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Big-Bore Revolvers: The Best Revolvers in One Book
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The photo gallery above features some of the best revolvers in the world. They're just a taste of what you can expect in Big-Bore Revolvers.
The Best Revolvers, Big-Bore Style
The best revolvers of the big-bore persuasion appear in Big-Bore Revolvers, by Max Prasac.
Big-Bore Revolvers, by Max Prasac, is one of the best revolver books on the market. It's a one-stop revolver resource for novices to veterans and everyone in between. With in-depth coverage of the best revolver calibers and their effectiveness, terminal ballistics and a detailed look at today's best revolver platforms, this is the most comprehensive book ever published on revolvers.
Why is This the Best Revolver Book?
“What do you want to know about big-bore revolvers? Calibers, loads, how to shoot them, carry options–everything is here in Prasac's book, plus outstanding anecdotes and fabulous photography. Whether you are an old hand with these big guns or a newbie who needs a primer, this book is a valuable reference that deserves a spot in your library.” – J. Scott Olmsted, American Hunter, Amazon review
“If you like big-bore revolvers – the title says it all and you definitely want a copy of this book. I believe it will someday be referred to as a classic work.” – Gary Smith, Handgun Hunter, Amazon review
“Beyond it's technical value, it is a great source of entertainment. Thrilling accounts of hunting with big bore revolvers are second only to the fantastic photos of both beautiful firearms and the trophies they harvest.” – Brandon Gleason, Amazon reviewer
Read an Excerpt: Terminal Ballistics
The following is excerpted from Big-Bore Revolvers. The author, Max Prasac, addresses the concept of terminal ballistics.
The fact that I am referring to energy as a myth flies in the face of conventional wisdom. After all, ammo boxes are stamped with energy figures, and ammunition retail websites offer ballistic comparisons between cartridges, with muzzle energy as the comparative figure. Gun magazine articles talk endlessly about the energy of hunting cartridges, and books about hunting are filled with references to energy as a determinant of effectiveness. Energy has been utilized to rate the lethality of cartridges/loads for some time now. But what is energy? Is it definable? Is it measurable?
Ask any proponent of energy to define how it enables a bullet to kill game, and he will respond in vague terms. Really press him, and he will accuse you of having a poor understanding of terminal ballistics. Yet, even many game laws call for muzzle energy minimums for specified game. Seems like everyone is in on the sham! The terms “energy,” “energy dump,” “kinetic energy,” “muzzle energy,” et al, are tossed around with utter, complete, and unfounded confidence by their proponents—until forced to explain.
A number of African big-game hunters I have been in contact with and who have killed numerous elephants in their days often cite that a minimum safe (effective) cartridge for hunting elephant must have a 400-grain bullet and 5,000 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. I have not killed an elephant with a revolver (nor with a rifle), so I defer to those with this experience. Now, in their significant experience hunting elephant, their summations have held true, as most of the cartridges utilized on elephant have met this minimum requirement. And, in the cases where they have not met this arbitrary minimum, it has been noted that the cartridges in question have not worked very well.
So, having said that, what if I shoot an elephant with a frontal brain shot with a revolver in .475 Linebaugh loaded with a 420-grain bullet at 1,300 fps, and I have enough penetration to reach the brain and dispatch the elephant? Clearly, this load does not meet my colleagues’ minimum requirement in one of the two criteria. Yet, surely my cartridge is adequate despite the “inadequate” muzzle energy. By the way, a 420-grain bullet at 1,300 fps “generates,” or rather calculates out to, a whopping 1,576 ft-lbs. Supposedly it’s not enough, even though it kills the animal door mouse dead.
Where to Get Big-Bore Revolvers, the Best Revolver Book
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Your Turn: Have You Ever Hunted with a Revolver?
By the time you're finished with Big-Bore Revolvers, you'll be itching to hit the field for some handgun hunting. Have you ever hunted with a revolver? Why or why not? Leave a comment below.
