Hunting pistol
 

Would you get a 44 Mag or one of the newer cal's, 460, 480, or maybe 500. It will be a revolver.

RE: Hunting pistol
 

It really depends on what you want to do with it...

I bought the .480 Ruger in a Super Red Hawk 7 1/2" gray stainless
If kept at honorable ranges, it will kill farther than most folks can shoot.

If I had to look at any other, I guess it would be the .460. The specs on that round are simply unreal.

But I am not sure about the recoil. As far as the .480 goes, it is not bad. I could do a session of 20 shots and never blink. In fact I really like shooting it. My wife, 5'1 and 125 lbs. can shoot it. It kicks for her, but she seems to like it.... She would shoot me out of 100.00 in ammo in an hour if I would let her.

God bless

MET

RE: Hunting pistol
 

Depends upon what you want to hunt with it and how much cost of ammo is a concern.

I have a 44 mag taurus (raging bull) which I use for deer hunting and have carried with me elk hunting (close shot only). The ammo is significantly cheaper than the others which is one reason I went with a 44. It has two deer under its belt and has worked well for me. It was a little rough when I got it but with a little wear is very smooth now. I use 240 gr for deer. Buying some hornady xtp's 300 gr for elk this nov in case I get lucky enough to have a close shot.

Eventually, I plan on buying another revolver not sure which caliber. Planning on a freedom arms or ruger redhawk.

I highly recommend buying a non-ported revolver. My ported raging bull is very nasty on the ears and I will never buy another ported firearm period. I have slight hearing loss already so am pretty conscious of this now.

Have fun.

RE: Hunting pistol
 

Stick with a .44 mag or even a .41 mag or 45 Colt. The other will amke something no more dead. I see them as more of an ego boost than anything else. well, that or simply as a compensation for poor shot palcemnt and hoping the extar oomph will take care of the inadequate ability of the shooter.

RE: Hunting pistol
 

Glad everyone has an opinion ..... that way at least someone has a chance to agree with you.

I bought mine for none of your reasons. I bought mine because it had better ballistics, it is very strong, and because I got a heck of a deal on it. It is worth more now than I paid for it...

SO maybe you should not let your own conscience be the judge of others. If those are your issues, they don't necessarily represent the issues of others..... but thanks for your concern...

And BTW, my gun is not ported.... I would not own a ported handgun. I own a rifle, and it nearly made me deaf in a matter of shots.

MET

RE: Hunting pistol
 

That is a beautiful pistol. I entertained the idea of getting a redhawk, but went with the blackhawk instead in .41 mag. Only thing I don't like is it isn't available in stainless. I don't know if Ruger ever made one in stainless, but if I find one, it's going home with me and this one's going on gunbroker.

RE: Hunting pistol
 

I have a S&W 44 mag that I love. I tried the .460, but I didn't like the recoil. However, it was the most accurate revolver I've ever shot. I wish I would have held on to it a little longer to see if I could have gotten use to the recoil. I could have shot 454 casulls from it but I didn't. If you are not recoil shy I would definatlely recommend the S&W 460, it's a great gun and more accurate and versitile than any other revolver on the market!!!

Edit- I wouldn't recommend the S&W 500 just because of the ammo availability. The .460 is faster and much more accurate from everything I've heard and read. I have only shot the .460 though and can only truly speak of it from experience.

RE: Hunting pistol
 

Yup, Big Tiny, it is a beast, and I love it. I mounted a New Nikon 2.5 - 8 x 28 on it and checked it out. I then mounteda New Burris 3-12 x 32 Ball. Plex on it and decided to keep the Burris. I like the fact that I can go to 12 x to look if I want. So I guess I'll have the Nikon as a backup scope.

One other thing I did that really helped, and I would highly recommend. Get rid of the stock grips on whatever you get and replace them with a set of Hogue or Pachmeyer grips. I have the Hogue with the finger molds. It is a dense rubber, and it is a lot better than stock.

BTW .... this applies, unless your handgun comes with a good set of grips like those mentioned.

Good luck and God Bless

RE: Hunting pistol
 

I shoot a 44mag and 460. Both recoil the same percieved anyway. But the 460 wieghs as much as a light rifle. After hunting with the 460 this year, I am not sure I like it. Sure puts a thumping on a deer, very accurate, but hard to control a shot with a 10.5" barrel if not using a gunrest. I will be hunting with my 44 this year.

RE: Hunting pistol
 

The .44 is tried and true! Yes, the others are good and they will probably be around a long time. At handgun ranges, the .44 will do anything that the others will do, with less kick and less $$$!

RE: Hunting pistol
 

Well the thing is I live in southern Maryland where rifles are not allowed for deer season and I thought it would be a great alternive for the general firearm season. I love and shoot compeditively with pistols (action pistol) not bullseye and truely would love to use a pistol for deer. Ammo doesn't matter because reloading is a passion almost as much as shooting itself. I'm thinking the S&W 460 XVR 8 and 3/8 barrel, it has a removable compinsator. Another problem we in Maryland have is for deer hunting the barrel must be 6 inches or longer. The 629 in the 8 3/8 44 mag also interisted me but wasn't as sexy. The 9 1/2 Super Redhawk looks good also but is only available in the dull grey in the 480.

