I'm about to purchase a Beretta Laramie. When I was a boy I was given a toy top break revolver and I've been obsessed with Schofields ever since. I realize many say that the top break design is weak, and not to use +P loads. A lot of this comes from the poor reproductions offered by Cimmaron a few years back. The Beretta and Uberti model 3's have significantly beefed up barrels and latches. I don't want to get into a Schofield vs. SAA debate as I intend to own both shortly.
This revolver is obviously not the first gun I would pick up for home defense and carry, I have others for that, but I would like a back woods gun that could drop wildlife, and if the situation called for, still be effective as a personal defense round. It's offered in .45LC and .38 special. I assume the +P rule on top breaks still applies for the .38 special model. If not, which would be more effective, +P .38 special rounds or standard .45LC rounds. If I can't use +P rounds, how effective are the standard(non-cowboy) .45LC rounds. I would like a round that can reach out and drop a target at up to 75-85 yards. Unfortunately, I'm not too informed on the effectiveness of a standard .45LC round, I know it's handloaded options are limitless. What's a good standard load .45LC round to look at for my purpose?
I think these new guns are much stronger than we give them credit for, and likely can handle more powerful rounds than we give them credit for, time will tell with other's experience. By the way, whether it matters or not, I'm looking at the 6.5" barrel model.
This revolver is obviously not the first gun I would pick up for home defense and carry, I have others for that, but I would like a back woods gun that could drop wildlife, and if the situation called for, still be effective as a personal defense round. It's offered in .45LC and .38 special. I assume the +P rule on top breaks still applies for the .38 special model. If not, which would be more effective, +P .38 special rounds or standard .45LC rounds. If I can't use +P rounds, how effective are the standard(non-cowboy) .45LC rounds. I would like a round that can reach out and drop a target at up to 75-85 yards. Unfortunately, I'm not too informed on the effectiveness of a standard .45LC round, I know it's handloaded options are limitless. What's a good standard load .45LC round to look at for my purpose?
I think these new guns are much stronger than we give them credit for, and likely can handle more powerful rounds than we give them credit for, time will tell with other's experience. By the way, whether it matters or not, I'm looking at the 6.5" barrel model.