Thoughts on a first handcannon?

jar

jar

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Now that I'm getting seriously in to reloading, I'm thinking about the future gun purchases that it opens up. I think it would be great fun to have a big revolver that I can load ammo for from mild to wild.

What does everyone have, and what do you like/dislike about it? I'm thinking 44 Mag, but I'm open to other calibers. How does availability and price compare on lead bullets for light plinking loads between 44 and 454Casull? I'm guessing there's more demand due to 45 colt cowboy bullets.

Thoughts on S&W vs Ruger? Any others I should look at?
 
meth0d said:
How about a Smith and Wesson 500 or 460?
Click to expand...

This.

I don't even shoot my 44 mags anymore since I got a S&W 500. The 500 is a damn fine piece of hardware. I love it. It alone is making me get into reloading.

Your obvious source of 460/500 reloading expertise is EC. He has helped me a lot getting my feet wet in this area.
 
As others have said, if it were me, and I reloaded, my first purchase would be a S&W 500. It's an awesome firearm and I'm sure you can find a ton of cool receipts for some wild loads.
 
I have K,L,N and X frame Smith&Wesson's and single actions by Ruger and Colt. I load for all of them. I see that you're also from Westford.If there's anything you'd like to shoot,let me know.I shoot at Harvard every weekend.
 
The S&W 460 is a very flexible handgun. I don't recommend reloading 460/454 using lead bullets. 45 C at lower velocities is a heck of a lot of fun in one of these cannons.

Another option would be a Freedom Arms 454 revolver. These are some of the nicest revolvers I have handled.
 
jar,
I have had both Rugers and S&Ws in .44 Mag.
The Rugers are my favorite.
The single action is much more comfortable to shoot with heavy loads and certainly much more rugged than the double action S&W.
Some other folks like the Ruger Redhawk or Super Redhawk but I don't care for how high the bore is over the grip.

This is one of several of my Ruger Super Blackhawks, and probably one of my favorites:
RugerSuperBlackhawk-vi.jpg


The Ruger single action .44 has been made in barrel lengths from 4-5/8" to 10-1/2".
The longer barrels tend to handle heavy loads more comfortably than the shorties.
The Super Blackhawk Hunter has a heavier than standard barrel that is machined to accept scope rings.
0860.jpg


I just picked up one of these recently and it is a lot of fun to shoot.

Jack
 
I'll join the consensus recommending revolvers. However, I will suggest a different caliber: .357 magnum.

A .357 allows you to shoot .38 Special as well as .357, making it capable of shooting everything from ultra-light HBWC loads for target work, a range of cast lead bullets for plinking or practice, up to full-house magnum rounds for hunting, SD or metallic silhouette. That makes it an excellent first revolver AND a great gun to start reloading for. I had a 686, but prefer the N-frames; Model 27 and 28.

Speaking of, my second suggestion is a 625. The caliber, .45 ACP, is thoroughly developed with vetted data for many different loads. It also uses moon clips, the trick way to load/unload in a hurry. It is THE revolver of choice for USPSA.

Not only is it a cinch to reload, when you buy a 1911 - you DO plan on buying a 1911, don't you? - you will have commonality of ammo.

Let us know what you decide on.
 
Scrivener said:
I'll join the consensus recommending revolvers. However, I will suggest a different caliber: .357 magnum.

A .357 allows you to shoot .38 Special as well as .357, making it capable of shooting everything from ultra-light HBWC loads for target work, a range of cast lead bullets for plinking or practice, up to full-house magnum rounds for hunting, SD or metallic silhouette. That makes it an excellent first revolver AND a great gun to start reloading for. I had a 686, but prefer the N-frames; Model 27 and 28.

Speaking of, my second suggestion is a 625. The caliber, .45 ACP, is thoroughly developed with vetted data for many different loads. It also uses moon clips, the trick way to load/unload in a hurry. It is THE revolver of choice for USPSA.

Not only is it a cinch to reload, when you buy a 1911 - you DO plan on buying a 1911, don't you? - you will have commonality of ammo.

Let us know what you decide on.
Click to expand...

This is a great suggestion. One of the nicest revolvers I ever had the pleasure of shooting was a 625. It was a Performance Center gun, so enough said, but I instantly wanted this gun.

