Quote:
Originally Posted by red-beard
They DO make a .50!
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I've owned, or currently own, revolvers in three out of four of those calibers - .44 mag, .454 Casull, and .475 Linebaugh. I've fired the other two on many occasions from various shooting buddies' revolvers. The only one I still own is the .44 mag.
I've mentioned this before, but I repeat it here - I firmly believe that there is a practical upper limit in handgun power wherein we still retain some level of real handgun utility and effectiveness. For me, personally, I have found that limit (in hunting handguns at least) to be somewhere around a heavy .44 mag or .45 Colt load. These utilize 300 grain bullets at around 1,300 fps or so. I've lost track of how many big game animals I've taken with these loads, and each and every time - with only one exception - the bullets exited, achieving full penetration. So, obviously, any more "power" simply digs a deeper hole in the dirt on the other side of them.
That damn .475 Linebaugh was probably my single worst handgunning experience. Way, way over the top, with recoil in my converted Ruger Bisley being not just unpleasant, but having the real potential of doing actual physical harm. And for what? To dig a deeper hole in the dirt behind the animal...
This is where the grand old .45 AARP really shines. It occupies that magic spot of "enough" without approaching "too much". Not too much recoil, not too much blast for most of us to handle in a defensive situation. Yet, practically speaking, enough "stopping power" to get the job done. Just a very well balanced package.