Are Rifle Cartridges a Waste in a Revolver?

[Quick Draw McGraw]

Seen a lot of this over the years and have been fascinated by them. I would love to have a long cylinder BFR, but at what point is the shorter barrel reducing the point of a rifle cartridge. I know Gary Reeder won't build .50 Alaskan revolvers because he feels it's cheating the customer. But I recall a book my dad had when I was a kid that showed century arms revolvers in .50-90 and .50-110 so... What do you guys think? I'd love to have a Revolver like this, but is it really pointless?

[Quick Draw McGraw]

Fyi, those century arms revolvers may have been custom creations to shoot those calibers.

[CraigC]

Some folks like them but I don't see the point.

I handled a Century about 20yrs ago. It was brand new and wouldn't carry up. Really a cartoonish monstrosity.

[Encore64]

I don't have a lot of experience with this. I have owned a BFR 45-70 for a long time.

Its extremely accurate at 4" at 100 yards. It seems to burn all the powder and be very consistent.

I plan on adding a 444 Marlin BFR eventually.

Sure others can tell you more than me.

[whitworth]

I think that depends on the cartridge. I actually like the BFR in .45/70, just because. I know, not very scientific, but the one I have is so accurate, it's a pleasure to shoot. I had a .50 Alaskan built on a D-Max frame (not the current beefier and heavier BFR) and it was WAY too much of a good thing. While my .500 Max won't match it in velocity, it doesn't need to because it doesn't really kill and better but it does kick like hell. It would sling 525s at 1,600 fps. Having said all of that, you don't need to justify any purchase as far as I am concerned, but something like that isn't buying you better performance at least from a terminal standpoint. JMHO

[Encore64]

I can't speak for Max, but my 45-70 is very reasonable in the recoil department.

Mine is slated to go to Huntington for the Bisley grip conversion.

[whitworth]

Nov 8, 2016 18:17:05 GMT -5 Encore64 said:

I can't speak for Max, but my 45-70 is very reasonable in the recoil department.

Mine is slated to go to Huntington for the Bisley grip conversion.

I've only shot a couple of factory loads through my .45/70 that I would characterize as unpleasant but they are both admittedly on the extreme end of the scale. The Huntington grip extension makes them a lot easier and more pleasant to shoot. I really like this BFR!

[AxeHandle]

I've got a 450 Marlin and a 444 BFR... Not the most pleasant things to shoot.. They are fun to play with..

[Quick Draw McGraw]

I was curious as of love to have one of these bruisers. Hopefully I could get some good accuracy at distance. Just kind of wondering what you lose velocity wise. Anyone hunted with one?

[magnumwheelman]

I think quite a few rifle cartridges can be practical in a revolver, if handloaded for the shorter barrel... I'm guessing a lot of factory rounds could end up with unburned powder shotgunning out of the end of the barrel, if loaded with slower rifle powders... in some cases you may not find published loads as no one ever expected to shoot those cartridges out of a revolver... but a check to Contender & Encore load data may show you what you're looking for...

I have a custom 22 Hornet Revolver, with a fast twist barrel which allows me to stabilize up to 68 grain bullets out of a 6" revolver barrel... IMO, there's not a whole lot of difference between the 50 Alaskan & the 500 S&W... I'd think that with finding the right powder & bullet weight combo, the 50 Alaskan could be practical in a revolver... however, it, being at the extreme, it may not have many loads better than a 500 S&W or that burn efficiently, but if a handloader is willing to spend the time, they may find a couple...

also it can be nice to have a companion revolver to a rifle you're carrying, even if it's not as efficient as something else, just from the standpoint of only having to carry one ammo caliber