictures.

How well does it shoot. And I don't mean with different calibers in the cylinder, but with one caliber loaded.

although you could, i dont mix calibers in the same cylinder. also if im shooting multiple calibers, i start with the longer ones. i mostly shoot .380 acp and .38 spl. ive shot .357 mag a few times. its very picky with 9mm, only a few rounds from a box will fit, so i havent shot any yet. ive found it to be quite accurate with all the calibers ive shot. the sights are nicely made and the front fire sight makes it easy to aim. maybe next time i go shooting ill do a little report on it. i love it, and find it a joy to shoot.

oh yeah, mine has the 5" barrel

[Trez]

Originally Posted by canebrake

Introduced in 1996 they produced ~500 before they went out of business in 2001.

Here's a neat graphic:



The only other revolver with a similar extractor is the German Korth.

Really??!! only 500??? im surprised i even came across one, let alone get it for such a bargain. this is turning out to be a interesting chance find....

i was looking up the korth but couldnt find any pics of the extractor... it said it auto-ejected the cartriges??

[Trez]

WOW..from what i read there was only 500 made and around half went overseas...
some more info i found...

The Medusa uses a floating firing pin, which is housed in the frame between the cylinder face and the hammer striking area. Two integral safety mechanisms are patterned after Smith & Wesson double-action designs. After ignition, the hammer returns to a resting position on top of a ridge on the rebound slide, nearly one-eighth of an inch away from the firing pin. The hammer will not go forward until it is fully cocked again. There is also a golf-club-shaped safety bar in the way of the firing pin that prevents accidental discharge. Even if you hit the gun hammer hard enough to break it and move it forward, the gun won't fire.

and a list of the 25 cartriges.... (although i read its 104 if you count every cartrige made)
.380 ACP,
.380 Revolver,
9x18mm Ultra,
9x18mm Makarov,
9mm Browning Patronen (long),
9mm Export,
9mm Glisenti,
9mm Kurz,
9mm Largo,
9mm Long,
9mm Luger,
9mm Mauser,
9mmx19 Parabellum,
9mm Rimmed,
9mm Steyr,
9mm Win Mag,
.38 ACP,
.38 Auto,
.38 Colt Super,
.38 Long Colt,
.38 Mid-Range,
.38 Short Colt,
.38 S & W,
.38 Special,
.357 Magnum

[Trez]

im finding that my Medusa is very picky using 9mm. they seem to fit really tight near the rim. only a few rounds from a box will fit. (i dont want to force them, in fear that a extractor finger may break.) im not into reloading yet, so this has all been factory made ammo. it seems that the 9mm rounds are all slightly different sizes. the ammo will cycle and fire with no problem in all the auto-loader pistols ive tried. Any suggestions or insight on this? any help would be appreciated, im dying to shoot some 9mm out of my revolver!!