Have you ever shot anything bigger than a hot 45 Colt? I have, but it had been awhile and I've never shot a .454. It sounds like you just don't like the bigger revolvers, both in scale and power. I can relate...
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Yep
I've played with the .454 just enough to know I don't think it's worth the pain on my end in a gun worth carrying. Anything light enough to be worth carrying is uncomfortable (for me, at least) to shoot. Anything heavy enough to be comfortable to shoot, and I might as well carry a rifle. I find that playing with guns that are uncomfortable to shoot is not conducive to good and consistent accuracy.
I used to hunt big game with a .308 Winchester single-shot handgun. It compared in recoil pretty well with, say, a scoped 6" 629 .44 mag with hunting loads. I found that although I could make good groups with it at 300yds with a good rest and known distance, I rarely had either in the field. All said and done, I might as well be carrying said 629 on a hunt - since my effective range is generally no less than with the "handrifle".
Although the only big game I ever took with a handgun was with that .308, I have known plenty of guys to take game up to heavy bull elk with no troubles using .44mag and .45 Colt revolvers. If I were to resume handgun hunting for big game, it would be with something on the order of the 629 I described - not a Judge or even any X-frame revolver. If I were carrying for defense against man or animal, it would either be something even more portable than that or it would be a long gun.
So - you guys who are intrigued by the Judge and it's ilk are free to like 'em with no judgement from me, since IMO you need no justification for buying one other than finding it interesting if even only for a while. But I still find them peculiar and unsuited for anything practical in my estimation.
Possible upside to the Judge-type revolvers might be if it causes the ammo makers to increase production of .410 enough to lower the price.
Cole - I appreciate your willingness to post your report and take the heat.