cmb3366
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44mag in a 4.25" L-Frame M69 is the most punch in a light package I own. I think it's right about at my personal limit where I can still enjoy shooting warm loads.
What is the most energetic hand gun caliber you own?
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dpsurveyor
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I enjoy the .45lc loaded with full charge of black powder (35gr behind 255gr RNFP slug). Nice BOOM and very accurate in my Stampede six-shooter at 25 yards. Lots of fun at the firing line, what with all the smoke and loud BOOM. Easy cleanup using Windex on a couple of patches. Been shooting it regularly since buying it last summer. No problems.
My long time favorite "reach out and touch someone" gun is an early .41 Mag. Bisley. With proper hand loads it will take a heavy steel ram down at 200 meters all day without beating your wrist up. I will never sell that Bisley. I also have an old S&W Model 57 .41 Mag with a four inch barrel that will blow bowling pins several feet beyond the table with warm loads. Every time I used it in a match guys would try to buy it from me. I'll be keeping that one too.
farm23
Member
I use a 454 when hunting and expect to have long shots, but I mostly carry a 44mag loaded to 44 spl. The 44 has taken the most game [read deer] because it is with me more. The 454 has accounted for some big stuff and I have never seen a need to go higher.
P5 Guy
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357 Magnum
buck460XVR
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My P.C. .460 recoils less than my EDC J-Frame and is not only pleasant to shoot, but accurate as all get out. It has done more for my overall pistol shooting accuracy than anything else I have. While we have no dinosaurs here in Wisconsin either, we do have plenty of 200# plus whitetail bucks that tend to stay 150 yards or more from you. I too shoot .357, .44 special, .45 Colt and .45 ACP. None of them are really capable.
Then you would be hunting with a long-gun and not a handgun. Most 5# long-guns or a slug guns would be more uncomfortable to shoot than the 5# X-Frame. Again, not a lot of dangerous game here or in Kansas. I hunt deer with a revolver for the challenge. I have hunted deer for over half a century and for the most part, hunting them with a rifle is like today's new point and shoot cameras. A No-Brainer and little to no challenge. While hunting with a handgun generally means less meat in the freezer, I enjoy the quality of the hunt a lot more. Now if there were T-Rexs here in Wisconsin, they too would be a hoot to hunt with a revolver.
I still hunt deer with my .357 mags and .44 mags. Have killed deer with them. Depends on the scenario, where I'm hunting that day and they type of hunting I'm doing. But if the scenario may present me with a shot over 100 yards.....I be taking the X-Frame. It's still lighter(about half) than my ol Sporterized M1917 ought-six.
TRX
Member
.44 AMP, so far. Not as impressive now as it was in the 1970s, but it's still okay with me.
.357 but....
My Vaquero was purposely bought in .357 for the high ft lb s'pecs but due to super accuracy I find myself shooting +P .38 HP's for most serious shooting with 158gr .357's for really serious stuff.
The caliber gives the chance to share ammo with my model36, 10HHB and derringer when at the club.
You ought to consider my pair of '58 Remingtons, that aren't slouches when loaded with max charges of Pyrodex and 250 gr cast bullets! .44 punch in a BIG way!
ZVP
My Vaquero was purposely bought in .357 for the high ft lb s'pecs but due to super accuracy I find myself shooting +P .38 HP's for most serious shooting with 158gr .357's for really serious stuff.
The caliber gives the chance to share ammo with my model36, 10HHB and derringer when at the club.
You ought to consider my pair of '58 Remingtons, that aren't slouches when loaded with max charges of Pyrodex and 250 gr cast bullets! .44 punch in a BIG way!
ZVP
For a little while, I had one of those Ruger 10.5" Blackhawks in .44 Magnum. Nowadays it's a .357 Magnum, but under the right circumstances I could be convinced to have something .45 Colt. My 1858 Remington pattern cap and ball doesn't count.
FROGO207
Member
Had a 44 AMP but it went away. Have some 44 MAGs, some 45 Colt Old model Vaqueros and a 500 S&W. The 35 REM Contender does not really count either. The 500 X frame with full power loads is more than enough for me though.
Aquahauler
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I do have a Thomson Center contender with a 14" barrel chambered in 30-30. With muzzle brake it shoots as nice as my .38 special. I usually use it for deer hunting once a year. I also take it coyote hunting with a .204 barrel. Love this weapon.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
You said in another thread that you strictly hunt with iron sights and 100yds or less. You making 150yd shots with iron sights now? Doesn't taking 150yd shots kinda defeat the purpose of hunting with a handgun?
Aren't you basically confirming what I've always said about the .460, that the only thing it offers over the .44Mag, .45Colt or .454Casull is range?
robhof
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robhof
357, but in Max. as in 357 Supermag. I've got a Dan Wesson with assorted barrels from 6" to 10" to choose from, the 6" is definitely snappy, but even with the short barrel I can ring the gong at the range at 200 yds.
