Varmint/Preditor Revolver

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Istvan

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Hello everyone,

I’ve been perusing the forums off and on for a while now, but this is my first time posting, please be gentle ;)

I have had a nagging urge for several years now to purchase, or have custom made, a dedicated, purpose-built varmint/predator revolver, accurate and powerful enough to cover groundhogs through eastern coyotes(maybe small hogs), at ranges up to perhaps 150 yards(I suspect more often than not, under 100 yards). My envisioned criteria is a bottlenecked cartridge of 6mm to quarter bore range, fired from a revolver with a barrel no longer than 7.5” to 8”(reasonably packable). I do understand there are much cheaper, existing options that are close enough to what I am trying to accomplish, that I would be nuts to go through the hassle and expense of what I am proposing, such as .357, .41 magnum, .30 carbine Blackhawk, and of course the T/C in a number of the readily available factory offerings. I have a strange penchant for the combination of a small bore, bottlenecked cartridge, and a SA revolver. I have toyed with ideas such as the 224-32 FA revolver(although it’s .22 caliber) as well as 240 Banshee and 255 Banshee from Gary Reeder. Does anyone have any thoughts, ideas, or constructive criticism on the subject?

Thanks,
Istvan
 
Bottle-neck high pressure cartridges and revolvers have a long standing history of not co-existing together peacefully.

What happens is, upon firing, the case expands to fill all available headspace between the cylinder & the recoil shield.

Then, the expanded shoulder prevents the fired case from slipping back forward to allow the cylinder to rotate for the next shot.

Thats the main reason the S&W Model 53 .22 Jet failed on the marketplace.
Case set-back and stuck cylinders unless you cleaned the chambers with a Q-Tip and lighter fluid every few shots.

And since you brought hogs into to the equation?
.22 or 6mm probably isn't going to get-R-done anyway.

You would do well to look at a HV bottleneck caliber in a strong single-shot like the T/C Contender or Encore pistol to meet your needs.

A revolver like that isn't going to do it unless you go straight-wall caliber like .357 or, .44 mag and learn how to shoot like Elmer Keith!

rc
 
On that note, Freedom Arms makes a really interesting long barrel single shot gun in a variety of calibers. Maybe that would do?
 
I suppose I sort of knew the answer to my own question. I seem to have a fatal attraction for the impractical/flawed cartridges, after all, I was a huge fan of the .357 maximum revolver lol. Does anyone have experience with Gary Reeder's .240 or .255 Banshee?
As suggested by some, I don't mind the straight-walled conventional revolver cartridge, the problem is that I was looking for something that had a bit more range and flatter trajectory than the .357 magnum, without the recoil and bullet weight of some of the super magnums. I would use it primarily for groundhogs and coyotes, which is why I was thinking of a smaller bottle neck cartridge. I am, however, stubbornly fixed on a revolver. :) I do appreciate all the suggestions and feedback. Please keep them coming.

Thanks
Istvan
 
check out bowenclassicarms.com. the list of single-six conversion calibers may interest you.

murf
 
I, too, thought along the same lines as your thoughts, maybe even using the Ruger Single Six sized frame. However, trying small caliber revolvers with lightweight bullets convinced me tht they were stritly close range propositons. The light bullets just shed velocity too quick to be effective at the longer ranges, say 100 yards or so. As velocity falls off, so does its wind-bucking ability suffer. Hits, effective hits, out at distance became uncertain.

I found the .357 Magnum, with bullet weights ranging upward from 140 grs to be far better than small calibers for this application. A pet of mine became my Ruger Three Screw Blackhawk in .357 Magnum. I desired a 7 1/2" barrel, but its 6 1/2" barrel does such good work I'm reluctant to change it out.

Bob Wright

P.S. I did consider building up a .32-20 on the same frame, but, alas, age and finances have sort of put that on hold.
 
Don't see anything wrong with the .357mag, S&W models are drilled and tapped for scope rings if you choose to reach out a ways. Get a 6" barrel, or you can buy a Dan Wesson with interchangeable barrels. DWs with 10" barrels established a great reputation for long range competition plate matches years ago.

OP has a number of options to choose from in .357mag. Does the OP handload?
Currently, Natchez has .357mag /. 38 Super Winchester brass on sale for a dollar more per hundred than 9mm.
 
I took want a bottlenecked wheel gun and have looked for one for some time. The most interesting thing I can find online is a Taurus raging 223. There are other raging bull variants but the 223 got me going. Too bad I have never seen one in real life. Wife thinks that a good thing.
 
You might consider a FA 353, which is a heavy piece of steel for the 357 mag but allows for much higher pressure. Recoil is tamed by the weight and accuracy is there for 150 yd shots (though it could take some tinkering to find it). Taffin did a write-up with some load data.
 
I know you said you want a custom revolver but why not buy a revolver and have it slicked up by a custom shop.

Magnum Research has a bunch of very powerful revolvers in their BFR line. They have 30-30, 444 Marlin, 45-70 and the big revolver cartridges like the 454 Casull, .460 Magnum and .500 Magnum. They sell revolver with 7.5" and 10" barrels and the ones I've shot are accurate. Maybe one of those would be a good platform to slick-up...
http://www.magnumresearch.com/Firearms/Firearms.asp
 
A 460 S&W ought to give you flat trajectory and plenty of range, though it is overkill for most of what you'll shoot.
 
Hi everyone,

Thank you for all of the replies. I haven't had internet for about a week or so :(
I don't currently hand load but I intend to do so this year. After reading all of the replies I may take another look at the .357 magnum. I read that Dan Wesson is supposed to bring back their heavy barrel .357 sometime soon, so I may have a hard look at that.
 
While not a fan of Ruger revolvers, they do make (or at least they made) some in 30 Carbine. The one I shot was good to at lest 100 yards with the open sights. I only got the use of it for a day but it was flat shooting and seems to be a good fit for the varmint side of what you want.
 
Yeah, a buddy had one and I borrowed it. Less than a cylinder to get on target at 100 yards. After that, a lot of fun with targets of opportunity.

But it was loud!
 
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No one currently makes a revolver in 357 Max that I know of, too bad. I have a Max in a 13 inch Contender that is awesome.

A 44 Mag with a 180gr bullet will do about what you want I believe and do it quite accurately with not too harsh of recoil.
 
A hypothetical......I have a Contender barrel in 7mmTCU and have dealt with the caliber a bit and with the sharp abrupt shoulder the cartridge has I bet the cylinder would turn just fine in a revolver......although one to my knowledge has never been built. It would leave the 300 Blackout and 30 Carbine in the dust.
 
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Honestly, my first choice would probably be a T/C Contener with a suitable barrel (Say .223) but if it has to be a revolver, I'd look into a long barreled .357 magnum. Set up this S&W Model 686 3-5-7 Magnum® with a quality scope, and I think you might have a winner. :D

150855_01_lg.jpg
 
rcmodel said:
.327 Magnum?

I just don't think anyone makes one that long barreled & accurate.

rc
Click to expand...

Was thinking the same thing. The Freedom Arms 97 is listed as available in 327 Fed, and has barrel choices of 5.5", 7.5", and even 10". I'm assuming it is accurate since it is freedom Arms, but I don't own one (thinking about it though and for a similar mission). They seem to have a rather long order backlog, however.
 
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