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Max Prasac

Serious Big Bores: Beyond the .44 Magnum

Ruger’s excellent Bisley Hunter in .44 Magnum is a dedicated hunting revolver, offering excellent accuracy and reliability. Do you think you need more?
Ruger’s excellent Bisley Hunter in .44 Magnum is a dedicated hunting revolver, offering excellent accuracy and reliability. Do you think you need more?

The .44 Magnum is one hard-hitting round, but there’s a time when serious handgun hunters turn toward more powerful calibers.

.44 Magnum big bore revolvers.The .44 Magnum is a serious handgun round and the second revolver cartridge to bear the name “Magnum” on its head stamp. The .44 Remington Magnum made the scene in 1956, while Ruger and Smith & Wesson vied for the distinction of being the first to hit the market with the new high-powered cartridge with the introduction of the Ruger Super Blackhawk and the S&W Model 29. Smith & Wesson was first to market and, ironically, it was a little-known manufacturer, Great Western Arms Co., that also beat Ruger to market with a .44 Mag.

The .44s hit the shelves at gun shops nationwide, and the world hasn’t been the same since. But the big shot in the arm for the .44 Mag. from a standpoint of popularity was the 1971 film “Dirty Harry,” starring Clint Eastwood, the tough San Francisco detective who carried a Model 29 in a shoulder holster.

Actual diameter for the .44 Mag. is .429-inches, but it’s hard to imagine how popular a “.429 Magnum” would have been comparatively. This really is the quintessential big-bore round and what I consider a threshold cartridge, meaning that it is the upper limit for all but the most hardened handgunners and still needs to be approached with caution by true neophytes.

The .44 Mag. put handgun hunting on the map as a feasible endeavor, and it remained at the top position of power until 1983 when it fell victim to the game of one-upmanship with the release of Dick Casull’s wonder cartridge, the .454 Casull. It was a move the powers that be at Smith & Wesson never forgot—S&W returned the favor a couple of decades later when it released its .500 S&W Magnum. We are a consumer society after all, and it doesn’t take much to convince us we need something bigger, better, faster or more powerful.

The .44 Magnum is popular for many reasons, including the fact that a wide range of factory ammunition is available for many different applications.
The .44 Magnum is popular for many reasons, including the fact that a wide range of factory ammunition is available for many different applications.

Still considered the classic big-bore revolver cartridge, the .44 Mag. to this day enjoys a strong following among big bore revolver lovers. There is no big-bore round that can claim the variety of available ammunition on the market with loads from mild to wild. If you do not reload, this is the cartridge for you; every possible load is available commercially, for virtually any and every application imaginable. The .44 Magnum is the gold standard by which all big revolver cartridges are measured.

So when do you actually need something bigger? The answer isn’t so simple, but I’ll say it anyway: never, actually. Before you proclaim me a blasphemer, let me qualify my statement with this: The .44 Rem. Mag., properly loaded (this caveat applies to any and every cartridge), can, will and has unequivocally taken virtually every game animal that walks the face of this planet. Here’s where I weasel my way out: In my experience, however, there are better choices for really large game, and they begin at .45 and go up from there. Will the .44 Mag. work on really big game? Yes. Are there better choices? Yes.

The .44 Mag. is a great deer cartridge, and while it will comfortably take much larger game, I prefer moving up in diameter when the game weight goes up. Bigger is better, as long as the shooter is capable of competently shooting the bigger calibers. With the move up comes a sizable increase in recoil. That said, the larger calibers do not need to be firewalled to be effective as a step up from the terminal performance offered by the .44 Mag. I can’t argue with larger diameter and heavier bullets.

Revolvers will never be able to boast the high velocity figures of even the mildest rifle cartridges, so they must rely on bullet diameter, weight and the nose profile of the bullet. For thin-skinned game I like expanding bullets, but at the subdued velocities of handguns, reliable expansion is elusive. And again, when starting out over .40 caliber, there really is no need for expansion.

The .44 Remington Magnum (left) is literally dwarfed by the .500 Linebaugh. The .500 Linebaugh offers a considerable step up in terminal performance, as well as recoil, which may not be to your liking.
The .44 Remington Magnum (left) is literally dwarfed by the .500 Linebaugh. The .500 Linebaugh offers a considerable step up in terminal performance, as well as recoil, which may not be to your liking.

Instead, I prefer flat-nosed bullets (with a properly sized meplat) designed to penetrate deeply, particularly on larger game where penetration is your best friend. By default these bullets will make a large hole as they are starting out at a large diameter (relatively speaking). In my experience, two holes are better than one, since two holes tend to bleed more, so I really put a premium on penetration.

The first step north of the .44 Mag. is with the various .45 caliber rounds. The .45s come in a number of flavors, starting with the old warhorse and former black powder cartridge, the .45 Colt. Before you start thinking about the anemic cowboy action loads that are available for this chambering, consider that the .45 Colt in a decisively stronger Ruger revolver can be loaded considerably hotter. This isn’t your granddad’s .45. Most .45 Colt ammo that is available commercially is held to a SAAMI max pressure of 14,000 psi because there are many older revolvers (think Single Action Army) out there that cannot withstand much higher pressures.

Next up is the .454 Casull, a potent, 65,000 psi (SAAMI maximum pressure) brute of a round. The .460 S&W Mag. eclipses both of the lesser .45s with a full 1.8-inch case capable of pretty impressive velocities. The price paid for choosing the .460 is the platform necessarily big enough to house the big cartridge.

