Poll: what's the ideal big bore revolver cartridge?

Ideal big bore handgun cartridge

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Huge 41 mag fan here. If not a hand loader I would go with 44 mag. Easier to find ammo. All others on the list can be found. But they are pricey.
 
Meeks36 said:
Huge 41 mag fan here. If not a hand loader I would go with 44 mag. Easier to find ammo. All others on the list can be found. But they are pricey.
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Thank you. This is the information I was looking for. I have been leaning heavily to the 44 and so now I am voting for the 44 Mag/Special. Besides it reminds me of one of my favorite songs:
 
45lc-454casull
I could write poetry about the 45 colt. I hand load and cast my own bullets both hot and mild. I hunt with it and have put deer and hogs in the freezer. The only round I’ve shot more with is 45 acp.
I don’t have a 454 casull. But, something tells me that will soon change.
Great post. I enjoyed reading the responses.
 
I enjoy these type threads because I can get a feel for everyone’s line of reasoning - and there are some great posts here! (maybe this should be a sticky!)

For me personally, I shoot the 41 and 44 magnum (and Specials in my Magnums), 45 Colt, 480/475, and 500 JRH. I have a couple of “specialized” handgun-short case rounds for my Encore that are wildcats Gary Reeder builds, but I don’t really consider those daily shooters.

That said, I’d probably pick the 44M each day of the week and the 45C on the weekends. The 480/475 and 500 JRH are my holiday shooters.

I tend to think of each in terms of balance point of bullet weight. There really isn’t anything more that you can achieve above and beyond ~1200 FPS, IMO. You aren’t generally uncomfortable shooting at 1200fps, and the trajectory is good for sensible shots and there is ample penetration at that level. Now I know you can go wilder than 1200 in these calibers, but why? I’ve always adhered to the philosophy that if you have to “lean” on the caliber, you should probably just step up in caliber. Case in point …. 5 shot 45s/454 Casull. It really can’t accomplish anything more than a six shot 45, so go 480/475 I say.
And along those lines, I’d have to say the 44 does 97% what the 45 does, with less powder and a good overlay in bullet weights (240-320 and 250-350). I believe a good 44 can take any game in North America. I also sense that when it comes to components, it’s easier to score 44 than 45, but I acknowledge that may be wrong. Just what I’ve observed and decided over the years.
 
bigmike45 said:
It's a shame you did not include the .41magnum in your poll. I have been hunting, competing and just generally enjoying shooting mine for the last 30+ years. I have not found anything I want to do, that the .41magnum is incapable of doing, and doing well. It really shines when a handloader, like myself creates the perfect round for the purpose it is designed for and it exceeds expectations.
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I agree Mike, I have a stainless S&W mountain gun in 41 magnum. I handload for it and I find myself taking it along on backcountry trips instead of my much heavier Ruger SRH .454. Much handier and not lacking in power.
 
As to shooting the comment to the effect tha most shooters shoot .44 Specials in their .44 Magnum, I'll add this: I prefer a .44 Special revolver when shooting .44 Special ammunition.

The .44 Magnum revolver is, or has been up until lately, a robust and heavy revolver, to contain the pressure and recoil of the magnum cartridge. The .44 Special revolver, typified by a Colt SAA sized revolver, is noticeably smaller and more svelte in the hand. While side-by-side comparisons show they look pretty much the same size, the hand knows better. Heft the two and one will notice a difference in the heft and balance. The Special revolver is just a more relaxed and friendly gun to handle.

Ruger New Model Flat Top, .44 Special:

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Ruger Three Screw Blackhawk, an ex-.357 Magnum:

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Colt New Frontier, .44 Special:

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Bob Wright
 
45 Colt. Download, upload, BP, smokeless, large shot capsules, manageable recoil, plenty of power, etc. Plus its a Colt!

I have a couple 45C, a couple 44Mag, a 500Mag, 357Mag, 10mm, and 38-40. The 38-40 intrigues me the most. Factory loads are powderpuffs. I would like to see what a 38-40 could do when hot rodded in a modern material built pistol. Same bullets as 10mm but quite a bit more powder capacity.
 
I think my next ammo order will include a couple boxes of 44 (Special and Magnum) just to be sure I have some on hand in case I find a nice 44 Revolver used. :)

Besides, in a tight societal situation I might be able to trade it for other goods. Can't hurt, good investment (if inflation keeps going and it looks like it will), and it looks nice on the shelf.
 
