Big bore dilemma.

I’ve played very little with it and haven’t worked any loads for it but have played with some factory loads in testing. It would depend on what I’m hunting. I would use a 300 grain TSX as fast as I could push it but for big-game that could hurt me, I would want a good flat-nosed monolithic solid at a high velocity. General use I would alow it down and run a good hard cast bullet probably from Rimrock.

This is what would get the nod for dangerous game as long as it’s accurate out of my revolver.

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=544

I have always been a big proponent of hard cast bullets for hunting. Five years ago we created the annual Bovine Bash, a gathering in Hondo, TX with the express purpose of testing handgun bullets/loads/caliber combinations on bovine flesh - big animals that test the upper limits of handgun terminal effectiveness. Over the course of a few days we knock down numerous bovines to include Watusi, water buffalo, bison, long horn, etc. through the course of this gathering, we have tested numerous bullets at a variety of velocities and calibers and have seen an alarming rate of failure in the cast bullet realm. Granted, Bovine support bones are heavier than most animals, but the results have been telling. I still use them in a limited capacity but the shiny has warn off a bit for me. Monolithic solids on the other hand.....

You can get .452's up to 400gr and that is more than enough for anything that walks or crawls. I expect more penetration out of a 300-325gr monometal. +500gr bullets in the .45-70 are not really an advantage.

Obturation said:

Im not sure any of that is true. In a rifle at least the 45-70 is significantly more powerful. I havent seen any .452 projectiles over 360 grains, if theyre out there please direct me to the source. 45-70s are loaded well over 500 grains regularly. Im not saying youre wrong, just curious as to where you got the information.

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We are talking about pistols, not rifles. In <10" barrels 45-70 is just wasting powder. The .460 was designed for those barrel lengths and absolutely outperforms 45-70 there. If heavy bullets is your desire, you can find factory ammo at 400+ gr, or load your own with sized 45-70 cast stuff. They also make 45-70 bullets undersized for paper patching.

I have the 460 bfr in a 7.5” barrel. My friend has the same configuration in a 45/70. We have tried most heavy +p 45/70 loads and the 460 out powers it out of a pistol handily. I put a cape buff down with one shot. Dropped an eland at 90 yards and it ran 25 yards and was down. Itll shoot aframes to the offside hide and just wreck the insides. My ph has taken many many big name handgun hunters on safari and he stated “forget the 500, that thing kills better than any handgun ive ever seen!” My son took and xvr in 2013 demolishing a lion a blue wildebeest and an impala. I used a 454 with aframes that trip on a lion and cape buff. Went again in 2015 and took some plains game and in 2018 took cape buff and 12 other animals. From warthog and impala up to eland and cape buff and all were down in less than 100 yds..........combined. All were taken with the same 300gr swift aframe factory load. With monometal solids it literally cuts thru like a hot knife thru butter. I could kill two easily if they were shoulder to shoulder and may pass thru both with the monometal solids. They handily out penetrate heavier hardcasts. Heavier bullets arent needed, period. The 7.5” long frame bfr balances well. Just like my 10”fa. Handles recoil better with the bfr bisley grip. If you want a bigger than 454 in a normal sized pistol a 500jrh is absolutely the way to go. Imho it handily outpaces the 475, which i feel the 454 does anyway with the right bullets (that arent even available in 475), but the jrh has a great bullet selection. My eldest son has been ridiculously successful with his combo which is a toklat as a belt gun and a 7.5” bfr 500 jrh. Look to monometal solids and that 325 aframe bullet from swift. Absolute lighting in a bottle. At the bovine bash the 500 jrh with punch and monometals handily outpenetrates the bigger bullets out of any of the other 500’s. Period. No question. Max p has proven this in spades and it is the go to 500 if you dont like the 500sw platforms though i will say the 500sw bfr with a 7.5” barrel is likely the most powerful handgun you can fire offhand. Just get the idea that ultra heavy hardcasts are an advantage out if your head! They arent. A good monometal solid is the way to go for max penetration. The guys that punch paper in the western hills have it wrong. A 475 linebaugh is at its best with a 330 lehigh or 340 ceb solid copper bullet, not 400+ grain hardcasts. Same goes in every revolver caliber! Btw. To the OP, Great start with the toklat. I love that gun! 460 or 500 smith bfr or a 500jrh bfr is where i would go. 460 has the most uses. A 500 smith has perhaps more power but it isnt killing anything any deader, and the 500 jrh is the most portable. Pick your poison.