The .480 Ruger and its big brother, the .475 Linebaugh, are up next. The .475 Linebaugh, available in Magnum Research’s BFR revolver and Freedom Arms’ Model 83, is a serious cartridge for serious handgun hunters. Loaded to spec, the recoil is fierce, but the .475 is a very capable big-game getter. The smaller .480 Ruger (1.28-inch case length versus the .475’s 1.4-inch case) is the “Goldilocks cartridge” if there ever was one—just right. Loaded up, it will nip at the heals of the .475 Linebaugh, but it doesn’t need to be run that hard to work decisively on big game. It will throw heavy bullets at moderate velocities without beating the tar out of the shooter. The .480 is one of my favorites and has accounted for piles of game.

The half-inchers are next. These are very serious hunting cartridges. First up is the .500 JRH, the brainchild of gunsmith Jack Huntington (Jrhadvancedgunsmithing.com), essentially a cut-down .500 S&W (from 1.6 to 1.4 inches), offered in Magnum Research’s BFR (from their Precision Center). A ballistic twin to the .500 JRH is available from Freedom Arms called the .500 Wyoming Express (WE). The .500 Linebaugh (actual .511 diameter), while not available in a production revolver, enjoys quite a bit of popularity with handgun hunters and is a custom proposition only. Commercial ammunition is available from a number of sources.

The .50 calibers are in a class by themselves. Magnum Research’s Precision Center can build you a revolver in .500 JRH that offers first class terminal performance.
The .50 calibers are in a class by themselves. Magnum Research’s Precision Center can build you a revolver in .500 JRH that offers first class terminal performance.

The big dog on the block is the .500 S&W Mag. Like its stable mate, the .460 S&W, the size necessitates a large platform to contain the big, raucous cartridge. All of these are capable of truly debilitating recoil if loaded up to spec. However, as I mentioned before, none of these cartridges needs to be loaded hot to offer a sizable increase in terminal performance over the .44 Mag.

If you are recoil sensitive, the .44 Mag. may be your limit, but the .45 Colt can be loaded to similar levels of recoil and makes a bigger hole. It is also capable of propelling heavier bullets than the .44. This is something to consider, but the .480 Ruger just might be the most logical choice in that it offers a considerable step up from the .44 Mag. terminally without earth-shattering recoil levels.

So when do you really need more than the .44 Mag? That is up to you and your abilities. You need to be honest with yourself and determine how much abuse you are willing and able to withstand. I know it may sound like I am sensationalizing recoil, but in all seriousness, very few people can shoot the .44 Mag. well.

These big revolvers require a lot of practice to master and are frankly not for everyone. If the .44 Mag. is your limit, there is no reason to fret. If you can handle it, and you intend to hunt large game, by all means step up. You will be well served. While the ubiquitous .44 Mag. is fully capable of most tasks asked of it, moving up in diameter is a good idea when elk, moose or pachyderm are on the menu. Ultimately, only you can determine if you really need more.

This article appeared in the June 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

The Prodigal Gun: Ruger .480 Super Redhawk Review

Ruger .480 Super Redhawk review.

Ruger’s decision to pull the Super Redhawk (SRH) in .480 Ruger from production several years back sent a shockwave through the ranks of .480 aficionados across the land. But now the big bore is back — with a vengeance.

Ruger .480 Redhawk review.Think about this: if Ruger won’t produce a revolver chambered in .480 Ruger, why would anyone else? Was Ruger sounding the death knell of the .480? Apparently not. It’s okay to relax and let your guard down now, as the .480 SRH is back, tanned, rested and ready to wreak havoc on the hunt.

But let’s back up to 2001. Ruger had just released a new Super Redhawk in a proprietary cartridge bearing its name (the first cartridge to ever bear the Ruger moniker), resplendent in the love-it-or-hate-it Target Gray finish. Upon returning to California from an overseas assignment, as was my habit in those days, after being away for year-long stretches, I dropped in on my local gun shop to say hello and catch up (and, inevitably, buy more guns). In the display case, drawing me toward it like a beacon, was the new .480 Ruger Super Redhawk, in all its gray glory and big-bore perfection.

Ruger’s advertising campaign of the day boasted more energy than the .44 Magnum and less recoil than the .454 Casull—both stable mates in the Super Redhawk lineup. For me at least, the .480 SRH looked to be the perfect Goldilocks cartridge. However, with the big revolver arms race heating up, the great idea of the .480 Ruger never stood a chance. It couldn’t brag having the most size, the most velocity or the most muzzle energy. Those attributes were being rightfully claimed by Smith & Wesson. However, those in the know recognized that the .480 Ruger was merely a cut-down .475 Linebaugh. In hardcore handgun hunting circles, John Linebaugh’s creation, the .475 Linebaugh, has earned legendary status as one of the preeminent big-game revolver cartridges.

The first handful of factory loads offered the public did not show the true potential of this cartridge and were overshadowed by the aggressive marketing of the .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum, and later, the .460 Smith & Wesson Magnum. The lightest load featured a jacketed hollow-point of 275 grains, the other two loads featuring 325-grain bullets at an advertised 1,325 fps.

