I absolutely do. If I'm wearing one of my SA's working around here and have to stop to go into town, I don't take the rig off. If it's cold outside and I'm wearing a jacket, it's concealed. If it's not cold, it's not concealed. That's the beauty of a "handy" handgun; learn to shoot it and it works for so many things.
In the recliner or riding around in a pickup, even walking around for short periods of time, a few ounces make little difference. And if that's the extent of how you use a handgun, then you're probably fine with a big 'un.
I don't think you're being combative at all, but I don't think you understand, or maybe are not interested in understanding, the use of a revolver outside of
just hunting.
@CraigC framed the revolvers in question perfectly, they're tools of opportunity for targets of opportunity.
The fixed sighted issue has been extremely simple for me. When I acquire a revolver I find an accurate load with a SWC bullet that works for hunting, and regulate the sights so that it strikes no more than 2" high at 50 yds. which in the case of a .44 Special or 45 Colt and a bullet running 950-1000 fps, means it will be ~0-3" low at 75 yds., depending on the POI at 50. Next I find a light load consisting of a RN bullet, close in weight to my hunting bullet, running around 750 fps that can be used for small game. More often than not, the light load will shoot to the sights at 25 yds., making my revolver a
truly versatile tool for the field. Now to illustrate this, a couple of years ago I went with some friends to deep SW Texas for some javelina hunting, shooting, whiskey consumption and general relaxation. Carrying the battered .44 Special illustrated above, I filled it with hunting loads save for one cylinder that had the light load. I slipped to within 20 or so yds. of a covey of blues, indexed the cylinder to the light load, and load sniped one to add to the pot that night-
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A week later I'm back home and on one of my long evening walks on the ranch next door when I heard some pigs making racket and found a couple of sows and a mess of babies. With the same revolver I used to take the blue quail, I stuck a 260 gr. Keith SWC into her shoulder from .44 yards out.
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Paper punching, small game shooting, deer and hogs, even concealed/unconcealed carry, all with one revolver and one sight setting. That is
my idea of versatility and what works for
me. It's worked so well, that you're going to have a hard time convincing me that my successes, well, weren't.
I don't know if you ever actually hunted elk, but in DIY situations (no guide finding them, skinning, quartering and packing them out for you )and away from roads it's an extremely physical thing. Even after having taken 4 bulls so far, I personally wouldn't dream of doing it with a handgun. But again, if that's your thing, more power to you.
In my view, calling a large hand cannon a versatile handgun, is like calling a .460 Weatherby a versatile rifle.
35W
