Which revolver to choose?

S

souther33

New member
First off let me say that I found it hard to know we're to post this tread. Hunting or revolver forum.
I am going to Colorado this year for turkey season and would like a good revolver that could handle a bear, if so need to be. In addition I would like it to be controllable for a follow up shot. Also I would like to be able to hunt elk with it. I have looked at (.44 magnum, 454 Casull, even 500 S&W) once I pick my caliber. Then witch brand should I get. I have looked at (Taurus raging bull, Ruger redhawk, S&W 629) I'm open to any deferent brand or caliber.

I have also concerned with the bullet drop of each caliber what would be my effective range. I have heard that .44 drop like a rock. Also I have heard that some states require velocity of ( not for sure) 1000fps at 100 yard to be able to hunt with. dose anyone know anything about this
 
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If you are hunting turkeys and carrying the revolver for bear defense, "drop", isn't an issue, unless you are referring to dropping the bear before he drops you: If you need to shoot the bear, he'll be close enough that trajectory should be the absolute furthest thing from your mind, which should be instensly focused upon putting the front sight on the charging bear.
 
I, too would recommend the .44 magnum, but since you are turkey hunting and you will have a shotgun in your hands, I suspect that would be your first weapon of choice in an encounter with a bear. At ranges you might encounter a bear, a shotgun even loaded for turkey will be pretty effective, and easier to get a sight picture.

David
 
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OTOH, I would recommend a .454 Ruger Super Redhawk, because there are various .454 Casull power-levels available in commercial ammo, and the gun will run even +P .45 Colt loads with aplomb - not to mention that it's already prepped with built-in scope/reddot mounts.

I used the .454 Winchester 250gr mid-range loads for deer, then switched to full-power loads when I hunted larger game.


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Bear spray. Then you won't have to explain about the dead bear to the game warden.
You also won't have to lug around an extra three pounds on your hip.
 
A handgun for elk and bear...
You'll be in Colorado hunting turkeys...

Are you hunting the turkeys with a shotgun? If so the easiest solution might be to carry a few slugs just in case a bear shows up (but the idea of bear spray is so good that you should do that too.)

If you really want a bear/elk handgun I guess bigger is better. I don't know what you can handle but I've always been fascinated with the S&W .460. You can fire .45 Colt, .454 and .460 rounds from the same gun.

Maybe find a range that would let you try a .500 and .460 and .44 magnum. Just know that for ANY given caliber your choice of ammunition can make a world of difference. Example: I don't want to shoot a Ruger LCR with 158 grain .357 rounds. 125 grain .357 rounds are acceptable for me. You can find the same thing in other calibers.
 
My question was not what you would you carry. Bear spray.... It was I want a GUN that can kill a bear and did it quickly and controllable. And that can also be a suitable gun to take elk hunting if I ever wanted to do so. I suggested a few calibers and would like to know what you think about them or if there's a better gun or caliber out there
 
First step, find out what is legal to hunt elk with, under Colorado game laws. If you want your bear stomper to do duty as an elk gun, you need to pick something that legal to hunt elk with. And, don't worry, if it has the oomph for elk, it will do for bear, as well.

The big bore guns, .44mag and up, are kind of like race cars. If you know how to drive, you can get one around the track, but you aren't going to win a race without some experience behind the wheel.

As to brands, I would advise against a Taurus. Primarily because they have a less that sterling reputation for customer service. And then there's the whole "buy American" thing, if that matters to you.

Guns and loads for bear defense have been discussed a lot in the forums. Odds are most of your questions have already been asked and answered. Do a search and some reading and if you don't find what you are looking for, come on back with the specifics and we'll try to answer them.

I will warn you that a lot of people are going to recommend the biggest possible gun and the heaviest possible bullets. And while these do work, there is the important question of what you can use well enough to do the job.

Choosing a gun that is beyond your ability is false security. It is very easy to get in "over your head" with the big magnums. The learning curve is not quite like smaller guns.
 
and ammo...

study up on ammo type too -- you want penetration -- often beset from solid, non-expanding bullets -- Buffalo Bore has some stuff
 
well i carry my 7.5" SRH in 480 Ruger in bear country, ammo can be pricy and hard to find in some areas, but i can double-tap my 480 Ruger, and 325gr XTP JHP going 1350fps with 1K+ ft.lbs is decent "bear medicine".
 
Caliber is one thing / ability to shoot it well enough - and make follow-up shots is another ...

For bear defense ... .44 mag is probably ok, if its a Black Bear....Grizzly, in a pinch, it'll work...but I'd sure like something heavier.. For Bear defense, If I went with a .44 mag ...I'd go with a 6" barrel in a S&W 629....long enough to make a decent shot / short enough to be quick..../ but you better train enough to be able to properly place 2 or 3 shots into the animal in the right spot - quickly. But shooting a black bear - is rarely necessary.

For big game hunting.... especially on an Elk --- .44 mag is not heavy enough in my view unless its in expert hands with the proper bullet ...so I'd rather have a single action revolver like a Freedom Arms ...in a .475 Linebaugh or 454 Casull for hunting big game in a 7 1/2" or a 10" barrel -- 5 shot -- model 83 / large frame. Its a much better option for a hunting weapon - more accurate / and I see a lot of them around used -- in those calibers in those barrel lengths, some already fit with scopes for around $2,000 which is a good deal.../ a new Freedom arms, just the gun will cost you at least $2,500 if you go with the "field grade".

But if you're hunting turkey anyway ....just carry some slugs.../ so you have the bear issue covered while you're turkey hunting -- but check the game laws in terms of what is legal.
 
Ruger Super Redhawk here,
300 grain SWC going 1275 fps will do anything you need it to do at handgun range anywhere on this continent.
240 Keith SWC's have off the top of my head, under 2" of drop at 100 yards when sighted in at 50 yards.
 
I have shot a few bears with rifles, including one that was charging. I wouldn't want to trust my life to a handgun in that situation.
 
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