RE: Hunting pistol
 

Well, the grey stainless, like mine,is not a flashy " pretty " gun, but it is less noticable.

But there is nothing wrong with the others either. I honestly do not believe that you would go arong with the .44, the .480,or the .460. I really am impressed with the .460's ballistics. If you are looking for a longer range gun, that one would be at the top of the list.

Just be sure you get what you want, or you might wind up having to do it again soon after.

MET

RE: Hunting pistol
 

MichaelT. hit nail on the head with that one. Long range I don't think the 460 can be beat in a revolver. I think you will have a great time reloading for it, because I know my brother in-law can't stop talking about reloading for his. I know I wish I had taken more time after I bought mine, I think the 460 is a fantastic hunting revolver, but I am still happy with my 44 mag! Good luck and show us some pics after you make up mind!!!!

RE: Hunting pistol
 

Crimedog, I also live in MD and the bad news is this:

Handgun Regulations
Modern and muzzleloading handguns may be used to hunt forest game (handgun hunting for turkey only during the fall season), upland game (except dove and woodcock) and coyote, fisher, fox, nutria, opossum, raccoon, skunk, woodchuck. However, modern handguns may be used to hunt deer only in those counties where the use of a breech-loading rifle for deer hunting is permitted with the exception that modern handguns may be used to hunt deer throughout Frederick County. Any modern handgun used for deer hunting must have a barrel length of 6 inches or more and use ammunition which produces a muzzle energy of 700 foot-pounds or more.


As far as pistols go, I think my next purchase will be a Ruger Super Redhawk in .454 Casull. I like the Target Grey color and the ring mounts. It's only available in the 7-1/2" barrel now. If you want to go plinking, you can shoot cheaper .45 Colt rounds through it. The .454 Casull and .45 Colt rounds are easier to find also.

I was considering the .460 S&W but everyone I talked to did not like the recoil although the ballistics look better. If you can shoot a .460, I would do that before buying one.

Good luck

RE: Hunting pistol
 

44 mag is all you need for most american game. with the exception of Elk and a couple other large dangerous games such as Grizzly bears. the 460 is a nice gun but a bit of over kill unless you shoto 454 out of it, which I also recomend. Dont even think about the 500, I will never in my life go through the agony of picking one up and firing one shot out of it.

RE: Hunting pistol
 

Ruger Super RedHawk 10" s.s. .44 mag is all you need.

RE: Hunting pistol
 

Could care less if anyone agreed with my opinions. They're mine. :D I just happen to have such an opinion which is from the observation of many owners of these cannons. The manner in which they regard the firearms, how they talk of them and the manner in which they use them bring me to that opinion - my opinion.
I should mention that initially I was to exclude the 480 from the other 2 chambers as it seems those with the 480 are not as the others are. Maybe because it's not on a huge framed behemouth and isn't a "magnum". Seems that I touched a nerve byit's inclusion. First to jump...
Regardless I still see these as I stated before. No different than the truck lifted, wearing waaay to big of ribber and over-chromed and over-loud just to turn heads. Compensating for something? :D

I wonder though, if such cannons are no neccessary where were all it's proponents when the 460 and 500s weren't around? Were these folks buying the custom Limbaughs and such? After all if such power was so neccessary for them surely it's worth the money.


thanx for your opinion also.

RE: Hunting pistol
 

Crime, you can't use a pistol in southern MD can ya? We do in Carroll County and Dorchester.

RE: Hunting pistol
 

I think the 44mag is the ".30-06 of pistol chambering" in that you can find ammo anywhere and it will kill anything on the North American continent including big bears but won't punish you in the process. When I hit the woods I take either my .44mag or .45Colt. I've shot the .500 S&W as well as the .460 and own a .454, all are heavy hitting pistols and probably would make fine hunting guns butall are too big and heavy when fitted with long barrels and scopes. My Ruger .44mag Super Blackhawk Hunter is heavy enough.

If you don't have a problem lugging around a revolver that size then have at it but at that point I'd rather a Contender chambered in a rifle cartridge, at least I'd have more power and range. One thing to remember when picking a hunting pistol....accruacy. All those full magnum hand cannons won't do you a squat of good if you can't hit what you're aiming at. The only way to become proficient with your hunting pistol is to shoot it. Practicing with a "Mega Magnum" is not an easy task and can lead to lots of problems with your shooting form due to theheavy recoil, not to mention heavy on your pocket book to keep it fed as well. With the .44mag recoil is controllable even with heavy +p rounds and ammo is available and cheaper than the mega magnums by far.

One last thing to consider....optics. Yeah it's cool to put on one of them high magnification pistol scopes but unless you are only hunting from a stand where you have access to some kind of shooting rest, you will find anything over 4x to be difficult to hold steady. Forget about an offhand shot with anything higher than 4x (even that's a stretch) it ain't gonna happen!You will also notice a drastic reduction in field of view at the higher magnifications, making finding your quarry more difficult. I recommend a good quality scope in a fixed 2x or 4xwith an even better mount and rings. MyRuger SBH Hunter sports a Leupold FX-II 4x28and I find it has the right balance between magnification, field of view and steadiness, either freehand or from some sort of a rest.