Max broke in the new .480 SRH on a couple of small wild hogs in North Carolina, accompanied by Buffalo Creek Guide Service (buffalocreekguideservice.com). Handloads featuring 220-grain Cutting Edge Bullets Raptors at 1,700 fps were used to dispatch the two barbeque hogs. Author Photo
Max broke in the new .480 SRH on a couple of small wild hogs in North Carolina, accompanied by Buffalo Creek Guide Service (buffalocreekguideservice.com). Handloads featuring 220-grain Cutting Edge Bullets Raptors at 1,700 fps were used to dispatch the two barbeque hogs. Author Photo

Like the .454 Casull version of the Super Redhawk, the .480’s cylinder is also carved out of special high-strength steel called “465 Carpenter,” a steel that was torture tested by Ruger to make absolutely certain it was up to the task of repeated 65,000 psi abuse, such as only the .454 Casull can dish out. While the cylinder walls are thinner on the .480 iteration, the maximum pressure specification for the .480 Ruger is considerably lower than Dick Casull’s wonder cartridge.

The Redhawk’s Return

The big news for 2014 is the return of the .480 Ruger Super Redhawk. Plagued with purported sticky extraction since its inception in 2001, the on-again, off-again .480 Ruger SRH is back for good now. Upon first glance, the new .480 SRH is basically the same. Under more careful scrutiny, some differences present themselves, most notably the front sight and the thing it’s attached to.

Back now with only one barrel length offered, a 7½-inch bull barrel (without taper), a revised front sight and new chamber dimensions (remember the complaint about the .480 Ruger SRH has always been a sticky extraction), I acquired the first new .480 SRH to leave the factory. Gone is the love-it-or-hate-it Target Gray finish and in its place is an attractive satin stainless steel finish. Ruger engineers cited that the wear characteristics of the gray finish were not up to its standards, and that once the finish became worn, it could not be touched up or reapplied. Since Target Gray met with mixed reviews from the start, the decision was made to discontinue it.

Gone from the product lineup is the 9½-inch barreled version of the .480 Super Redhawk; I personally felt that barrel length made for a cumbersome and rather unwieldy revolver, so it won’t be missed by me. Even the 7½-inch version is a bit on the long side for my tastes, but I can live with it, particularly when a revolver proves to be as unbelievably accurate as this one, but more on that later.

Hogue’s excellent Tamer grips now come standard on all Super Redhawk models, a welcome addition; adding those grips is a change I have made to every SRH I have owned in the past. The Tamers come with an integral Sorbathane insert in the backstrap area that rests in the web of your hand, precisely where hard-kicking double-action revolvers deliver their punishment. Another pleasant surprise was the creep-less trigger pull that came in at right around four pounds in single-action mode.

Ruger .480 Redhawk review.The Prodigal Gun didn’t disappoint at the range. I fitted the new Super Redhawk with an Ultradot 30 red dot-type sight mounted via Ruger’s 30mm rings (the rings supplied with the SRH are of the 25mm, or one-inch variety). Not the ideal set-up for shooting groups off of the bench, I was more concerned with performance in the field on game.

I hit the range with a number of factory loads before developing my own, just to get a baseline and to see how the new SRH would perform. The SRH delivered consistent accuracy, the likes of which I have rarely encountered—especially from a production handgun right out of the box.
In the Field

The game test would be in Argentina. I booked a hunt with Caza y Safaris (cazaysafaris.com) for water buffalo in the province of Buenos Aires. I loaded up CEB’s 340-grain solid bullets (made of copper), at right around 1,300 fps. We spent hours in the mild weather playing cat and mouse games with a small herd of water buffalo.

My first shot was at 30 yards, a double lung hit, but despite the mortal wound, I unloaded into the fleeing animal, my PH firing as well, to prevent the buffalo from going to water and making recovery problematic. Unequivocally, I am of the mindset that a hunter shoots until his game is down for good. The 1,500-pound bull went less than 25 yards before piling up and succumbing to the .480 Ruger.
I am pleased that the .480 Ruger SRH is back.

The Super Redhawk platform is able to handle the most powerful revolver cartridges ever created. The look may not be for everyone, but there is pure beauty in function for me, and if beauty is measured by function, the Super Redhawk in .480 Ruger is Miss Universe.

Ruger Redhawk review.Ruger Super Redhawk
action:    Double-action revolver
Caliber:    .480 Ruger
Barrel:    7.5 inches/1:18 twist/RH
Sights:     Fixed front/adjustable rear
Capacity:    6 shots
Weight:     53 oz. (empty)
Trigger:    4.0 lbs. (single-action)
Grips:    Hogue Tamer Monogrip
Overall Length:    13 inches
SRP:    $1,080
Website:    ruger.com

Glock 20 Review: A Viable Hunting Handgun?

The author took this wild hog in Florida with the Glock 20. Author Photo
The author took this wild hog in Florida with the Glock 20. Author Photo

In this Glock 20 review, big bore revolver expert Max Prasac outfits a G20 with an RMR optic and optional charging handle and goes after some pork.

Points That Make The Glock 20 A Viable Hunting Pistol:

  • Powerful 10mm chambering
  • Exceptional reliability
  • Simple Glock design allows trouble-shooting in the field
  • Light enough not to encumber a hunt

This will not be an evaluation from a concealed-carry perspective. It’s a full-sized gun, in a full-sized chambering, and I am not interested in how well I can conceal it under a jacket. I am approaching this test as an evaluation from the perspective of a handgun hunter.

But first, let’s take a quick look at the Glock 20 itself. The G20 is built on the full-sized polymer frame so it is no delicate flower. Full-sized is also the manner in which I would describe the grip. The standard magazine capacity is 15 rounds and the standard barrel length is 4.6 inches and comes equipped with fixed front and rear sights. Fully loaded, the Glock 20 tips the scales at just less than 40 ounces. I will spare you the mechanical details as that is not why we are here.

