50 cal handgun
 

i shot i 50 cal revolver the other day with a 500g round.
the range officer has one and let me shoot it.
felt like i got kicked in the hand by a horse.
1 round, dead center. felt pretty good that i did not anticipate the shot with that gun.

When .50 Desert Eagle came out, my local range sold a bunch of them.

When .500 S&W came out, my local range sold a bunch of them.

Within two years of each introduction, my local range had a bunch on consignment.

Yup, seen plenty of 460s and 500s come in on trade to a local shop. Usually have a partial box of ammo, missing from 1 to 6 rounds. Some people are suckers and the gun comes in with a whole box of empty brass.

Personally, I'd rather have a 9mm that I can place shot after well-placed shot with on my side.

If I don't like to shoot it, I tend to get rid of it. I have a micro .380 that beats up my hand after 20 or so rounds that I need to get rid of...

I've shot both the 460, and 500 S&W, and swore that I would never shoot them again. 18" of fire out the barrel, and kicks like a mule, and will crease your forhead if you aren't holding on.

My BIL is a gun nut, and has hundreds of different calibers, and designs. I have also shot his Barrett 50 cal, a full auto uzi, mac 10, many different variations of ARs, and countless handguns.

I know a guy who hunts with a .500 S&W. He got a couple of deer with it last year.

My brother has a Desert Eagle. It's pretty heavy - recoil isn't so bad. No good if you have small hands.

I inherited both a DE and a .454 Casull, as well as a .50 BMG. They were fun for a while but I sold them off - they just weren't very interesting to me.

My .44 mag I have been in love with for 30 years - As accurate as I could ask and it kills what it hits.

.50 BMG out of a rifle made for it isn't bad at all. I've shot an AR-50 and the recoil is less than my 12 gauge shotguns. I could shoot that all day (if I could afford it).

We have two Palmetto Armory AR15s that we shoot out back often (love the ease, and accuracy. For a long day of cheap fun, we bought a .22 conversion kit.

I have been tempted because as you guys have observed you can pick them up used for cheap... but too many other spoons out there to waste my time and money just to have a huge revolver.

my wife bought a matching special edition kimber 9mm micro that matches her kimber 380.
the 380 shoots pretty good for a 380 but i HATE the 9mm. even with 115g its hard, 125g is murder on the hand. i wish she would sell it, i need the $$ for the 930 engine.


i thought his gun was great, i got to shoot it and did not have to buy it.
it was fun to shoot.......once

Where does it end? What can honestly be considered a "sidearm"? The big "X" frame S&W revolvers are almost cartoonish in their size and weight. They are hunting guns, granted, but most of us who are serious about hunting with revolvers want one we can comfortably pack in a hip holster, or sometimes a bandolier or shoulder holster, without even really noticing it. These "X" frame guns are nothing of the kind. They are bulkier and heavier than some of my lightweight rifles.

I went through this phase many years ago. I had a Freedom Arms single action in .454 Casull. When that wasn't enough, I bought a buddy's Ruger Bisley that had been converted to .475 Linebaugh by Hamilton Bowen. It didn't take me long to figure out why he was so happy to sell it. They are both long gone, and not missed in the least.

I've mentioned this here before, but it's worth repeating - a standard .44 mag or heavy .45 Colt load, with the proper cast bullet, will shoot clear through pretty much any game animal you will ever encounter. Up to large mulies and caribou, they will do so lengthwise. I've done it several times myself. So what is the point of more power? A deeper hole in the ground on the other side of the animal?

Another aspect seldom mention is the shear noise of one of these big boomers. .44 mags are bad enough, but things like the .454 Casull will make your ears ring even with hearing protection. I know my hearing has suffered from all of the shooting I've done in the field, unprotected. Rifles are bad enough. I've had my ears ringing into the next day after taking game with big bore revolvers of the .44 mag / .45 Colt class. I didn't keep the two big thumpers for long enough to hunt with them, but I simply could not imagine lighting one off in the field, without hearing protection. I bet one shot would be enough to permanently damage one's hearing.

So, yeah, a mildly interesting, but completely useless and impractical arms race. That, and if a guy really needs that kind of power (like a guy in grizzly country), there are realistically sized revolvers available that can be packed all day, like a real sidearm. Here is a beauty from Hamilton Bowen, a Ruger Bisley converted to a five shot .500 Linebaugh. It used to be he would not sell you one without interviewing you first, to determine if you had a legitimate need. Even then, he advised that you wear a bicycle helmet the first few times you shot it...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1553620057.jpg

I would use a .460 where i hunt. Since I don't have one I use a .45 Colt (inherited) in with an 8 3/8th inch barrel. That said, since I started carrying the Colt powered pistol I have only had shots over 100 yards in which case I used the rifle so I might as well carry a .22 for the rabbits.

All the trade mags say the .460 shoots flatter than the .500 if anyone cares why I would prefer the .460.

I have a 454 and a 308 lone eagle (Desert Eagle) pistol. recoil gets your attention. the 500 smith is crazy

Always figured if I was going to need bear defense while fishing/camping/etc I'd not bother with a hand gun and go straight to a rifle with a large magazine and reliable operating system. Any of the 30 caliber military rifles would do - Garand, M1a, FAL, G3, even the AK or SKS would do (30 round of something equivalent to 30-30 in power? yup...)

I wish I had the need. Not a lot of areas for me to shoot ANY firearm anyways.

Hand cannons are fun. I exaggerate my shooting position. Really lean forward. It absorbs the recoil nicely.

But, but, but, Dirty Harry emptied his .44 mag with just one hand and no ear protection and then had a conversation. It must be easy. :rolleyes:

I have had some folks bring their .50 Desert Eagles to my pistol range on the farm...bit of a carnival act, really; heavy set women and a moped to be honest.

My Ruger Vaquero .45 Colt revolver Jeff MADE me buy is the better answer.:D

Bears routinely crap in my yard. So I take this seriously. Have a freedom 83 in .454 casull. It is beautifully made, and not a pleasure to shoot. I can handle it initially. But the next morning I feel it in my arm and shoulder.

The last time a bear crapped in my yard would be the first time.

If you need the gun, perfect.

Spring is here. They’re coming out of their dens all hungry and irritable.

I carry when walking the dog or hang out down by the lake. Just need to find a better holster. The thing is damn heavy.