Are Big Bore Revolvers the Answer to the Crunch?

The answer is yes. I'm a big bore fanatic from way back, and probably my favorite setup is the convertible .45 Colt -.45 ACP/Super models Ruger dishes out. THey need a little tuning up, but for your dollar they can't be beat. Big, heavy hardcasts get it done every time, they're very efficient.

I own a S&W 696 (.44 Special), and a S&W 325NG (.45 ACP). Both are in the carry rotation. Both have incredibly mild recoil, not unlike a .38 Special. Brass lasts forever.

You can load the .44 Special with a 200gr LRNFP, and it gets out pretty quickly. I also found a load for the Colt .45 250gr LRNFP loaded in the the brass makes a great defensive round.

You have to be careful about discussing this. If everyone finds out, it won't be a secret any more.

Carried this .41 Magnum M&P model for 13 years as a LEO. Got the job done quite well.


45's have been around a long time. 45ACP over a 100 years and this revolver is comin' up on a 100 years old too.

Carry this one concealed every day now.
So far, so good....

love my 44 specials.

I dearly love my cap 'n ball revolvers but sometimes i just want to grab a gun and go back to the woods and check my trailcams or whatever..... It is rather inconvenient to load up a cap 'n ball for a quick trip. Afterward you either need to leave it loaded or shoot and clean it.

Since I already reload for .45colt I have been kicking around the idea of a 4 5/8" stainless Vaquero and some good leather.

I already have an old 7 1/2" blued Blackhawk. It ain't too purdy, but it'll put 6 rounds in a paper plate at 80yds from a rest. I hunt deer with it sometimes

Yeah, shoot the big stuff!

Yeah. If a 250gr hard cast at 900-1100 FPS can't get it done, you need a rifle. 41mag+ are capable of that.

if the caliber starts with a four and the bullet weighs over 199 grains, count me in.

that said, the auto crowd will always find a way to overcome the crunch.

murf

Loves me some 44s & 45s
Ammo is horribly expensive if you don't roll your own tho.

44 magnum Ruger Redhawk


45 Colt SAA (Uberti 1873 Cattleman NM Brass)


American Classic II in 45 ACP

Big bore revolvers and automatics have always been my favorite guns. 44s and 45s make me grin.


LAR Grizzly 44 Magnum

Colt New Service 45 ACP

S&W 44 Magnum

Colt New Frontier 45 Colt

Nothing like a good heavy duty revolver.

Be it a 629-1, .44 magnum, like the one here I use in the woods now days.




Or my 629-2 Mountain Revolver with it's companion, a 625-1 .45 ACP.



Does not matter if the N fame is in .41, 44, or .45 (LC or ACP). They are all real good guns and plenty gun for packing.

Deaf

I like the way y'all think

Who says it has to be a revolver? I shoot on my blacktop driveway, recovering brass is not a problem. And, I do not feel under-gunned with either a 1911, Sig P220, S&W 4506-4516, or my Kahr CW45, loaded with 200 gr SWC's that I load in bulk. I know where those are going when I pull the trigger, too.

Well, I guess 10 44s gives away my preference, but I do have 3 45 autos too.

I think big bore handguns make top notch carry/defense weapons, revolvers in particular. A man that carries a wheelgun chambered in any of the .4s is probably going to be a serious pistolero and know very well how to use that big gun.

And, since this is turning into a picture thread, here's a few of mine-

Austin Behlert custom S&W M25-2 .45ACP snubby


Marc Krebs custom S&W M28 .45ACP "CROWBAR"


Mag-Na-Port custom Charter Arms Bulldog "BackPacker" .44spl (#128 of 250)

Just dipping my toes in the water regarding reloading, started with some 44 Special loads, and just bought dies for 45 Colt

If it starts with a "4" and is a revolver.....I love it!

I think revolvers give the shooter more respect for his number of rounds available. Thus, the shooter may tend to aim more carefully, hit the target, and use less ammo because of nerves or habit.

A revolver surely does settle the question of whether to find and pick up brass. It depends whether one is a reloader though. Yesterday at the range I found in the trash barrel a 100 round bag of empty 45 Colt, worth at least 20 bucks. A guy handed me a bunch of .38 Specials, and there were a number of .44 Magnum cases lying around. I left with more than I brought and a smile on my face.

The big bore revolver is the answer to EVERY question.

RealGun said:

I think revolvers give the shooter more respect for his number of rounds available. Thus, the shooter may tend to aim more carefully, hit the target, and use less ammo because of nerves or habit.

A revolver surely does settle the question of whether to find and pick up brass. It depends whether one is a reloader though. Yesterday at the range I found in the trash barrel a 100 round bag of empty 45 Colt, worth at least 20 bucks. A guy handed me a bunch of .38 Specials, and there were a number of .44 Magnum cases lying around. I left with more than I brought and a smile on my face.

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At the range yesterday I shot my Colt Commander and S&W 629-1 .44 Magnum.

I brought home every .44 case, but only 1/2 of the .45s!

Those self suckers throw them everywhere.

Deaf

I like my 44 and my Dan 375 both have 10 inch barrels. My buddy has A 460 that is one very good gun.

Love all of my .44 and .45 caliber wheelguns. Just don't ask me to pick a favorite; each one is unique and special in their own way.

Deaf Smith said:

At the range yesterday I shot my Colt Commander and S&W 629-1 .44 Magnum.

I brought home every .44 case, but only 1/2 of the .45s!

Those self suckers throw them everywhere.

Deaf

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I use a big painters dropcloth. Not only does it keep track of the 1911 empties, it keeps the brass from the revolver caliber lever carbines from disappearing. Same with doin' speed reloads with the revolvers. End of the day just pick it up by the corners and all the brass can be easily poured into a suitable container for sorting or case prep.

There's very little of which a well-set up large-bore pistol, wielded by a well-trained shooter, is NOT capable. All factors being equal, they can be disposed of considerably more power than a similar-sized automatic pistol (not to mention a longer continuum of power levels from low/slow plinking ammo, up to the "3H" full-magnum performance ammo). They are easier on brass (depending on the pressures to which they're loaded), and they don't throw the empties everywhere.
Against them is their somewhat bulkier form than an automatic, plus the requirement that they be out of battery when reloading, and the murderously slow rate at which they're reloaded. If I could be metaphysically assured that my sidearm would only be used in exchanges not requiring reloads, I'd probably carry a large-bore revolver more often. So far, nobody whose judgement I trust has made me such a guarantee.
Augmenting power in the auto-pistol is not a pipe-dream, either. Conversions for .45 Super and .460 Rowland are available, and are generally less costly than a carry-worthy large bore revolver.
In the end, it all boils down to what the individual shooter feels most confident in shooting. Though I will always prefer a big-bore automatic to a revolver, I would not feel helpless, if armed with a big-bore revolver. Similarly, I would make it a point to be particularly wary of an adversary so armed. A man with only 6 rounds before a reload is probably EXTREMELY adept at making those 6 shots go exactly where he wants them.

SharpsDressedMan,

You, Iggy and CraigC know my answer. My EDC is a 4" N frame in 45ACP.