Good luck with you search and welcome to the world of pistol hunting....it's a blast!

RE: Hunting pistol
 

RSRH 7.5 barrel,.44mag, leupold 4X EER scope,I just love this rig

RE: Hunting pistol
 

Buying new? Get a Dan Wesson .445 SuperMag. Considering used? Get a Dan Wesson .44 Magnum. Dan Wessons are arguably the most accurate and durable production double-action revolvers made. (Check their track record in silhouette shooting vs. Ruger or Smith.) You want/need a scoped 10" barrel? It's available. You also want a 4" barrel for a pack-around gun? It's available too and can be used on the same frame so you don't have to buy two weapons. Barrels swap in minutes using a simple wrench and feeler guage; no gunsmithing. If available grips/stocks don't suit you, you can get a blank and carve your own since the grip attaches with a studthat allows nearly any style or size.
Check your game laws carefully. Some states, such as Indiana, determine that a cartridge having a case length longer than a prescribedmaximum is considered a rifle cartridge no matter what it's used in. The .460 S&W Magnum, for example, is illegal in Indiana for deer hunting because it is .175" over maximum length.

RE: Hunting pistol
 

Looks like a big No for Southern Md. Sure I can use it in Vienna or Smithsburg but whats the point. Guess I'm stuck using the old smoke pole during rifle season here in Southern Md, if you can call an Encore a smoke pole. Thanks guys, the ammo prices and recoil of handgun mean nothing to me, I remember the day when handgun hunters claimed the same thing about the 44 mag that is being said about the 460, 480, and 500.

RE: Hunting pistol
 

Dan Wesson makes a great handgun.....Highly underrated if you ask me. Here's one I'm quite fond of.

RE: Hunting pistol
 

Another Pic....

RE: Hunting pistol
 

Another...

RE: Hunting pistol
 

Last one...

RE: Hunting pistol
 

I need to correct myself here. I was shown by a friend that in the 2007-2008 Indiana hunting laws, the maximum length rule only applies to "handgun caliber" rifles; not handguns themselves. My apologies for the misinformation.

Damn nice .44, BigJ71. Says it like it should be.

RE: Hunting pistol
 

My fav. is a Ruger Super Blackhawk 10 1/2in. .44 Magnum with handloaded Hornady 240gr. xtp's over 23gr. of H110
Equally acceptable factory loads for everything from groundhogs to elk would be numerous.

RE: Hunting pistol
 

Perhaps a shorter barreled version of the 460. You can also shoot 45 LC, 454 out of it. Best thing is to determine what you are going to use it for and what fits you best. You can't really go wrong with a .44.
One interesting thing I was just reading in my American Rifleman is a revolver from Freedom Arms and a cartridge labeled the 500 Wyoming Express. Freedom want to use their existing revolver but the cylinder was getting a bit cramped for the big 500 cartridge so they had to reduce thesize of the rim which caused headspace problems. So what did they do? They put a belt on the case. So I guess we now have the first belted Revolver cartridge. This beast can throw a 400 gr slug out at over 1600 fps. But the author admits, the recoil is brutal.

RE: Hunting pistol
 

"One interesting thing I was just reading in my American Rifleman is a revolver from Freedom Arms and a cartridge labeled the 500 Wyoming Express. Freedom want to use their existing revolver but the cylinder was getting a bit cramped for the big 500 cartridge so they had to reduce thesize of the rim which caused headspace problems. So what did they do? They put a belt on the case. So I guess we now have the first belted Revolver cartridge."

Freedoms Arms felt that, with a .524" case diameter, a .542" diameter rim wouldn't be enough to headspace on so they made the case with...(drum roll and gasp of awe)...a .542" diameter belt.

Uh-huh. Sounds like they took a page from a certain individual's book on "proprietary cartridges".

RE: Hunting pistol
 

Ive shot all the hand guns you have mentioned.
The .44 is by far the best all purpose choice for hand gun shooting/hunting.
The .460 is ok, if you use the 454 Casull loads, and arent shooting too much.
The .480, Im not sure really what I think about it. Id have to shoot it again.
The .500 is way too much over kill and is a gun you shoot once and put down. (Will never shoot again)

In my opinion the best choice would be a .44 or a .454 You really dont need anythign bigger than that in the US.

RE: Hunting pistol
 

Get a well made .454 and you'll have it covered. The new .460s and .500s are cool but too much of a good thing imo(too big and heavy). With a .454,you can shoot .45lc for practice. I realize you can shoot both in the .460 but why bother? If you can't do it with the .454 you need to practice stalking/hunting.

RE: Hunting pistol
 

44 mag will be in a lighter package, and cheaper to shoot. The 460 does have extreme capabilities, the ability to shoot 454's and 45 LC which does make for lighter recoil and less expensive plinking.