I just shot a few more of the Ultramax 250gr at 730fps off of my back deck, these loads are plenty good enough for just plinking and messing around.

Here's a pic... for computer-challenged Tony.

That's beautiful!

Yep, that is it.

Almost too pretty to shoot.

It is my new ranch/farm gun.

This was mine...





Shot great and right to POA with standard 250 grain loads. Just decided that the fixed sights just were not for me and it was just one caliber I didn't want to get involved loading for...so I sold it and a matching unfired Colt about the same time and just use a FA 97 for my SA woods gun...

These are beautiful however...Bob

Bob, That was a nice looking SAA.

I do wish mine was a 44 Special as I was already geared up to load/shoot that calibre, but This particular revolver was just too nice to pass up.

Those FA97's are great guns, I handled one just a few days ago, I just think for me, and what I want this gun for, I prefer a original stle SAA.

I had wanted one of these probably as long as you have...they are just beautiful guns... I still have a USFA .22 Magnum just like it but all blue along with a .22/.22 Magnum Flat Top Target 5.5". For a Colt I have a 7.5" TR Commemorate in .44-40 that I wish was .45 Colt...

.22 Mag...one of two made..






Flat Top Target...





...and the TR...






Still raining down there???

Bob

Rain finally stopped, sunny today.

All those SA are very nice. You could always get a 44 Special cylinder for the 44/40.

I am suprised you do not get one made up in 41 Mag, and just shoot lighter loads in it.

I think I am going to have to get a second SAA in 45 Colt, as I do have 2 hands.

A few years ago I talked to the FA people, in person about making me a Mod 97 in 44 Mag.
I did not want to shoot the hot 44 Mag loads in it kust 240gr hard cast bullets from around 800fps to 1000fps, so I could load them on my progressive loader, with out changing it to load 44 Special length brass.

Of course they said no, so I thought I just might one and have the cylinder drilled out, but I never did.

I actually like the Colt style SAA's better for my use as I stated above.

The Colt style SAA's have class and style, just like a good S&W hand ejector, and a 1911...

Well I was just to dang lazy to go to the range today....

But I did shoot a couple of dozen rounds off of my deck today.

The Ultramax Cowboy loads are a pleasure to shoot.

The Blaser 200gr loads are fairly mild and hit right to POI. [I was shootng at smallish rocks]

You definately know when you step up to the Hornady 225gr FTX loads.

However there is no doubt when you shoot the Buffalo Bore 225gr Hard Cast Wadcutters, and the Buffalo Bore 225gr Soft Cast Hollow Nose HP's.

The Hornadays and the BB loads shoots a little bit higher than the Blaser loads as is to be expected, but not as high as the Cowboy loads.

I did manage to find some of the Buffalo Bore 255 gr Hard Cast SWC's and they have been ordered, so I will wait to go to the range and shoot on paper till I get them.

The more I shoot this SAA the more I like it.

I cannot believe I waited so long to get one...

It is a very handy sized handgun for toting around. Only a 1911 seems handier.

I also did a little two handed slip gun shooting today.
I have not done that for many many years, but back in the day was pretty handy at it.

It is a good technique for multiple targets [under five of course , unless you are Josey Wales], or for multiple hits on one or two targets.

It can be used "from the hip", or for sighted, aimed fire, which is the way I always used/trained for it.

With serious pratice it puts a SA on near equal footing with a DA revolver at conversational distances.

Well one Pluck and Chuck was not enough.

Since I have two thumbs I had to have a second Thumb Buster, so I got another USFA from another good buddy. This one is the Rodeo Model with a 4 3/4" barrel. It is just lioke the other one except it has a mat blue finish.

It is going to be my "utility" SA, the Turnbull will be my "BBQ" gun.

And when I get a good holster for it I will hunt with it as well.

I had a chance to do a little bullet testing this weekend.

A buddy shot a wild boar that weighed around 175 to 185 lbs, hit it in the neck so the chest cavity was untouched.

This boar had a fighting shield that was just over one inch thick, and nice teeth as well.

I tested 2 different factory loads out of the 4 3/4" SA.

The Buffalo Bore 255gr Keith SWC gas checked cast bullet, rated at 1000fps. In Buffalo Bores testinng in real guns in a 4 3/4" Colt SAA it shot 983fps if I remember correctly.

