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At a certain power level it�s not about �can I kill it�, but rather can I stop it before it kills me. For some the solution is a rifle, but given the right handgun/cartridge/bullet combination, the handgun absolutely can do the job of a large rifle provided the shooter is up to the task.

My .500 Maximum weighs as much (or as little) as my Bisley Hunter in .44 Magnum. I don't like heavy revolvers as it defeats the purpose for me. Define "far more effective" please, as aside from the range limitations of the revolver (not terminal ineffectiveness at range but ability to hit with it at distance), I don't find any of my big-bore revolvers, loaded correctly, to be giving up much of anything to many big-game rifle cartridges from a terminal standpoint.

Try a 480 ruger. 400gr @ 1200 fps is a big enough jump over the 44 mag to make you notice the difference on game, but the recoil isn't so stout as to be unshootable. If you can handle a 44, you can handle a 480.

For me, going past the 480 results in a gun that either has too much recoil, weighs too much, or needs a muzzle break to be shootable which are all comprises I'm not willing to make.

Far morre effective = in part, the ability to HIT what one is aiming at. A number of shooting tests have been done and nearly everybody shoots immensely better with a carbine than with a handgun for many good reasons. Also, velocities obtanable and the terminal ballistics that go with it. going from a revolver barrel to the 20 inch barrel of a carbine makes the bullets go MUCH faster. I had a Rossi/Puma in 454 Casull for a while and even took it to Africa once. Its velocities with 300 grain bullets were identical to those obtained with 45/70 trapdoor level loads in that bullet weight. Going up to 330 and heavier bullets and it was even more impressive. Wildebeast, Impala and guinea fowl did not like that little carbine This was from the days that I would take as many as five guns with me to Zimbabwe and stay a while. shooting animals for Leopard, Hyena and Lion bait gave me opportunitys to field test lots of stuff and man was it ever FUN!

Thanks.

Just thank your lucky stars you ain't a free range milk jug!

That was ugly! Don't know if he was missing that hog or if they were just not where they needed to be but that was unly!

Having killed a lot of game with a hangun over the years< I definately would not choose a JHP over a wide meplat hardcast. Yes I have used both

A 335 grain 45 caliber WLFN at 1300 FPS will shoot completely through and exit 1,000 pound Bison. I have seen them dropped at the shot and that was with the Bison running before the shot.

Chit JWP475, I'm runnin the same bullet with excellent accuracy out of my FA 454C at 1585 fps, ya think I need to back her down a bit?
Mainly use that revolver for packin in bear country out west while bow and muzzle loadin for Elk.

Gunner

You will give up a bit of penetration at that speed with a hardcast, but you will still have enough providing the bullets is not to hard and shatters on heavy bone. I personally do not like to run a hard cast bullet more than 1400 FPS. Bullet hardnes is not accounted for by many and this is a mistake in my experience.

Just like some one claiming that a JHP bullet is the best. Well which one are they talking about. Sierra JHP bullets are made with a 1 1/2 oercent antimony and a heavy jacket they are made to penetrate, not expand. A hollow point that does not expand is not the same as a wide meplat flat point. Those that have shot a lot of game know this. I like my hard cast bulllets to cure out 20 to 24 BNH. This is hard enough to maintain shape well enough with out being too hard at 1400 FPS give or take a bit. 12BNH is fine if velocity does not exceed 1200 FPS

Some JHP and JFP are too soft for big game and do not penetrate well. I would not want one of these bullet for big bear protection






I am not a fan of such eractic performance as this

Thousands of head of big game, and 900 bears alone?

I have shot what most would call lots of big game as well, all over the planet, but I know when my experience has been bettered.

That said, we all make our choices based upon our preferences and personal experience and obviously the Wide Flat HC's work great for you and many others. Whatever works and you like, rock on and go kill some stuff with a big ol grin all the while!

I was merely reporting on the experience of another - who is a close personal freind - whose experience is vast compared to about anyone else here.

Heck there are even folks who stick with Nosler Partitions even though the Barnes TTSX is a vastly supreior design in every way <G> Just no accounting for sense, sometimes

Donning Nomex fire suit..... NOW

That'll work, I'll back em down to 1400 fps on next reload in the FA revolver, and the 440 gr WFNGC's out of the 500 S&W at 1385 will be left alone.

These are both "Cast Performance" bullets.

Gunner

I use TSX bullets but I am not a fan of most JHP bullets for big game.

I dropped the bear on the right spread eagle style with a LBT LFN hard cast from a 475 at 1350 FPS. A raking body shot did the job

Those are excellent bullets

Thanks JWP .

Gunner

JWP, Excellent Bear there! What part of AK, and which outfitter?

Looks like a great hunt overall.

Amen! What He Said! I personally prefer the WFN's, But... The LFN's tend to be more accurate in my guns.

No outfitter, I was dropped off by a flying service and picked up latter. The location was out from Kotzebue, AK

458 Lott is spot on. People read his post and digest it. A proper hard cast with a proper meplat does not take a back seat to any jacketed bullet in the wound diameter department and out penetrates them six ways to sunday