454 v 44

[Hookeye]

I find 300gr at max in a .44 mag to be unpleasant.

Smith 629 or Ruger SBH.

Even if I get a SRH......it will be .44 mag abd 9.5" and limited to 240gr stuff.

Hell 200s killed my deer dead.

Arthritia sucks. Go lighter sooner. It all adds up ( genetics plus abuse )

 

[Hookeye]

As for .44 mags. My favorite is the wimpy Smith N frame 629. Since I wont shoot over 240 grainers a pre endurance package is fine w me.

 

[Hookeye]

As for .44 mags. My favorite is the wimpy Smith N frame 629. Since I wont shoot over 240 grainers a pre endurance package is fine w me.

 

[Obturation]

when loaded to 65,000psi, extraction tends to get sticky

My experience too, it's manageable but not ideal.

Plus the .454 at 65,000psi is just a really unpleasant beast. It yields an abundance of performance at 50-55,000ps

Yeah, leaving some margin for variables is always a good idea too. If I'm loading near 60k psi, I use new brass and hand trickled charges. 50k is more comfortable all around.

The N-frame shoots loose at 36,000psi

My experience too. I had a 629 for a few years, 2nd time it went out of time I had it repaired and sold it. In its defense, I was shooting some pretty warm loads but nothing I thought would wear it out like that .

 

[CraigC]

I've always treated my S&W's gently, as slightly stronger .44 Specials and deferred to Rugers for the heavy stuff. Which is easy when you mostly prefer single actions. Last time I hunted with Jack Huntington, he was on his 29th model 29. If that tells you anything.

 

[jski]

They'll handle it. They get proofed over 90,000psi but when loaded to 65,000psi, extraction tends to get sticky. If they had gone to a five-shot instead of that exotic alloy, it wouldn't be an issue. Or at least less of one. We have to remember, the .454 cartridge and the FA83 were designed together. A racing engine in a racing chassis, so to speak.

Plus the .454 at 65,000psi is just a really unpleasant beast. It yields an abundance of performance at 50-55,000psi.

Are you saying the S&W X-frame 460 can’t handle full house, 65,000 PSI rounds?

 

[no.5enfield]

I've always treated my S&W's gently, as slightly stronger .44 Specials and deferred to Rugers for the heavy stuff. Which is easy when you mostly prefer single actions. Last time I hunted with Jack Huntington, he was on his 29th model 29. If that tells you anything.

Didn't Jack build some 5 shot big bore N frames?

 

[__steve__]

Wonder what powder is compressed in that 44

 

[Palladan44]

Wonder what powder is compressed in that 44

I took apart a Buffalo Bore 44 magnum, and it looked Just like Lil' Gun or Winchester 296.
Doesnt mean anything though

 

[CraigC]

Are you saying the S&W X-frame 460 can’t handle full house, 65,000 PSI rounds?

When did we start talking about .460's?

Didn't Jack build some 5 shot big bore N frames?

He built one, what he calls a .475 Special. It's about like the .475 Cooper in that pressures and velocities are kept very low. Around 800fps.

Wonder what powder is compressed in that 44

Probably some version of Winchester 297, which is a non-canister 296.

 

[Steve Milbocker]

If these rounds are pushing rifle pressures I just as soon shoot them in rifles! my 44 specials and a 357 mag are the hottest handguns I own anymore. I’m not knocking you guys that enjoy shooting these cannons but they ain’t for this Oldboy anymore

 

[Hookeye]

WW296.
180gr JHP on top of 31.5 grains.
Zippy.
But has some concussion that is like being swatted in the face w a cookie sheet LOL
Out of my 8 3/8" my bud said it was the most obnoxious load he ever shot (he had a 7.5 Redhawk and shot the 2400 Keith load a lot).
My fave N is a 6" though.

Alas, the last deer I shot w handgun was w a .357 mag.

Pop gun.

If I ever get another .44 mag it'll proly run 200s and not full throttle.
Unfortunately, it will need a reflex sight.
My days w irons are done

 

[792mauser]

Shot a BFR in 454 a while ago that someone brought to the range and let me put a cylinder through it. Only got one round off.
The guy said they were loaded on the high side.
The blast, concussion and flip were awe inspiring to say the least.
White knuckled it and semi controlled the flip.
I hit the paper plate thankfully at 25 yards (way low and way left)

Nope...nope...nope...nope...nope...nope...nope...nope.

An experience to say the least.

Only saw him fire it at the end of the day 3 times....I couldn't imagine why.

 

[Richard Jay King]

.44 +P loads with jacketed bullets CAN become problematical in that bullet jump from recoil starts to occur unless the crimp is PERFECT! I have had this happen and it is NOT good as it ties the gun up until you can extract the offending cartridge..I have nad NO issues using hard cast Keith type bullets with the deep beveled crimp groove...I do not condem the search for more handgun power..but at some point you have ask yourself just how much power do you need? Recoil in a relatively light 4 5/8" Black Hawk is vastly different from a scoped Super Redhawk! My Black Hawk recoil limit is about 1200 fps with a 250 gr bullet but I am not sure if I could ever reach my limit with my 7 1/2" Super Redhawk! However both have been used to take dozens of whitetails with excellent results. I guess if I wanted fishing protection in Alaska I can see wanting everything the limits of the gun could produce but for the most of us...a big fat bullet at a little over 1000 fps will do the job at hand..without tearing the flesh off our trigger fingers under recoil...