The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting Handgun Hunting What choice would you make for a lightweight big bore?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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| One of Us |
I have been thinking about getting a lightweight or lighter weight carry around the desert gun. What would you choose and why? My choices would be between the Blackhawk in 44 special or A Taurus or S&W 5 shot revolver in 44 special. I need adjustable sites or the Charter arms offering would be listed as well. Well What would it be? | ||
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I guess my lightweight would be a bit heavier than most. A S&W mountain gun in 44 or 45 colt. The little Taurus tracker in 44 wouldn't be bad either. Already got one in 41, pretty sweet. A Smith 696 in 44 spl would be a candidate too. Just a few to whet you whistle. | |||
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Hard to beat a Taurus Titanium Tracker in either 45 Long Colt w/ 4" bbl(thats what I have) or the same in 41 Rem Mag. Both are a bit harder to find than the 357mag model but have more muster and worth it. S&W has a few of the scandium models too, even in 44mag. Hard to beat the Ruger flat top bisley model in 44 Special or 41 Rem Mag. pricewise. | |||
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| One of Us |
A Ruger balckhawk 41 mag has worked well for me the last few years. | |||
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| Moderator |
I like the S&W 696 a great deal. If you can find one of the old Lew Horton 624s, that is another good candidate for my understanding of what you are looking for.The S&W Mountain Revolver in .45 ACP, when loaded with 45 Auto Rim handloads is a fine performer. I use the Lyman 260 "Keith" style bullet loaded ahead of Unique. There a good number of choices and this will boil down to personal preferences. If ignorance is bliss; there are some blissful sonofaguns around here. We know who you are, so no reason to point yourselves out. | |||
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So far you guys are spot on. I like the 696 with a 3 inch barrel, the Taurus, The Blackhawk, the 624, all in 44 special. I have nothing against the 45 Colt or the 45 acp. or the 41 mag. In fact the 41 really intrigues me. I think I'll keep it simple and stay with the .44 special. When I want to carry bigger, I'll carry the Redhawk. Keep it coming this is interesting. DW | |||
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While I know it's a used gun only proposition, I really like my Lew Horton Model 29. It's light, and easy to carry.  "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
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What about a judge? then you could load some 410s for snakes. It is a little bigger, but I think the weight is still pleanty reasonable. | |||
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How about a 1# S&W .500? Maybe a 4# .460 Weatherby? See, it is what a man can carry and a few hate a quarter in their pocket. They are the kind that will cross a desert with an ounce of water. Guys are REAL tough today, they can hammer away with light guns but need a pack horse to carry them. Look at our soldiers and Civil war soldiers. So sad to see the decline of a MAN that needs anti gravity to carry a gun. Everyone today is a quick draw artist too so a short barrel is needed. An ounce more steel can break your back. Just how do some carry 5 rounds? Maybe they should sell panty hose with built in holsters! Girly men! Recoil goes up so bad they could not hit their foot if they stuck the gun in their boot. More posts ask for light loads for big guns then anything else. | |||
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that wasn't helpful at all. if you're not going to contribute, and just admonish, why post? Bob | |||
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Of the two options you mention I would pick the 44 Special (4 5/4") and fit an aluminum grip frame to it to make a easy carrying 35 oz or so piece. I typically carry an old 4 5/8" 44 Mag Ruger Flattop when bumming the woods around my place in Idaho. | |||
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| one of us |
Simple, a gun is a gun and you need to carry a gun, not a tinker toy. Guys gripe about a 6" model 29 and recoil that hurts but want a 3" .500. Guys complain that a gun is 1 oz too heavy so they leave it in camp. It is common sense, some of those alloy guns break after a few shots. a large caliber can not use the powder in a twink barrel. Light guns with recoil can pull boolits and tie up the gun. Others think 14 rounds is better then one good shot. A carry gun is a 1911, not a .380. A bear gun should be large and heavy. A primary hunting revolver can be very heavy. When you see the problem of just a gun weighing a pound more if it will save you while the 3# of candy in your pocket is fine for bait, maybe you can make a good choice. The bipod or sticks some carry are worse then the gun but some pay an outfitter to carry those. Just watched a TV show where a guy shot a nice animal from sticks with a .460 S&W. Brag, brag, brag on the great caliber and the super great bullet. The animal got up and ran away, it took two days to find it so the meat was ruined. A real show about the antlers while the meat was tossed. Maybe he needed a 2" barrel. I am the last to recommend the wrong gun. | |||
