Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Hunting sidearms ready?

Any of you guys had your hunting revolver sidearms out getting limbered up and ready for hunting season?

I took four out this morning and shot from a seated position off left crossed knee at 35 yards, i am embarrassed to say i had forgot the rising sun illuminating the right edge of my front sight shooting dew North to cause me to shoot a bit to the left at first, i woke up and concentrated on centering the sight in the notch, it went better, and old trick i figured out shooting Sharps rifles with copper penny front sights.

Aggregate group was around 6.5 inches X5 inches, i simply cant shoot a revolver any better than that, the revolvers were:

FA 44 Special round butt 5.5" barrel, 255gr Keith bullet 1000 fps.

Ruger SBH 44 mag with Bisley grip frame [Thanks CrimsonTide old Buddy], 5.5" barrel, 300gr LBT GC easy 1300 fps.

FA 454 5.5" barrel, 300gr LBT GC very easy 1300 fps.

Custom 500 Linebaugh, 6" Octagon barrel, 460gr GC Keith bullet 1100 fps.

I see the draw many of you have with revolvers, i had a blast this morning.

Our old buddy JWP475 may get some pics up in a bit, Thanks JWP.

Sounds like a good time, and some nice revolvers! I avoid the range on weekends as much as I can - it gets pretty crowded. On weekdays you practically have it to yourself.

My 1911s shoot like lasers compared to my revolver shootin.' It's definitely a skill sharpened by practice, lots of practice.

I don't know if I'll ever be Elmer Keith good, but I'll keep trying.

Pictures for gunner500

Many Thanks JWP.

It was a hell of a fun time Skeen, thankful to have a cow pasture to shoot in, have heard horror stories about public ranges LOL, never ran my 1911's out to 35 yards, i shoot them most at 20 yards as they are mostly SD guns for me, that little 44 Special round butt really should belong to someone that can shoot it better, very sweet pieces they are.

Nice, iv been shooting on Wednesday morning s with a couple of buddy's club range to our selves. Fun times, got to shoot a Gurand and a Ross rifle 2 weeks ago two I've never shot before! Also a buddy's md29 and his md25 Smith's they had Very nice triggers, he says there factory but I think he slicked them up. Iv owned alot of Smith's but none had actions like these.

I shoot Skeet every Wednesday evening, and I usually go the range a couple of hours early for a lilttle rifle and pistol shooting.

I have my own 8" steel gong that I hang at 25 yards and shoot a couple of magazines or cylinders from each pistol at it.
A 4" Springfield Armory 9mm, a 4" S&W 629 with .44 Specials, a 6" S&W Model 66-4 with .38 Specials, and a 1911 Gov't Model .45 acp

I then move to the main rifle range where we have 15" steel gongs at 100, 200, 300, and 430 yards and I shoot at least 3 shots prone at each gong with my Weatherby Vanguards in .223 and .308.

Love to hear the steel ring.

Nice “shooting irons” and pretty decent shooting! And, yes it’s about time to get “tuned-up”! memtb

Just trying out a Ruger Super Redhawk with 325gr hardcasts at 1,325 fps.

I may carry my Les Baer with some heavy 250 grain loads and see if` I can find a Mule Deer that will cooperate this fall.

Yes Sir!

For Gunner500

LOL Saddlering, BTDT too with buds pistols, in fact, that Ruger 44 of mine in the pic has had Alan Harton ahold of it, he cut and crowned the barrel at 5.5" for me, done an action and trigger job too, really nice.


Buffybr, i need to hang a gong at 50 yards just for fun with handguns, thinking that 500 Linebaugh with 460's or 520's would rock that plate, heavy dose of momentum at work there.


Thanks memtb, no time like the present ; ]

Good stuff Biebs and Mac.

