Sorry if this is redundant as I am sure these are stupid questions. But I am inexperienced with handguns, but would like to purchase one for deer hunting. I have narrowed it down (I think) to a ruger or S&W in either 41 mag, 44 mag, or 45 colt.

I understand the 41 mag is very similar to the 44 mag as far as performance on deer sized game, but I don't know much about the 45 colt. Also I see many hunting handguns with 9+ inch barrels, do I really need a barrel that long or would a 6.5 inch do (for shots whithin 50 yards?)

In other words am I missing anything major here or is it just "buy whiever you feel comfortable with as they are comparable"?

This was the leading candidate right now :
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/...model=10406&return=Y

well first if you are a handloader the 41 is a great choice if not i think the 44mag is your best option.As far as ruger or smith both good guns i prefer the ruger.The barrel do not need to be 9+ inches i like around a 6 inch barrel but that is my preference


your last statement:
In other words am I missing anything major here or is it just "buy whiever you feel comfortable with as they are comparable"?


no you are not missing anything you have to buy what suits you the best not what is most popular

You may look here as I was in the same boat as you a couple of months ago....


http://forums.accuratereloadin.../2911043/m/818109639


and here is my puchase;

http://forums.accuratereloadin.../2911043/m/699105759


I am going to handload this year and I am very pleased with the Ruger...

Dan

Thanks Dan, great info there, I am leaning more and more toward the new model blackhawk in 41 or 44, likely 44 since I won't be reloading (at least right away)

Any of the three calibers you mentioned would be fine. BBL length is up to you, but 6" or so is what I find ideal. I also prefer Rugers, either Blackhawk or Redhawk. Let us know what you decide.

I would say any of the 3 are great. If you are not a hand loader, the 44 Mag would be the choice. If you reload, any will work great. Being a hand loader, my choice would be the 45 Colt because of the bigger holes.

Barrel length, no you don't need a 9 inch barrel, find out what barrel length is required in your State or other State's you plan on hunting and go with that.

Myself, I like 6 or 6 1/2 inch barrels.

I too believe any of the three will shoot completely through whatever you are planning to hunt with them. Now, having said that, I actually prefer the .41. If you look, ammunition can be found. Maybe not at Wally World, but it is available. I believe Federal is still making their 250-grain load for the .41. That is all you will ever need...

And I would either buy the Redhawk or a Smith. I just like double actions...

There is one advantage to longer barrels: the sight radius is longer, typically leading to more accurate shooting.

Just my $.02...

quote:

Originally posted by Redhawk1:
I would say any of the 3 are great. If you are not a hand loader, the 44 Mag would be the choice. If you reload, any will work great. Being a hand loader, my choice would be the 45 Colt because of the bigger holes.

Barrel length, no you don't need a 9 inch barrel, find out what barrel length is required in your State or other State's you plan on hunting and go with that.

Myself, I like 6 or 6 1/2 inch barrels.

I agree with all of the above.

The problem with a real long barrel is that the revolver becomes unwieldy and may be difficult to shoot offhand due to poor balance.

I am a big fan of the 41 Mag, but the best of the 2 is th 45 Colt properly loaded, if you ever want to take really big game with a habdgun. Noth Buffalo Bore and Grizzly Ammo load excellent hard cast loads for the 45 Colt.

Get a 4 to 6 inch barrel an don't lok back. Balamces i paramount IMHO

Check your PMs, John.

My personal favorite barrel lengths are 7-1/2" to 10" for primary hunting revolvers. 6" would be a happy medium but I prefer a longer barrel.
A carry only gun would be shorter but I don't think I would want less then 6". We are only talking ounces, not pounds with a few more inches.

I think 7.5 inches is about the max barrel length that I like. Get beyond that and it is a bench rest proposition IMHO. Ten inches, bfr? Dang, that's a crew served weapon!

Well, my .44 and 45-70 are 10" as was the SRH I had. I know you don't have any doubts how good they are.

I only doubt how well I can shoot them offhand!

I like short barrels, 4 inchers to be exact. A short barrel is not a handicap at the distances I use a handgun. The greatest handicap is reserving enough lung capacity to operate the trigger after chasing dogs who are chasing pigs.

