[Baron357]

Now here in mass we have stupid laws that limit the type of guns that can be sold so maybe I just don't know what I am missing but it seems that there is a lack of big bore caliber revolvers. Here we can get Smiths in .44, .460, and .500 as well as Rugers in .44, but even looking at manufactures websites there seems to be a lack of anything else like .45 colt, .454, .480, .41 mag and so on.

Are these calibers just fading out or is it just here in occupied territory that I am missing out?

[Nightcrawler]

.45 Colt is hit-or-miss in Double Action wheelguns. Ruger dropped the .45 Redhawk and S&W only does limited runs of .45 Colt N-Frames.

.41 Magnum isn't common, either. Ruger's only .41 is a Blackhawk and S&W only produces the 657 in one barrel length (though they have the scandium 4" 357 still). .454 Casull....well, Ruger and Taurus are, as far as I know, the only double action guns for this round. Same with the .480. You can fire .454 in a .460 S&W, though.

[YosemiteSam357]

The bigger calibers are often fired from BFRs, FAs (for the lucky few :eek:), and customized Rugers, as I'm learning. You don't see a whole lot of makers of guns that are strong enough to handle them. The ammo is also very hard to find in commercial loads. You either roll your own, pay huge prices, or don't shoot.

.45 Colt seems to be an anomaly. It seems to be really popular (esp. CAS), but I don't see much ammo around, and what I do see is pretty steep ($.65/round). As for guns, there are a fair number of companies making lighter SAA clones and the like, but these aren't meant for the high pressures the .45 LC is capable of producing. When you get to those that can handle that kind of pressure you're back down to the limited list of makers to choose from.

Again, this is just my observation from looking into the subject recently. And beginning to lust after more horsepower. :D)

-- Sam

[akodo]

I suspect the 460 is going to impact the future of 454 revolvers, as the 460 is able to shoot 460, 454, and 45 long colt. Anyone considering 454 has a great reason to consider 460 as they get an even more powerful loading.

I think the 480 will turn into a kind of 41 magnum. It is a bit more than a 44 mag, so only those people honest with themselves will go for the 480 vs the 460(or 454) in the same way only people honest with themselves about how they handle recoil choose the 41 mag rather than the more potent 44 mag

I think 41 mags have ALWAYS been a rare item.

454 is really synonomous with casull revolvers, and these spendy guns just don't sell fast, so not much dealer space is gonig to be occupied by them

Taurus Raging Bull for a while was the 'biggest baddest' realtively mainstream gun, and you saw a lot of them on shelves, but now they are being displaced by the 500 smiths.

[theNoid]

If you do a search in the revolver ranks of gunbroker, you will see that there are several of each calibers still available NIB, granted some of them aren't made anymore though and can be quite spendy.


45lc - Uberti, Taurus, Beretta, Ruger, Magnum Research, Heritage, Freedom Arms, Colt

41mag - Ruger, Taurus, S&W, Freedom Arms, Dan Wesson,

454 - Freedom Arms, Taurus, Ruger, Magnum Research, S&W(460)

Chuck

[22-rimfire]

Shops stock guns based on the market they are in. Depends on the economy or more specifically the local economy and interests. The 500's and 460's aren't selling like they used to. It was trendy to get one. But what are you going to use it for except hunting or perhaps a survival weapon?

I read the one post above with interest....getting a 41 magnum because you're honest with yourself??? What gives? Anyone that shoots a 41 can shoot a 44 magnum. They just shoot the 41's better. :)

[RichardB]

"Shops stock guns based on the market they are in. Depends on the economy or more specifically the local economy and interests."

You will need to talk with your gun dealer. They can not afford to tie up their money by stocking slow sellers; but they can quickly order them for real customers.

[YosemiteSam357]

It was trendy to get one. But what are you going to use it for except hunting or perhaps a survival weapon?
I wouldn't say "trendy", it's just a limited audience and always has been. You get a few people talking about them all the time. And the "use" is to have fun. People have fun with the shooting sports in different ways. Heck, I shoot trap, rifle, and various pistol disciplines myself.

It's similar to benchrest rifle. You don't see a lot of folks talking about their latest custom build on an XYZ action, and everybody running out and selling their stuff so they can have an XYZ, too. You pick one, maybe a few, and part of the fun becomes loading for that platform, not just blasting away with it.

Unlike, say, the "trendy" 1911-or-plastic-pistol-of-the-month market. :) (That was meant as a joke. Please take it as such.)

-- Sam

[akodo]

I read the one post above with interest....getting a 41 magnum because you're honest with yourself??? What gives? Anyone that shoots a 41 can shoot a 44 magnum. They just shoot the 41's better.

That was me.

Anyone can shoot anything, if you mean get a bullet to fly out of the barrel.

However, most people are more recoil sensitive than they like to claim or believe. There are some people who can shoot full house 44 mag rounds all the day long no problem, however, they are pretty scarce. Honestly, most people can shoot a 41 mag for more rounds before they fatigue out, but how many people want to admit they can only go 12 or 18 or 24 rounds full house 44 before they start slipping?

[YosemiteSam357]

... but how many people want to admit they can only go 12 or 18 or 24 rounds full house 44 before they start slipping?
Big bore shooting isn't about how many rounds you can put down the barrel. If I want to do that I'll break out a 9mm or a .22.

Besides, even shooting reloads, shooting "lots" of big bore stuff gets too expensive. But you ("I", rather) get enough of a rush from a few good rounds that I don't need to do 50 in a session. It's sort of like one glass of good ale vs. a sixpack of Bud.

-- Sam