Reasons to own a bigbore revolver

[iwsbull]

Encouragement and reassurance for those that are thinking about or have jumped into the deep end of revolvers. Why we have and enjoy potentially abusive handguns that smaller or milder platforms can also perform.
First before anyone else lists it, you do not have to have a reason. That being said I am kinda curious as to everyone’s reasoning. Also was there a reason the particular caliber?

The 454 Casull because of seeing the all the articles on it in the 80’s and the same goes for the 500 Linebaugh and 44 mag just because I thought it was federal law to own one if you owned a revolver.

[Encore64]

Uh...we're men. We all have the same affliction that Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor had.

Wanting bigger and more power is in our DNA...

[contender]

Having a lifetime of handgunning,, and knowing that the normal calibers most use would easily handle anything I might call upon them to do,, I never took any real interest in anything over a .45 Colt or a .44 mag.
Oh,, I shot several handguns of very large calibers over the years,, but never saw the "need." And,, in general,, I still believe that.

But many years ago,, a good friend had the hots to buy the Ruger SRH in .480 Ruger. He called me to help him find one. I did,, and when we went to get it,, (knowing his attitudes & such,) I made him promise to allow me the "right of first refusal" if he ever went to sell it. Sure enough,, after about 3 years,, he called me. The deal was too good to pass up,, and it moved in here. Yet,, I knew I didn't need it.
Then I took it to the range.
Well, not only was it a pleasure to shoot,, it was very very accurate. I now own a total of (3) of the Ruger .480's. My reasoning was several smaller things,, that added up to enjoying the guns & the caliber.
I'm a Ruger fan. I also collect OM SA handguns. That SRH was the first Super RH I ever bought for myself. And when Lipsey's came out with the SA Super in .480,, I knew I'd not rest until I owned one. And along the way,, another very good deal came along,, in another SRH with the 9-1/2" bbl. I'm a sucker for really good deals,, especially on a Ruger.

I know I can hunt big game with my .44's, 41's, or 45's, or even my .357's. But I have also added a FA in 454 and the 480's because I can. And actually they are fun to occasionally pull out & throw big hunks of lead at distant targets.
I'm old enough & smart enough to not go out & punish my body with a LOT of big, hard kicking handguns. But allowing myself the enjoyment of the occasional short range session with a really big boomer just seems to make me smile.

[hunter01]

I used to LOVE the abuse of a 335gr bullet at 1700fps out if my first 454. I could shoot 50 rounds at a time with no issue whatsoever. Those days are behind me now. That kind of recoil HURTS me. I still enjoy it but in much smaller doses. As middle age steps into the rear view, i find doing more with less has a certain appeal.

[45MAN]

TO THE OP: PLEASE ADVISE WHAT YOU CONSIDER TO BE A "BIG BORE" REVOLVER

[aciera]

I got a 45 because everyone had a 44. Back in the 80s.
And the 45-70&45 colt came out the same year.
Built them back in the 90s and just enjoyed them. Shot all of them.

The 454 was snappy. The 475 was more a push. Down load them. Now I can build what I like.

480 Redhawk…….480 Achilles…….476…….. I like the bore …….

[iwsbull]

Mar 12, 2024 20:42:48 GMT -5 45MAN said:

TO THE OP: PLEASE ADVISE WHAT YOU CONSIDER TO BE A "BIG BORE" REVOLVER

Me personally I generally consider 41 mag up as big bore, ymmv.

[bigbore5]

I like the 500 Linebaugh best of any cartridge. I have pushed it to the limit and beyond.

My favorite loads are a 355swc @1400fps and a 525 @950. The 355 flat out hammers pigs and deer, but has a pretty rowdy, fast recoil. The 525 has a slow roll and is plenty for any bear or bison in the US. I like big holes with exits.

[gnappi]

Contender summed it up... "Because I can"

I've had .41's, .44's and .45 Colts (many were S&W's) and .45 Win mag my whole adult life. After I stumbled on a complete 4 1/2" SRH .480 outfit (with dies + loaded ammo) the first time I shot it I knew it wouldn't be my last one, and it wasn't.

[wilecoyote]

...it all started with the involuntary smile the first time I shoot a .44 mag.,
never with lessen calibers_
plainly said, if I were to explain it, others wouldn't understand.

[paleroadster]

Whatever it is that draws, mostly men, to over the top handguns (big block V8s, lifted trucks/jeeps etc) may be hard to pinpoint. I have noticed even the most stalwart "anything over 9mm is just a waste" types seem to end up hanging around my table at the range anytime I bring my .500 A-square rifle or .500 S&W. So it seems to me more like 100% interest than the detractors would like to admit.

[bigbore5]

It's simple. I have one gun that serves from whitetail to elephant.

[tentcamper]

At about 20 years old I shot my first 44 magnum. It was a stainless Ruger 7.5" SBH. I was mesmerized. When I turned 21 I purchased a blued Ruger SBH 44 mag and have been a fan ever since, having acquired "a few" more 44s along the way, single and double actions.

Cowboy action and Ruger Vaquero 45 Colts came along later in life which was a natural progression for me into all things 45 Colt and beyond. Now with "a few" 45 Colt single and double actions I keep pretty entertained at the range.

Add 41 mag recently and of course my 500 JRH BFR and I am a happy guy.

Why big bore? My first revolver experience was shooting a Smith model 19, several hundred rounds of .357 and it never really got my attention. That very first shot with a 44 mag sure did though.

I'll add a 480 Ruger to the stable if ammo ever comes to planet Earth again.

[wilecoyote]

I've always seen self-called serious-bullseye-olympic-pistol shooters here sneeze about my .44s, but if/when I let them try, they invariably wouldn't stop shooting mine, until they would empty all my handload boxes.
and they stupid-smiled as me, too_

[sharps4590]

I thought the 44 Mag. was the "end all, be all" and, back then it just about was. Then I got my first 45 Colt. In the Colt platform it's obvious the 44 Mag. is head an shoulders more powerful. Put the "Old War Horse" in a different platform and the difference is a moot point. I liked hot loads back then too. Those days are over. The 44 Mag. is gone near 35 years and 45 Colt loads have moderated considerably. Today, a 245-260 gr. bullet at about 1,000 fps is plenty and the 44 Spl. and 45 Colt handily achieve that.

I've owned and shot hotter revolvers and, they were fun......at the time. My 44 Spl. and 45 Colt do all I need done and provide as much fun as the hotter cartridges, if not more!