JWP, Thanks again for posting the pic Sir, limbering up hunting guns is one thing, but i guess garden duty using SD carry guns for rabbits and squirrels all spring/summer and into early fall i great practice too, i usually have my G21 onboard with 200gr Lehigh penetrators, today i just have happened to grab the old P226 357 Sig, that 90gr Lehigh defender leaves at 1700 fps over Longshot, it's a mean little mother, the pic of the rabbit is the entry wound, didnt turn the varmint over to see the exit as i thought the entry was very impressive, that bullet spun over an inch and a half slug hole going in, nothing survives that, i did see entrails out the other side on your pic, i was in a hurry about to step into the pickup and leave when i saw mr longears sitting motionless beside the garden gate waiting for me to leave so he could go in and lay waste to Wifes strawberries LOL! he was sitting 19 long steps away, brass was lying 7-8 feet off my right shoulder just like they always do.

This big Sig is just like the little P356, put the front sight where you want the bullet to land, my G21 would have had me holding on the brisket of the animal, for some reason it's bullets land a bit over the front sight, the Sigs are dead on the center of the front sight bead, Thanks again Sir.

Changed my Python sights to Kensights, havent zeroed yet.
Got the SBH 3 screw all back together, aint shot it since (swapped to BRC steel ej housing ).

That'll work Hook, getting them just right and how we like them is part of the fun, anything done to help put shots on target is always a worthwhile endeavor, speaking of, carrying the old P226 357 Sig for a few days had me in the load shop this morning, had a bag of 100 ww 40 S&W brass, loaded it with 7gr Longshot under the 180gr HST's with double cannelure lit with CCI spp, 1.125" col, i sold the other ammo i had loaded for that P226 40 cal, a Bud brought over a frantic guy around the middle of the kung fu flu plandemic, that guy had a 40 and couldn't find ammo anywhere, he would have paid 10 bucks a round LOL, i sold him 380 rounds of the 180 HST's for a buck a piece, thought he was going to pee himself ; ]

That said, and iirc i had a thread a few years ago about the 180gr HST's in my 40 cal Sig, Hodgdons max load of 8gr Longshot sent those bullets to 1200 fps, i figure 7gr will run around 1100, plenty perfect imho, these damn guns are just plain fun.

Yessir, Jerry, have three on tap this year for hogs:
Freedom Arms in 454 Casull:

Smith & Wesson Model 57 :

And my new Ruger Alaskan in 480:

All loaded with "FlyBoyFlem" hard cast specials!

I have several of my .45 Colts ready to go as a backup for elk hunting, or for use on deer, varmints, etc...I have some Brian Pearce recipe handloads in the 21-23,000 psi range for my S&Ws. They launch a 270 grain Hard Cast pretty well. Picture is a 25-9 and a 625-7 Mountain Gun.

Gotta love those Freedom Arms, especially a 44 Spcl....

Damn nice irons Jorge, plus, that dang Flyboy sure can cast pretty bullets, you're set man.


Beautiful Smith's DR505.

TimZ, it really is pitiful how those little FA 44's feel, nearly criminal how they grab you when you grab them ; ]

And because Mac keeps posting pics of his Baer 45 ACP, guess whet i have on my side today? i kicked the 185gr copper hp Barnes' out of the mags and loaded an old favorite load with 230gr Gold Dots plugging along at 950 fps, that should handle garden and quick trip to town duty for today.

My .41 Magnum Blackhawk is going to get a chance this Fall.

I practice a little and I'm still a sorry pistol shot. But I wouldn't hesitate to shoulder shoot a deer at 50yds.

Hope you bloody it well and often Expat.

That'll work TG, 10mm? i suck big time with any handgun, another reason i aim center shoulder, in or out, or straight across.

Yes, it's a G40 with a Burris 3moa dot.

Probably be using my 6 1/2” 657 “Classic Hunter” with 210 XTP’s. Another 657 is a possibility as is 8 3/8 629 “Classic DX” with 240 XTP’s, but I haven’t shot either one lately. Also looking for time to play with some heavy cast loads in .44 and .41 mags….we’ll see.

It'll get the job done. I really like mine. Got a hog at one of the TN campfire hog hunts. Shooting a 250 WFN over 296

Very nice!

Would you mind to share the recipes of these loads?

How is the 25-9 sighted in? Does the front sight fit or did you probably have to replace the rear sight blade? I read about some difficulties of bullet placement due to too low front sights on the M25 45 Colt models.

That'll work, Thanks!

Changed sights on my old Python.
Kensight patridge front and flat face rear.
Need to zero it.
Maybe tomorrow.

