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| One of Us |
Time to tap all of the knowledge here.... I'm new to the handgun hunting arena.... And,frankly,more confused on what to purchase as a hunting gun.... So hear are my requirements; 1 Think I would want a revolver. 2 Don't care new or used,but if used,something that you can find,not some rare bird. 3 Want to hunt whitetail and pigs(someday,we dont have any wild ones in the northeast) 4 Scope or no scope? 5 Ammo suggestions for your recommendation. 6 I try to buy better quality,so price is relative....not affraid to purchase higher end,possibly tweaked custom? What I'm looking for is suggestions from you for specific models,barrel lengths.... Trying to work from a blank slate as to remove any preconcieved notions of what works.... Thanks for all the help.... Dan | ||
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one of us |
From the criteria you listed a 41 or 44 Mag would work just fine. Barrel length in my opinion a 6 inch is the best over all, but a 7.5 will work well also. The reason I say that is, it is what works best for me and it meets most States requirement's on barrel length. I like Ruger handgun, Blackhawk's, Redhawk's and Super Redhawk's. From there you can go scoped or no scope as you see fit. If you want a custom, the new model Blackhawk or Super Blackhawk is a great gun to build on. If you don't reload, there are good choices of ammo for the 44 Mag, but to get the best performance, I suggest you reload. Use a good hard cast bullet and you won't go wrong in my opinion. If you're going to make a hole, make it a big one. ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ Member of the Delaware Destroyers Member Reeders Misfits NRA Life Member ENDOWMENT MEMBER NAHC Life Member DSA Life Member | |||
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| one of us |
Good answers, Redhawk. Might be a good idea for him to get the SBH Hunter and mount a red dot. Easiest and cheapest good shooter. It will do an inch at 50 yd's. | |||
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The SBH Hunter is a great choice, and a good looking gun at that. If you're going to make a hole, make it a big one. ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ Member of the Delaware Destroyers Member Reeders Misfits NRA Life Member ENDOWMENT MEMBER NAHC Life Member DSA Life Member | |||
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| One of Us |
IMO the.44 mag kicks hard and is very hard to shoot accurately. IMO the .357 doesn't hit deer hard enough to suit me. That leaves the .41 mag. which IMO is satisfactory in all respects. It hits deer and hogs hard, yet doesn't kick excessively. I've used both quite a bit and have been unable to tell any difference in killing power, after all the .44 is actually a .43. there is only .02 difference in bullet diameter. I've shot the Sierra 210 h.p. and it's suited me w/a max. load of H-110 or 2400. The S&W, Ruger and Colt handguns are all good. I would avoid the Tauris as if you need service they normally take 6 mo. or more. velocity is like a new car, always losing value. BC is like diamonds, holding value forever. | |||
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There is a SBH in the Classifieds right now, for a song (IMHO)! Peter Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong; | |||
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Wow! thanks for the quick responce! But anyone else please chime in.... Supposed to rain all weekend here,looks like I'm going gun shopping.... Dan | |||
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I would definately recommend a 44 Mag. Until you start reloading, there is a much better selection of factory ammo that is easy to find. Also you can start shooting 44 Specials. I would look at the Ruger products and Smith & Wessons. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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Two kinds of revolvers out there, single and double action. You need to determine which you prefer. If you ask me, I like em both. As a first timer, get a .357 and start practicing with .38sp. Yes, A .357 will kill deer, all I used hunting on the eastern shore of Maryland, near Redhawks area. Then if you think you've outgrown it go on to the biggies.  life member NRA (Endowment) member Arizona Big Horn Sheep Society member Arizona Antelope Foundation member Arizona Wildlife Foundation | |||
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Hey Swampshooter, come shoot my .475 for a day!  You will LOVE the .44! Yeah, this is just funnin,  | |||