First Impressions

We ordered this RMR mounting kit by Strike Industries from Brownell’s. We also added the optional charging handle to aid in cycling the slide with the RMR mounted. Author Photo
We ordered this RMR mounting kit by Strike Industries from Brownell’s. We also added the optional charging handle to aid in cycling the slide with the RMR mounted. Author Photo

Okay, so I’ve shot more than a few Glocks in my lifetime and the thing that sticks with me the most is that they are dead reliable and seem to always run. However, I never really considered one as a serious hunting piece. For me, hunting handguns hold no more than six rounds, or five if chambered in a meaningful caliber. As I mentioned earlier, my daily carry guns are revolvers. Don’t roll your eyes, there is nothing more valuable than reliability, accuracy and familiarity with regards to your carry gun.

Glock Reviews You Need To Read

My first thoughts were that the grip is a bit on the thick side, but that’s okay if the shooter has big mitts. Also, the grip angle is wrong for me, glaringly evident when I shot the G20 off of the bench. However, the bench isn’t everything and only tells part of the story. I reserved judgment until I could flog the Glock in the field.

Since the plan was for me to evaluate the Glock 20 as a hunting handgun, I started by ordering what I felt were a number of 10mm loads obviously intended for more than personal protection. Federal’s new 10mm load featuring 180-grain Trophy Bonded jacketed soft points (see page 48) got the nod as did a couple of offerings by Double Tap Ammunition, the most serious being their 200-grain hard-cast load. It is important to note that I never once in my test regimen experienced anything even resembling a jam or a malfunction. Granted, my testing offers a small sample, but it is reassuring.

I shot the Glock initially for familiarization with a number of loads, and concluded that if I was going to stretch its usable range out a bit, it would be beneficial to add a Trijicom RMR reflexive sight. In order to use the RMR, the rear sight needs to be drifted out. I used a wooden dowel and a hammer, with the slide in a vise. There is a specific tool for the job available from Brownells, and the RMR requires a Strike Industries mounting kit that I also ordered from Brownells. We also installed the optional rear sight-charging handle to aid in cycling the slide with the mounted RMR.

I ordered my Glock 20 with the optional additional six-inch barrel. To be honest, I was unimpressed with the accuracy exhibited by the longer barrel and promptly returned the original piece to its rightful place and my accuracy improved dramatically.

Once bench testing for accuracy and sight-in were complete, I practiced in a variety of field positions, to include predominantly offhand shooting. Yeah, it’s the most difficult position to become proficient with, but it prepares you for nearly anything you may encounter in the field.

The True Test

The Glock 20 is chambered in the powerful 10mm round. Author Photo
The Glock 20 is chambered in the powerful 10mm round. Author Photo

I booked a flight to Palm Beach, Fla. one long weekend with the G20 in tow. My good friend Jeff has a large hunting lease not far from Palm Beach, and like much of Florida, it is overrun with an abundance of big, feral hogs.

My brother-in-law Vincent and I headed to the property early Saturday morning to meet Jeff. The morning session was uneventful, so we took the hottest part of the day off until the late afternoon. In warm climes like Florida, hogs will lay up during the hottest part of the day, reemerging to forage when the temperatures drop in the late afternoon and early evening. We came up empty on the second session as well.

Driving back to camp, I was riding on the seat mounted on the back of Jeff’s truck—a genuine Florida swamp buggy—looking for dark shapes moving in the waning light.  We drove by a road that forked to the left of the main road and as I looked down there I spotted movement—way down at the end of the road. I banged on the roof of the truck and Jeff stood on the brakes. I told him to back up and there they were, a good 1,000 yards away, black shapes moving in and out of the brush.

Though quite a ways off, I jumped down, Glock in hand, and made the long stalk. Jeff and Vincent got out of the truck and watched in amusement while I picked my way down that road towards the wild hogs. I managed to get within 20 yards of the edge of a field, where I could see the tops of the tall grass moving and hear grunting.  One hog exited and I could make him out clearly. I centered the dot on his shoulder and let one 180-grain Trophy Bonded bullet fly.

My aim was true and the hog went down, while hogs exploded en masse out of the field in all directions. As I moved in a little closer, my downed hog made an attempt to get up, but I shot him in the neck and any notion of escape was immediately abandoned. Meanwhile I centered on another that was in high gear and squeezed the next two shots on him while he retreated into the stand of trees and brush just to my right. The smoke cleared, and silence ensued.

By now it was nearly dark. We recovered hog number one but couldn’t locate hog number two in the thick palmetto until the morning. Success. I’m really beginning to like the G20 about now.
I clearly found the G20’s strengths on multiple, fleeing porcine targets. The red dot aids in rapid target acquisition in low light. I have been using red dot-type sights on hunting revolvers for years.  I don’t feel the G20 is limited to the role I pressed it to serve, but it sure was the right tool for the job. I wouldn’t hesitate to use it on much larger game animals at reasonable distances.

I never shot the G20 past the 50-yard mark and I felt most comfortable with it under 40 yards. I feel that in stock configuration, this is close to the limit in respect to range, at least in my hands, but there are a number of aftermarket parts available that will considerably improve upon the stock platform. This is not an indictment of the G20, as I felt that within my self-imposed limits, this is one very effective hunting sidearm, one that I look forward to hunting with more in the future.