Dibbs said:

The only thing I've got is the last guy who I talked to who used a 45-70 pistol fractured a couple bones in his hand and wrist.

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A friend had a Lone Eagle in .460 Weatherby Magnum. Recoil was more manageable than his .454 Casull. I never much liked the Freedom Arms grips anyway.

With only a 10" barrel, most of the powder went to beachball-sized muzzle flash. Really short SBRs and SBSs tend to have mild recoil for the same reason. I shot a couple of boxes of commercial .460 through it; it was big barrels of fun.


A different friend actually owns a .45-70 revolver. He bought it in the mid-80s. I can't remember the manufacturer, but it looks more or less like an SAA. I never shot it, but he said the gun started getting rattly and having timing problems after a few boxes of ammo; the company apparently went out of business right about when he bought the thing.

TRX said:

A different friend actually owns a .45-70 revolver. He bought it in the mid-80s. I can't remember the manufacturer, but it looks more or less like an SAA. I never shot it, but he said the gun started getting rattly and having timing problems after a few boxes of ammo; the company apparently went out of business right about when he bought the thing.

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Probably that big brass framed Century. I handled one 25yrs ago when I worked in a gun shop. Right out of the box it would not carry-up.

Obturation said:

Been researching and looking around, comparing and thinking. I think its going to be the 500 jrh. Really appreciate all the input and knowledge from you all . Dont know why i hadnt considered it before but the size of firearm and projectile choices make the jrh just what im looking for. Now i have to make up my mind on platform, the bfr obviously being the most cost effective and easiest to get. If any of you watch kentucky ballistics on youtube, he did a 45-70 bfr with a 3" barrel video yesterday - that looked interesting but too odd for me. Any opinions on ideal barrel length for the 500 jrh? Im thinking 5-6".

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Wise choice! You will not be disappointed! For me, the 5 1/2-inch BFR is the way to go. My first .500 JRH BFR had a 6 1/2-inch barrel, but to me the shorter barrel balances better and it will still get you more than adequate velocity. I have taken some big animals with the .500 JRH and have owned just about every .50 cal iteration, but the JRH is the most logical option in my humble opinion. The Cape buffalo in my avatar was taken last year with a 5 1/2-inch BFR in .500 JRH.

Obturation said:

Ill take that into consideration, i think i would be ok though. Just never held the 45-70 brf, let alone fired one. Bones grow back, right?

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Arthritis develops and it can be debilitating. Trust me. I’m a radiologist. It’s not worth it.




I have 3 454 Casull (Alaskan, Toklat and SRH), a 460xvr, a 500 Magnum (5”).


If you reload, it doesn’t take much to get into a 500 Magnum. It has one of the widest range of loads, from 500 special to heavy 700 gr 500 Magnum.




I don’t see the use of a rifle round in a handgun/revolver.

CDR_Glock said:

Arthritis develops and it can be debilitating. Trust me. I’m a radiologist. It’s not worth it.

View attachment 830269View attachment 830270


I have 3 454 Casull (Alaskan, Toklat and SRH), a 460xvr, a 500 Magnum (5”).


If you reload, it doesn’t take much to get into a 500 Magnum. It has one of the widest range of loads, from 500 special to heavy 700 gr 500 Magnum.

View attachment 830271View attachment 830272


I don’t see the use of a rifle round in a handgun/revolver.

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Now that's what they meant by stairway to heaven !

@CDR_Glock ,very nice collection you have there,but not one single action revolver?!?

CDR_Glock said:

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Now, that's rockin' around the clock............

Regardless of the potential ballistics of a 45-70 in a revolver, I just think it’s nothing I’d be interested in.

I’d much sooner go for a 475 or 500.

Another suggesting an S&W 460 Magnum.

A number of years ago, I stumbled into a deal on a new S&W 460XVR. Full power loads are impressive and controllable in the big X-frame.

While you can shoot 45 Colt and 454 Casull in the gun, I found a load for heavy 45 Colt level ammunition for the 460 Mag cases. It makes the gun very pleasant to plink with.

Besides, the 460 XVR started me collecting 8-3/8" long barrel S&W's, I'm up to 8 different models of various cartridges.