Got the old brass frame Super Blackhawk all put back together, ought to see what it does w some old Norma 236gr JHP I found.
That bullet is hard, zips right through. Even from a rifle.

Love a brass frame Super Blackhawk.

Hook, load that hard bullet backwards and shoot it as a flat nosed solid if crimp groove is in the right spot for fitting the cylinder.

Thank you, Sir. If I get one at 50 yards or less, we will make meat. I’m going to launch 210 XTPs at about 1400fps at the muzzle.

We need some pics of that .41 Blackhawk, Expat.

C'mon, brother hookeye, let's see 'em.

I’ll play…



Doc_Holidude

Wowza! Doc pulled out the biggin, the S&W 500.

Yep, my .500 named “Donkey” is my main deer hogleg. If I’m doing a lot of driving or pushing, then the 610 gets the nod. Shot 4 out of my 7 biggest bucks with Donkey.

Less grips that fit my hands better, it is a bone stock 6.5” Ruger Blackhawk. With it is my 5.5” Single Six .22 Convertible.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/gallery/80/full/195955.jpeg

Expat, hope you put a smack-down on one of them big ol' Oklahoma bruisers with that .41 BH!

On a side note, to the proverbial question of "what keeps you awake at night?" for me, it's big Oklahoma bucks that out-witted me seemingly time, and time again.

My Freedom Arms squirrels to Elephant combo. Model 97 .22LR/.22Mag and Model 83 .454 Casull

Hope to bag a hog or two with this one...

Man that'll work Expat, and yes we do Mr Skeen ; ]

Damn Doc, nice hunting revolvers, great shooting too.

You to my friend Pacecars, you men have a wife, girlfriend, mama or granny that knows how to can venison, fill every tag you can this year and have those fine women put that meat up, '23 is going to suck!

You're fla hog ready with that setup Plumdog.

I see lots of squirrels and rice, pig roasts and venison in the coming year

gunner500,

Thanks! I do have to apologize sir, I believe I may have left some drool on or near that Linebaugh! That’s a pure beauty! Nice brace of hoglegs, thanks for sharing the pics!

My focus of late has been a couple of new to me single shot pistols - Contender and XP100 (don't qualify as sidearms, though). I do have a Ruger Bisley 480 and a FA 454, both with RMR's, I need to get ready for this fall.

As soon as the grip frame gets back from Chig’s with the Desert Ironwood I will get this old girl ready too

IIRC you were waiting on a bullet mold to optimize it's power to show up? Eager for a range report.

I have the mold, wads, some round balls and finally found some 3F 777 powder. After handling it I decided to keep the Super Blackhawk grip frame but it needs better looking grips. As soon as it gets back I am headed to the range. If it shoots as well as I expect it will it will go to the engraver next

I'm a sucker for scratchin' on a revolver.

I have no doubt it will shoot well 'nuff, and can't wait to see 'er finished.

My Ruger SRH .480 Ruger has seen the most use lately, and will go on the next hog hunt. FYI, here's a pic of a rest I made for my revolvers, which attaches to my Primos Trigger Stix Gen 3 tripod. I used a Primos 2-point rifle rest, and removed one of the supports. I then cut a piece of Lexan to fit over the two horizontal supports, fastened it in place, and topped it with some Velcro strips for cushioning. The result is a very stable, easy to use rest, adjustable for vertical and horizontal positioning, and allows for a two-hand hold. From a kneeling or sitting position, it makes for accurate longer range shots. If you are hunting in areas where some elevation is needed, and there are no trees or rocks available for a rest, this is a solution.

Haven't hunted with a handgun much since bifocals became a part of my life.
Found a slick RMR mount from Alchins and put a Vortex Venom on the Buckmark for small game.
The FT BH .44 Special is going to require a little more doing as no one makes a mount for it. Hopefully it will be wearing one before too long and putting holes in vermin, yotes and whitetails.

You need one of those antique 3 foot diameter Earth globes in that room.

No kidding, and I just noticed the lion!

Nice set-up, Bighorn.