Some like to call the 10mm the .41 Magnum of the auto pistol world. Not quite, but the 10mm does boast a large diameter (.40 caliber), and when loaded to spec offers quite impressive ballistics.
Some like to call the 10mm the .41 Magnum of the auto pistol world. Not quite, but the 10mm does boast a large diameter (.40 caliber), and when loaded to spec offers quite impressive ballistics.

I don’t hunt with a handgun to take long shots. That is not why I am in it. I like practicing fieldcraft, stalking and getting close by stealth. This is the challenge to me as a hunter. If you are looking for a sidearm, at a reasonable price, that can pull double duty as a personal defense piece and a primary hunting piece, the Glock 20 will serve you well.

Glock 20
Type:    Semi-automatic pistol
Caliber:    10mm
Barrel:    4.6 in./ 1:9.84 twist/RH
Sights:    Fixed front/fixed rear
Capacity:    15 + 1 shots
Weight:    30.89 oz (empty), 39.71 oz (loaded)
Trigger Pull:    5.5 lbs.
Grips:    Polymer
Overall Length:    8.22 inches
SRP:    $600
Contact:    glock.com


Learn More About Glock Options


Semi-Auto Calibers for Handgun Hunting

Handgun Hunting with the 10mm

The Semi-Auto Solution

In my opinion, the most viable, off-the shelf calibers today for hunting are the very popular .45 ACP, and the 10mm, and to a lesser extent (despite popularity), the .40 Smith & Wesson.

Bullet diameter is important when discussing handgun hunting. Handguns don’t have the luxury of high velocities and the subsequent hydraulic pressure this creates (not saying it doesn’t exist, only that it is minimal compared to various high-powered rifle cartridges).

There are two things that the handgun hunter can fall back on and that is diameter and bullet weight. I like the 10mm as a diameter minimum for use on big game. Smaller will work, but smaller leaves little margin for error.

Another of my favorite auto-pistol rounds is the old warhorse .45 ACP. Synonymous with the 1911 pistol, the .45 ACP is more than 100 years old and still going strong and is available in more striker-fired models such as the new Glock 41.

Due to the velocity limitations of the round, I prefer stepping up in bullet weight with an eye toward penetration than going with a lighter and subsequently faster expanding bullet, particularly for large game. The heavier load, with a large meplat (flat nose of the bullet) should prove more reliable from a terminal standpoint, which in my mind cannot be over emphasized.

Handgun Hunting with the 10mm

The 10mm offers a wide selection of rather serious hunting loads like those offered by Federal, Double Tap and Buffalo Bore Ammunition. Author Photo
The 10mm offers a wide selection of rather serious hunting loads like those offered by Federal, Double Tap and Buffalo Bore Ammunition. Author Photo

The 10mm met with huge popularity when initially introduced with the FBI going so far as adopting this cartridge as their official caliber. It was loaded hot at its inception, as hot as it was intended to be loaded.

Soon enough it was discovered that some FBI agents were incapable of handling the 10mm’s recoil and before you knew it, the potent 10mm was being downloaded to the point of emasculation where it hardly resembled its original self. Eventually the .40 Smith & Wesson was introduced as the 10mm’s successor.

The actions of the FBI so inspired Mike McNett, owner and proprietor of Double Tap Ammunition (doubletapammo.net), that he went into business producing 10mm ammunition that restored the honor of this fine round. Double Tap still offers those four original loads and a slew of others for every and any occasion the 10mm owner may encounter, from lightweight fast-moving expanding bullets, all the way up to 230-grain WFN hardcast loads for big-game.

Double Tap supplies four of Alaska’s state parks with ammunition for their rangers to carry in their 10mm and .40 Smith & Wesson pistols. The park services specify the use of heavy, minimally expanding, flat-nosed 200-grain bullets for dispatching bear, moose and other large animals they may encounter. These rounds will easily handle game such as white-tailed deer.

Another development worth noting is the line of .450 SMC (Short Magnum Cartridge) ammo offered by Double Tap. The .450 SMC is in essence a higher pressure .45 ACP (much like the .45 Super), featuring a number of loads to include a 255-grain semi-wadcutter hardcast bullet that runs over 1,000 fps. There are other semi-auto offerings in the Double Tap lineup that should prove more than effective for the semi-auto handgun hunter.

Federal (federalpremium.com) also introduced a new Vital-Shok Trophy Bonded 10mm Auto this year that is a full-power 10mm load, allowing hunters to once again reclaim full advantage of the caliber’s capabilities on large game. The jacketed soft point bullet is launched at 1,275 fps and boasts a heavy jacket with a formed inner profile that controls expansion as it penetrates deeper into tissue and vitals.

Conclusion

So if you regularly carry something like a Glock in your day-to-day life, loading it a bit differently can make it a capable piece to carry in the field as well. Like any firearm you choose to arm yourself with you must practice. You owe it to yourself and the animals you hunt to be able to accurately place your shots. So get out there and up the challenge, and your hunting satisfaction, by pursuing game with a semi-auto.

This article is an excerpt from the Summer 2014 issue of Modern Shooter magazine, presented by Gun Digest.

An Inside Look at the Ruger LCR

The space-age Ruger LCR.
The space-age Ruger LCR.

The Ruger LCR

The LCR taken down.
The LCR taken down.

The space-age LCR is Ruger’s latest revolver, one that’s a marvel in design and modern material. The letters LCR stands for “Lightweight Compact Revolver.”

Introduced in 2009, the polymer-framed (that’s plastic!) LCR is chambered in .38 Special +P, .357 Magnum, .22 LR, and .22 WMR.

