What to get for my second revolver, 44 magnum or 460 xvr.

[Oldfrt]

I am a relatively new shooter, started last December with a 686 4". I shoot mostly 357's , 158 grain a box of 50 when I go to the range and the gun seems very easy to manage. My plan is to have two revolvers with us when my wife and I take our recumbent trikes out to areas where some 4 legged predators may be. The 357 should be more than capable for the smaller ones like mountain lions or wolves. What I am hearing from several sources is that the 357 may not be up to the job for bears, hence the interest in a larger caliber. I am starting to lean more towards the 460 over the 44 because of the higher velocity coupled with the choices ammo. With a charging bear I may only have time to get one shot from the seat of the trike. I have about 5 years to become proficient before the excursions into wild. How far off is my thinking on this.

 

[dusty3030]

Whichever one you will carry and can hit something with.
I'd opt for a .50 if you are talking big bears with a rifle being preferable than any handgun for the big bears.
The .357 or .44 if you are talking black bears. Load them up with some Buffalo Bore and have fun. If you get a grizz can you skin it?

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcsXC2xFis4[/ame]

 

[ken158]

The X frame is not for a novice and is also a heavy gun to pack - a hit with a 44 sure beats a miss with anything else...

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

If you are in the lower 48 then the 44 with correct ammo should be fine. The 460 is a huge leap forward in energy.
both are a hoot on the range. 460 moreso

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

Old pic i had for your reference on size
460 and 629

 

[silentflyer]

If you don't hand load .44 mag is far cheaper to shoot, and practice is needed with either of these hand cannons...

 

[yfdcap]

44 unless your talking about griz. Your location looks like black bear so 44 all the way. I have both. 460 is fun and can shoot 454 and 45 lc also but it is so heavy. I would not want to carry it much at all.

 

[sixtwoniner]

The operative phrase here is "hand cannon". As Ken158 said, "whatever you can hit with". For one thing a one shot kill on any bear with a hand gun is very rare. Not impossible but not likely. I really can't comment on the 460 as I've never shot one. I do love my 29s. Unless money is not an issue even the 44 will be expensive to get proficient with. Again don't know about the 460. My favorite load for big game is Horny's 240gr jacketed on 22.5gr 2400. I go less for target rounds. I may be slow but I was well over 1000 rounds out of my 8 3/8 629 Hunter Classic well tuned with open sites to go 6 of 6 from 100 yds. 9 inch paper plate. Good enough for hunting in my book. The only way to get good with any hand cannon is "shoot, shoot, shoot, and then shoot some more. That might get old with that 460. Just a thought.

 

[muggers29536]

.460 ammo is expensive unless you load your own, and is sometimes hard to find in Southern Oregon. Although the .460 is a hoot to shoot, especially the 454 Casull, without a good chest or shoulder holster it can be difficult to be comfortable to pack around this hand cannon. The 460 is deafening without ears on. 44 magnum is more tolerable and probably almost as much fun as the .460 IMO.

 

[SilentKnight]

Weight, cost of ammo, less expense to get really accurate with lots of practice, ability to draw and fire quickly and your location would indicate 44Mag would be enough. A Model 29 with 4 inch barrel clears leather pretty fast. I carry a 44 spl in the woods. In my area, we have black bear but unless you run into a female with cubs they are not very aggressive. I also carry a 45-70 Marlin guide gun or a 7x64 Mauser for rifle hunting. Both are carbine size and are quick shooters in brush. The 45-70 with Garrett bullets can take anything down. They also make very hot 44 Magnums that would solve your problem if you have a firearm that can handle the pressures. Worth a look at their website: Garrett Cartridges Inc. 44 mag .45-70 .44 ammo ammunition bullets african hunting cartridges Be safe and have fun.

