Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 50 yrs old and considering my first handgun

Well lets just say that as some one your age and maybe just a bit older, I've shot handguns most of my life, have taken several deer and antelope with the 44 and 45 colt. I have yet to do it with the 41.
You're probably going to be severally dissappointed with the reaction of a deer hit with a handgun, assuming you've shot them with rifles.
I'll leave it at that.
Good luck with your handgun purchase.

Given that we are dealing with someone already very experienced with firearms, I don't at all see the need for him to start out with a .22. I am fairly sure he is not going to flinch with a normal weight magnum revolver, and even if the hot loads caused him to flinch, he can drop down to practice loads to deal with it. Just don't see the urgency some of you guys are seeing for him to start with a .22. My first handgun, back in '80, was a .357 Magnum. I had no trouble developing good form with that in no time. But, like him, I had been shooting rifles for years prior to that.

I'll have to take a pic. Barrel drops right in. The last 1.5 inch protrudes,but since I have full interchangeability it bothers me not. The barrel can be ordered from Glock in Smyrna Ga. Cost:125 bucks. As soon as I have pic, I'll post it for ya

Thanks for the support Hawkeye,

I do have just enough experience with a handgun to know what I can handle, and a max loaded 44 mag or larger is not fun anymore for me.

But with a hot loaded 357, there is still a little room for a bit more punishment. That is what has led me to choose a 10 mm/41mag.

I have handloaded thousands of rounds for the 357, and 9mm. Also more than a few rounds of 38 super and 44 mag. I am well versed in how to manage the recoil of a magnum handgun through loading techniques.

I am experienced enough as a shooter to know when enough is enough; to know when it is time to quit shooting a weapon before the tendency to flinch presents itself.

I can't argue with that, I have always been a little disappointed with the reaction of deer to the 30-30 or 30 Remington at ranges over 100 yds. But the deer were brought to table anyway.

It isn't listed on the Ruger website, so probably not. They have made them in the past, though. If you can find one, I'm sure it would be a sweetheart to shoot. And they do make a .22 Bisley to match, should you get the urge. I just bought one of those, myself.

I think the Bisley in .45 Colt would be a keeper, too. They make such nice, big holes. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Versatile cartridge in this gun, and usually very accurate, too. Its on my short list.

Idaho Shooter - as long as you've settled on a revolver (good choice, IMO), is there any reason why you wouldn't consider a Ruger Redhawk in .44mag? You wouldn't have to shoot full-power loads in it, and since it's a little heavier than the Smith, it would soak up a little more of the recoil. Put a set of Hogue grips on it and it should work for your short fingers. The DA trigger isn't quite as good as a Smith - but you likely won't care, for your use.

BTW - speaking of short fingers...the Glock 20 has a thicker grip then the 9mms. I find it to be too much of a handful.

Real Hawkeye. It's not the recoil , talking about starting with a 22 and not a bigger handgun. It is mastering the techniques of grip, trigger control, sight aquisition, breath control etc. Shooting handgun is not like shooting a rifle., no matter how experienced one is with shooting a rifle. With shooting a.22 ,you can forget all about over coming any recoil and flinching., and you can shoot 500 rounds for less than $10

Being a certified NRA instructor, I have taught over 500 folks the basics of handgun shooting, mostly for CCW permits.You would be amazed at the number of guys that have shown up with many different bigger caliber swho couldn't hit squat with them . After running then through the course and with 22's they usually came around. Many go out and add a .22 to thier arsesnal

Idaho
It seems that ya don really need a handgun, you pretty much just want one.
Think you outta go out n find the one that best fits yer mitts n comes up to point of aim most natural.
Where you r runnin into trouble is that you want one gun thats gonna do it all.
Autoloaders r real nice, but aside from a few of the 10mm, assorted other weirdos like the desert eagle, yer gonna have a big handicap in the huntin woods. Dunno bout idaho, but sum places have min energy standards n lots of autos can't muster up.
Dunno why you want a 41 so bad.
Dunno why anyone wants a 41.
41 dont do nothin bettern the 44. If you want less recoil from yer 44, download it, r choose lighter bullets.
Don care what anyone says, havent noticed significant diff in trajectories tween 41 n 44.
Get one if you want, but its a waste of time n energy.
Sumbody told you yer lookin at gettin more n one gun.
Think that guy is right.

I think if you want a .41 RM you ought to go get one and let the chips fall where they may. It's a fine cartridge and, like the .44 Mag and warmly loaded .45 Colts and such, does a good job on deer at sensible ranges if decent bullets are chosen for the job. Loading it down with what you suggested makes good sense and would be a great way to get used to it.