It features a five-shot stainless steel cylinder in the two larger rounds, while the .22 LR is an eight-shot and the .22 WMR is a six-shot.

The stainless steel barrel is a short 1.875 inches, keeping with the compact theme, the LCR has fixed sights, and it’s available with rubber Hogue grips or Crimson Trace laser grips. The frame is finished in a matte black. The little LCR tips the scales at a whopping 13 ounces!

The LCR is unique in a number of ways. In a more conventional revolver design, the hammer and trigger assemblies are located in two separate housings (e.g. in single-action revolvers, a cylinder frame and a grip frame).

In a more conventional revolver design, the hammer assembly and the trigger assembly are located in two separate housings. In the case of the LCR, the hammer and trigger—the “fire control center”—are located in the same fire control housing.
In a more conventional revolver design, the hammer assembly and the trigger assembly are located in two separate housings. In the case of the LCR, the hammer and trigger—the “fire control center”—are located in the same fire control housing.

In the case of the LCR, the hammer and trigger—the “fire control center,” as Ruger calls it—are located in the same housing (the fire control housing), eliminating the increase to the tolerance stack common in conventional revolver configurations and their separate housings.

By locating the entire assembly in one housing, Ruger gets a rigid, repeatable fire control system that requires no fitting or gunsmithing to achieve a best-in-class trigger pull.

Revolver Selection, Understanding Your Needs

Smith & Wesson’s foray into really big-bore revolvers came with the introduction of the double-action X-frame. This one is chambered in the high-velocity .460 Smith & Wesson Magnum.
Smith & Wesson’s foray into really big-bore revolvers came with the introduction of the double-action X-frame. This one is chambered in the high-velocity .460 Smith & Wesson Magnum.

Picking a revolver to carry in the woods isn’t necessarily an easy decision or one that should be taken lightly. Your sidearm should become an extension of yourself if you are carrying for protection – from two and four-legged predators.

If your revolver is to be used as a primary hunting tool, you have a bit more leeway in your decision between single and double action. Chances are good that your double-action hunting piece will be shot single action anyhow, negating any advantages—perceived or real—between one type or the other. So, put all of your needs up front when it comes time to make your decision. I’ve compiled a partial list to get you started in singling out what will be your perfect revolver.

Primary Use

What will the revolver be used for? Protection or hunting? Protection against what (this will help determine the caliber)? Double duty? A back-up piece will only need to be accurate at short distances where it will be used to save your bacon, so a short barrel will be preferable.

Carry Method

How will you carry your revolver? On your belt? In a shoulder holster? In a pack? Size, optics and overall weight will help hone in on how you carry your chosen firearm, and your carry preference will also limit your options.

Optics

If you are gifted with the vision of an adolescent, then open sights are attractive from a number of perspectives. However, we often need a little help to accurately place our bullets on target. A scope will pretty much limit your revolver to hunting duty, as the long eye relief offered by handgun scopes do not lend themselves to quick acquisition in an emergency situation. You will likely mount a scope on a revolver with a longer barrel for longer shot expectancy. A red dot-type sight offers a bit more flexibility than a scope because it is easier to acquire, yet still adds bulk to the revolver.

Recoil Tolerance

Those sensitive to recoil will find double-action revolvers to be harder on the shooter in the hotter calibers. The recoil tends to come straight back into the hand, whereas a single action tends to want to rise more, deflecting recoil by reducing or redirecting the thrust. Many simply find the single-action revolver, even in large calibers, easier to shoot and not nearly as abusive.

Editor's Note, this article originally appeared in the February 13, 2014 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Double-Action vs. Single-Action Revolvers, Which One is Right for You?

Single-action (left) and double-action (right) revolvers come in nearly every shape and size.
Single actions (left) and double actions (right) come in nearly every shape and size.

Revolvers come in many flavors, many shapes and sizes, and many different configurations. The two main platforms are the single action and the double action. Which one is best for you is ultimately a matter of preference. Which is most comfortable in your hand, and more importantly the revolver you can shoot most accurately, is the one you should choose.

Single and Double Action Differences

Single actions derive their name from the fact that they can only be fired by cocking the hammer and squeezing the trigger one shot at a time, whereas the double action can be fired in the same manner as the single action or simply by squeezing the trigger to fire – hence “double action.”

All modern day single-action revolvers are based, however loosely, on the Colt Single Action Army (SAA). So timeless was the design that it is still in wide use today. There are a number of manufacturers of single-action revolvers, including Ruger, Freedom Arms, Magnum Research, Uberti and Colt.

Double-action revolvers are available from Smith & Wesson, Colt, Ruger and Taurus on the new and used markets. Colt’s excellent Anaconda is no longer in production, but it can be found used and makes for an excellent choice for hunting or as a back-up weapon.

Both types of revolvers can be chambered in calibers adequate for big-game hunting and protective back-up duty, but they handle recoil differently. Double actions tend to transfer all of their recoil straight back into the web of your hand, while single actions have a propensity to exhibit barrel rise and are designed to roll upward (particularly in the case of single actions equipped with “plow handle”-type grips).

The Granddaddy and progenitor of all modern single-action revolvers is the Colt Single Action Army.
The Granddaddy and progenitor of all modern single-action revolvers is the Colt Single Action Army.

Know Your Intentions

Before the decision can be made, you will need to define the intended purpose of the revolver. Is this revolver going to be used as backup? Or is the revolver going to be employed as a primary hunting tool, possibly doubling as backup?

