Need some help from you pistol shooters?
 

My question for all you hangun shooters and gun gurus.I am thinking about buying a new hand gun for hunting and carry in the woods,this gun would be used for deer and black bear.
I was leaning towards the Taurus Tracker in 45 LC,or my 2nd choice the 41 mag.(I'm not a fan of the .357 for hunting.)
My question is I was wondering if the frame of the Trackes would hold up to the +P loads from Buffalo Bore and Cor-Bon.I would like to use the 300 gr loads from Cor-Bon.
Should I just go Ruger Black Hawk or the Red Hawk,or should I go 44 mag or bigger like the 480.
I was hoping to go with tracker cause it is a nice little package.
Thanks BBJ

RE: Need some help from you pistol shooters?
 

I recently purchased a 44mag ruger super-redhawk, its a nice shooting gun that lest you know it has some power but doesnt make it uncontrollable, i have also shot a 44mag ruger redhawk and it is also a nice pistol but if you are thinking of putting on a scope i would suggest the super redhawk. All around ruger makes a fine pistol

RE: Need some help from you pistol shooters?
 

BBJ, Go with a Ruger either a RH or SRH.They are a much stronger gun then the Taurus's are.They will hold up to full house loads much better.If you decide you would like a single action the Ruger Blackhawks or Super Blackhawks are the way to go.Granted Taurus has a lifetime warranty. I've heard on other sites where Taurus's Customer Service leaves allot to be desired.Ruger CS is second to none.I've never paid for any Ruger Repair.The Redhawk is available W or W/O scope rings. The SRH scope rings are standard.The RH are available in 44mag or 45 Colt.The SRH's in 454 Casull (will shoot 45 Colt) 44mag or the 480 Ruger.For Whitetails I put a 41 Mag as a min caliber.I'm sure it would be enough for Black Bears.I would personally go with a 44 mag.
Ruger Redhawk

RE: Need some help from you pistol shooters?
 

I can't comment about the Tracker, never handled one and don't know if they're rated for +P.

I have handled quite a few other wheel guns, and if you're really going to go after bear EVERY YEAR, I'd recommend a Ruger Super Redhawk in .454Cassul. I'm a huge Ruger revolver fan, a die hard single action shooter, and love the .44mag more than my dog, it's hard to beat the Ruger Super Blackhawk or Super Blackhawk hunter .44mags, great deer hunting rigs, but since you're in Montana, where you might happen to hunt bigger things like Elk, moose, or heavy bruins/brownies, and might have to fend off a mt. lion-do yall have wolves up there?-I'd recommend the .454cassul Super Redhawk in 5.5 or 7.5", I've had three SRH's now, two .454's and one .480....

It's DA so it'd be fast enough and simple enough for defending yourself with (best done with .45colt loads), and the 7.5" bbl is plenty long enough to offer superb hunting accuracy.

I recommend the .454cassul over the .480Ruger, even though I like the .480 more because you get three pistols in one, I've got enough I don't have to worry about that, but with a .454 SRH you get a plinker with cheap .45colt ammo, a deer hunter with stout .45colt ammo, or a powerhouse kill-anything-er with the .454cassul...the .480Ruger costs the same and kicks the same whether you're shooting for fun or to put down a buffalo.

If you're only going to hunt a few bear with it occasionally, maybe to back up your rifle and will mostly only be hunting deer with it, then I'd get a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter in 7.5" bbl, I've got two SBH's and one SBH hunter, all in 7.5" awesome shooters I'd take a 100yrd shot on a deer and feel confident with them. If you're mostly going to stick to lighter stuff, but occasionally step up to the heavy bears, then a .44mag or .45colt in a Ruger would be a great choice, if you're going to be hunting bears as often as you hunt deer with it, I'd be looking at a Ruger Superblackhawk in .454C.

RE: Need some help from you pistol shooters?
 

Nomercy,A couple small corrections to your comments. The SRH's are only available in 7.5" and 9.5".The Redhawk is available with either a 5.5" or 7.5"bbls.Another correction. The 454 Casull is only available in the Super Redhawk and not in the Redhawk or Super Blackhawk. I would like to see the Casull chambered in a S Blackhawk.I don't think it's likely to happen. Ruger would have already did it if they had plans to chamber it for the Casull..