BCR's comment to the effect that the .41 isn't all that well liked is simply puzzling to me. I know of many people who think the .41 is terrific stuff and they also very much like the .44 Mag and the .45 Colt in its many flavors and loadings. I use the .41 as a general tool, finding it does about all I need to do with a handgun. I don't give a whoop if others like something else. Follow your well-developed hunch.

After lurking around the other pertinent threads in this forum for a couple of days, I have made an interesting discovery.

Davidsons, and their sale of limited edition revolvers.
They show a Ruger Super Blackhawk in Hunter configuration as well as in Bisley Hunter and both are chambered for 41 mag.

I will have to run over to Sportsman's Whse and handle the S Blackhawk in both configurations to see which feels best in my hand.

They show a few other models in this caliber, but the Ruger is by far the least expensive (with the exception of the Tracker), and the larger frame size of the Super blackhawk compared to the Blackhawk should make it and my hand deal with maximum loads better when that time comes.

They show that the Bisley model is currently out of stock. Is anybody here familiar with this supplier? Is there a chance that they will get in more of a limited edition arm of this nature? The website tends to indicate: Just order it and we will let you know when more arrive. I would hate to miss out on the Hunter model, becouse I was waiting in vain for the Bisley.

This Smith Performance Center Hunter model is a real beauty, but at this price I can buy the Super Blackhawk and the companion Marlin lever action

$811 to $879



The Super Blackhawk with 7.5 in barrel is priced between $467 and $541


This is the Bisley



Some of their other alternative are:
the Smith 657 @ $642 - $685


The Taurus Tracker @ $425 -$465


and the Taurus Raging Bull @ $515 - $568
[img]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y83/Idaho_Shooter/416ss6.jpg[/img]

I am beginning to think that I might also be in the market for my first lever action rifle. That Marlin in 41 would be a lot of fun for the grandkids in a few years. It would kill pop cans deader than heck.

I would hate to miss out on the Hunter model, because I was waiting in vain for the Bisley. ~ IS

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So would I. The Bisely grip is truly nice, but in the standard grip style the .41 is still very nicely managed and in the Hunter variation (with the added weight up front) ought to be a keeper. You may only be purchasing your first .41, you know, not your last.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

The first .41's I shot were Blackhawks of the normal stripe. They rolled back smartly but nicely. The N frame Smiths I like with either a smooth grip or the Pachmayr quasi-Jordan type. The Redhawk I keep playing with and tend to get along with okay whatever the grips, but I haven't yet found anything quite to my exact liking -- ask me after another couple thousand rounds, just like you could have asked before the last couple thousand.. I just don't know yet. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />)

There isn't a gun you've pictured that I wouldn't greatly enjoy spending time with. Likewise, the .41 thread and the pictures of guns those good fellows posted nearly had me in a ready to go berserk and buy it anyway mode.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

41 I wasn't saying that the 41 mag wasn't a good round. I was going by the last sales figures I saw. Lots more 357/44/45 are sold than 41s. Like the 32 Mag only those that have them love them <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

BCR

Bingo!

Just like the 264 mag! I oughta get along fine with a 41.

The .41 Magnum has a flatter trajectory than either the hot .45 Colt or the .44 Magnum, and hits just about as hard with the right loads. Many used to argue that had it come along first, there probably wouldn't have been a .44 Magnum, but today, with the .454s and .500s, that seems unlikely.

The Bisely grip is truly nice, but in the standard grip style the .41 is still very nicely managed and in the Hunter variation (with the added weight up front) ought to be a keeper. You may only be purchasing your first .41, you know, not your last.... ; [/quote]

Oh but that is why I am considering this purchase so carefully!
I may very well buy a 32 mag or a 30 carbine revolver someday. And I still want one nice auto pistol. And a rimfire magnum would be nice to have around. But unless I encounter some problem with this first revolver, I am sure it will be the first and only large bore revolver I ever own.

I had to sell my rifles and shotguns right after I got married twenty some years ago to meet the expenses of caring for a family. But since then I have only turned loose of one firearm in order to buy another, I was just too bored with loading for the 30-06 and needed some new challenges.

I can only budget for a new firearm once every year or two, so my choices must be wise ones! I have been wanting a nice rifle in 204 Ruger, but I already have a 22-250. So the 204 can wait and I will get the handgun this year.

I really appreciate all the advice I have recieved here over the last couple of days. It has aided in the decision making process.

I happen to own both a 41 and a 44. Both are fine rounds. If you are not planning on reloading, then I would definatley go for the 44. Factory 41 is extreemly limited.

I do intend to reload, as I mentioned on the 41 lover's thread. I got the dies and components today. I am just waiting to hook up with a 7.5 inch Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley Hunter SS now.

Gee whiz, your last post was at 11:46 last night, you know. Do you have it yet? I hate waiting. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> How're you doing? You can take a nap later on, you know, after you get the good work done...

(Gee, I hate waiting ... sometimes I just can't stand it ...)