I was always a 357 Magnum guy, at the most. I love my 627 8 shot 357 Performance Center and 586 L-Comp 7 shot.
I never thought I would go beyond it. I'm not a flincher but I didn't want to develop one with the bigger calibers.
Now I already only shoot 357 Magnums in a Snubby but my friend warmed me up to 38 +P, too. So I have alternated, on occasions. My carry is a Kimber K6S with 158 gr JHP as a backup to my Glock 19 MOS.
One day I saw a S&W 629 at a gun show. I told my friend about it and said, "Don't be surprised if I got it." He gave me an offer I couldn't refuse, his 44, a red dot, a reloading press and reloading supplies....it was an offer I couldn't refuse. Particularly for how much he offered it for.
My first big bore was my friend's S&W PC 629 Hunter. Great trigger. Shooting with a red dot is child's play. Problem with high magnification scopes is the accentuated drift with higher power. I prefer 1X. My friend gave me his Dillon 450 progressive, along with supplies, with the 629 and red dot. I took to it very well, and recoil wasn't bad. Not like a 357 Magnum Snubby.
I traded a rifle for my first Ruger Big Bore. It was a SRH 454 Casull. It handles recoil very easily. I only load 454 Casull into it. Some people like to just shoot Colt 45/+P. I then moved up to the Smith 500 Magnum. I love the power and my favorite load is Hornady XTP 350 gr. It has been a learning curve for the 500 since there isn't a lot of data in each book so I bought the Speer, Hornady and Lyman. I've also loaded 500 gr 500 Magnums. Hahahaha. Very spicy. Haven't gotten my hands on a 700+ grain yet, but I want to try it.
Reading about the flatter shooting 460 XVR I decided to acquire that, also. Flat shooter out to 200 yards with a 200 gr bullet.
I started reloading for these guys in a single stage Hornady Lock N Load. I did get three different powder measures for each large bore: 454 Casull, 460 and the 500 Magnum.
Wanting something as a bear defensive gun, too, I was torn between the Alaskan and Toklat, so I got both, in 454 Casull.
Seeing that I can handle the large bores, I wanted a 44 Snubby. Just for fun in the lighter 240 gr loads, but it can handle hot Buffalo Bore 44, too.
So here I am, now....
It all started LAST FALL when he sold me my first 44 Magnum.
If you can handle a 357 Snubby, and you don't flinch. You can handle virtually any other caliber, in my opinion.
I never thought I would go beyond it. I'm not a flincher but I didn't want to develop one with the bigger calibers.
Now I already only shoot 357 Magnums in a Snubby but my friend warmed me up to 38 +P, too. So I have alternated, on occasions. My carry is a Kimber K6S with 158 gr JHP as a backup to my Glock 19 MOS.
One day I saw a S&W 629 at a gun show. I told my friend about it and said, "Don't be surprised if I got it." He gave me an offer I couldn't refuse, his 44, a red dot, a reloading press and reloading supplies....it was an offer I couldn't refuse. Particularly for how much he offered it for.
My first big bore was my friend's S&W PC 629 Hunter. Great trigger. Shooting with a red dot is child's play. Problem with high magnification scopes is the accentuated drift with higher power. I prefer 1X. My friend gave me his Dillon 450 progressive, along with supplies, with the 629 and red dot. I took to it very well, and recoil wasn't bad. Not like a 357 Magnum Snubby.
I traded a rifle for my first Ruger Big Bore. It was a SRH 454 Casull. It handles recoil very easily. I only load 454 Casull into it. Some people like to just shoot Colt 45/+P. I then moved up to the Smith 500 Magnum. I love the power and my favorite load is Hornady XTP 350 gr. It has been a learning curve for the 500 since there isn't a lot of data in each book so I bought the Speer, Hornady and Lyman. I've also loaded 500 gr 500 Magnums. Hahahaha. Very spicy. Haven't gotten my hands on a 700+ grain yet, but I want to try it.
Reading about the flatter shooting 460 XVR I decided to acquire that, also. Flat shooter out to 200 yards with a 200 gr bullet.
I started reloading for these guys in a single stage Hornady Lock N Load. I did get three different powder measures for each large bore: 454 Casull, 460 and the 500 Magnum.
Wanting something as a bear defensive gun, too, I was torn between the Alaskan and Toklat, so I got both, in 454 Casull.
Seeing that I can handle the large bores, I wanted a 44 Snubby. Just for fun in the lighter 240 gr loads, but it can handle hot Buffalo Bore 44, too.
So here I am, now....
It all started LAST FALL when he sold me my first 44 Magnum.
If you can handle a 357 Snubby, and you don't flinch. You can handle virtually any other caliber, in my opinion.