The Top 5 Big Bore Cartridge Alternatives with Less Recoil

[Onty]

Found this interesting video "The Top 5 Big Bore Cartridge Alternatives with Less Recoil"



IMO this video makes sense, especially on the end about 41 Magnum. First, I am not bashing 44 Magnum, heck, I have 3 revolvers now. However, several times I found statement that was very common to find in used guns sections in stores and private sale brand new 44 Magnum revolvers with box or two of ammo, with just dozen or less rounds missing missing. Obviously, when some folks purchased 44 Magnum revolvers, after firing first shots, they realized that these revolvers are too much for them.

Contrary to that, almost all second hand 41 Magnum revolvers are well used.

Also, I remembered when 44 Magnum hype started, many trashed 45 Colt as obsolete. Well, from what I could see, 45 Colt is now stronger than ever, especially after Ruger started manufacturing Blackhawk.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Well, only real enthusiasts will buy 41 Magnum since it is nearly a handloading only option. As such, it will have higher likelihood to be shot and used often by said enthusiast.

Since I can handle 44 Mag just fine and I like factory ammo options, 41 need not apply to me.

When I worked on the retail side of things in the firearm industry, I saw more 454 Casull handguns traded in with only a few rounds (sometimes only just one) missing from the ammo box and I really only recall a few 44 Mag brought in this way and the 44s outnumbered the 454s nearly 50:1. I only ever saw a handful of 41 Mags and two of them were uncommon Bisley Blackhawk Hunters. I wonder why anyone wanted to get rid of those?

I have to agree about the 45 Colt’s popularity even though it is still not mainstream enough to have a decent factory ammo supply. It is very easy to hand load for and guns are quite plentiful. Cowboy nostalgia plays a big part, of course but it is still a legitimate hunting cartridge if loaded correctly with proper bullets.

 

[Jonny2guns]

I have 2 of the 44mag. none of the 41.
Just my opinion.

 

[silicosys4]

The only one of those suggestions that make any sense as an alternative is the .480 ruger

 

[Onty]

Well, only real enthusiasts will buy 41 Magnum since it is nearly a handloading only option. As such, it will have higher likelihood to be shot and used often by said enthusiast.

Since I can handle 44 Mag just fine and I like factory ammo options, 41 need not apply to me.

When I worked on the retail side of things in the firearm industry, I saw more 454 Casull handguns traded in with only a few rounds (sometimes only just one) missing from the ammo box and I really only recall a few 44 Mag brought in this way and the 44s outnumbered the 454s nearly 50:1. I only ever saw a handful of 41 Mags and two of them were uncommon Bisley Blackhawk Hunters. I wonder why anyone wanted to get rid of those?

I have to agree about the 45 Colt’s popularity even though it is still not mainstream enough to have a decent factory ammo supply. It is very easy to hand load for and guns are quite plentiful. Cowboy nostalgia plays a big part, of course but it is still a legitimate hunting cartridge if loaded correctly with proper bullets.

As one gentleman on this forum said: "Can I handle 44 magnum? Yes. Do I lake that? No". From my point of view, up to dozen of full power rounds is OK, but I am done for that day, even from Redhawk. Switching to 250 grains at 1000-1100 fps, yes, up to 50-60 rounds. More than that, tingling in my wrists warns me to slow down. 41 Magnum 210-220 grains at about 1100 fps, especially from Bisley, no wrist tingling or any discomfort, although I never went beyond 150 rounds in a single day. Other folks might have different levels and limitations. BTW, just to make it clear, I have 3 revolvers in 44 Magnum. However, Redhawk is for sale. Looking now for 41 Magnum Bisley, 7.5". When I get that one, blue 44 Bisley, 7.5", will also go. But, 44 Bisley (started as SBH), stainless, 5.5", with fluted cylinder, and #5 base pin, will be after me for my son or grandson.

As for number of used 454s offered for sale, with almost complete boxes of ammo, you are right. Many of them are listed on various websites. Some folks rushed to get those without ever trying it, just to realize that it kicks too much, and with muzzle blast that goes with it. I tried once .500 S&W, "thanks, but no thanks".

 

[.38 Special]

Decreased velocity results in decreased recoil? Revolutionary!

(The .480 really is a fantastic hunting cartridge and deserves far more popularity.)

 

[WisBorn]

I like the 41mag it is more capable than is given credit for. I like the 44mag also. Both of these cartridges can be purchased in revolvers that are light enough to carry.

