Love for large caliber Magnums

[CDR_Glock]

A great friend of mine sold his 44 Magnum S&W Performance Center 629 7.5" revolver to me. I reload on a Dillon progressive press.

Since then, I wondered what other calibers like the S&W 500, 460 VXR and 454 Casull was like.

I recently acquired a 454 Casull, and just fell in love. It's a Ruger Super Redhawk 7.5". I recently fitted it with an Aimpoint T1 on a Weigand Rail. It had a cheap Simmons pistol scope, of which I didn't like. I recently acquired the dies, and I plan to reload this on a Single stage Hornady press.

Tomorrow, I will pick up a S&W 500 6.5". It will be sold with reloading dies, as well as some Brass, bullets, and primers. I will check the stores to see what factory ammo is available and reload based upon what is most accurate. Reloading data shows a lot of versatility for the round from 275 grains up to 700+ grains.

Any other people into the larger caliber Magnums?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[hkcavalier]

What, no appendix carry holster?

Seriously though, I'm more a fan of the big ones than the small ones. I cringe a little when I see those 629PDs in gun stores with those fingergroove Ahrends no less.

 

[Frank46]

I once had the displeasure of firing exactly 2 rounds of 454 Casull. That was all the fun I could stand. My Ruger Redhawk in 44 magnum has been gathering dust since I bought a couple 44 specials. If you like horsepower in handguns more power to you. Not trying to belittle you but the biggies aren't my cup of tea. So please don't take this as a slight. In any event have fun and enjoy your new purchase. Frank

 

[Snapping Twig]

Partial to the 480 myself.

250g 44 mag bullet on the left, 350g 480 on the right.

I prefer 400g in the 480, makes it shine.

Both are 480's.

 

[CDR_Glock]

I once had the displeasure of firing exactly 2 rounds of 454 Casull. That was all the fun I could stand. My Ruger Redhawk in 44 magnum has been gathering dust since I bought a couple 44 specials. If you like horsepower in handguns more power to you. Not trying to belittle you but the biggies aren't my cup of tea. So please don't take this as a slight. In any event have fun and enjoy your new purchase. Frank

I have factory ammo at the moment so at $2/trigger pull, I've only done 20 rounds per visit. I have a reloader and dies, so it will be more palatable to the wallet.

I get an adrenaline rush from shooting a high powered handgun or shotgun.

I forgot to mention that I can only shoot out to 250 yards at the club. I have hit the gong at 250 yards with a 22 LR rifle, consistently. Any other caliber of rifle is just child's play.

I've gotten consistent with my 44 at 50 yards (100%) but I'm still working up to 75 right now. I'm only at 60%....

With the Casull I'm at 100% at 50 yards. I'm just looking for a flatter shooting handgun for as far as I can see and hold it free handed.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[ruggyh]

Any other people into the larger caliber Magnums?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I too like the big bore handguns.

Besides the 460 S&W and 500 S&W I have recently added several 500 JRH and considering the 475 Linebaugh, 480 Ruger and 475 Special.

They are not for everyone, but for those that have them they sure are fun and challenging.

Be safe
Ruggy

 

[sodacan]

I have fired several larger caliber revolvers that make bigger holes than a 44 magnum, and I have come to the conclusion that the 44 is the largest caliber that makes sense (at least for me) in a handgun. More power to you if think bigger is better. Shoot what you like and like what you shoot.

 

[Paul105]

Bought a Freedom Arms .454 in the late 80s. Shot it a fair amount over time. Have since added a .45 Colt cylinder. Still have some .454 ammo loaded, but the gun mostly sees Ruger level .45 Colt at this point.

Added a .475 Linebaugh in the 3rd Qtr of 2007. Was getting a bit older and figured if I was going to do big bores, I would have to start soon. Shot over 15,000 rounds (mostly 400gr +- at 1,150 fps) thru the gun over the next three years. Had a lot of fun and proved to myself that I could do it. Last full house .475 (420gr at 1,300 fps) I shot was a couple of years ago. During that same time period, I shot at least 20,000 rounds thru the little FA97 .45 Colt and another 8,000 or so thru the S&W 329.

More recently, I have added a 5" .500 JRH and.480 Ruger 2 ½" snubby. Early on, I cranked these up to satisfy my curiosity regarding recoil. The .500 JRH is too much of a good thing with heavy bullets at top velocities, so it is now loaded more moderately. Nothing to sneeze at with 380 to 440gr bullets at 1,000 fps. The Ruger .480 isn't bad recoil wise with factory level ammo.

I turned 70 last year, and the "big bores" with full house loads are no longer manageable for me – don't have the hand strength to control the single actions and the double actions are uncomfortable to say the least. Still shoot/enjoy the guns but with more sedate loads.