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and again you haven't recommeded any gun. but you are criticizing "guys" with broad brush strokes. the man asked for suggestions and again you posted without making one. maybe you can post pictures of targets youve shot as that is equally unrelated and not helpful. personally i would carry the .44 special. Bob | |||
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Light Weight? My wife carries a S&W 329PD 4". Shooting 300gr hard cast loads at 1200fps. What more could a person want. She has this thing with her 100% of the time when she is not in the house or cabin. Just an occupational hazard for where we live. BTW The Bears are just about to start showing thier heads. MMMMM JM2CW Ignore your rights and they will go away! | |||
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sw 625-9 45LC mountain gun, with sw 500 grips. that's what i carry in the field, opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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I would be very interested to see a picture of that if you have one available. Was there modification involved to attach the 500 grip to the grip frame? I'm assuming it attaches the same way my 460's grip does. | |||
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| Moderator |
pics before grips http://forums.accuratereloadin...191076501#8191076501 zero mods.. as it is a round butt, so to speak, all the grips work... really it was take off these grips, put on the 500... i actually took the grips off a friend 500sw to test fit.. worked perfect opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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Thank you. I've had my eyes on a 625 for quite some while. I'll have to keep this in mind if I get my hands on one. | |||
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Go to the sight that shows extensive blast shield damage with that gun so you need to send it back for repair. You have not shown bullet pull from the heavy bullet and so much recoil. Whitworth has shown a great gun, I would not want less. Weight difference is nil but the gun works, every time, all the time. No, it can not handle 300+ bullets because it is a S&W. But 265 gr boolits work great. You miss the point and that is failure when you need the gun. Revolvers with short cylinders and boolits at the very end can tie up the gun. Super light weight guns can pull boolits from recoil. Can I recommend a gun and caliber once the gun gets too light or short---NO. Do you want a real gun or a plastic air soft because it is easy to carry? I refuse to get involved when a gun can get you killed because of a few ounces. My wife with a 329PD for bear? If I hate her and take out a few million in insurance. | |||
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I would carry either a S&W 4" 44 Mag Mountain Gun, ir a 1911 in 45 ACP. If I really wanted to go light, I would carry a Colt Commander, the one most people call the Light Weight Commander. A scandium framed S&W in 44 Mag would work, if you can handle the recoil of the loads you plan on carrying. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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Random thoughts... When ever I choose a carry handgun for the field, I consider the following: Is it powerful enough to handle the animals I come in contact with, 2 legged or 4 legged? Can I reload it fairly quickly? Is it handy enough to carry 100% of the time? Can I shoot it accurately and quickly with the loads I will be carrying. I cannot tell you how many times in the past, I have been on hunts, where some ot the guys showed up with some BIG magnum, handgun, carried it the first day or maybe two, and then it stayed in camp the rest of the time... Now the trend seems to buy a powerful small and light handgun, that not only has too much recoil, but might actually injure your wrist, or hit you in the face, if you have to shoot it with one hand, from an akward position, like after being knocked down by an animal... Everything considered I think that the 4" S&W 44 Mag Mountain Gun is the best overall choice. It is powerful enough for man or beast, with the right ammo, does not kick too hard, plenty accurate, fast to reload, stainless steel for easy care in the field, shoots shotshells very good [I have killed a bunch of snakes and small game for the pot with 44 Mag shoshells, as has the wife], and not so big and heavy that you cannot wear it 100% of the time. I prefer a crossdraw holster when in the field. Carry extra ammo, including a couple of speed loaders. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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The original post says that he is very interested in "lightweight carry for the desert" and he seems to like the .44 special. So best of all worlds, get the 4" S&W 329pd. It is an excellent airweight in 44mag. You can load it with specials and carry it comfortably all day long in the desert. If you ever have the chance to wander up into the mountains, then a cylinder full of mag rounds will be more than adequate. Do I win something for this great idea? P.S. If you are just bumming around the desert, buy a glock in .40 cal or larger and never look back. Will work fine for anything found in that environment. "The difference between adventure and disaster is preparation." "The problem with quoting info from the internet is that you can never be sure it is accurate" Abraham Lincoln | |||