BBJ if you can handle the recoil of the Casull that would be the way to go. If the Casull is to much for your comfort the 45Colt can be loaded to suit your taste.I have both a RH in 44mag and a SRH in the Casull.I like them both. You do have to hang on to the Casull. It's not a caliber for an inexperienced handgunner.If you get a 44mag you can practice shooting with the milder 44 Spl.

Ruger Redhawk

RE: Need some help from you pistol shooters?
 

RSRH .44 mag would be my choice for hunting. I have one and love it but the 3 deer I shot with it sure didnt. It is one though pistol , I have run every brand of rounds and hand loads never had any trouble at all. I also have a leuplod eer x4 on it , that one good combo.

RE: Need some help from you pistol shooters?
 

I would go with a .44 Rem. Mag. up with a 7.5" barrel at min. Good luck.

RE: Need some help from you pistol shooters?
 

BBJ, as everyone else has agreed, the Ruger is the one to go with. I've got nothing against the Taurus, but the Ruger has withstood the test of time. As for caliber, the 454 will certainly be enough for deer and bear, but it does have a lot of bite to go along with its bark. If you're new to handgunning, go with the 454, but start out with 45LC loads and work your way up to the Casull. Another thing to keep in mind, if you plan on scoping it, don't waste your money on a cheaper scope, the 454 will shake the guts out of them. Leupold, Nikon and Burris all make great pistol scopes that will stand up to that kind of recoil. Go with a 4X or Nikon has a variable 1.5-5 that is very nice and won't break the bank. Do your research and go with what fits your needs and go from there.

RE: Need some help from you pistol shooters?
 

If you are new to big handguns, stay away from anything bigger than a .44 magnum!
The .44 will take down just about anything that you point it at, at reasonable ranges and good shot placement! IMHO, for most shooters, anything larger than the .44 is just too much to handle!
Any gun, handgun, or long gun, that you can't handle well, is not as good as any lesser gun, that you can handle and learn to shoot well with!
BTW, I'd agree that the Ruger SRH is about the best bang for the buck in revolvers!

RE: Need some help from you pistol shooters?
 

I have had several handguns for hunting,2 SBH in 44 mag and 1 BH in 41 mag.
I was wanting to go with a DA instead of a single,I don't like the bulk of the SRH,wich I have shot both the 480 and the 454 in the Super RH.Nice accracy but heavy.
Now if Ruger comes out with the Super Blackhawk hunter in 454,I will be all over it.
Now back to Taurus,can I get a 4 5/8 in barrell in the Raging Bull in 454, 6 inch would be fine also.

RE: Need some help from you pistol shooters?
 

I would certainly have to agree that the Ruger Super Redhawks appear to be stronger than a Taurus. But I have a Taurus Raging Bull in .454 Casull, (which is plenty strong enough!!), plus the combination of the built-in muzzle brake design and the shock-absorbing grips make it no harder on the shooter than other nmakes of .44 Magnums, despite being 50% more poweful than the .44!

RE: Need some help from you pistol shooters?
 

Thanks eldeguello,
Thanks everyone else also.

Eldeguello,what barrel length do you have?I wan't a carry gun for the woods to tackle anything I come into contact with and also hunt with(to the heck with deer and blackbears,LET's go BIGGER).

I'm not putting a scope on it,it will be open sights.
Shots at game 10 feet to 75 yds.

RE: Need some help from you pistol shooters?
 

I will definately toss in my vote for a Ruger Super Redhawk .454 Casull.

I picked mine up from my dealer today, and after a quick cleaning and once-over to make sure nothing was loose, out to the range I went. I have to say that I am most impressed with this gun. The quality is, IMO, second to none, and for $595 it's a great value. Don't look at Ruger's MSRP and get sticker shock, because new the SRH in .454 or .480 Ruger will run about $595 (what I paid) to $610, NIB. The .454 and .480 versions are finished in Ruger's Target Grey stainless and really look sharp without being a virtual signal mirror for deer to see a mile off. The sights are really good, and the single action trigger is crisp and reasonably light, suitable for a hunting gun.