Why is this important? Simply because a primary hunting handgun can be fitted with a longer barrel than one that will strictly be used as a back-up revolver, and it might be sporting an optic like a scope or red dot-type sight. A revolver that is intended only for back-up duty may ride on your belt for years without ever being drawn and used, so it probably won’t have a very long barrel or an optic mounted up top, with more of a nod towards comfortable carry.

The external finish of the revolver is also something to consider when choosing. If the revolver will spend more time riding in a holster on your belt as backup, stainless steel may be the most durable finish. Not only does bluing typically wear off in a holster from rubbing, it is more vulnerable to rust when exposed to the elements—something to consider. Your local weather should also be a factor in helping you decide.

Double-Action Advantages

In the case of back-up work, a double-action revolver offers a couple of distinct advantages over its single-action counterpart, to include the ability to fire by simply pulling the trigger without pulling the hammer back, and the ability to open the cylinder and load and unload more easily compared to a single-action revolver where one round at a time can be loaded and unloaded.

Oddly enough, many who have double-action revolvers don’t shoot them double action (I would fall into this category of shooter). This sort of negates that “advantage” a bit.

That being said, I would rather have a double-action revolver if trapped underneath an animal trying to make a meal of me, as that advantage would surely become more than pronounced. As mentioned, the other advantage the double action holds over the single action is the ability to load and unload a cylinder at a much faster rate. Of course this virtue is only an advantage if one is in a situation where a speedy reload is necessary. I have yet to experience this need in the field.

Ruger’s excellent double-action Super Redhawk is seen here in .480 Ruger (top), and .44 Magnum (bottom).
Ruger’s excellent double-action Super Redhawk is seen here in .480 Ruger (top), and .44 Magnum (bottom).

Caliber Picks

Caliber choice in this discussion is a moot point as either configuration, as mentioned before, can be chambered in a significantly powerful caliber. I suggest that if hunting big game with a revolver, or carrying one in bear country for protection, one should choose the biggest caliber they can accurately shoot without a flinch or fear of recoil. I like to think of the .44 Magnum as the minimum reliable caliber and it is a good choice particularly if you do not reload, as there is an abundance of available factory ammunition for the popular caliber.

The old warhorse .45 Colt is perhaps the most overlooked, probably due to the rather weak factory load offerings (due to the many old .45 Colts that are in circulation). Loaded to its potential in a modern firearm (from Ruger, Freedom Arms or Magnum Research), there is little the .45 Colt cannot tackle, and some specialty ammo manufacturers offer modern, higher pressure .45 Colt loads like Grizzly Cartridge, Buffalo Bore Ammunition and Double Tap Ammunition.

Conclusion

You have two platforms to consider when choosing your revolver. My suggestion would be to first define its use, and second, figure out which one you can shoot the best. This is the one that will inevitably be the most comfortable in your hand and the one that will inspire the most confidence. There is no substitute for actually doing a side-by-side comparison to best help you in making this critical decision. I must confess that I like both, but I have found (for me) that the single action points more intuitively. They both have their advantages and disadvantages, but both will do the job reliably.

Editor's note, this article appeared in the February 13, 2014 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Photo Gallery: 25 Rugged Ruger Revolvers

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This photo gallery is an excerpt from the Gun Digest Book of Ruger Revolvers.

Handgun Hunting: Choosing Scopes and Sights

Hunting with a handgun scope
An Elusive Wildlife Technologies XLR 100 Kill Light mounted to the
barrel of a Ruger Bisley Hunter.

Big-bore revolver scopes, red-dot sights and open sights are discussed in this article on handgun hunting.

You have made the decision to hunt with your new big-bore revolver, and now you are facing the decision of choosing a sighting system for this short-barreled firearm. Or maybe you will only be punching paper and not hunting. What is the best system available? That depends. There are a number of factors that determine what is best for you.

The handgun hunter and recreational shooter should ask themselves a number of questions, in order to make an educated determination and help narrow down the hundreds of choices out there.

Are you hunting over bait from a stand? If so, how long of a shot do you expect and what is the maximum distance you could end up ultimately shooting? Will you be shooting off a rest (for maximum stability)?

Are you hunting with dogs? How good is your vision? Another thing to consider is recoil and making sure the system you choose can withstand the considerable abuse generated by a high-powered handgun.

Sighting System 1: Scopes

There are a number of quality scopes produced specifically for handguns today, such as those offered by Burris and Leupold. What sets them apart from other firearms scopes is that they will have a long eye relief, enabling their effective use on a firearm that is held at arms’ length.

A revolver set up for hunting.
An example of a revolver set up for handgun hunting with a scope. The author recommends some sort of rest or support while using a handgun scope.

Using a scope on a handgun requires some getting used to. All the shakes and wobbles we experience when shooting offhand are exaggerated when peering through a scope, particularly when using a variable scope set to a high magnification. With a handgun, you don’t have the benefit of whole-body support for the firearm. Thus, the movement of the firearm is increased.

Because of the long eye relief inherent in handgun scopes, the light gathering capability of the exit pupil is compromised. Therefore, some of the advantages gained by using a scope on a rifle don’t quite translate over to a handgun scope. These are simply physical limitations that are not the fault of design or manufacture, but rather the location of the scope relative to the shooter’s eye.

Scoped handguns are best used with a solid rest. For hunting applications, this makes them nearly optimal for use from a stand or blind over bait, where you’ll have the rail of your stand or even shooting sticks to use.

