Brand new, where do I start?

[buck460XVR]

Have a 686 with the 6'' ported barrel and enjoy shooting it regularly......quite unlike the older Ruger SA 44mag I used to own. It has also killed several deer. One of the reasons I went with the .357 was the cost of shooting. Getting fairly accurate with a revolver takes a lot of practice and even with cheap ammo....it can get expensive. Know your limitations and the .357 will do you just fine. My son bought me the .460 last year for Christmas and I can't wait to use it for deer. Unlike the .357 where I had to wait for the perfect shot and limited myself to 35 yards, I now believe I can leave the ol' M1917 at home during gun deer season.

[roger460xvr]

I,d  go with the 44mag at first, plenty of power there.I started with a raging bull in 44mag dropped deer with no problem.then I would move up to a real deer stopper a smith-wesson 460xvr. Good luck WITH YOUR CHOICE

[KenSel]

Well first off I want to thank everyone for the great advice.  I met with a friend today at the base range who owns all of the Blackhawks in various calibers and barrel lengths and a few Super Redhawks.  He brought his Blackhawk 45 LC/ 45 ACPwith the 4 5/8" barrel, his Super Redhawk 44 Mag, 454, and 480 all with 6 5/8" barrels.  I shot all but the 480 because he forgot the ammo.  Graybeard you sir hit the nail on the head with your advice about the recoil differences between the SA and DA guns.  I shot the Blackhawk with Remington 250gr RN ammo and it was fun and pleasant to shoot but I could tell that if it were loaded with rounds adequate for hunting that it would get unpleasant to shoot in a hurry.  I know if I wore gloves that it would easily remedy that, but I'd rather not have to depend on gloves especially in warmer weather.  I shot the Redhawk 44 with some mild handloads and with some factory Federal/ American Eagle 240gr. JHP with an advertised velocity of 1100fps.  All of the loads were very comfortable to shoot and I still felt good after firing about 50 rounds.  I know that these loads are all pretty mild, so I'm wondering how much of a difference there would be in recoil compared to 240 or 300gr Hornady XTP factory loads or similar loads because these are most likely what I would use for hunting?  Next up I shot the Redhawk 454 with some handloads that were loaded below factory loads but were still fairly hot (they recoiled a little over twice as much as the 240gr 44Mag loads).  I only fired 6 rounds of these loads because without a glove they really started to nibble at the web of my hand.  If I were wearing a glove I'm pretty confident that I could have fired around 50 rounds before it started to be unfun.   Well what you just read is all of my experience and knowledge with hunting handguns, so now I have some questions before I throw my $$$ down.  First, how much more recoil would there be in a standard 240gr. to 300gr. hunting load for the 44 Mag compared to the 240gr. AE loads that I was shooting?   Next,  if I were to choose the 45 LC for my caliber, are cowboy loads adequate for hunting deer to about 40 yards?  If not then are there any factory loads that are adequate for hunting deer to about 40yds, but not loaded SUPER HOT like some of the Buffalo Bore ammo?   And Finally, lets say I choose the 44 Mag as my caliber;  I have a few guns that I really like the look and feel of but don't know anything else about them.  Which of the guns listed below do you recommend and why?
Ruger Redhawk; 5 1/2" barrel
S&W 629 Classic; 5" barrel
S&W 629; 4" barrel
Taurus Tracker; 4" barrel
Taurus Raging Bull; 6 1/2" barrel
Taurus 44; 4" barrel
Taurus 44; 6" barrel  

I don't like the looks much of the Super Redhawk and the barrel is a little to long because I want to carry the gun as a sidearm when archery hunting as well.  So out the the models I listed; which do you think I should go with?

I appreciate any advice you can give me.
thanks,
Ken

[Graybeard]

The Taurus RB would be the mildest by far. In fact most folks who shot mine in .454 Casull and .480 Ruger that have owned or shot the Ruger SRH in .44 magnum say the RB kicks less in either chambering that the Ruger in .44 mag. I tend to agree.

While I'm generally against the Taurus brand these days I've yet to run across a bad RB so I think you're safe buying one of those. I would NOT buy a Taurus M44 or Tracker as I've had nothing but trouble with both. The Ruger RH 5.5" or S&W Classic 5" would both be excellent guns but both will have more felt recoil than the RB. Given your list I'd say definitely chose between those three.

As to recoil you'll notice the difference between what you shot and the full power 240s and 300s but it won't be enough difference to be unpleasant I suspect. In the RB you'd likely think they kick even less than the SRH you shot with milder loads.

Factory .45 Colt CAS loads are at best marginally adequate. They are pretty weak sisters and not even close to the old blackpowder load level in power. If you want to buy a .45 Colt you really should plan to reload for it. Speer I think makes at least one load that should do OK and I think Federal may also. Both are jacketed bullet loads tho not CAS loads.