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So looks like lots of Ruger support... Seems from somewhat limited experience single action is where I tend to land;like the lite trigger pull of a cocked hammer... What does everyone think of Ahab's idea of starting with a 357?I would say not the first person for that recommendation. Or a pair? 357 and 44? Not real keen on S&W's stainless for a hunting gun...any problems with that.... Don't reload,guess that's in the future.... Again feel free for all to give me some ideas... Will handle a few on Sunday;trying to narrow the field a bit.... Dan | |||
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For hunting in the Northeast I would be very happy with a Smith & Wesson Model 57 .41 Mag., 6-inch barrel, unscoped. Namibiahunter  . | |||
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The whole problem is that you don't reload. The .41 is great but there is little on the shelves to choose from. Some are built on a frame smaller then the .44 so recoil is the same or worse. I would not buy a .357 because factory loads are even worse for hunting and specialty loads are very expensive. You need to be an expert shot and hunt close too. Really, the .44 is very easy to get used to and if you start loading, light, pleasant loads are easy. I don't believe in the step up process anyway. Shoot what you hunt with all the time. You will gain as much accuracy and control in the same time as if you started with a .22. It is a mind game and a muscle memory game and if your mind says it kicks, it will kick even if you are expert with the .22. That will still make you flinch when you think about the heavier loads. You must take control, it is only a tool like using a light tack hammer, then going to a heavy claw hammer. Both will mash your thumb but you fear the little hammer less. But if you build houses, you will want a big hammer. Even factory loads for the .44 will leave a lot to be desired for hunting. However the .44 is much more versatile then the smaller calibers with bullets/boolits to so heavy you will blink. Loads from almost nothing to ones that will kill anything on earth. I stand by my choice as the .44 being the best STARTER gun for hunting and that you need to reload. In a few months, your mouth will water for a .475 or .500!  | |||
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44Mag will do anythig you need. Good choices of factory ammo, light, hevy, and very hevy. Try single actions and double actions to see what you like. Single actions Ruger Super Blackhawk or Bisley Hunter (scope ready) Ruger Super Blackhawk, Blackhawk, or Bisley with 5 1/2" to 7 1/2" barrel. (check state regs) Fredom Arms 83 with the same barrels. BFR wiht same. Double Actions Ruger Redhawk Ruger Super Redhawk (scope ready) Smith & Wesson 629 (no "very heavy" loads) These will account for almost all of the modles used by all of us. Except for dicontinued modles like Dan Wesson and Colt. If you don't reload your only choice is 44 Mag. Start reloading ASAP. | |||
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| One of Us |
I am going to go against the flow here, and tell you that a .357 if placed where it belongs, will kill a whitetail (or a pig) as dead as last year's bird nest! True, it doesn't have the "knockdown" of the .41 or the .44, but knockdown is pretty much of a myth anyway. You can kill whitetails out to 100 with a .357, and hogs, too. IF YOU PUT THE BULLET WHERE IT BELONGS, and with a hog, that is in the brain. Buy what you want, learn to shoot it well, practice to the point you can put the bullet where it belongs, and go get your deer or pig. Be selective with your shot, and enjoy. I have all four of the magnums, and with the right shot, I would take a whitetail or a feral pig with the .32 H&R Magnum in a heartbeat. | |||
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super blackhawk 44 mag. Enough said  | |||
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Thanks for the replies... Shot both SBH and SRH today (27th) both used in 44;one with Leupold scope $599;one without $399. Very impressed with both;I would favor the Super Redhawk for fit.... I always preach shot placement is what kills. Along those lines my plan is to hunt in 2009 for our deer season;But lots of trades are coming in for our Nov 2008 gun season now;and I'm trying to get a handle on what to look for. Thanks again all,been very helpful in getting on track... Now it seems I'll have to start a thread on the reloading forum!!! Dan | |||
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I forgot to add fellow next to me had a 500 S&W,so he let me take a couple of shots..... WOW!!!! A real hand cannon...  | |||