Scopes also offer, of course, the added benefit of magnification, allowing the hunter to better assess and judge the animal in their sights, and the ability to shoot at longer ranges more accurately. Likewise, the target shooter should be able to shoot more accurately with a scope on a handgun, as the sighting system is more precise from an aiming standpoint.

All that being said, personally, I don’t care for scopes on big-bore revolvers, mostly because they are difficult to use in a hurry, i.e., it’s difficult to quickly acquire a solid and thorough sight picture. Where you have the luxury of glassing an area and carefully picking your shot, scopes are fine.

But, to me, this is a very limited option that truly has specific times and places for use. If a scope is something you choose for your handgun, check with the manufacturer and make sure that the scope you’re considering is made specifically for or is compatible with handgun use and can handle the recoil from big-bores in particular.

An Ultradot 30 red dot scope used for handgun hunting.
The author killed a North Carolina black bear with a custom Super Redhawk in .500 Linebaugh, topped with this Ultra Dot 30.

Sighting System 2: Red Dot Sights

This type of sighting system generally offers no magnification, but instead superimpose an illuminated red dot on the intended target. This is a personal favorite of mine for most hunting and shooting applications. The red dot can be adjusted for brightness to compensate for changing light conditions in the field or out on the range, and it is probably the best solution for low-light hunting situations.

A red dot sight
A look down the scope at a red dot sight.

Best of all, it is very easy to acquire in a hurry, a factor that’s enhanced when you choose a model that features an adjustable dot size. This last option is also handy if you’re shooting different sized game, where a large dot can cover up too much of the vital area and actually inhibit accuracy. I find the red-dot sights most advantageous in low-light conditions, where the black crosshairs of a regular scope may be hard to see.

There are essentially two types of red dot sights. The first is a tube type that resembles a scope and is adjusted and mounted in the same manner. The second are the holographic sights, which project a red dot on a small screen.

The holographic-type sight is quite compact and may not add more than a few ounces to your shooting rig. Where this second type is weak is during inclement weather, as it may be difficult to keep the screen clean and procure an unobstructed view of your target.

Red dot-type sights in general are light in weight and don’t change the balance of your gun in any significant way. As with a standard scope, be sure to speak to the manufacturer prior to spending your money, to make certain the red dot you choose is up to the task of withstanding the recoil of your handgun.

In any case, a good warranty goes a long way towards customer confidence. The company known as Ultradot produces a whole line of economical and rugged red dot-type sights that come with a lifetime warranty. I am a big fan of this maker’s products for a number of reasons, but mainly for their reliability.

I have had an Ultradot 30—it has a 30mm tube diameter, hence the designation—on a number of my heavy recoiling revolvers and can report that this sight has exceeded my expectations by a dozen miles. Thousands of full-tilt .475 Linebaugh and .500 JRH rounds have truly tested the integrity of that Ultradot.

Ultra Dot Pan-A-V holographic red dot scope
Ultra Dot’s holographic red dot-type sight, the Pan-A-V.

The poor unit now resides on my ultra-abusive, lightweight Ruger Super Redhawk in .500 Linebaugh. I have not been kind to my Ultradot, but, like a loyal dog, it keeps coming back wagging its tail. See the sidebar at the end of this chapter for more insight on this optic.

The only drawback with any red dot-type sight is that battery failure can leave you high and dry when you can least afford it (think large, toothy animal with bad intent bearing down on you, or the trophy buck of a lifetime striking a pose for you).

Remember to always carry a spare battery and the tools (in this case a quarter!) necessary to change it in the field. From supported and unsupported shooting positions, the red dot shines.

Adjustable rear sight from Bowen Classic Arms
The very best adjustable rear sight for a revolver is manufactured by Bowen Classic Arms. This is a must on any custom revolver, or any revolver for that matter where the shooter chooses to use open iron sights.

Sighting System 3: Open Iron Sights

Here’s one for the purists among us big-bore revolver fanatics. Virtually every hunting or target revolver comes with a set of adjustable iron sights up top (okay, there are a couple that come with fixed sights, like the Ruger Vaquero), and they work well, as long as you have adequate light.

They are quick to acquire, but, maybe most importantly, since the user isn’t peering through a tube, they then have a full view of their surroundings. Why is this important? Just ask those who hunt bear or wild hogs with dogs why it’s crucial to see all that is going on around them in the ensuing chaos of a hunt with hounds. The handgun hunter must be able to respond quickly, assess the situation, pick their shot, and make absolutely certain that no dogs are in the way. Open sights, in this type of situation, have no equal.

One of the other greatest advantages open sights enjoy is their resistance to recoil—plus, they have no glass to break or batteries to die. Ultra reliability is another bonus. The only real limitation to using open iron sights is the shooter’s vision and ability to line up the front and rear sights on the target. You may find that the older you get, the better you were.

In my humble opinion, the best adjustable rear sight available on the aftermarket is manufactured by Hamilton Bowen of Bowen Classic Arms. Those unfamiliar with Bowen’s work skipped over the fourth chapter of this book! His are, by far, the best adjustable rear sight available for a revolver. They are precise, easy to adjust, and well-made.

Conclusion

Whatever you choose, you need to practice enough to completely familiarize yourself with the sighting system. Some sights take some getting used to but, once you get there, their use should become second nature.

This article is an excerpt from Big Bore Revolvers.

Gun Photos: 25 Big-Bore Revolver Hand Cannons

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This photo gallery is an excerpt from Big-Bore Revolvers.

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