Big Bore Handguns?

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HK G3

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Hey guys,

Well, I've been bitten by the big-thumper bug.

After firing a friend's .44 Magnum, I've decided that I need to buy a big, overpowered, and practically useless handgun. I personally like autos more than revolvers, and for that reason have seriously been considering a .50AE Magnum Research Desert Eagle, and am currently watching a couple of gunbroker auctions.

My budget is ~$1 grand, so what would you guys recommend? I've looked into and am aware of the .44 Mag, .460 S&W, .480 Ruger, .50AE and .500 S&W. From what I can gather the .500 S&W is the king of the hill, but where would you rate the other rounds? I am starting, and should be accustomed to reloading by the time I purchase my new handgun, so cost isn't a huge issue, though I would still like to be able to shoot a few rounds every couple of weeks without spending more than $1/round or so.

I haven't actually shot all of these calibers (.44 mag is the only one I have actually shot, out of a Ruger Superblackhawk), so any and all advice is appreciated. Thanks!
 
I think the 50 AE and 480 are going to be more difficult to find than the others. I have personally found the 44 mag to be my reality limit. Truthfully the 500 mag wasnt that bad when I fired it, but the blast was crazy. If I were choosing something really big, Id go with the 460 mag. Tat way you can go with the 45 Colt and 454 Casul as well.

I do believe the 500 is more powerful than the 460, but not by a whole lot. Plus the 460, with the lighter high velocity rounds, is a great long range revolver.
 
If you're really after the big push to the hand and the big fireball I'd suggest going with a revolver. The cylinder gap provides a nice side sheet of flame that adds to the overall experience.

I've shot a few of the biggies now at my local "rent-a-gun" range and the best show out of the following list was the 5 inch S&W .460 with barrel compensator.

S&W 460 5" compensator
S&W 500AE 8" compensator
500AE Desert Eagle
 
Revolvers are the high king of "big bore thumpers". A revolver is a tool much better suited to the job.
 
HK G3, while I find you comment "I've decided that I need to buy a big, overpowered, and practically useless handgun." a little off base, I will give you my opinion based on being a handgun shooter for over 30 years and a 27 year handgun hunter.

In the price range you are looking, you can get a Magnum Research BFR in calibers from 45 Colt to the 500 Mag. You will have enough money left over to buy a reloading press as well.

I have big bore handguns and they are, 44 Mag, 45 Win Mag, 45 Colt, 375 JDJ. 375 H&H, 410 GNR, 480 Ruger, 454 Casull, 475 Linebaugh, 460 Mag, 500 Mag and a 510 GNR.

My advice to you is, don't buy too big of a bore handgun, it does no good to have the biggest if you can't shoot it correctly.

I started handgun hunting with a 357 Mag, and worked my way up to the 500 Mag and 510 GNR. A good all around big bore handgun round, in my opinion is the 480 Ruger. More power and a bigger hole than the 44 Mag, at about the same recoil level. Again you can get one for way under $1000 and have a lot of money left over for reloading equipment. The Magnum Research 480/475 Linebaugh is a great choice. You can use both rounds and if you want more power than the 480 Ruger, drop in a 475 Linebaugh and kill anything that walks on the planet.

As for the 460 and 500 Mags, the 500 Mag out performs the 460 Mag by a lot. Bigger holes and a lot more power. Sure the 460 Mag can shoot 45 Colts as well as 454 Casull's, but who buys a 460 Mag to shoot 45 Colts or 454 Casull's. I know I didn't.

My advice to you is, get the 480 Ruger in a Super Redhawk, or seriously look at the Magnum Research BFR in 480/475 Linebaugh. Unless you have your heart set on the 500 Mag. I have both a S&W 500 Mag as well as a BFR in 500 Mag, love them both, but they are a handful. A lot of deer, hogs and black bear have fallen to my 500 Mags.

Hope this helped.
 
Get a S&W 460, you can fire .45 LC out of them for practice and other uses. In the 460, a .45 LC feels like a 9mm.

The S&W 460 costs just above 1,000 dollars.
 
I'd go for something double-action in .44 Magnum or .454 Casull. That way, it can do double duty as a personal defense gun when loaded with .44 Special or .45 Long Colt. Even if you already have personal defense handguns, it can't hurt to have one more.
 
A S&W X-Frame is hard to beat. If you want devastating effects on target, and versatility, I'd go with a .460, allowing you to shoot .454 Casull and .45 Colt as well (verify that for yourself). You'd be capable of everything from ~200gr. bullets @ 1000 fps to the same weight bullet at twice the speed, or a heavier bullet.