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bfrshooter, Never shot a .475 but have shot .500S&W. I still own and occasionally shoot a .44 mag. I just don't believe it has any noticeable advantage over the .41 mag. except recoil. Thanks for the offer to shoot your .475 but I'll pass. Hogs are noticeably tougher than deer, I've seen 125 gr. bullets from .357 flatten on a hogs head and fail to stop it, yet on the farm we used to kill them with a .22. I still don't consider the .22,9mm or .357 adequate under all conditions, and the .41mag is easier to shoot accurately than the .44mag. velocity is like a new car, always losing value. BC is like diamonds, holding value forever. | |||
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me ill go the other way. Ive shot and hunted with both 41s and 44s for many years and own both and would take a 44 hands down over a 41. If there is any differnce in recoil its not perciveable. I think if you blindfolded a gun and gave him two 4 inch smiths one in 41 and the other in 44 and shot factory 230s in a 41 and factory 240s in a 44 not one man in ten could tell the differnce. Where the 44 shines is versitility. You can load much heavier bullets and components and factory ammo are much easier to come by. To say the 41 is as powerful as a 44 isnt correct. Sure they both will kill a deer or pig but the 44 loaded with 300 grains cast bullets at 1200fps is much more powerful handgun then any 41 mag load your going to work up. Ive owned probably a dozen 41s over the years and have but one left. No 44 mags i have 10 of them and when i go hunting about 3/4s of the time thats whats on my hip. to me its about like comparing a 243 to a 308 both will kill a deer deader then hell with a properly placed shot but i know which id rather have if the animal im going after weighted more then 500 lbs. | |||
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We have to put this in perspective. The difference between a .41 and a .44 is .020". Between a .44 and .45 is .022". Between a .45 and .475 is .023". According to some thoughts, the small difference doesn't mean a thing so each kills the same and penetrates the same. However, what is failed to understand is that even though diameter differences seem small, the weight and length of the boolit that can be shot really goes up as caliber is increased. The .41 is really limited to what can be used. When you get to the .44 things start to climb and it just keeps going up from there as the caliber is increased. That seemingly small diameter difference DOES make a difference with the primary wound channel, penetration and the size of the hole in animals If it didn't, we would be shooting Kodiak bears with 9mm handguns or .38's. Why do a lot of guys like the .500's? We are only talking thousandths of inches difference. Even though the .41 is adequate for deer does not make it best. Just like the .357 will kill deer, it is not the best. Because you like the .41 over the .357, there must be a reason! does that not mean the .44 is a better choice over the .41? And the .45 is even better? Why do we keep going up and up with boolit weight and diameter if the .41 is the best of all worlds? Yes, it does work in the narrow field it is used in. But the .44 is better and expands the field as do all of the larger calibers. I am not running down the .41 but there is just so little versatility to the cartridge. So little available in the range of boolits. Only so high you can go with boolit weight, velocity and a match to the twist. The .44 is still the best starting point. It will do anything you ask of it. If the .41 was better for hunting, the .44 would have fallen away just like the .480 that has taken a backseat to the .475. Use it, love it, but don't say it is better. | |||
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Dan, I too prefer DA revolvers to SAs -- love 'em both, jus prefer the feel of a DA in my hand. SRH is a great choice and you really won't find anything stronger, plus, they are inherently accurate. Also, the .44 is a great place to start. If you don't handload, there is an obscene amount of available factory ammo for them in ALL flavors from mild to wild. I like .41 as well, but I will usually pick the larger diameter......plus, there just aren't the same options of bullet types and weights in .41 over the .429. That said, the .45 Colt is a great alternative -- even more diameter, and the ability to sling eavy bullets. "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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well said! Sure you can effeciently shoot bullets up to 250 grian out of a 41 but a 44 is just starting there. Also a 44 will shoot a lfn that has the same size metplat that a 41 wfn has and will have a much better sectional density which will translate into better penetration and better long range accuracy. I dont think anyone will tell you that a 41 isnt a fine whitetail round but it surely isnt more versitile then a 44 and another good thing that the 44 has going for it at least in my experience is that ive yet to find one that wasnt an exceptional shooter.