Always wanted a 4" .500 S&W X Frame. Never got around to it and most likely won't at this point.

Everyone should satisfy that "big bore urge" – I look back on my journey with fond memories.

My go to gun these days is the New S&W M69 L-Frame .44 Mag.

FWIW,

Paul

 

[oldman10mm]

I'm 70,6'1",140lbs. Love shooting 357M,10mm,41M,44M. Looking forward to having a 460,I reload so ammo cost will be easy,got brass & bullets for it,just gotta acquire a 460. As far as moving up to a 500,we'll see after the 460. Got 454Casull brass too.

 

[dave1918a2]

My first real big bore was a 45 Linebaugh that was Johns 12th gun. A six shot 45 Colt. Only use Federal brass with a 325 SWC and 28 grains H110. Had a 500 Linebaugh on a Seville frame for awhile but it was too hard to make the brass. Have a 475 Linebaugh that I got around 94 and have several thousand rounds through it. I love this gun. After those guns, a 44 is kind of wimpy, but I enjoy both the 44 and 41.

 

[Iggy]

I don't have one and don't intend to, but this might satisfy some folks urges for a salty hand gun

Magnum Research 45-70

 

[muzzleblastfun]

I still love my 460! Held off on it for awhile because of the recoil horror stories but its not as bad as some say. Only if you reload and make it hurt. I plan on shooting it alot this summer to see what reloads i like the most for deer hunting this fall and hopefully get my first handgun deer. Only problem with the 460 is (which is the problem i have) you will probably still want the 500 someday.

 

[Snapping Twig]

I thought about a .475 Linebaugh, but even Linebaugh says the best hunting velocity is between 1000 and 1200fps, which is what the .480 is.

So that's what I do with it and am totally satisfied. Feels like a 44 mag to me.

 

[Curtis Reed]

My Ruger Super Blackhawk (don't mind the GP100 with it) and my 29-2. I ❤ 44 Mag

 

[BC38]

I love me some 44 magnums, but I doubt that I'll ever go bigger.
Shot a 460 once just for the trill of it. That was enough.
Concussion hits you right in the chest.
I'm just not interested in holding THAT much explosive power in my hands.

 

[CDR_Glock]

Bought a Freedom Arms .454 in the late 80s. Shot it a fair amount over time. Have since added a .45 Colt cylinder. Still have some .454 ammo loaded, but the gun mostly sees Ruger level .45 Colt at this point.



Added a .475 Linebaugh in the 3rd Qtr of 2007. Was getting a bit older and figured if I was going to do big bores, I would have to start soon. Shot over 15,000 rounds (mostly 400gr +- at 1,150 fps) thru the gun over the next three years. Had a lot of fun and proved to myself that I could do it. Last full house .475 (420gr at 1,300 fps) I shot was a couple of years ago. During that same time period, I shot at least 20,000 rounds thru the little FA97 .45 Colt and another 8,000 or so thru the S&W 329.



More recently, I have added a 5" .500 JRH and.480 Ruger 2 ½" snubby. Early on, I cranked these up to satisfy my curiosity regarding recoil. The .500 JRH is too much of a good thing with heavy bullets at top velocities, so it is now loaded more moderately. Nothing to sneeze at with 380 to 440gr bullets at 1,000 fps. The Ruger .480 isn't bad recoil wise with factory level ammo.



I turned 70 last year, and the "big bores" with full house loads are no longer manageable for me – don't have the hand strength to control the single actions and the double actions are uncomfortable to say the least. Still shoot/enjoy the guns but with more sedate loads.



Always wanted a 4" .500 S&W X Frame. Never got around to it and most likely won't at this point.



Everyone should satisfy that "big bore urge" – I look back on my journey with fond memories.



My go to gun these days is the New S&W M69 L-Frame .44 Mag.



FWIW,



Paul

Paul

What distance did you Zero your red dots or sights? I'm debating on 50 vs 25 yards.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Riflemann]

I still shoot my 629 Classic around 30-36 rounds per range trip, I do love shooting my 460 XVR, I have not put any 454's through it, just 45LC and 460's. I shoot at an indoor range most of the time, and like to run the first 3 shots of 45LC followed by 2 full power 460's to scare the **** out of everyone. I have never shot the 460 over 20 rounds per range visit.

 

[CDR_Glock]

Picked up the 500 today. It makes my Ruger Super Redhawk 454 7.5" and S&W PC Model 629 44 7.5" look small.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[amazingflapjack]

The .44 Remington Magnum will always be the worlds most powerful handgun "for ME."

 

[Paul105]

Paul

What distance did you Zero your red dots or sights? I'm debating on 50 vs 25 yards.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I zero both iron sights and optics at 50 yards