One of my biggest regrets, was obtaining, then dumping, (within a week), a brand spanking new Model 17. I was young and stupid and thought revolvers were "lame"... Dumb.

I have been lusting for a 629 however. I had my mitts on one at Guns and Gun Parts the other day and almost went home with it...As much as I love the .500 and .460, I know I won't be reloading anytime soon and there's always been a draw for me to the 629 4". One day soon hopefully....
 
Scrivener said:
I'll join the consensus recommending revolvers. However, I will suggest a different caliber: .357 magnum.

A .357 allows you to shoot .38 Special as well as .357, making it capable of shooting everything from ultra-light HBWC loads for target work, a range of cast lead bullets for plinking or practice, up to full-house magnum rounds for hunting, SD or metallic silhouette. That makes it an excellent first revolver AND a great gun to start reloading for. I had a 686, but prefer the N-frames; Model 27 and 28.

Speaking of, my second suggestion is a 625. The caliber, .45 ACP, is thoroughly developed with vetted data for many different loads. It also uses moon clips, the trick way to load/unload in a hurry. It is THE revolver of choice for USPSA.

Not only is it a cinch to reload, when you buy a 1911 - you DO plan on buying a 1911, don't you? - you will have commonality of ammo.

Let us know what you decide on.
Click to expand...

I already have a 1911 and a 442. I do want a 357 at some point, but it doesn't really fill a specific niche right now. All of my competition shooting and training is with one of my 9mms. I'm just contemplating a range toy to make loud noises and big holes. :)

I have shot a 625 a few times and they're great fun. I'm planning to stick with SSP/Production for a while, but if I decide I want to try a different division, it'll probably be a 625 in revolver.

Interesting that so many of you say skip over the 44 and get a 500. I think it'll probably end up depending on what I see in the classifieds down the road when I have funds available.
 
Talk of the 629 makes me post a pic of my 629 classic hunter.

After I get somewhat good with this one I will be purchasing a 6-7 inch barreled SW 460 in Stainless steel.

attachment.php

attachment.php




MassMark said:
This is a great suggestion. One of the nicest revolvers I ever had the pleasure of shooting was a 625. It was a Performance Center gun, so enough said, but I instantly wanted this gun.

One of my biggest regrets, was obtaining, then dumping, (within a week), a brand spanking new Model 17. I was young and stupid and thought revolvers were "lame"... Dumb.

I have been lusting for a 629 however. I had my mitts on one at Guns and Gun Parts the other day and almost went home with it...As much as I love the .500 and .460, I know I won't be reloading anytime soon and there's always been a draw for me to the 629 4". One day soon hopefully....
Click to expand...
 
SemiAutoSam said:
Talk of the 629 makes me post a pic of my 629 classic hunter.

After I get somewhat good with this one I will be purchasing a 6-7 inch barreled SW 460 in Stainless steel.

attachment.php

attachment.php
Click to expand...

You just had to do it...Thanks...Now I'm rolling up change at 2 in the morning and wondering if Jose will sell me his 29-2 on a payment plan...[smile]
 
Scrivener said:
I'll join the consensus recommending revolvers. However, I will suggest a different caliber: .357 magnum.

A .357 allows you to shoot .38 Special as well as .357, making it capable of shooting everything from ultra-light HBWC loads for target work, a range of cast lead bullets for plinking or practice, up to full-house magnum rounds for hunting, SD or metallic silhouette. That makes it an excellent first revolver AND a great gun to start reloading for. I had a 686, but prefer the N-frames; Model 27 and 28.

Speaking of, my second suggestion is a 625. The caliber, .45 ACP, is thoroughly developed with vetted data for many different loads. It also uses moon clips, the trick way to load/unload in a hurry. It is THE revolver of choice for USPSA.

Not only is it a cinch to reload, when you buy a 1911 - you DO plan on buying a 1911, don't you? - you will have commonality of ammo.

Let us know what you decide on.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. Also, if the .357 Magnum is not enough, you can go up to the .44 Magnum, and if that is not enough, you can go up to .460, and then .500. I also think the .45 idea is not bad. Decisions, decisions.
 
.44 Mag, S+W 629 PowerPort. Bullets aren't too expensive if you reload.

Excellent caliber for bowling pins too, as you still have 6 holes to work with.

-Mike
 

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