357, but in Max. as in 357 Supermag. I've got a Dan Wesson with assorted barrels from 6" to 10" to choose from, the 6" is definitely snappy, but even with the short barrel I can ring the gong at the range at 200 yds.
45_auto
Member
craigc said:
No, it also offers EXTREMELY more energy and/or momentum, which are very important when the grandkids are using it to explode 5 gallon water jugs or seeing who can make a bowling pin fly further.
Kind of the same advantages as a .454 Casull over a .44 Mag, .45 Colt, or .44 Special. Same as a .357 Mag over a .38 Special, .38 S&W, .38 Long Colt, or .38 Short Colt.
Range is just a bonus.
buck460XVR
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Where in that statement does it say I'm taking those 150 yards shots? The farthest shot I have from my regular deer stand is 110 yards. I practice regularly at that range with my iron sighted X-Frame and feel confident with my proficiency. With a scope, I no doubt would feel proficient @ 150 yards. Many folks do. 150 yards is not really a long shot with a .460. It is tho, a very long shot with a .44 mag or .45 Colt. I also take that shot with my .357 lever, iron sights. Not a problem. Would never do it with my 686s tho. In areas I still/stalk hunt, I'll be within 50 yards of a deer if I get a shot. Still with the accuracy of my X-Frame and the confidence I have in the platform, it and a shooting stick are generally my choice.
To me, the purpose of hunting with a handgun is the challenge of hunting with a handgun. Period. Iron sights and a firearm without a shoulder stock. Period. I don't hunt domesticated animals, over bait, behind a high fence. I need to make good shots at longer than bait station distances that will pin a truly wild animal down before it can go and cross the property line. From my stand this is only 150 yards in one direction. The .460 does this for me and my hunting scenarios. Using your rationality, does taking shots at small deer under 50 yards, defeat the purpose of using a 30-06 rifle with a 3X9 scope? Is there a difference? No there isn't. There also isn't a realistic reason anyone should concern themselves with someone who enjoys using a different platform than you do.
........and haven't I said over and over that the reason I use the .460 is to extend the range of hunting with a handgun? Isn't that the reason the .460 was created in the first place?
Craig.....you have stalked me on this forum for years. I knew the minute I posted on this thread, you would quickly respond to me(and me only) with some condescending comments about the Smith X-Frames. You always do. Kinda your standard MOA here. Folks only need to search any .460 thread made here over the last coupla years to see this is a true statement. You did not disappoint me. You do disappoint me tho, because it is not really the actions of a intelligent, mature adult. You really do need to grow up.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Oh, ok....energy.
Range is the only bonus.
Not the same, at all. The .357 needs velocity to be effective. The big bores do not.
There is a point to be made here. Every time this discussion comes up, all I generally try to point out is that unless you're shooting well beyond 100yds, there is little need for the weight, recoil, muzzle blast and expense of an X-frame. That smaller, lighter, cheaper guns with less recoil and less muzzle blast that are less expensive to feed will do the job on deer and hogs within 100yds. That's it. That's when you get defensive because apparently you construe my point to mean something unintended. You .460 fans get bent outta shape because you think I'm telling YOU what YOU "need". Here's an easy question to make my point. Do you NEED a 10lb sledgehammer to drive nails? If I say that you don't NEED a 10lb sledgehammer to drive nails, that a 28oz framing hammer will do the job with less weight, less effort and at less expense, do you feel the NEED to get defensive? No? What's the difference?
The bottom line here is that what I say is true and it has nothing to do with disparaging your or anyone else for their choice. You choose to hunt deer with a .460 because you want to and for whatever reason(s), that is fine. However, it's irresponsible and misleading to give folks the impression that one NEEDS a .460 to hunt deer.
No, I'm not "stalking" you or anybody else. Don't flatter yourself, I have far better things to do than follow you around. I do, however, often find things to disagree with you about and this is one of them.
And it looks to me that I was responding to your argument with another member about the merits of a 5lb revolver.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
What's this about???
45_auto
Member
Here, I'll repeat the title of the thread for you:
What is the most energetic hand gun caliber you own?
Apparently you're grudgingly willing to concede the energy factor, but I notice that your answer to my comment ignores momentum. Do you believe that momentum is unimportant, or do you believe that there is a 44 Mag, 45 Colt, or 454 Casull load that offers more momentum than is available in a 460 Mag?
What is the most energetic hand gun caliber you own?
craigc said:
Apparently you're grudgingly willing to concede the energy factor, but I notice that your answer to my comment ignores momentum. Do you believe that momentum is unimportant, or do you believe that there is a 44 Mag, 45 Colt, or 454 Casull load that offers more momentum than is available in a 460 Mag?
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