Which would you buy? modern double action revolver

[Tommy tornado]

Howdy E. R.,

A buddy of mine has a Tarus and that was what got me thinking about one.  However, as you pointed out in your post, I am going to avoid, "just to keep me from blowing a cowboy gun up with the wrong ammo."  Although I do load up some Keith style loads of 9.0 grains of Unique every now and then, but I don't make it a regular item in my SAAs.  Funny you mention X-frames, the local Gander Mountain has a .500 S&W used for about 850, but I am passing on that.  Too much power!!!!  I believe that I have narrowed my choice down to either a Ruger Super Redhawk in .44 Mag or a used Model 29 in .44 mag. with an unfluted cylinder and full lug barrel.  Both are stainless and can handle hot loads if I want to load them up.  This all started because I started reading Keith and Skeeter, and went back through my handloader magazines reading about .44 mag.  I think I am going to try Keith's .44 mag load using 2400 first, and I do realize that you don't use the same amount of 2400 as Keith because the modern stuff is a little hotter.

[Tommy tornado]

I am also sad because www.sixgunner.com isn't working at the moment.  I know that there would have been a ton of information on that website.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Tommy T:

Howdy again!  You mentioned that you liked the Super Redhawk because of the scope mounts.  You DO know that you can get a factory Redhawk with Ruger scope mounts milled in, don'cha?  Then you wouldn't have to look at perhaps the ugliest, good-quality handgun of the 20th Century!  (JMHO  )

 

[Tommy tornado]

Yes but I like the strength of the thing.  It looks like a GP101 with an extra length of barrel sticking out. 

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Yes but I like the strength of the thing.  It looks like a GP101 with an extra length of barrel sticking out. 

Uhhh.  Forgive me if I sound like I'm workin' too hard at changing your mind.   

The Redhawk is ALREADY stronger than any other gun, even without the extra barrel extension.  And it ain't ugly.   

I promise that I won't try to dissuade you from a Redhawk vs. a Super Redhawk any more!!      I respect the fact that you have made up your mind on which version you might get.

Get a Smith.     

S&Ws are even prettier than Redwawks. 

[Cyrille]

I had been seriously thinking of ordering a Super Redhawk in .454 Casull from my supplier, because it handled both the .454 and the .45 Colt.
 Then, by happenstance, while looking on the S&W website I spotted the Model 460XVR and 460V the only diffrence between the two models is the .460V has a 5" barrel and the XVR sports an 8 3/8" barrel The .460 handles three diffrent cartridges i.e. the .460, .454 and .45 LC as opposed to the SRH's two. Onlyest trouble is if I order the .460 I'll have to also buy (in the near future) reloading paraphnailia for the .454 cartridge and the .460 which will add about $200.00 dollars to the expenditure; and that's not considering the almost $400.00 dollar diffrence in the price of the two revolvers.
But then you get what you pay for. and I like the idea of haveing three slightly diffrent calibers to make noise with.
Now if only I could reload all three with the Holy Black----!

[65bsaA65]

On the Old Town Station, Ltd. website there's a S&W HE in .455 cal. at a very reasonable price, in fine condition.  If I was looking for a modern revolver I'd jump on this with both feet.  Course your idea of modern and mine could be different.  I had one many years ago, chambered in .45 ACP and loved it.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

... I like the idea of having three slightly different calibers to make noise with.
Now if only I could reload all three with the Holy Black----!

But Cyrille!  You can load them with Goex BP or Pyrodex!  Just fill the cases with BP to where you compress the powder .125" - .250" with your bullet of choice.  (I'd go with a BigLube design.  )  For the magnum .454 & 460 rounds, use fine granulation Swiss powder or 777 !!!  I'm POSITIVE the gun could handle it with ease!

[Cyrille]

But Cyrille!  You can load them with Goex BP or Pyrodex!  Just fill the cases with BP to where you compress the powder .125" - .250" with your bullet of choice.  (I'd go with a BigLube design.  )  For the magnum .454 & 460 rounds, use fine granulation Swiss powder or 777 !!!  I'm POSITIVE the gun could handle it with ease!

Mr. Bailey, sir;
                 I kinda figguered thet. I jus didn't know fer shore the type of powder (granulation to use.) As fer the powder, as of now, I have a  local supplier who sells GOEX exclusively. No Swiss. What do you think about me using GOEX 3F/777 3F in place of the Swiss?

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Mr. Bailey, sir;
                 I kinda figguered thet. I jus didn't know fer shore the type of powder (granulation to use.) As fer the powder, as of now, I have a  local supplier who sells GOEX exclusively. No Swiss. What do you think about me using GOEX 3F/777 3F in place of the Swiss?

Howdy!

Cyrille, the 3F Goex would do fine, but you'd get more power from those .454s & 460s with 777, rather than 3F Goex.  Since they are magnum guns from the git-go, and BP in ANY form probably (    ) won't produce the power that smokeless magnum loads will, you'd get the most power possible from those hot-potatoes (!) rounds.  And STILL be shooting BP.  Shucks, I've tried BP in 45 ACP to see if it was possible, but it doesn't cycle reliably for me unless you put in a lighter spring. 

Actually, you could, in THAT gun, use 777 in all 3 calibers you mentioned (or 6 - that one of those guns will chamber: 45 S&W [45 Schofield], 45 Cowboy Special, 45 Colt, 45 Colt Magnum. {a wildcat longer than 45 Colt but shorter than the .454}, 454, 460 - have I missed any?)

[Cyrille]

None that I have knowledge of; shucks until I read your post, I had no idea of the "wildcat" .45 Colt magnum you mentioned.