I have 44 magnum and 45 Colt revolvers but 45 Colt is my favorite. However I would have one or more of all the ones mentioned if money wasn’t the issue.
 
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Much as I like the .41 Magnum, I voted for the .44 Magnum: ammunition is readily available (other than in the current Biden/Covid/Ukraine crisis hysteria) or can be assembled from readily available components.

Loads from mild to wild are proven and easy to find & there's no shortage of tried and true bullets for the .44 with proven track records.

Lastly, a Smith, Ruger et. al. revolver has enough weight to mitigate the .44's considerable recoil...and will give accuracy for hunting purposes that is attainable, with some dedicated practice, for the average shooter.

Keith once said that a good 240 gr LSWC (of his design of course) galloping along at a muzzle velocity of 1200 fps, is all you'll generally need when a six-gun is all you have....I agree. Best Regards, Rod
 
I voted 44 mag because it is the only one on the list I own and have personal experience with. I reload for it with 272 grain boolits.
I would like to try a 45 and the 454 also intrigues me, but having never shot either one I’ll have to stick with my SBH 44 mag until proven otherwise.
That said I’m really a 357 mag man.
 
If we are talking about one revolver, and owner likes shooting, my vote (and I voted) for 41 Magnum. Those who like from reloads flatter trajectory on the range than Specials, or (in essence) BP level, know what I am talking about. And 9,5% agree with that, making 41 Magnum third on the list.

For sporadic shooter, I would say 44 Magnum or 45 Colt, especially second one as 45 Colt/45 ACP combo, will do it.

For handgun hunter, IMO 480 Ruger is the way to go. There is no substitute for caliber and bullet weight. As a matter of fact, 50 JRH is even better, but, in reality, those guns are scarce. Yes, I am aware of revolvers made by Magnum Research, but seems to me that they didn't sell too many. Apparently, they are very well made revolvers, but there is something awkward in their design that didn't make shooters running. In other words, until Ruger makes Bisley chambered in 50 JRH, this round will remain rather exotic proposal.
 
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I like that comparatively compact, lighter-in-weight weapons, such as the SAA-pattern, can handle .45 Colt and .44 Special. Of these two, the .45 Colt can launch the larger-diameter, heavier bullet, and, if used in stronger weapons, can be used with +P type ammo. I have much affection for the .41 Magnum, which was my duty revolver cartridge for several years, in the Eighties, after I backed-down from using the .44 Magnum, for that purpose, for one year. The overall selection of bullets, ammunition, and weapons favors .44 Magnum.

The existence of dual-cylinder revolvers, from Ruger, and, I think, other makers/‘smiths, allows the use of .45 ACP and .45 Colt, in the same weapon. That adds some weight toward .45 Colt being “ideal.”

There is no question that I have determined that .45 Colt is closest to ideal, for my personal use case. I have several single-action revolvers, all .45 Colt, with one having a additional .45 ACP cylinder. I have a Ruger SRH Alaskan .454./45 snub-gun, and we have hers-and-his Winchester 94AE Trapper carbines. I actually carry .45 Colt revolvers, some of the time. (Yes, single action, .45 Colt, for concealed carry.)
 
All of the cartridges listed in the poll are great, in my opinion. I settled on 45’s. The good old 45 ACP for defense and the good old 45 Colt for hunting.

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Obturatoin started a very interesting thread with this one , alot of good opinions here , I had to go with my 44's from spl's to full magnums they cover so much ground , I find the utility of them quite large . Believe me I am to a big fan of the 45's too , love the casull , but only in the right platform . under normal conditions I give the 44's the edge , under extreme conditions the casull or bigger . reading all these opinions easily explains why so many of us have so many revolvers , I sure read alot of good things about the 41 mag, and the 480 , .........You gentlemen take care and have a great Sunday and thanks for the read....
 
Probably the .460 S&W Magnum for handloading versatility, or the .44 Remington Magnum for sheer availability.

Depends on your perspective, I guess.
 
IMHO the .44 mag is the 9mm of your big bore list. It is powerful enough to get the job done with proper loading and bullet placement but not so powerful to limit your practice. Much better selection of revolvers and it's available in semi-auto as well:

My 2 3/4" Lew Horton model 29 (and the 4" 329 is good as well). These are the best .44 Mag SD revolvers I have but they are not my carry pieces:
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629 Trail Boss and a 629 PC for trail carry:
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629 PC Hunter with Burris Scope:
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