Man, I do love the clean lines of a Freedom Arms Revolver. The actions are so smooth and precise - cream of the crop.

pacecars,

Beautiful! Really like the grips on the .454. Just curious if ya ever weighed that beast. I think my .500 is about 6.5 pounds. I used to carry it in a belt holster with an L.B.E. system I made, but I think it’s still why my left hip bothers me! Carry it in a uncle mikes shoulder rig for a contender these days.

Here's my oldest big-bore hunting handgun, a Freedom Arms Premier grade .454, built to custom specs in the mid-'80's.
It has a 10" octagon barrel, with 4-port Mag-Na-Porting, trigger set at 2.5#, T'SOB mount with 3 rings, and topped with an UltraDot Gen 2 red dot sight.
I haven't used it for a few years, generally preferring to hunt with my Rugers. I had a shoulder holster made for it by Ringler Custom Leather, which makes for very comfortable carry. I no longer shoot full-power Casull loads through it, as I have found that medium-velocity rounds work just fine on deer and hogs.

Big hammer there Bighorn! Like it!

Damn Pacecars, i best get caught up, you guys got it going on, and Thanks Doc, that 500 is sure a sweetheart, big slow roll in the recoil dept.

Chig’s did the Desert Ironwood grips for it. I need to weigh it. I was really surprised how much the 97 weighs. Those little .22 holes don’t remove much weight

The Redhawk 41 Mag is ready to go, as is the G40. All I'll need this fall is for a deer in front of me!



I like red dots better than scopes. Scopes just show me how much I shake now! Actually, red dots too, but not quite as much! I have chest rigs for both and using hard cast lead.

Nice rigs Dean, hope you get one of those 215 pounder Illinois bucks in front of those sights.

215 pounder Illinois bucks?

C'mon, man, they're bigger 'n that.

3 lbs 8 oz unloaded as she sits

man that’s lighter than I thought!

thanks for the grip info too! thought those were the Chig’s.

Doc_Holidude

LOL, oops, maybe i should have said score 215, i killed a buck in your state that weighed 275lbs if he weighed an ounce, damn near tore the bed off Buds Polaris Ranger getting that hog loaded by myself ; ]

I couldn’t stand gunner500 having all the fun to himself so I just bought a David Clements Bisley .500 Linebaugh and a John Linebaugh Bisquero .500 Linebaugh. Let the devastation begin

Damn! hey Man, where's the pics!!!!!

Congrats Pacecars!

I’m late to the party but me and the boy went out to zero my moose rifle this afternoon and I threw my 44 in to check the sights. After I got the rifle dialed I moved the target to 50 yards and fired 5 245gr Keith bullets over 10gr of Unique. Nothing had changed, they still go where you point it, they’re only going 1150 or so but I’ve not met the animal yet that can stop one. So I guess if a bear is trying to get in the tent or more likely a lovesick bull decides he’s going to come in close I’ll be ready to 44 him.

Well done. I sold my Bowen Nimrod a while ago but kept my two 475's.

XD .45 super loaded to rowland levels but with very light solid copper projectiles. 160 grain barnes xtac or 150 grain cutting edge raptor over 12 grains of power pistol. They don't hardly kick at all but they do a number on anything in front of the old girl.

Man, no final decision made on which revolver I'm hunting with this year, but right now I'm havin' a man-crush on this pair of Blackhawk .357 Maximums.

That's as good a group as I can shoot with a revolver.



Green Country Ammo 158 grain, JHP @25 yards, 6 in about an inch.


The Big 10 inch.

nice pictures some nice looking handguns too .thanks for posting them

Beauteous.

Took the Redhawk to the gunsmith I use. Having the forcing cone cut to 11°, a de-burr and clean-up to the action and some new Wolff springs. We'll see if the 230gr hardcast like the 11° better than the factory angle.

And wouldn't you know it, while I was there, a guy brought in a S&W 657-4 Classic Hunter to put on consignment. It has a 6-1/2" full lug barrel and unfluted cylinder, Burris scope in a Wiegan mount (rear sight too) and all the original packaging. So of course, it followed me home! Lol!

I usually carry a 4 5/8 Ruger Blackhawk in .45 colt, but this year I am going to tote along a Ruger Redhawk, 5 inch barrel, in .44 Magnum. Just for back up, not a primary hunting gun.