[Tommy tornado]

I have never heard of .45 wildcat either, I suppose you have to turn down another cartridge to make the brass?

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Don't know about the brass, but it MAY have come about after the .454 was introduced and the brass was shortened from that - but I'm not sure.

That round falls into the "really isn't needed ... but fun" category.  Right there with the 45 Auto Magnum.  I don't think it lasted very long. 

PS - My copy of Barnes "Cartridges of the World" is too old for it to be listed, but perhaps one from, say, 10-15 years ago might, since that's about when I remember hearing about it.

[Tommy tornado]

Do you know where to find loading data?  Also Steel Horse do you know if it will shoot out of a .45 Blackhawk or do you have to get one of the big X-frame Smiths?

[Steel Horse Bailey]

TT, no.  I don't know about any published data.  Or if it will fire from anything smaller than a gun especially for it OR a .454 chambered gun.  The whole idea, if I remember right, was to do the same as the 38 & 44 spls.  In other words, the gun would NOT be able to chamber the lengthened round by accident.  I really think it was pretty much a flash in the pan, 'cause the .454 pretty much did every thing that wildcat intended, only more powerfully. 

[WyrTwister]

I am currently in the process of deciding which double-action revolver to buy, either a Tarus "judge" .45 LC/.410 or a Ruger Super Redhawk in .44 mag.  I am seeking opinions of both firearms.

     Find a good , used S&W , they are th class act of DA .  I have .357 , .44 Mag & .45 LC .

     Good piece of workmanship .

     Having said that , I would like to give a Redhawk a try out ...........

God bless
Wyr

[Cyrille]

Having shot neither I can't give an answer, but I have a GP100 in .357/.38 special which has replaced my .45 LC SA Vaquero as my "go to gun" I still shoot the .45 but I find the GP100 more accurate at the distances I shoot. I hear good and bad about the .44 mag. some can't handle the recoil  and become, shall we say aprehensive? Others don't mind it. A rule of thumb is shoot what you are comfortable with. If you like/are comfortable big bores i.e. revolvers/pistols whose caliber begiin with the number 4 than go for it; but do not over-gun yourself  that is not a good thing.

[Shotgun Franklin]

I've been a Cop for nearly 34 years. I've carried all kinds of guns, on and off duty. I don't know you well enough to give you an answer. I don't know if you can 'Open Carry' where you're at or if you need to conceal your gun. How big are you? I'm 6'8" and 330. I can stick a SAA, a Glock 22 or a S&W 28 inside my shirt and it's concealed. I will suggest that you'd likely be best served by 2 guns. One powerful enough to defend yourself and small and light enough to actually carry. The second a fun to shoot, powerful enough to hunt with a 'Sport' gun. Might you find one gun to do both? I don't know because I don't know you well enough?
Also it's better to shoot someone with a gun that is as stock as possible with ammo readily available anywhere you go. In Court, it could go that far, you'll want to look as average as possible and not like a guy who was hunting a bad guy just to shoot'm.

[WyrTwister]

Having shot neither I can't give an answer, but I have a GP100 in .357/.38 special which has replaced my .45 LC SA Vaquero as my "go to gun" I still shoot the .45 but I find the GP100 more accurate at the distances I shoot. I hear good and bad about the .44 mag. some can't handle the recoil  and become, shall we say aprehensive? Others don't mind it. A rule of thumb is shoot what you are comfortable with. If you like/are comfortable big bores i.e. revolvers/pistols whose caliber begiin with the number 4 than go for it; but do not over-gun yourself  that is not a good thing.

     If you reload , you can tailor your ammo ( .44 Mag ) to fit your tolerance for recoil and muzzle blast .  I load .44 Mag to about 75% of factory ammo .

     And , with the revolver calibers , it depends on if you are shooting a wheel gun or a lever gun .  If you wish to go to the trouble of loading 2 power levels of ammo .

God bless
wyr
\

[RickB]

I've seen the judge and while it is an interesting gun I, myself, would pass on it. Not my type.

I have a Ruger Redhawk .44 mag with a 5 inch barrel. I love it. I took off the stock grips (too small for my taste) and put on pachmyre grips. Much better. You can shoot .44 mag or .44 special through it. So you can make it go boom or you can make it go BOOM!!! Also, you can get some shot shell .44 bullets for carry in snake country. Just so you know. I have some and they are a good option for camping and such.

In my opinion it is hard to beat a Ruger. And a .44 mag will work great as a hunting round.

If you get the chance take both out and shoot them with a bunch of different rounds. Then you will get an idea of what will work best for you.

[Smoke Jensen]

Well, dealing with the Judge. I have seen that at the first of the year the Judge was being sold like crazy in my neighborhood and now that the newness has worn off, I have seen these Judges that were traded in for other guns that do not have the kick that the Judge has. Granted about half of the one's who bought the judge and traded it in were women.   

[Cliff Fendley]

The SRH is my choice for modern double action but I'm sure the original poster has made his decision by now since this thread is over 3 years old.

[Shotgun Franklin]

Since you already reload the .45 Colt, look for a used S&W M-25. It will take some looking around but they are out there. There's not much in North America that you can't hunt with a .45 and it a fine self defense round. The M-25 is at the upper levels of size when it come to everyday carry but unless you're trying to carry concealed it can be done. You really don't need a more powerful handgun for self defense and as for hunting, if you can't kill it with a .45 Colt then you probably ought to be using a rifle anyway.

[baddwolf7]

I own several autos al and 3 revolvers, 2 double action, one sa for cowboy. My favorite carry in DA is my Tarus .44 4" Tracker. Out of the box it was dead center. Stainless with nice soft grips to absorb the recoil which isnt bad. If I had it to do over again I would buy the same one .