The added beauty of the .454 Casull is the ability to use .45 Colt. I took out a box of very mild .45 Colt cowboy action loads (250gr LRNFP @ 750fps), and a load workup in .454 Casull that put a 300gr Hornady XTP-Mag downrange at a relatively leasurely (for .454 Casull) 1475fps average. I think that I'm going to setp down to the .240gr XTP-Mag bullet because whitetails don't need the penetration of the big 300 grainer, and I don't need the RECOIL of the big 300 grainer!! The recoil is pretty stout with the 454 loads, but manageable. I put 50 rounds through it and I'm only mildly sore, mostly because I did much of my shooting off a sandbag which prevented my arms and body from taking up some of the recoil.

Oh, and did I mention that it's very accurate as well. The cowboy loads were mediocre for accuracy, but I expected as much. The XTP's, on the other hand, shot into a 1" group at 25 yards right out of the gate. I will say that this is a gun I'm going to need a lot of practice with before hunting season rolls around, because as powerful as it is it's going to be a challenge to master, but a worthy one I think.

It's been awhile since I've been this excited about deer hunting, and the bad news is that deer season is in December, and it's not even June, darnit! [:@]

Anyway, I'd say look at the SRH .454. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Mike

RE: Need some help from you pistol shooters?
 

The 41mag is my personal selection for hunting handgun and backup guide gun. 657 Smith&wesson or later model 57 with the pinned barrel and recessed cylinders. My 41's have taken elk, deer, and bear. On the bear it knocked him flat. One of the most accurate calibers out there for pistols. And very flat. You can get ammo for the 41mag that equals most 44mag ammo.

If you want bigger try the 500S&W it will surely kill at both ends. lol
If a person can't hit with it then its not a good pistol round.

RE: Need some help from you pistol shooters?
 

My uncle, who's land I hunt, owns a Ruger Blackhawk in .41Mag that he bought to hunt with last season. In fact, it was he who sparked my interest in handgun hunting, if for no other reason than the compactness and ease of carry over the muzzleloader I was carrying. I'd be carrying my who possibles bag and all the junk I needed to load my muzzleloader, while all he had to do was pop six rounds into the cylender, grab his knife and flashlight, and out the door he went.

But I got to shoot that gun and I have to say that it is a good shooter, even if I don't personally care for the fit and feel of single action revolvers 9 (at least with stock grips). Recoil wasn't bad, and it has power enough to take down a deer at any reasonable range. My only concern would be for those who choose this pistol but do not handload. I was amazed how expensive .41Mag ammo is. At all my local stores, .41 Mag costs MORE than .454 Casull and a lot more than .44Mag, and almost as much as .500S&W! I can only guess this is because the ammo isn't as popular as the .44 and .454, but at $30/box it's a little rich for my blood.

One more great reason to handload, I think.

Mike

RE: Need some help from you pistol shooters?
 

Well i must also recommend the super redhawk in 454. while i don't have one yet i will!
now the 41mag is great round i have one in s&w mdl 57 and i wouldnt let it go.

But actually i have taken several deer with a 357 mag and i think it's a very underestimated round. if i go handgun hunting it's the one i grab and thats a problem sometimes when you have three 357's.

Now my future choice for handgun hunting is a barrel for my encore in 7mm-08!

RE: Need some help from you pistol shooters?
 

I use a Black Hawk in 44 mag. It will do the trick. If I was buying a new gun, Id go with the taurus 454 cassul.

RE: Need some help from you pistol shooters?
 

Guess I said Super blackhawk and Super Redhawk a time too many in my earlier post, my last statement was supposed to say I'd be looking at a Super RED-hawk in .454C...although now that I think on it, it WOULD be sweet if they offered the SBH in a 7.5" .454Cassul!!!

About the bbl lengths, unless I'm mistaken again, the .45colt, the caliber in question, is offered in a 5.5" Redhawk, so he could either get a 7.5" .454Cassul in the SRH or a 5.5" .45colt in a 5.5" RH, either of which fit what he's asking about.

RE: Need some help from you pistol shooters?
 

Thank agian for all the responses,I have made up my mind to go with 454C,I just have not made up mind if I wan't a Taurus or Ruger.