Big revolver - Page 4

Creek Henry · January 7, 2018, 05:26 PM

I know Wesson lengthed the 357 to 1.41" for the 360DW but has anyone done the same with the 44? Doing that and pumping up the pressure to +P psi would make for a nice thumper in an extremely versatile gun.

fourbore · January 7, 2018, 06:46 PM

Quote:

I want a BIG revolver. A "N" frame, "X" frame, redhawk, etc...
In .357 or .44 mag or .460 or .500 or whatever.
Purely a range gun.

With all that said, which big revolver with a big cartridge is the most comfortable to shoot. I know this is subjective, but I still want to hear your thoughts. I reload so I can load as mild or hot as I want.

My only experience with any of the above:

.357 Colt Trooper mark III with a 4" barrel - Not horrible, but was the "sharpest" kicking handgun I have ever shot

.44 mag Ruger Vaquero with a 7" barrel - Kicked very hard but was not as "Sharp" as the .357

.44mag Model 29 with a 6 1/2" barrel - Kicked very hard but was manageable. Probably the most comfortable one of the three listed.

The ruger super redhawk is very comfortable to shoot. That is not subjective, it just is. I mean compared either of the 44mag you listed. I got one. it is big and a great range toy. But; if you want to intimidate or impress your friend dont let them shoot it. It is so easy, to handle. Not too expensive to shoot with american eagle box of 50 rounds.

Now, I would like to try a 500 S&W, but; there I am pretty sure is a braggin rights gun. Potentially for sure. Its big and reloading is almost a must. so; recoil will only be as bad as the ammo YOU load. Probably need to think about casting bullets to. In this case big is expensive.

bolindsey · January 8, 2018, 12:53 PM

Is it bigger than a 44 caliber Walker Colt, 4.5 lb, 15.5 in. long? Until very recent times, for some of us, it was the most powerful revolver around reportedly topping the 357 Mag in power. Now we have the Magnum Research .45/70 revolver, very impressive unless you consider single shot pistols. There we can have a 52 caliber mountain man reproduction pistol. Would you shoot genuine antique? Back in the day they had a 54 caliber cap and ball belt pistol up through the military 69, 72, 78 caliber horse pistols. Back powder shooting is fun. And you can still get them delivered TO YOUR HOUSE by UPS.

T. O'Heir · January 8, 2018, 01:18 PM

The Ruger SuperRedhawk is very comfortable to shoot because the grip is exactly the same as the GP100. Fits normal sized hands. And it weighs 3.5 pounds with the 9.5" barrel.

Reloadron · January 8, 2018, 01:20 PM

Creek Henry:

Quote:

I know Wesson lengthed the 357 to 1.41" for the 360DW but has anyone done the same with the 44? Doing that and pumping up the pressure to +P psi would make for a nice thumper in an extremely versatile gun.

The 44 Magnum was the spawn of the S&W 44 Special and along similar lines the 454 Casull was the spawn of the 45 Colt. Most handgun cannon cartridges were the result of elongating existing cartridges much like the .357 Magnum is a .38 Special on steroids.

Ron

sixgunluv · January 19, 2018, 06:59 PM

Define 'big'

.44 magnum Super Blackhawk 16

Cosmodragoon · January 20, 2018, 04:51 AM

The XVR in .460 is your best bet for balancing extreme power with "comfortable" shooting. That's not because you can also shoot .454 or .45 Colt. It's because the ultra-fast .45-caliber bullets are nicely balanced by the weight, porting, and grip of the XVR. All that helps with the .500 but the help doesn't go quite as far...

Ruger makes a fine product. The Redhawk is great in .44 magnum and I commend them for not having an ugly lock hole in the sides of their guns. Smith and Wesson just really knocked it out of the park with the XVR. It's one of the few modern S&W revolvers I could justify owning.

BTW, those X-frame grips will also fit on modern L-frames. They can really make a 686 comfy to shoot.

Mr.RevolverGuy · January 20, 2018, 11:19 AM

Go all the way and get the 500S&W. I do agree with everyone that posted the 460XVR would be more versatile but if you are looking to keep it simple. WIth the 460 you will have to reload and have all the components (brass) to go from mild to wild. Separating brass or brass prep is not one of my most favorite things.

With the 500 you will need different powders to go from mild to wild but they come in seperate containers and no sorting necessary. Titegroup, Unique for very tame mild loads and AA#9 or H110 for full loads is all that's needed.

