I am considering a Bighorn 89 and have been looking through some older posts on that rifle and wondered if there any other updated or new opinions about this rifle or company?
If you got one would you get the 18" barrel or 22"? That is really the only thing I was considering to change from the base version -- a bit longer barrel.
I tried posting this on the Lever action forum and trying this area as well
Bump up to see if anyone has any thoughts on the Big Horn 89
I have only looked at a couple of them in a store.
I personally prefer 20" barrels on my lever rifles.
I don't know anyone that owns one. I think the concept of the 500 S&W is interesting though.
I can't see getting a .50 lever gun and then putting a pistol case behind it. Get a 50AK or 50-110 or don't bother and just get a .44mag.
The 500 S&W cartridge in a rifle length barrel is rather powerful. The model 89 is an extremely strong action and built to take 60k pressure.
A 400 grain Hornady soft at 2000 fps went right shoulder to left hindquarter on Shiras bull moose. Bullet weighed 395 grains. Moose was impressed. And tasted good. Waterrat has killed some big bears with his, perhaps he will chime in.
The previously mentioned load is under 50k do you can go higher if you feel the need. I’ve only killed elk and deer with mine, so far.
I have an 18” and an octagon 22”. Mostly run around with the 18”
It’s not bad due to the stock design. I’ve run some very heavy loads through them and no issues
Thanks for the replies.
I called and talked to Big Horn Armory (Bryon) and asked about barrel length. To me the rifle would "look" better with a 20 or 22" barrel. He said they have found that 18" maximizes the cartridge and powder burn and said you gain nothing more from a 22" barrel (he said the bullet may actually start to drag and slow down a bit).
I also asked about recoil. He said that the standard loads are like a 20 gauge slug gun and the heavy loads are more like a 12 gauge slug gun.
I am very tempted.