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My vote is for either Redhawk1,bfr shooters Loyde,s or Whitworth,s sugestions .... I,ve had and used the 41 mag .. Kicked as bad as my 454 Casull but is alot smaller gun all the way around .. Had a 44 mag Super Redhawk ,, Best 44 I ever had ,, VERY EASY TO SHOOT WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .. It does depend on whether you like a double action or a single action .... I am surprised no one has recommended the 45 Colt .. With the custom loads like Buffalo Bore , Cor , rizzly and Alaskan Ammunition ... It is Great for full power but it also does well with a 255 gr bullet @ 900 fps ...... Until you've discovered how much you liked it.. An expensive custom revolver isn,t necerssary ... .If it can,t be grown , its gotta be mined .... | |||
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But I did recommend the .45 Colt at the end of my post.......it would be a great choice IMHO!  "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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Nothing wrong with a 45 Colt, in a +P revolver, but since he does not now load I still think a 44 Mag is the best choice. Factory loads are more widely avialable. However Speer does make 45 Colt Shot Shells now. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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Shot a few more today,I'd say the Redhawk in either form will be the winner.In 44 with 7 1/2 barrel. Handle,but did not shoot a Freedom Arms in 454.Very nice peice of craftsmanship.A little pricey for me right now (1400). Going to rehandle two used guns later this week,and decide on new vs. used. Leaning used,to put savings twords reloading equiptment. Thanks to all for your input and spirited debate... I will surely consult you all again.... Dan | |||
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You might consider a Ruger Bisley in 45 Colt.You can easily surpass 44 mag with it ,or shoot 325 Gr. cast around 1,000 FPS for a real pussycat. | |||
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| One of Us |
I will say this one more time: I have an FA that has shot my own hard cast 295-grain 41s to a chronographed 1800 fps. Tell me the .44 will come anywhere close to that with a 300! I refer to the second Accurate Arms reloading manual, which states there is no real difference between the .41 andthe .44. Pick one and go! | |||
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| Moderator |
Dang, that load's got to kick a bit!!  "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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I would have to see that with my own eyes. I have had a 317 gr boolit to 1800 fps from my 45-70 and had sticky cases. I can not imagine the chamber pressure from a .41! Got to be pushing the limits of the steel, maybe 80-90,000 psi. | |||
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got to agree. to get that kind of velocity you have to be running some insane pressures. Im sure you could do the same with a 44 mag FA gun using a load of fast burning powder but im also sure if bob baker heard that you were doing it your warantee would be in the garbage can real fast. | |||
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| Moderator |
It may be possible to get those velocities, but the price is severe pressure. More importantly, I have to ask why? Why do folks feel the need to push bullets so fast? Actually, I want to know how, reflecting on some of the loads we have developed for my Casull which has a whole heck-of-a-lot more case capacity than a .41 mag....... I sound like I'm flip-flopping here, but the more I think about it, the more impossible it sounds.......  Does your .41 mag have a REALLY long barrel? Don't get mad, just asking!"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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For hunting with handgun only for deer sized game a good 357 or 44 mag would be tough to beat especially for the non-handloader. I hunt mostly with a rifle but will be using my model 586 357 mag some this fall. Rodney. | |||
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| Moderator |
For me at least, the .357 doesn't leave much margin of error. I would prefer the .44......but that's just me! "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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Not to get in the way of this discussion,but; Going to look again at the 2 used /2 new SRH 44's this weekend; Other than cylinder slop,muzzle crown.... What else should I check? Dan | |||
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It's really hard to wear out a Super Redhawk in .44 mag, Dan. They are literally built like tanks. I don't think you'll find any slop in the used ones. "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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