I second the .44 Magnum in both lever and sidearm. You can load .44 Specials in both, and get a little more pop with the special out of the rifle, and still handle the .44 SPC in the revolver.
I would suggest carrying a 5 1/2" SBH in cross draw as I do when I got into the woods. I might have my 30-30 or my bolt .25-06, but I have my .44 Magnum in a cross draw location. I usually carry a loading of 22.0 grains IMR 4227 with a MO Cast Bullet Company 240 grain LSCW, or it will be loaded with a 240 XTP with 20.5 grains of 2400. Neither of these loads are over powering, and I find them to have less recoil than a Double Tap 125 grain .357 Magnum load, but I have modified my Super Blackhawk so that I can shoot it comfortably, and I will explain.
The advantage to this is if you ever start to hand load you can load down the .44 Magnum case with Unique or IMR 4227, and still have a little to a lot more power than the specials. A Ruger SBH with a Hogue Mono Grip loaded with 22.0 grains and a 240 LSWC is not a heavy recoiling round in the SBH. It is actually very pleasant, and I find it to have less recoil than shooting a .357 158 grain full load or even a 125 grain .357 full load. Why? Because the revolver is heavier.
Shooting specials out of a SBH is pleasant with the Hogue grip, and will give you a much bigger hole in the piggies, and you would also bump the velocity when you shoot it out of the rifle.
Another good choice since you do not hand load would be a .45 Colt combination. Again larger holes and heavier bullets to assist in putting down those big piggies.
I hunt in South AR sometimes, and I know about those large pigs you can run into, and I much rather have a .429 or .454 caliber bullet than a .357.
Just something to think about. You can load a .44 Magnum to 1000 fps easily with Unique with mild recoil, and if it shoots good out of the rifle you would probably be in the 1400+ range for velocity.
Shooting factory specials from the revolver with 15 grains of 2400 and a 200 grain bullet you will get close to 1000 fps maybe more, and from the rifle 1400-1600 fps. That is pretty good for close range pig killing. Especially when using a Lead Semi Wad Cutter.
If you were to start hand loading you can use some 255 grain Beartooth bullets with a .34" meplate, and that is a real smacker. A real big thump.
Tough choice since you do not hand load, but I would dismiss the .357 option, and look hard at the .44 Magnum shooting .44 SPC, or .45 Colt using factory ammo, and if you get over the recoil shyness you could shoot Buffalo Bore .45 Colts for a real big boom.
One thing that I can say about a .44 Magnum recoil in the revolver is with a Red Hawk you have a very flat back plate in the grip. More felt recoil. With a factory cowboy SBH grip you have a lot of roll, and it is hard to get a good grip on the revolver, but if you put on a Hogue Mono Grip you still have the shape of a single action grip, but it is much larger and softer. This makes for a lot less felt recoil from the revolver with full power loads. I had to change to the Hogue grip on my SBH, and it made a world of difference in accuracy, and the ability of me to overcome the recoil of full power .44 Magnum loads. It is actually now the most infectious gun I have to shoot. I always take the .44 Magnum to the range, or to the woods.
I would suggest carrying a 5 1/2" SBH in cross draw as I do when I got into the woods. I might have my 30-30 or my bolt .25-06, but I have my .44 Magnum in a cross draw location. I usually carry a loading of 22.0 grains IMR 4227 with a MO Cast Bullet Company 240 grain LSCW, or it will be loaded with a 240 XTP with 20.5 grains of 2400. Neither of these loads are over powering, and I find them to have less recoil than a Double Tap 125 grain .357 Magnum load, but I have modified my Super Blackhawk so that I can shoot it comfortably, and I will explain.
The advantage to this is if you ever start to hand load you can load down the .44 Magnum case with Unique or IMR 4227, and still have a little to a lot more power than the specials. A Ruger SBH with a Hogue Mono Grip loaded with 22.0 grains and a 240 LSWC is not a heavy recoiling round in the SBH. It is actually very pleasant, and I find it to have less recoil than shooting a .357 158 grain full load or even a 125 grain .357 full load. Why? Because the revolver is heavier.
Shooting specials out of a SBH is pleasant with the Hogue grip, and will give you a much bigger hole in the piggies, and you would also bump the velocity when you shoot it out of the rifle.
Another good choice since you do not hand load would be a .45 Colt combination. Again larger holes and heavier bullets to assist in putting down those big piggies.
I hunt in South AR sometimes, and I know about those large pigs you can run into, and I much rather have a .429 or .454 caliber bullet than a .357.
Just something to think about. You can load a .44 Magnum to 1000 fps easily with Unique with mild recoil, and if it shoots good out of the rifle you would probably be in the 1400+ range for velocity.
Shooting factory specials from the revolver with 15 grains of 2400 and a 200 grain bullet you will get close to 1000 fps maybe more, and from the rifle 1400-1600 fps. That is pretty good for close range pig killing. Especially when using a Lead Semi Wad Cutter.
If you were to start hand loading you can use some 255 grain Beartooth bullets with a .34" meplate, and that is a real smacker. A real big thump.
Tough choice since you do not hand load, but I would dismiss the .357 option, and look hard at the .44 Magnum shooting .44 SPC, or .45 Colt using factory ammo, and if you get over the recoil shyness you could shoot Buffalo Bore .45 Colts for a real big boom.
One thing that I can say about a .44 Magnum recoil in the revolver is with a Red Hawk you have a very flat back plate in the grip. More felt recoil. With a factory cowboy SBH grip you have a lot of roll, and it is hard to get a good grip on the revolver, but if you put on a Hogue Mono Grip you still have the shape of a single action grip, but it is much larger and softer. This makes for a lot less felt recoil from the revolver with full power loads. I had to change to the Hogue grip on my SBH, and it made a world of difference in accuracy, and the ability of me to overcome the recoil of full power .44 Magnum loads. It is actually now the most infectious gun I have to shoot. I always take the .44 Magnum to the range, or to the woods.
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