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Post by AxeHandle on Aug 24, 2009 13:24:13 GMT -5
Hey.... Brother Michael is welcome to anything here.... Since he is Ruger bound I am thinking the new Gallager Customs will have to do... My newest 5 inch octagon stainless 500L will make a good all day everyday backup piece... The 7.5 octagon blue 475L can be the handgun hunting piece.... We better get Mike Barranti fired up on some leather ASAP....  |
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Post by sixshot on Aug 24, 2009 15:02:59 GMT -5
Now you guys don't need to be dragging Mr. Barranti into this, he's real busy right now, thank you very much ;D ;D
Dick
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Post by mbaneacp on Aug 24, 2009 18:23:56 GMT -5
I love you Mr. Axe! I hear wedding bells!!! Seriously guys, this is EXACTLY the discussion I needed and I appreciate it hugely..You'll be interested in knowing Hamilton agrees on a standard 6-shot .44 Blackhawk carrying all the weight of 5-shot (talking himself out of a nice fee, BTW). With the handgun, I think I'll be looking at the smaller antelopes (the buff gets the 450/400). Got a great letter off-forum from Gregory Santilli, who should CLEARLY be the one going to Africa...not moi!
mb
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Post by Ken O'Neill on Aug 24, 2009 19:08:50 GMT -5
Mike,
I carried a .44 Mag. on my first african safari in 1990, a 7 1/2" Redhawk, using Bill Wilson's 300 gr. hardcast bullets, and taking numerous plains game in the impala / warthog size range. It performed adequately. I did lose a kudu, but I blame that on a poorly rushed shot, not the caliber. We'll never know if more power could have given me a second shot opportunity.
On the next several safaris, I used a 7 1/2" FA .454 and the FA 260 jacketed, the 300 gr. Sierra, and the 300 gr. Horn. XTP, taking a larger variety of generally heavier game up through lion. The .454 performed well, but I didn't use it on buffalo or eland, for example.
Although I have never carried a .475 L to Africa, I have used my FA .475's extensively on large game throughout the U.S. (bison, elk, bears, hogs etc.) and South America (buffalo).
For better or worse, I've formed a few opinions and here they are:
1. My five shot FA .44 Mag. won't run loads all that much heavier than a 6 shot Ruger. I'd save my money and not build a custom 5 shot .44 Mag.
2. A .454 is a definite step up from a .44 (well, duh....). For a person who will / has trained themselves to shoot it in superb fashion, I might recommend it to them for their African safari, BUT...
3. The .475 Linebaugh hits like a hammer with 400-420 gr. bullets, and dwarfs any competition from the other two. Large critters fall over dead, and usually promptly. Yes, it requires training, but we all know that guns in all three calibers do, to be a competent hunter. The .475 is what I'd take.
4. I recommend optics. If one doesn't like 'em on handguns, fine...but recognize that you'll miss out on a LOT of shot opportunities...10,000 expensive miles from home.
These are only my opinions of course, but they're free.
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Post by AxeHandle on Aug 24, 2009 19:14:17 GMT -5
Yo! Brother Mike! This is clearly your opportunity for that aforementioned "...all day everyday backup piece...." Something like a short barrel round butted 500L Ruger or even a 500WE FA 83... With an acompanying fine piece of leather...   |
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Post by CraigC on Aug 24, 2009 19:29:12 GMT -5
Saved that pic and put it on my own image host. Note: this fine sixgun is not mine.  |
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lah
.30 Stingray
Posts: 421 
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Post by lah on Aug 25, 2009 6:29:56 GMT -5
I'm thinking of a 5-shot .44 Magnum on a Super Blackhawk, either from Hamilton Bowen or Dave Clements. Am I way off base here? If so, why? Secondly, barrel length...my inclination would be a 6 1/2-inch. Thoughts? Oh yeah, one further question...is a Bisley gripframe a must? 44 Mag?? Yes it will do fine. 6 1/2" Barrel?? Yes that's a great length. Bisley gripframe?? It's a must for me. I'm a 44 fan so if you will take a 44, I'll personally cast all the 305 grs. Keith's you need for practice & the hunt. This bullet will do as well as any cast 44 bullet. I've enclosed a picture. God Bless............Creeker  |
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Post by whitworth on Aug 25, 2009 6:37:12 GMT -5
Mike, I carried a .44 Mag. on my first african safari in 1990, a 7 1/2" Redhawk, using Bill Wilson's 300 gr. hardcast bullets, and taking numerous plains game in the impala / warthog size range. It performed adequately. I did lose a kudu, but I blame that on a poorly rushed shot, not the caliber. We'll never know if more power could have given me a second shot opportunity. On the next several safaris, I used a 7 1/2" FA .454 and the FA 260 jacketed, the 300 gr. Sierra, and the 300 gr. Horn. XTP, taking a larger variety of generally heavier game up through lion. The .454 performed well, but I didn't use it on buffalo or eland, for example. Although I have never carried a .475 L to Africa, I have used my FA .475's extensively on large game throughout the U.S. (bison, elk, bears, hogs etc.) and South America (buffalo). For better or worse, I've formed a few opinions and here they are: 1. My five shot FA .44 Mag. won't run loads all that much heavier than a 6 shot Ruger. I'd save my money and not build a custom 5 shot .44 Mag. 2. A .454 is a definite step up from a .44 (well, duh....). For a person who will / has trained themselves to shoot it in superb fashion, I might recommend it to them for their African safari, BUT... 3. The .475 Linebaugh hits like a hammer with 400-420 gr. bullets, and dwarfs any competition from the other two. Large critters fall over dead, and usually promptly. Yes, it requires training, but we all know that guns in all three calibers do, to be a competent hunter. The .475 is what I'd take. 4. I recommend optics. If one doesn't like 'em on handguns, fine...but recognize that you'll miss out on a LOT of shot opportunities...10,000 expensive miles from home. These are only my opinions of course, but they're free. Well said, Ken! I agree with you absolutely! |
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Post by AxeHandle on Aug 25, 2009 8:00:38 GMT -5
Yo Brother Mike! Have you even looked at the leather being turned out by our other Brother Mike? I can see it now... You... a Bowen 475... and Mike Barranti leather.... www.barrantileather.com/ |
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Post by Ken O'Neill on Aug 25, 2009 10:29:33 GMT -5
A fabulous idea for sure.
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Post by sixshot on Aug 25, 2009 11:25:00 GMT -5
Here's a photo of some of Barranti's artwork, just got it saturday. Both holsters are crossdraw. Mike does all his stitching by hand, he just likes to do it that way, amazing, I've watched him do it.   Doesn't get much better than this. Dick |
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Post by Markbo on Aug 25, 2009 11:31:49 GMT -5
WHY!? WHY do you torture me so!!!  |
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Post by nonpcnrarn on Aug 25, 2009 13:04:13 GMT -5
WHY!? WHY do you torture me so!!! You are not alone in your suffering! |
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