Don't know if it has already been suggested, but if I was a new shooter, I'd go to a range and be friendly and respectful, and chances are I'd get to try a few revolvers with different barrel lenghts and actions, to help with the chosing process.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Matherne:
I like short barrels, 4 inchers to be exact. A short barrel is not a handicap at the distances I use a handgun. The greatest handicap is reserving enough lung capacity to operate the trigger after chasing dogs who are chasing pigs.

Don't know if it has already been suggested, but if I was a new shooter, I'd go to a range and be friendly and respectful, and chances are I'd get to try a few revolvers with different barrel lenghts and actions, to help with the chosing process.

Great suggestion Larry, but I would expect nothing less from you!

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Matherne:
I like short barrels, 4 inchers to be exact. A short barrel is not a handicap at the distances I use a handgun. The greatest handicap is reserving enough lung capacity to operate the trigger after chasing dogs who are chasing pigs.

Don't know if it has already been suggested, but if I was a new shooter, I'd go to a range and be friendly and respectful, and chances are I'd get to try a few revolvers with different barrel lenghts and actions, to help with the chosing process.

Great suggestion Larry, but I would expect nothing less from you!

Ah, you're making me blush, but thanks Marko.

Don't let Marko kid you, he loves my guns too!
One reason I like longer barrels for hunting is that the blast and noise is less and farther from my ears.
I started with long barrels and open sights for silhouette and just carried them over into hunting. Short barrels are OK for close range but I shoot far. Open sights on short barrels are a pain to sight because each click is HUGE at the target. The farther the target, the worse it gets.
My SBH open sights moved POI 3/4" at 50 meters per click. My other single shots were 1", 2", 3", 4", 50 to 200 meters. Try that with a snubby!
The Ultra Dot takes that away and barrel length doesn't matter except for the noise.

quote:

Originally posted by bfrshooter:
Don't let Marko kid you, he loves my guns too!
One reason I like longer barrels for hunting is that the blast and noise is less and farther from my ears.
I started with long barrels and open sights for silhouette and just carried them over into hunting. Short barrels are OK for close range but I shoot far. Open sights on short barrels are a pain to sight because each click is HUGE at the target. The farther the target, the worse it gets.
My SBH open sights moved POI 3/4" at 50 meters per click. My other single shots were 1", 2", 3", 4", 50 to 200 meters. Try that with a snubby!
The Ultra Dot takes that away and barrel length doesn't matter except for the noise.

All that would matter if I could shoot as well as you, I don't, so I just as well carry something handy.

Before you buy check your state regulations, My State requires at least a 5 1/2 inch barrel. As you are not reloading, maybe a 44 mag would be your best bet because of the avaliabity of Ammo, from light loads to heavy, and almost every store that sells ammo carries 44 mag.

Wise words indeed Mike!! Don't know that I would bother with a .41 if I didn't reload, and we don't want trouble with the law.

i also don't care for longer barrels then 7.5.I have 3 at 7.5 right now 2 ruger redhawks 1 being a 41 mag and a 44mag which i'm soon to part with and a super redhawk that i'm sending to jack huntington with marko to convert to a 500 linebaugh with 6" barrel.My 475 linebaugh bisleywears a 5.5 inch barrel and i love that gun in the words of great gunsmith dustin linebaugh i believe his dad john says same (packable and practical)

+1 for the .44 if you are not a hand loader. No matter which you choose, anything longer than 7.5" takes the "handy" out of handgun, IMHO.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Matherne:
I like short barrels, 4 inchers to be exact. A short barrel is not a handicap at the distances I use a handgun. The greatest handicap is reserving enough lung capacity to operate the trigger after chasing dogs who are chasing pigs.

Don't know if it has already been suggested, but if I was a new shooter, I'd go to a range and be friendly and respectful, and chances are I'd get to try a few revolvers with different barrel lenghts and actions, to help with the chosing process.

IMHO a 4" barrl is not handicapped at any distance...

It is said, or it was said by Elmer Keith that he took a cow elk at 600 yds. with a four inch .44 mag. It was also supposed to have been witnessed.

I'm afraid I'd have to see it to believe it, but heck if it was 300 yds, still quite a shot, not bad for a four incher.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Matherne:
It is said, or it was said by Elmer Keith that he took a cow elk at 600 yds. with a four inch .44 mag. It was also supposed to have been witnessed.