I do feel like a hypocrite because I do load for the 460 and 500

ammo.crafter · January 20, 2018, 11:33 AM

A lot depends upon grip design and fit to hand.

I found a SAA in 44 mag rolls in the hand when fired and has very acceptable felt recoil.

Then again, firing a 220 hard cast bullet from my S&W 57 (41 mag) is a handful.

pdlloyd975 · January 25, 2018, 07:22 AM

Specifically directed at this comment:
"Hey don't forget the .454 Casull.....
Do your research. If you like the .44mag,,,think almost double the power,,,, and the .460 is not that much more than the .454......

I can shoot my Taurus Raging Bull with one hand and not worry about recoil. (Ported barrel)
Ive hunted with one for over 4 years and have put a LOT of hogs on the ground. VERY accurate.

Its one of those guns Ill never get rid of.......
__________________
Capt Rick Hiott
Charleston,SC"

Capt Rick.. i too have the Raging Bull 454 Casull.. I've shot it many times... carried it bear hunting and that's what i bought it for..and that's good.. but at it's weight, it's not. I'm thinking an ultralight 44 mag in place of it for that purpose. I know they kick like a mule, but it wouldn't be a "range gun".. Toying w/either the S&W 44 mag Ultralight or the Taurus 44 mag Ultralight.. Any guidance? Decent difference in price considering i'll only haul it around for one month a year.

Cosmodragoon · January 27, 2018, 12:59 AM

Quote:

"Hey don't forget the .454 Casull.....
Do your research. If you like the .44mag,,,think almost double the power,,,, and the .460 is not that much more than the .454......

Just as .454 Casull is a magnum version of the .45 Colt, the .460 is a magnum version of the .454 Casull. The same weight bullets should be traveling hundreds of feet per second faster. For instance, the same 300-grain JFN loaded by Buffalo Bore is listed at 1,650 fps in .454 Casull and 2,060fps in the .460. That's a difference of about a thousand ft/lbs!

Coincidentally, I'd rather shoot .460 in a full-length XVR than .454 in a Redhawk any day. I know it might sound crazy. To be fair, I've never tried a ported or compensated Redhawk and I've only shot .460 out of the XVR. Of course, I have shot .454 out of the XVR and it was nicely tamed.

coolbreezy · February 3, 2018, 06:48 PM

460 s&w XVR is the way to go, I own one and used to own a 500 s&w with the 6.5 half lug barrel. The 500 was a great gun and fun as hell to shoot. I couldn't justify $3 a round, so I picked up a XVR because the ammo versatility appealed to me. Shooting a .45LC is akin to shooting a .22.

shurshot · February 6, 2018, 03:14 PM

I have a mint S&W 29-10, 4" .44 Mag, pretty hard to beat a 4X4 for compact (relatively speaking), Magnum power. And, yes, I carry it concealed in cold weather. Read to way too many Elmer Keith articles as a kid I guess!

January 8, 2018, 01:18 PM	#79
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	The Ruger SuperRedhawk is very comfortable to shoot because the grip is exactly the same as the GP100. Fits normal sized hands. And it weighs 3.5 pounds with the 9.5" barrel. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

January 19, 2018, 06:59 PM	#81
sixgunluv Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2008 Posts: 200	Define 'big' .44 magnum Super Blackhawk 16 Last edited by sixgunluv; January 19, 2018 at 07:11 PM.

January 20, 2018, 11:19 AM	#83
Mr.RevolverGuy Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 988	Go all the way and get the 500S&W. I do agree with everyone that posted the 460XVR would be more versatile but if you are looking to keep it simple. WIth the 460 you will have to reload and have all the components (brass) to go from mild to wild. Separating brass or brass prep is not one of my most favorite things. With the 500 you will need different powders to go from mild to wild but they come in seperate containers and no sorting necessary. Titegroup, Unique for very tame mild loads and AA#9 or H110 for full loads is all that's needed. I do feel like a hypocrite because I do load for the 460 and 500 __________________ Mr.Revolverguy http://www.dayattherange.com Firearms Reviewed and Reported On: An unbiased opinion with real world use. Last edited by Mr.RevolverGuy; January 21, 2018 at 08:41 AM.