I have never owned but have shot the 454, 480, & 500 S&W. Of the three the 454 had the most recoil. This is do to the size of the gun more than the power of the cartridge. The 454 was in a ported Freedom Arms. The 480 in SRH unported. And the 500 in an X frame 8 3/8".
If I want a hunting hand cannon I would get the 480...

 

[P Flados]

A long time ago, I played with going down the "more power" path with handguns.

I found that a TC Contender in 45 colt could easily be pushed past where it was any fun to shoot the gun much at all.

Then I got into IHMSA in the early 1990s. For the revolver class, I went with a DW 357 Max. The gun was good for IHMSA and recoil was actually on the mild side. But darn that is a large and heavy gun.

I realized pretty quick that the Contender platform is too light for a hot big bore round and an oversized revolver is probably not a great answer for much beyond IHMSA.

Maximum effective range for hunting with a revolver is probably one of the best measures for someone selecting a "high power" Big Bore Revolver. This limited by "in the field" accuracy more than anything else. It is sad that neither the 401 Powermag or the 41 magnum really took off. Both of these rounds provide good terminal performance at distances approaching typical maximums for field accuracy. They can do it with less recoil than the bigger stuff which actually helps with effective accuracy when you are considering the population of applicable hunters.

Although not really Big Bore, the 357 bore family deserves discussion. Of the 357 Mag, 357 Max and 360 DW, the 360 DW is probably the best round chambered for a revolver that combines reasonable gun size with effective terminal performance at longer distances. A 360 DW set up for hunting may have a longer effective range than a 41 Mag for smaller game, but the 41 Mag is probably better for the full spectrum of typical game in North America.

A DW 360 gun converted to 40 cal (10mm) while retaining the case length of the 360 DW would probably be right at the "sweet spot" for reasonable gun size and maximum effective range with good terminal performance across the full spectrum of typical game.

Now getting back to "real choices". For someone with a good midsize gun in 41 Mag, plenty of brass and a reloading press they have a winning setup. Going with anything bigger in diameter is highly unlikely to increase their maximum appropriate distance for taking a shot at any typical game in North America.

For some very narrow applications, bigger might be better. Moose hunting, Elk hunting and bear protection in Alaska come to mind. Very few need to worry about these applications. For the rest of us, bigger is probably not better.

Although I rate the 41 Mag as best, I see its "edge" over the 44 Mag as small. The 44 Mag does pretty good with the benefit of much better availability for guns, ammo and components. The availability of 44 Special ammo can also be a big plus for many that do not reload, yet still want to be able to enjoy shooting more than a cylinder or two per trip.

 

[TTv2]

Decreased velocity results in decreased recoil? Revolutionary!

(The .480 really is a fantastic hunting cartridge and deserves far more popularity.)

When hunting or big animal defense is its only real purpose, it's not going to sell much. Even for thrillseekers wanting a hand cannor they skip the .480 and go to .500 Mag because it's bigger.

Sorry to say, but .480 is going to stay in the same boat as .41 Mag for eternity.

 

[.308 Norma]

Sorry to say, but .480 is going to stay in the same boat as .41 Mag for eternity.

Darn it! Now you've made me start wanting a .480. I already have a .41 Mag and love it. I have kind of a "thing" for cartridges that have fallen by the wayside.

 

[WisBorn]

Darn it! Now you've made me start wanting a .480. I already have a .41 Mag and love it. I have kind of a "thing" for cartridges that have fallen by the wayside.

You can add me to that crowd!!! I said the 480 would be a good option now I want one also!

 

[Riomouse911]

You can add me to that crowd!!! I said the 480 would be a good option now I want one also!

Same here. I bought a bunch of .41 Special cases from Starline and fell in love with that purely wildcat round. I shoot them out of my .41 Mags and really like the combination of bullet weight/energy and pleasant recoil.

Now If I could just find somebody to make me a 6-shot GP 100 in .41 Spl. I would be in heaven.

Stay safe.

 

[WisBorn]

Same here. I bought a bunch of .41 Special cases from Starline and fell in love with that purely wildcat round. I shoot them out of my .41 Mags and really like the combination of bullet weight/energy and pleasant recoil.

Now If I could just find somebody to make me a 6-shot GP 100 in .41 Spl. I would be in heaven.

Stay safe.

I would like to see S&W make a 5 shot L frame 41mag like the 69! S&W are you listening out there......

