Big Bore Conundrum

[balin]

Have a little to much cash on hand and was thinking I needed something new. Kind of like the Ruger Toklat, the John Ross 500 magnum, or maybe just a .460 magnum. Mostly just some thing to have and do some offhand plinking with, for now any way. I know that gives me a wide range but those are my options so far.

 

[Dave Workman]

Have a little tp much cash on hand and was thinking I needed something new. Kind of like the Ruger Toklat, the John Ross 500 magnum, or maybe just a .460 magnum. Mostly just some thing to have and do some offhand plinking with, for now any way. I know that gives me a wide range but those are my options so far.

You want to "plink" with a .460 or .500?
You've got stronger wrists than me!

 

[tgshowell]

Oh boy that's such a fun situation. Wouldn't it be fun to go get a .454 casull just for shiggles. Take it to Alaska too!

 

[arjay]

How about a 4 or 5 screw model 29? Get one in 95%+ ,you can shoot it and watch it increase in value.

 

[jtcarm]

I prefer an SA for big bore shooting. Easier on the wrist.

If I had the cash, I'd go for a Freedom Arms.

 

[GB]

OK, I'll take a swing at this. My vote would be for a .460. Lets you shoot .460/.454 and .45 colt and its little brother, the .45 Schofield. Just a thought, no experience with a 460 but it seems to be the most versatile of the big bore boomers. Although the quality of the Freedom Arms guns makes the .454 also a strong option. GB

 

[tgshowell]

Didn't realize a .460 lets you shoot .454. That seems like an obvious choice then.

 

[balin]

I have several .44's already so was thinking of kicking it up a bit.
Freedom Arms had slipped my mind so I may have to think about that option.
The wide range of ammo that the .460 will shoot was one of the reasons that I was considering it.
But having a .500 mag takes care of a wide range of ballistics especially since I reload. And the John Ross version is preety good from what I read.

 

[Ham Slamma]

I have the S&W.460 and a Taurus Raging Bull in .454. I like both of them.
The .460 is all the gun you need. To me the .500 is just way to much gun.......

 

[balin]

I have the S&W.460 and a Taurus Raging Bull in .454. I like both of them.
The .460 is all the gun you need. To me the .500 is just way to much gun.......

Yes it is a big one. But I can down load to .500 specials if I want and still have the ability to to shoot a wide range of loads.

 

[rwsmith]

If you reload....

If you reload your own you can make any strength load and type of bullet combo that you want. I don't do big bore for money concerns, but since I reload I could conceivably get into it if I wanted.

 

[colt_saa]

I would buy the JR 500, but that is just because I love mine

If you handload, the 500 S&W Magnum is one of the most versatile cartridges out there. Projectiles can go from 275 grains to 725 grains, jacketed or cast and they can be loaded mild to wild.

 

[Engineer1911]

A Lyman 255 grain gas checked bullet and Accurate Arms #9 powder 17.5 grains gives more than enough boom and recoil in a long barreled M629, for real sport try it in a 4" barrel.

 

[balin]

A Lyman 255 grain gas checked bullet and Accurate Arms #9 powder 17.5 grains gives more than enough boom and recoil in a long barreled M629, for real sport try it in a 4" barrel.

I am sure it does. I find full power loads out of my 329PD to be a little frisky!

 

[Dave Lively]

or maybe just a .460 magnum.

Just a 460? There's a phrase you don't hear very often.

I have not even shot anything larger than my .44 but have also felt the urge to buy one of the big boomers. I always end up looking at the 460 since it can shoot 45 Colt and 454 too. If you reload you could always load the 500 down but if I ever do buy one of these I am going to shoot factory, at least for full power ammo. It may be $2+ per round but I would not want to spend an afternoon at the range testing reloads. On any give trip to the range a 5 round cylinder of full power 460 will probably be all I need.

 

[bcc629]

Oh boy that's such a fun situation. Wouldn't it be fun to go get a .454 casull just for shiggles. Take it to Alaska too!

Actually that does sound like fun to me. I have the 454 Alaskan (and it IS fun), but haven't been to AK yet.

 

[Road_Clam]

Have a little to much cash on hand and was thinking I needed something new. Kind of like the Ruger Toklat, the John Ross 500 magnum, or maybe just a .460 magnum. Mostly just some thing to have and do some offhand plinking with, for now any way. I know that gives me a wide range but those are my options so far.