I'm afraid I'd have to see it to believe it, but heck if it was 300 yds, still quite a shot, not bad for a four incher.

iIt was a Deer that had been wounded by another person that was about to get away. I believe that Elmer fired 3 or 4 shots. I know someone that did the same thing with a 44 Mag on an escaping wounded Antelope that had been wounded by another hunter whom was shooting a 25-06 and this was witnessed by at least 6 individuals

As long as the gun balances well, you'll be okay. Then, you just need to practice, practice, practice.......

Thanks for all the good comments guys, I checked and the state I will be using it in (maryland) requires a 6 inch barrel, never would have thought of checking if MikeN hadn't pointed it out.

I think I am settled on the Ruger SBH in 44 mag, with 7.5 inch barrel. This should be a good sized gun for me as I won't be carrying it far, and will be hunting from blinds and or stands.

All I am waiting for now is my Handgun Purchasing Permit to get here.

Not a bad choice at all,I predict that you and your SBH will have a long and prosperious life together.

Great choice, Luke! You won't be disappointed! Keep us posted -- and Happy New Year!

Hey guys hate to bring this thread back up, but I have been shopping for my revolver (while waiting for the permit from the state) and I have to admit even after some internet research (I don't know anyone who is very knowledgable in revolvers) I still have some questions. I was under the impression the 44 mag,, even with quality factory loads, would be fine for cose range deer hunting. And that the 41 mag would produce similar results but ammo was harder to find for it, aand I would be better off loading for that one. My main question is where does teh 45 Colt fit in the picture? It would appear from what I have been seeing that I can get a 45 Colt in regular BlackHawk for a good bit less then a 41 mag, and alot less than a 44 mag in SRH. Is there much of a difference between the 3 in performance?

The .45 is about as good as it gets. The blackhawk will take any load too, just stay away from anemic factory loads safe in old guns.
The only thing to worry about in the BH's will be the throat sizes, some are too small and need reamed or lapped. You will need to slug the bore and throats. The throats are the in front of the cylinder and you should be able to slip a .452 bullet through them with your thumb.

The .45 Colt is a fantastic round! Can't go wrong there! It's definitely more than the .44.

Wow, thanks guys, for some reason I was under the impression the 45 was weaker than the 44 mag, maybe because the regular blackhawk coems in 41 mag and 45, but not 44 mag, I assumed the 44 mag had much higher pressures.

quote:

It's definitely more than the .44.

The only way the 45 Colt eclipses the 44 Mag is with stiff handloads worked up in modern revolvers. The "off the shelf" stuff for the Colt is typically pretty anemic, as BFR has already stated.

Not disagreeing, just clarifying...

Are there availabel loads for the 45 that are fairly strong for deer hunting ? Or would i definitely need to load my own ?

quote:

Originally posted by Doubless:

quote:

It's definitely more than the .44.

The only way the 45 Colt eclipses the 44 Mag is with stiff handloads worked up in modern revolvers. The "off the shelf" stuff for the Colt is typically pretty anemic, as BFR has already stated.

Not disagreeing, just clarifying...

Of course we are talking handloads here. That said, a trip over to Buffalo Bore's website and you will find a number of great and lethal loads for the venerable .45 Colt.

Awesome, so I could shoot the cheap cowboy loads for fun and shoot some buffalo bore for hunting :-)

Thanks again guys

quote:

Originally posted by Doubless:

quote:

It's definitely more than the .44.

The only way the 45 Colt eclipses the 44 Mag is with stiff handloads worked up in modern revolvers. The "off the shelf" stuff for the Colt is typically pretty anemic, as BFR has already stated.

Not disagreeing, just clarifying...

The "Off The Shelf" loads for the 45 Colt from Buffalo Bore, Grizzly Ammo, and Double Tap are certainly not "Anemic" in fact they are quite "potent". BB loads a 325 grain LFN @ 1350 FPS and in my 6" barreled 45 Colt this load nudges 1400 FPS..

quote:

Originally posted by Luke Blathewick:
Awesome, so I could shoot the cheap cowboy loads for fun and shoot some buffalo bore for hunting :-)

Thanks again guys

Yes indeed you could!