January 20, 2018, 11:33 AM	#84
ammo.crafter Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2006 Location: The Keystone State Posts: 1,970	ouch A lot depends upon grip design and fit to hand. I found a SAA in 44 mag rolls in the hand when fired and has very acceptable felt recoil. Then again, firing a 220 hard cast bullet from my S&W 57 (41 mag) is a handful. __________________ "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading". --Thomas Jefferson

February 3, 2018, 06:48 PM	#87
coolbreezy Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2010 Posts: 271	460 s&w XVR is the way to go, I own one and used to own a 500 s&w with the 6.5 half lug barrel. The 500 was a great gun and fun as hell to shoot. I couldn't justify $3 a round, so I picked up a XVR because the ammo versatility appealed to me. Shooting a .45LC is akin to shooting a .22. __________________ S&W highway patrolman 28-2/ Springfield mil spec 1911 (semi custom)/ Sig P220 match elite .45 acp/Kimber micro 9 stainless/ Remington 870 tac14/ Taurus pt22/ S&W 629-1 3" .44 mag/ S&W 629 PC V-Comp/ Beretta M9/ Stevens/Savage 311A 12 ga double bbl/ Magnum research Desert Eagle XIX .44 mag/ S&W 460 xvr/ Glock g40 10mm longslide/ H&K usp compact .45 acp/ Ruger SuperBlackhawk Lipsey Edition/ S&W 686+ 3-5-7 talo edition

January 7, 2018, 05:26 PM	#76
Creek Henry Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2009 Location: Dallas Posts: 514	I know Wesson lengthed the 357 to 1.41" for the 360DW but has anyone done the same with the 44? Doing that and pumping up the pressure to +P psi would make for a nice thumper in an extremely versatile gun.

January 8, 2018, 12:53 PM	#78
bolindsey Junior Member Join Date: January 5, 2018 Posts: 2	Is it bigger than a 44 caliber Walker Colt, 4.5 lb, 15.5 in. long? Until very recent times, for some of us, it was the most powerful revolver around reportedly topping the 357 Mag in power. Now we have the Magnum Research .45/70 revolver, very impressive unless you consider single shot pistols. There we can have a 52 caliber mountain man reproduction pistol. Would you shoot genuine antique? Back in the day they had a 54 caliber cap and ball belt pistol up through the military 69, 72, 78 caliber horse pistols. Back powder shooting is fun. And you can still get them delivered TO YOUR HOUSE by UPS.

January 20, 2018, 04:51 AM	#82
Cosmodragoon Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2013 Location: Northeastern US Posts: 1,869	The XVR in .460 is your best bet for balancing extreme power with "comfortable" shooting. That's not because you can also shoot .454 or .45 Colt. It's because the ultra-fast .45-caliber bullets are nicely balanced by the weight, porting, and grip of the XVR. All that helps with the .500 but the help doesn't go quite as far... Ruger makes a fine product. The Redhawk is great in .44 magnum and I commend them for not having an ugly lock hole in the sides of their guns. Smith and Wesson just really knocked it out of the park with the XVR. It's one of the few modern S&W revolvers I could justify owning. BTW, those X-frame grips will also fit on modern L-frames. They can really make a 686 comfy to shoot.

January 25, 2018, 07:22 AM	#85
pdlloyd975 Junior Member Join Date: January 24, 2018 Posts: 9	Specifically directed at this comment: "Hey don't forget the .454 Casull..... Do your research. If you like the .44mag,,,think almost double the power,,,, and the .460 is not that much more than the .454...... I can shoot my Taurus Raging Bull with one hand and not worry about recoil. (Ported barrel) Ive hunted with one for over 4 years and have put a LOT of hogs on the ground. VERY accurate. Its one of those guns Ill never get rid of....... __________________ Capt Rick Hiott Charleston,SC" Capt Rick.. i too have the Raging Bull 454 Casull.. I've shot it many times... carried it bear hunting and that's what i bought it for..and that's good.. but at it's weight, it's not. I'm thinking an ultralight 44 mag in place of it for that purpose. I know they kick like a mule, but it wouldn't be a "range gun".. Toying w/either the S&W 44 mag Ultralight or the Taurus 44 mag Ultralight.. Any guidance? Decent difference in price considering i'll only haul it around for one month a year.

February 6, 2018, 03:14 PM	#88
shurshot Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2006 Posts: 1,819	I have a mint S&W 29-10, 4" .44 Mag, pretty hard to beat a 4X4 for compact (relatively speaking), Magnum power. And, yes, I carry it concealed in cold weather. Read to way too many Elmer Keith articles as a kid I guess!