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I am going to go with you here. Good choice. I am old school and don't care if a gun weighs #3 or #5. I don't care if a rifle is #7 or #5 because I have to walk a mile. Spent too many days walking mountains with #12 rifles to feel sorry for anyone that worries about an ounce if it kills him when he needs it. Run over sand dunes with a Browning air cooled for days, then tell me you can't stand a revolver. Buy the biggest and baddest caliber made to find you want it MUCH smaller because it is too heavy. The .500 needs barrel length but you want a 2" barrel and a load for 7 gr of Unique because it just kicks too much and the slow powder does not burn. Do you need a .44 special? I would say so, it should do as good. Too many ignore ballistics thinking you don't need a barrel at all. Many think the twist is for show and any heavy boolit going 800 fps is as good as 1400 fps. You want a 4" barrel when a 6" is better because you are an expert at speed draw and can clear leather a millisecond faster---yeah, sure! Your gun is the most important thing you can have on you. Use a real gun. I bet most of us here weigh well over 200# and the change in your pocket could be left behind for a better gun. It really gets funny. A guy has a 4", .500, S&W but carries a pocket full of 700 gr boolits--HE HE, very funny! | |||
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lordy what in the world does all of this ranting mean? Bob | |||
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You guys make this too hard. Most of the guns you mention have some weight or are a little on the wimpy side. My carry gun for unknown troubles is about the lightest revolver I have :FA .475 Linebaugh. Since I took a rhino with it I think it meets the power factor. I always feel warm, safe, and fuzzy when it's on my side. Larry Rogers | |||
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I go deer & elk hunting in NW Nebraska. A few black bear meandering from home have been spotted on rare occasion, but cougar (not the older two-legged variety) are seen regularly. Because of cougar, I started to carry either my .41 Rem Mag 6.5" BH or 5.5" RH, as field guns. Like BFRshooter, I don't subscribe to ultra-lite revolvers in large calibers, but a 44 Spl or 45 LC 4" DA revolver (all steel) seems like a reasonable choice to pack while stolling about in the desert. BH1 There are no flies on 6.5s! | |||
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 Waiting for the punch line.If ignorance is bliss; there are some blissful sonofaguns around here. We know who you are, so no reason to point yourselves out. | |||
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So far the discussion is good. I really like the mountain gun in 44 mag. I just have not found one for less than $700. bucks. I really like my 4 inch Redhawk. I don't know how much heavier it is than the mountain gun. To the poster who like a cross draw, so do I. I curse the day I sold my Super Blackhawk with my handmade cross draw holster. Bad move. Here is what I think I'll do. I'll keep what I've got. The Redhawk is just fine. I'll just expand my collection by one. I really like the Blackhawk in 44 special. I think it should shoot a 240 grain SWC somewhere around 950-1000 fps. Serious medicine for both two and four legged varmints. If I decide to hunt with a revolver again I'll get a Super Blackhawk Hunter 7 1/2 inch barrel with a rib and the Bisley grip. Thanks everybody for a great discussion and it was civil. Maybe a little curt but OK Thanks | |||
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Good info here. If the handgun is heavy enough to be left in camp, truck, of trailer, then it's not doing much good, irregardless of the reason for leaving it there. A lot of the horseback riders here in Idaho are turning to the Glock 20 in a 10mm for a combination of power and weight that works for them. Using hotter reloads in a 180g loading and getting the velocity up around 1150-1275fps seems to be their goal. You may not like the "tupperware" shooters, as some call them, but it could be a fit. Also the Glock 30 45ACP could be a candidate. I've found the crossdraw holster works great for a heavier revolver in camp and in the truck. Keeps the right shoulder and hip available to carry a rifle on a sling with no interference if that bothers you. I've been using some cowboy slimjim holsters for a couple of old vaqueros in 44mag and 45Colt Mag. | |||
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That would be me.  Actually my carry rounds are 350 grain hollow points doing 1450 fps out of that 2 3/4" barrel, but I do shoot 700s for fun.Anyway, I would second the recommendation for getting a lightweight 44 Mag. Either a 629 Mountain Gun, the 329 PD or a 329 Night Guard. Depending on what weight and barrel length you want. I personally have a 629 mountain gun that I really like. It hurts more to shoot than the 500 with full power loads, but different grips would make all the difference. | |||
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| one of us |
