I have carried a heavy loaded Smith 25-5 for years while hunting deer and pigs. I have never used it to take one, but I carried it. The load was a 335 hard Cast LSWC over a lot of WW 296. I love that powder. The chrony said 1200fps. I now shoot the same load in my new Ruger Blackhawk Stainless. I took that big Smith hiking in the mountains on many a trip. It was heavy, but I never felt unprotected. That revolver is retired from the field now, and has been replaced by a Smith .44 Mountain Gun. Much lighter and handier to carry.