For utter ridiculousness, go 500.

Although the big-bore magnum autos are much more likely to give you problems, for the ultimate cool factor I'd recommend a Wildey Automag and the Death Wish box set. :cool:
 
Any serious big bore handgun shooter know, double action offers nothing over a single action. I own both single action and double action big bore handguns. I can shoot either as quickly as the other. The single action can be re-cocked on the down fall of the recoil, and be ready to shoot when the target is found.

Big bore handguns are not like shooting a 38 special light loaded handgun like Jerry Miculek shoots.

As far as personal defense, sure they will work, but a lighter recoiling handgun is better suited for a defense handgun, and I am talking two legged.
 
Any serious big bore handgun shooter know, double action offers nothing over a single action.
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Double action offers a lot over single action in a personal defense gun. If you want your big bore to double as a personal-defense gun, you'll want double action.
 
Double action offers a lot over single action in a personal defense gun. If you want your big bore to double as a personal-defense gun, you'll want double action.
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And what would that be??
 
As far as personal defense, sure they will work, but a lighter recoiling handgun is better suited for a defense handgun, and I am talking two legged.
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.44 Special isn't light recoiling? That's news to me.
 
Well, I've been bitten by the big-thumper bug.
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Well, there is nothing wrong with that, even though many on here will ridicule you for going the way of the big bores.

Of the calibers you mentioned (44 Mag, .460 S&W, .480 Ruger, .50AE and .500 S&W), they are all different and have different capabilities. I have each of them and the .460 and the .480 are the most useless of the bunch in my opinion. Many will tell you that you can shoot the three calibers out of the .460 and while they are correct, what they fail to mention is that you will have a hard time switching between the three calibers and the different loads in the three calibers and still have an accurate shooting pistol. The point of aim won't be even somewhat close when switching. But, shooting .45 long colts out of the .460 is like shooting .44 specials out of a large .44 magnum pistol, it is very tame.

Reloading will be the only way most people will shoot the .500 or the .50 very much. If you cast your own, the .500 can be shot for fractions of the $1 limit you set. Same with the .44 mag. The .50 is most often seen as a show off range pistol, but it has the ability to be accurate and a deadly hunting pistol. When firing one of my .50's for the first time with a friend, he was shocked that I knocked down every metal target going across the stand with the very magazine.

If you will have to buy ammo, the .44 will be much more practical and is very respectable for making nice holes in stuff and hunting.

You didn't mention a purpose other than the range, so, if you can shoot it, the .50 AE will get the most attention and looks there.

HPIM0349.jpg
 
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Question for HK G3

I read your post that you shot a friends .44 mag and are now thinking of buying a big bore handgun. That is great I love mine but before we make a bunch of recomendations. What is your level of experience with big bore handguns? What is your experience with handguns in general? Are you set on buying a revolver or have you considered a contender/encore frame? Are you wanting to target shoot, hunt or what will be the purpose for the gun?

I personally hunt whitetails with a .44 super redhawk and love it. I picked up a contender chambered in .35 rem a couple weeks ago which will be my hunting handgun after some more range time with it.

I would stay this is my prefrence with a .41 mag or a .44 as the limit is this is your first big bore handgun. I love the Ruger's and would probably recommend a blackhawk frame. I have two redhawks but only fire them DA once in a blue moon.
 
I dont want to sound dumb, but dont buy a big handgun that you cannot hold steady onto a target.

There is nothing wrong with the big handgun bug biting, I dont think there is a shoot person who have eyed the really big guns from time to time.

I think there was a You Tube video of a large man with a extreme loaded hangun that was not meant to be fired, despite his strength, his mass and his intention not to lose that gun, it still smacked him anyway.

I had my bug for a brief time after watching Tackleberry blow away one of the targets with UA weapon on the movie Police Academy as a kid.
 
I had my bug for a brief time after watching Tackleberry blow away one of the targets with UA weapon on the movie Police Academy as a kid.
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Alright Redhawk1 and Travis you guys both have valid points. Yes a would say that a DA would be better suited for self defense purpose. That being said I believe this is a poor choice for self defense anyway. You have got to really hate someone to pick up a .44 over a 9mm-.45acp whatever for home protection. If it is the closest thing well maybe but poor choice for primary.
Redhawk1 seems to be more towards the hunting side of the house. And I will agree with him all day long that DA offers no advantage over SA for hunting.
 
That being said I believe this is a poor choice for self defense anyway.
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.44 Special and .45 Long Colt are not poor choices for personal defense. If anything, the .44 Special may actually be a bit underpowered for that purpose.
 
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