 

[Mehutch]

Years ago I was confronted by a big black bear with a radio collar around its neck. All I had was a .357 Mag (158gr HP). I was under gunned but survived. I now carry my S&W 44 mag with Hammerhead 310 gr hard cast lead. In Grizz country I carry my 12 gauge with slugs.
Facing an angry bear six miles in is dicy stuff, carry large, first shot counts, big knife for close in fighting, good luck out there... and never give up. (There is no crying in bear country)

 

[akmtnrunner]

I say it depends on how much revolver you're willing to tote around, and how well the 460 suits you. There are a lot more options in 44. Light scandium or titanium frames, middleweights, and heavyweights, snubbies, 3", 4", 5", 6", etc., from more than a few good designers. I suppose, unless unless one of the 460 is really calling to you for several reasons, you won't go wrong with a 44 unless you really need a rifle like performance in a revolver. Plenty of folks rely on 44's for bear protection up here in alaska, if that tells you anything.

 

[F75gunslinger]

The 629 is 48.6 oz. With a 6 inch barrel, where the 460 comes in at 59.5 oz. with a 3.5 inch barrel. Also something to consider, the 629 is a six shot, where the 460 is 5. If it was me, I'd go the 44 route. An X frame is A LOT of weight to have bouncing around in a holster on an ATV all day long. It might also help to look to see what you can find for ATV mounted cases. Carry in that when riding and wear a holster for when your off your ATV.

 

[twodog max]

I see from your location you are from Missouri. What you have right now should be enough for any real 4 legged or two legged threat. The two legged variety would be the most real concern IMO.

 

[ruggyh]

The 44 is a better choice for for you, 629 would be my choice.
Reasons as sated above.

I am a big fan of the 460, hearing protection for it is a must and does not seem to fit with your trike riding protection premise. It also requires regular shooting to become proficient,is not suited for the casual shooter.

Be safe and good luck
Ruggy

 

[Blowncar]

I live in Idaho and we have some good sized bears. I carry my 329PD 44 mg. It is so light and easy to pack around. The finish is tough as hell and while recoil with heavy loads is stout it is controllable with practice. Heck I doubt you'd even notice it if you were shooting in survival mode.

 

[cloudswimmer]

44 unless your talking about griz. Your location looks like black bear so 44 all the way

Yes .44 is what I carried for years gold prospecting the San Bernardino and San Gabriel mountains of Southern California. It's grizzly population were exterminated unfortunately many moons ago and only blackies remain. We all know blackies can be more aggressive than grizzly, but seeming their weight usually pales to the mighty griz I was never worried with one of my .44 Mags at my side, but last summer my wife and I visited the local zoo which houses mostly animals found locally that are either sick or injured, and they had a black bear they had captured from the San Gabriel Montains, and it's weight exceeded 650lbs It was old, sick, and huge. I'm sure with a cool head, a hot .44 load and proper shot placement, a similar size blackie could be stopped, but I've now chosen the 4" Model 500 in a Desantis belt holster as my new weapon of choice for of all places the mild wilderness of Southern California.

 

[John Rus]

Actually it's the other way around, Grizzly bears are considerably more aggressive than black bears. But unless you meet Mr Griz then you don't have to worry about him.

I have multiple friends that have went hunting for Black bear and Grizzly bear and only the grizzly bears have charged at any of them, the black bears just high taled it out of there. A hit with a .357 in the head of a black bear is going to count for a hell of a lot more than a miss with a .44. Don't even think about the .460 unless you want to be deaf while the unharmed bear is having you for lunch, friendly jesting of course.

John.

 

[buck460XVR]

With a charging bear I may only have time to get one shot from the seat of the trike..

You'd be better off with a good bear spray. This from a guy that shoots regularly and hunts with .357mag, 44mag and .460mag revolvers.

 

[Oldfrt]

Thanks for the advice, I will be getting a membership at a new range this weekend and with that comes one free rental. I plan on taking my two sons to the range in a couple of weeks and renting a 44 so we can all play together. It is looking a lot more like a 44 mag than the 460 for the next gun. But, just because a 44 will do the job doesn't mean I can't get a 460 later, after all my wife forced me to get into shooting so it's all her fault. The bear spray was always in the picture. I currently carry Halt, a stun gun and a collapsible baton.