[KenSel]

thanks Bill, I was uncertain about the Taurus because of some of the stuff that I've read about them here, but they're a little better suited to my wallet.  I really like the Redhawk but from what I've heard; I'll have to get a trigger job on it.  I also really like the S&W 629 Classic with the 5" barrel with the full underlug, it's about the best lookin' handgun I've seen but the price is a little steep.  The RB is a little hefty so I wouldn't really want to carry it as a backup gun but it would make a great hunting gun.  What kind of accuracy can I expect out of these 3?  What kind of trigger pull weight do they have?  I've heard the Rugers are pretty crappy triggers, but I'm not sure about the S&W or the RB.  I'm gonna be carrying this gun a lot as a backup to a rifle as well as a "concealed" backup to my longbow when hunting in bear country and I'll also be using it to hunt deer and bear with, and I will be shooting it A LOT.  I'm not counting the RB out yet, but it may be a little to bulky for my uses.  Also,  I know handguns are loud, especially ported ones;  When you guys are hunting do you wear hearing protection? 

thanks,
Ken

[Graybeard]

For back up not a primary hunting gun the Taurus Tracker Ti is the greatest idea anyone has come along with ever in my opinion. Now if only their execution of the idea was up to the level of the idea it would be my hands down choice. But I tried them several of them and they were JUNK. Sad really. Of those left on the list for a carry gun for back up the S&W 629 4" or a 629 Mtn. Gun would be the best choice I guess. I was previously answering as a hunting tool not a back up carry gun.

Be aware that recoil level spirals up as weight goes down except for the Taurus Trackers which is what makes the idea so great. Recoil is amazingly light in such a light gun. But quality and customer service are HORRIBLE.

[KenSel]

Well I placed my order with the guy on base today and he will send out the orders tomorrow morning.  I chose the S&W 629 Classic with the 5" full underlug barrel as my first choice but if he's not able to get it I told him to order the Ruger Redhawk with 5 1/2" blued barrel.  I'm pretty sure that he'll be able to locate the S&W though.  Well now that I've settled on a weapon, I want to get a nice holster for it.  I would like to get a nice leather hip holster for it and I wouldn't mind having a nylon vertical shoulder holster for it as well.  Do any of you have any suggestions as to where I could find the above mentioned holsters for a good price?  I would also like to get a cartridge pouch or wallet and/or a speedloader carrier but again I'm not real sure where to find them.  I'm gonna surf the net and see what I can come up with but I would appreciate any advise or suggestions from you guys about the pros and cons of different types/brands.

Oh yeah, there's a bowling pin shoot at the range on the 13th of Oct and my new gun should be here a few days earlier which will give me enough time to get a feel for it and get it sighted in for some good cheap ammo cause' I'm gonna be shooting it a lot.  I can't wait!!

Thanks,
Ken

[Graybeard]

I carry my ammo in the MTM ammo wallets and that applies to both handgun and rifle ammo. They are flat and compact and generally speaking carry all you'll need with you when afield. If you need more than they hold you must be in a serious situation.

As to holsters I look on them as tools not as adornment and don't waste big bucks on them generally speaking. The Uncle Mike's synthetic holsters are good solid products that work and last well. Safari Land and Bianchi get most all of my leather holster business but occasionally a Hunter will come home with me. They work and are much cheaper than custom and do the same job.

[Lloyd Smale]

Id run far and fast from any tarus product. Some may be good but theres just to many horor storys about there service dept. My perception of recoil may differ from some as ive worked up alot of imunity to it shooting real big handguns. Best grip frame for me and recoil is a ruger bisley by far. Second would be a standard blackhawk. Ive got no problem with shooting 300s at 1200 out of a 44 or 45 in a lightweight blackhawk. Step it up any more and it needs a bisley. Grip frames that dont work for recoil and pushish me are L and N frame smiths. I love the guns and carry one often but even factory level 240s out of an N frame will punish me and the worst gun i ever had for recoil was the 396 titanium 44 special L frame. With keith level loads it would draw blood every cylinder full. Redhawks arent bad but its not the grip frame that seems to help its the extra lb they weight over a blackhawk. But you have to carry that weight around all day. Super Blackhawks with the squared back dragoon grip frame are about the worse design ever made at least for my hands. I shot one for years and beat my middle nuckle up so badly that it was operated on twice. I allways wondered how people could stand shooting something bigger then a 44 as it about killed me. I shot a bisley and fell in love and found out later that the round trigger guard guns work fine for big recoil too. Recoil is a very subjectiive thing. Some people will never handle the recoil of a 44 and shoot it well in any platform. But then ive had guys shoot my 475 or 500 and ask what all the fuss is about as they thought they were easy to shoot. Very few guns will actually hurt you! What the will do is scare you and your mind will automaticaly go into protection mode (FLINCH) get over the fact that they wont hurt you and all there doing is making noise and most guns can be mastered. What it takes is practice. ALOT of practice. I would shelf the idea of spending 5-600 bucks on a smith or a redhawk and go and find a used super blackhawk (round trigger gurad) or even a 45 colt and with the money you saved buy a cheap lee realoding outfit. You can pick one up with everything you need to load except powder and bullets and primers for under a 100 bucks. Start out loading 44 special loads and learn your gun. To hunt you dont even need full power 44 mag ammo. Learn to be accurate with a 250 cast swc at a 1000 fps and your all set for most hunting chores your going to come accross in your lifetime. Choosing a sa over a da or one grip frame over another isnt going to make you majically a good shot. SHOOTING ALOT is and if you cant afford it and have to buy factory ammo you will NEVER be a good shot unless your a millionare.