revolver related info you need to know

Grumpy

The Grumpy Grease Monkey mechanical engineer.
Staff member
I've spent a great deal of time, using revolvers, usually with high quality cast bullet hand loads
I rarely load ammo to anywhere near max pressure,
in fact I generally make it a point to load to a bit lower than max pressure levels simply because,
I generally use a larger and more powerful cartridge chambering than required,
and you generally don't need max power handloads or even factory plus P power level,
for hunting or target work, if you select the correct revolver for the intended application.
even a 357 mag will kill an elk or bear with authority with proper handloads
I prefer, S&W revolvers like a better quality 357 mag, mod 686, 27, or something like a S&W 44 mag, 29, 629, or 500 mag,
should last decades without more than very minor repairs
and yes all revolvers require lubrication and cleaning.
failure to provide frequent , proper cleaning, any required maintenance & lubrication, it will eventually result in excessive wear.
while its certainly not the rule in every case, Ive found many magnum S&W revolvers to be exceptionally accurate with proper hand loads, and groups under 1.5" or a bit smaller 3 shot groups at 35-40 yards are attainable off a decent rest.
thus a decent shot has zero problems hunting larger game out to 75-100 yards if you get a good rested shot


https://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=36-165MG

357 mag cast hunting bullet (link above)


 
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both the ruger and S&W are well made revolvers, the RUGER has a slight edge in strength due to thicker cylinder walls,
and frame design,
, but I think the S&W handles a bit better, its accuracy and a knowledge of the games anatomy,
and your ability to make precise shot placement more than power that's the key to success.
and in my experience the 6"-10" barrel S&W revolvers tend to have a very slight edge in accuracy, if the few I own are typical.
as with all handguns precise shot placement is critical to getting consistent results,
hard lead bullets that penetrate well in a more or less strait line and exit,
with minimal expansion provide the lethal results,
particularly when you know and target the games vitals and are dealing with known anatomy.
bullets that easily break bone and penetrated well are generally to be preferred in my opinion,
even hard cast bullets that expand slower on impact, are ok to use in most cases.
especially if they are known to punch to rather deep depths, in a strait line, thus are predictable and consistent,
rather than hollow points that expand rapidly, but rarely go deep.
while loosing energy and thus depth of penetration, like some light weight, fast expanding ,
commercial hollow point jacketed bullets, that are known to work ok,
on thin skinned game like a deer's heart/lungs,
but can't be expected to be or depended on to reach the games vitals,
from less than ideal angles, making them less than ideal in some cases.
you don't always have the opportunity to shoot from ideal angles,
you should get into close range and don't take shots where the potential results are likely to be, far less than ideal.
its up to the hunter to know and understand his handguns ammo and range and accuracy limitations,
yeah hollow points get impressive results under ideal conditions but are not able to reach and destroy vital organs if deep penetration is required.
think ARCHERY, a bow & broadhead arrow, may have less than 200 ft lbs of energy,
but its fully able to provide lethal damage due to it potentially deep penetration and destruction of vitals and blood loss,
a handgun has similar potential if the correct hard cast projectile is used and vital organs are destroyed ,
even if the handgun projectile lacks a great deal of expansion and impact energy a rifle cartridge may have.
I've shot completely through an elks chest with a 44 mag revolver, and had hard cast bullets exit,
with a 44 mag/300 grain hard cast bullet,
a 445 DWSM or 500 S&W has considerably more impact energy,
and yeah thats an advantage at times, but its no more lethal, than the 44 revolver was if the 44 mag destroys the vitals and exits.
yeah even a 357 mag , with a hard cast 160-180 grain bullet, can punch through and destroy an elks vitals with the correct ammo,
it might take a bit longer for the animal to bleed out internally but its no less lethal.












 
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