 

[Hal]

I would like to see S&W make a 5 shot L frame 41mag like the 69! S&W are you listening out there......

So would I !
I would stick my M69 in the safe and change over to a snub nose .41mag in a heartbeat.

I love my .429 magnum - but - a .41 makes more sense.

 

[Onty]

Darn it! Now you've made me start wanting a .480. I already have a .41 Mag and love it. I have kind of a "thing" for cartridges that have fallen by the wayside.

You can add me to that crowd!!! I said the 480 would be a good option now I want one also!

These days things look bright for 480. Ruger is making SRH and Bisley.

And when we are talking about BFR.500 v/s Ruger Bisley 480, I doubt that game will notice the difference. But some of us will:



Absolutely nothing against BFR revolvers. Many appreciate their quality. I am saddened that BFR doesn't pay more attention to aesthetics of their revolvers. Just my humble opinion...

 

[.308 Norma]

These days things look bright for 480. Ruger is making SRH and Bisley.

I swear, there's a lot of enablers on this board. I'm thinking one of those Ruger Bisleys in 480 just might be my first Bisley. That's a beauty IMO, and from what I've heard, a Bisley frame helps manage recoil too.

 

[DR505]

Darn it! Now you've made me start wanting a .480. I already have a .41 Mag and love it. I have kind of a "thing" for cartridges that have fallen by the wayside.

Same here....I normally hunt elk with a .350 Remington Magnum rifle and a .41 magnum revolver on my hip.

 

[Onty]

From my personal experience majority of those that tried Bisley with heavy loads prefer it over SBH. And some top smiths even insist to make heavy recoiling revolver on Bisley, they do not want to use as a basic gun BH or SBH configuration.

 

[WisBorn]

If I would add a 480 Ruger it would have to be a Super Redhawk with a 7.5" barrel. I like the Bisley, but not as much as the SRH. I would look for the gray/pewter color they had about 20 years ago. It would get a scope or red dot. I hope todays red dots can handle the recoil. I destroyed a couple of Leopolds in the early 2000's with 44mags....

 

[CraigC]

It's fascinating that what sells and what's good are rarely the same thing. As a medium game cartridge, the .41Mag really deserves to be more popular than the .44. It will do the job as far away as most handgunners will be able to reliably place a bullet. People often choose too much gun (among other things) and I never understood it. As bigger hammers, the .44Mag/.45Colt will deliver a larger, heavier bullet and the .480 one-ups them if you need more. There's nothing on planet earth that can't be taken with those three cartridges. If you had told me 20yrs ago that the .460/.500 S&W cartridges would be as popular as they are, I'd think you were nuts. But here we are, folks using them for purposes for which the .41 would be perfectly suitable.

 

[Barbaroja]

Darn it! Now you've made me start wanting a .480. I already have a .41 Mag and love it. I have kind of a "thing" for cartridges that have fallen by the wayside.

Count me in with you guys. We like the stepchildren calibers around my place. 41mag, 327mag , 22. Hornet, 444 marlin, 7-30 waters, 44 spl.
Factory support means little to me.

 

[Palladan44]

IMO- 44 Magnum reigns supreme for versatility and can be downloaded so a new shooter can still shoot it. It can be safely loaded (not even hotrodded or +p+) up to levels that will take care of any "personal protection" needed just about anywhere on the planet.

Exception- Elective handgun hunting of African dangerous Game, I can see a bigger caliber be required to accomplish this. I can say with pretty good degree of certainty this will never be me.

 

[CraigC]

IMO- 44 Magnum reigns supreme for versatility and can be downloaded so a new shooter can still shoot it. It can be safely loaded (not even hotrodded or +p+) up to levels that will take care of any "personal protection" needed just about anywhere on the planet.

Exception- Elective handgun hunting of African dangerous Game, I can see a bigger caliber be required to accomplish this. I can say with pretty good degree of certainty this will never be me.

Seeing how the right bullet out of the .44 performs on water buffalo, I wouldn't count it out for anything I'd hunt with a handgun in Africa.

 

[jag1954]

I'm all for my S&W Model 57, it's a great smooth shooter and I keep it in my bug out bag.

 

[Palladan44]

Seeing how the right bullet out of the .44 performs on water buffalo, I wouldn't count it out for anything I'd hunt with a handgun in Africa.

I should have written the first paragraph and left it at that.... yeah I personally don't see the need for more than 44.... I suppose metallic silhouette shooting was one of the main drive for bigger handgun calibers?