The Barnes Vor-TX with the 200gr XPB HP, this load is listed as 1025fps, I do not know the test barrel length.

I fired two rounds with each bullet. One each into the center of the shoulder, trying to hit as many bones as possible. The 2 rounds with each bullet just behind the shoulder, to miss all the shoulder bones but still into the fighting shield. The rounds were fired far enough apart so that each had its own bullet path, not effected by the paths of any other bullet.

Here are the results.
The Buffalo Bore Cast bullet fired into the shoulder did not exit, it was found against the fighting shield on the off side shoulder. It had penetrated compeletely through the off side shoulder and was stopped by the shield.
The nose was flattened, the bullet weighed 247.4gr and had expanded to .50x.46.
The gas check was still on the bullet.

I would not call these bullets HARD cast,as I can scratch them with my fingernail.

Tge second BB SWC totally penetrated the hog, and went into the ground, I could not recover it from the dirt, I tried, but it went in too deep, I did not have a shovel.

I would call this excellent performance for this load.

The Barnes Vor-TX.

I always wonder just hip big an expanding bullet will expand, and how it will effect penetration. These Barnes X Pistol bullets are claimed to expand to a LARGE diameter, and penetrate DEEP. A difficult task for a bullet fired from a handgun. I was especially intrested to see how these bullets would do at 45 Colt velocities.

[BOTH of these loads are standard pressure 45 Colt loads, save in ANY 45 Colt in proper working order].

These Barnes bullets have a HUGE, DEEP hollow cavity in the nose of the bullet. I felt if they do not expand if the cavity gets plugged up, the hogs fighting shield would surely show this. I felt this would be a good [hard and difficult contitions] test for this bullet.

The bullet fired into the shoulder did not exit. It was found point foward against the shoulder bone on the off side shoulder. It penetrated all the way through the body cavity, but could not brake the shoulder bone on the off side. Recovered weight 195.5gr. None of the 6 petals broke off. Expanded diameter was .70x.643. The damage through the vitals was impressive.

The bullet fired just behind the bullet did not exit. It was recovered against the fighting shield on the off side, point foward. It had penetrated not quite half way through the shield.
Recovered weight 200.2gr, expanded diameter .809x.717. None of the 6 petals broke off, and they were not folded back as far as the first bullet, due no doubt to the fact that it did not have to penetrate the shoulder bones.

Again, internal damage was very good.

Random Thoughts:
The BB cast bullet load did exactly what cast bullet lovers like it for, it penetrates very good. Since this bullet did expand a little it made a good wound chanell as well. I would not hesitate to mcarry this gun and laod in black bear country, and I feel it would shoot through the head of even the brown bear.

The Barnes XPB. As most of you know I am not a Barnes Bullet Freek. I have used them in a few different rifles, and they have always worked perfect for me, but I am not a Freek, about them...

However I will say that I am impressed with the performance of these X pistol bullets.

They cut a nice hole in the shield on entry, looked like a cookie cutter. They expanded to a LARGE diameter and penetrated deep enough for a hunting load, even when shot through the shield and the shoulder. The shot behind then shoulder like wise penetrated the entire body cavity.

So now we have the age old handgun hunters deliema, the balance between expansion, and more internal damage, or greater penetration???

And I think we can all agree that LARGE expansion with DEEP penetration is the best of both worlds, IF you can get it.

I firmly believe that on any animal from any gun you must have enough penetration, after that the more expansion the better.

I did like the fact that the 255BB load broke bones on BOTH shoulders.

But there is no doubt the XPB did more internal damage. I think these XPB bullets are worth a look for some animals.

They have also been getting good press as a defensive load against 2 legged predators as well.

I will try and shoot a deer with this load next deer season, assuming this load hits near the sights at deer shooting distance, I have not shot them on paper yet.

Next time I will try and test the Hornady 225gr FTX, and the Bufflao Bore 225gr Lead SWC Soft Cast Hollow Nose, and the BB 225 gr Hard Cast Full Wadcutter loads.

Also I fired a load from Ultramax.
This is called a "Cowboy" load, it has 250gr cast bullet with the typical conical flat point of the standard looking 45 Colt loads. This FP is a little larger. The velocity is listed at 730fps, I do not know what barrel length it was tested in.

I shot a smaller pig about 100 to 110lbs, just behind the shoulder, and got complete penetration.