TEANCUM When it comes to semiautos I am a 1911/45ACP kind of guy. However my last several years on the job I had to carry a 9mm so I carried a pair of Glock 17's. I have also shot Glock 40's 10mm's and 45 ACP Glocks. I can state that the Glock is one of the most rugged and reliable semiautos around. I have shot a few hundred thousand rounds through them. If a person wants a semiauto, and they are not a 1911 freek, then... A Glock in 10mm would not be a bad pick. In fact it would be a pretty good pick. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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You must use a gun that works ALL the time, that is reliable and most important, one you can hit with. Nothing else is more important. Some CAN use some guns but most can not. But even if they can use the gun, it must always work and some guns will fail. It is like the .454 factory ammo that pulled boolits and tied up the gun. Will you carry in bear country? Not if you are smart. A Glock from a horse???? Have horses gotten tiny? YOU ARE RIDING A HORSE that would not feel a BAR! A .50 BMG would be fine. Good grief,give me a break! A 1911 or a Colt .45 might mash the candy under your belt. Old cowboys would kick your funny butt into the campfire and laugh. Some of you could not carry my Hawken 20 yards let alone across the country. Girly men compared to those that made our country. | |||
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I have found the S&W 629 Mountain Revolver and any of the large caliber Ruger Blackhawk revolvers to be very comfortable packing pistols. I have carried my 44 mag Mountain Revolver or a Ruger 44sp (custom or Lipsey's) more than anything else the last few years. 250gr KT bullet and a dose of Unique does everything I need. | |||
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| Moderator |
That's enough!! Either contribute something of substance or don't post. If ignorance is bliss; there are some blissful sonofaguns around here. We know who you are, so no reason to point yourselves out. | |||
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| one of us |
But I did not disagree with you, cuss at you or call you names like you have let others do. You named a good gun you carry. You have to admit some just want too light of a gun to depend on. Not so much the caliber but the actual gun weight for the caliber. I care about everyone and can not in good faith recommend some things if your life is at stake. If you can't carry what is needed, stay out of the danger zone. I have seen too many guns and loads fail just on my range to let anyone use those things in big bear country or on the street. Would you give a man a gun and tell him it works some of the time so he can fish in brown bear country and play the odds he will survive? My contribution is to use a real gun like the .475 you yourself named. The day I tell a guy he can pull a .380 from his purse and stop a bear charge is a long way off. Might be better then a 2", 2# .500. Just how can I recommend the smallest, shortest and lightest big bore? OK, here it is; 2" .500 S&W, 7 gr of Unique, 700 gr boolit. Use a mag primer because you need more velocity. Be surprised how simple is on some people. | |||
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| Moderator |
This is a thread about lightweight big bores; not horses and old cowboys and BARS and... and ... and so on, so forth. I believe you are the one that brought up the .380. Let's try and keep these threads on target and not go off on so many wild tangents. If ignorance is bliss; there are some blissful sonofaguns around here. We know who you are, so no reason to point yourselves out. | |||
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| new member |
I like my 1911 for carry, loaded with heavy (255gr+) bullets has plenty of power for most anything ill come across. Its flat not to heavy and barely noticed while im walking. I also have a blackhawk, mines a 357 but its the same frame as the 45 version. Its not to big either and i dont mind walking with it all day. Either would be a good choise in my mind. The lightweight smiths posted above are very nice as well. | |||
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dwheels, I don't have any experience with the Taurus, but I have the Blackhawk .44 SPl 4 5/8" and the Bisley 5.5" both from Lipseys. Either would do. I'd lean toward the Blackhawk for what you've outlined. I just like the ease of cocking on the BH over my Bisley. The action is a bit smoother. The only DA .44 I have experience with is an S&W 29 4". Never used it with non-magnum loads though. It's a bit heavier than the Mountain Gun, all in the barrel contour. Killed lots of stuff with it. It works well, too. If weight is the consideration and the type of action doesn't matter to you, the BH gets my nod. Good luck whatever you choose. "It ain't lion hunting unless you get stitches." - John in WYO "It became aquatic, briefly." Ann ~ Aspen Hill Adventures The bear has to touch you to hurt you. Don’t let the bear touch you. | |||
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Drunk guy singing karaoke, 100 % monotone. And crying... Just a little.. | |||
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bfrshooter brings up a very valid point. With a very light revolver, and heavy loads there have been problems with bullets jumping crimp, and sticking out the front of the cylinder and binding the gun up. You MUST test any loads you are using in the gun you will be shooting them in. I carry a handgun 100% OF THE TIME. My thoughts are IF I am going to suffer the trials and tribulations of carrying a handgun 100% of the time, I am going to carry one that will do the job that needs to be done. For a Primary carry handgun I have never carried anything less than a 1911 in 45 ACP or a 4" 44 Mag [except when I was required to carry a Glock 17]. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting Handgun Hunting What choice would you make for a lightweight big bore?
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