I'm a recent new big bore owner. I too had the daunting task of .460 or .500 . After a LOT of research and gathering opinions I purchased the 12" .460 PC . In hindsight, I feel I made the perfect choice. The biggest advantage with the .460 is you have 45 cal versatility. This is very beneficial in my case where I'm a reloader. The issue I saw with the .500 is that caliber is more proprietary and not a lot of versatility with that caliber. There's some good info that suggests you do NOT shoot 45LC and 454 Casull through the 460 mag as you are jumping the bullet almost .500" into the barrel cone. When I want to load "plinker" rounds I just use the correct 460 mag casings and load up inexpensive 45 cal hard cast bullets and keep the velocity around 1100 . People jaws just drop when I whip out my scoped 12" 460 mag that also needs a bipod...

 

[silentflyer]

Easy solution, if you have extra cash just let your wife know, she will dispose of it in a heartbeat....

 

[Kid44]

I have the Ruger Toklat. Haven't shot it yet however, it was just something I "had to have". My original idea was to buy it, hold on to it and then try to sell it to someone in Alaska who thinks they need a "bear back up gun", but the longer I keep it the more inclined I am to keep it. I bought a box of ammo so one of these days I'll take it out and see what all the .454 hype is all about. No bears where I live. Very nice gun, Ruger did a good job on it.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Get a Linebaugh .475 or .500!

You can shoot .480 in the .475 and brother, let me tell you, the .480 is more than you'll need - unless someone uses DNA and reintroduces dinosaurs.

The .480 is also the maximum for shooting if your goal is not to hurt yourself, the recoil being acknowledged as "just before becoming unacceptable".

Freedom Arms sells their fine revolvers in Linebaugh calibers, so you can have one without the wait for a true custom from Linebaugh.

 

[329]

My favorite big bore plinker...

Freedom Arms 83 in .44 mag. Loaded up with the hot stuff it can be pretty close to a 454. And I can still load it down with 44 specials.

Buffalo Bore:
Heavy .44 Magnum +P+ Ammo - 340 gr. L.F.N. - G.C. (1,478 fps/M.E. 1,649 ft. lbs.)

I prefer the 305 gr load at 1325 fps. Plenty of bang for me!

 

[Nemo288]

Be careful with that surplus cash (is there such a thing?).
Once you get into a big 45 or 50, the thought of playing with a lever or double rifle in the same caliber (or NE version) may occur to you!
Don't ask how I know this.

===
Nemo

 

[329]

Be careful with that surplus cash (is there such a thing?).
Once you get into a big 45 or 50, the thought of playing with a lever or double rifle in the same caliber (or NE version) may occur to you!
Don't ask how I know this.

===
Nemo

I am on the lookout for a 44 lever as we speak!

 

[Nemo288]

I am on the lookout for a 44 lever as we speak!

If so, I recommend the 1892 style action over the 1894 (Win).
The 1894 Marlin is also good.

These are not to the same scale:

===
Nemo

 

[slayer1962]

S&W 460

I bought one about 6 months ago. quality made!
I had a Taurus raging Bull .454
S&W being so big and heavy is a puppy to shoot .454 out of. The Taurus was a beast and was not fun to shoot!
If I was worried about carrying it for bears the Taurus would be the one. for shooting at the range the S&W is hands down winner.
Quality wise there is no comparison!

 

[balin]

Actually that does sound like fun to me. I have the 454 Alaskan (and it IS fun), but haven't been to AK yet.

I have an Alaskan in .44 and it is a ***** cat to shoot and love it.
And I am not worried about needing a lever gun as I have one penciled in on my short to medium list

The .460 PC looks awesome but would be a little tough for me to shoot off hand.

 

[ruggyh]

Every response is going to favor the gun they own or want.
Would suggest you shoot the options you are considering.

The 500 S&W is king of the hill when it comes to energy and as mentioned bullets form 275 to 725 are available. Limited to few manufactures.

The 460 S&W is not far behind the 500 and it is less know that bullets from 200 to 720 grains are available, you will need the longer cylinder of the BFR afford to shoot those over 620 grain. Limited to few manufactures.

The 454 is well, the 454, not as ballisticly blessed as the other two. There a wider variety of manufacture to choose from though, from ok to the very best - available mostly in single action for the nicer guns.

Since you reload some of the other mentioned options would also work.

That said for full disclosure I have 25 revolvers in the safe right now, only 3 are not on your list.
16 of those are 460 S&W- you know what I would choose- 6.5 or 7.5" barrel.

If you go with the 500 the John Ross would be my pick.

Again shoot'em and one will speek to you, well maybe more!

Word of caution they are addicting.

If you get down my way look me up and we will go out and shoot a couple hundred rounds.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy