Is it really pointless to have a powerful, short-barreled revolver? I'm talking more around the 454 Casull, 460 S&W. How much velocity is lost when these calibers are used with 4-5 inch barrels as opposed to 6.5in+
2007-06-19
13:12:56
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7 answers
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asked by
Mag1527
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Sports
➔ Outdoor Recreation
➔ Hunting
I'm thinking more of a hunting side-arm, in case your rifle malfunctions or in a camp site where I wouldn't want to strap on a rifle and you're in Bear country. With a short barrel, would it still kill a bear---given it's a decently placed shot?
2007-06-19
13:50:39 ·
update #1
Chris S makes the valid point.
The purpose of a short barreled sidearm chambered for a very powerful handgun cartridge is as a last ditch defence aginst a large dangerous animal.
Someone hunting with a handgun of the same caliber will choose the longer barrel/more accurate/higher velocity version.
The short barrelled uber-mags .44RemMag, .454 Casull, .460/.500 S&W magnums are for back-up to a hunter who is seeking dangerous game with an appropriate rifle, of for a non-hunter (hiker, backpacker, camper) who is in dangerous animal territory and not looking to hunt but to simply survive a possible encounter with big angry animals.
A grizzy, kodiak, or even black bear will do some serious damage to a person if angered, annoyed, hungry, or even curious.
Same for Cape Buffalo, Rhino, Elephant, Lion, Leopard, etc., etc.,etc.
There is also the "cool" factor of owning the "most powerful" handgun out there!
It sounds silly, but it is a niche market gun makers can not and do not ignore.
2007-06-19 18:27:03
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answer #1
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answered by beavizard 3
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I believe it all depends on the intended purpose of the weapon. Most of the "snubbie" handguns that incorporate a large caliber (from .44 Magnum on up) are intended to be a backup gun for dangerous animals. While you wouldn't want one of them as your primary bear hunting weapon, they would be very reassuring when you are out hunting elk with your rifle, and you happen to be in grizzly bear country.
In order to fill this backup roll, these weapons must be designed with a certain amount of compactness in mind. Face it, not too many hunters are going to strap a 8 or 10" barrelled .460 to their belt when they are already carrying a .300 Win Mag rifle, but those same folks may very well strap a more compact (4 or 5" barrel) .460 to their belt because it is much less cumbersome and easier to deal with.
Whenever you shorten the barrel on a firearm, the potential to loose velocity exists. In the case of the handgun, there can be a significant difference between a projectile fired from an 8" barrel, and one fired from a 4" barrel. Just keep in mind that "snubbies" were designed to be used at arms length range as a last ditch effort to thwart an attack and I believe you will see their usefullness is evident.
2007-06-19 20:26:37
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answer #2
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answered by Chris S 2
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When hunting, these kinds of pistols are a great defense against animals like bear, which are plentiful here in Alaska. These handguns weight a lot in the snub barrel version, nonetheless a longer barrel. A .454 Casull with a 3" barrel isn't going to be the most accurate handgun. Something like is made for a self defense weapon when something big is headed right for you.
2007-06-19 20:40:20
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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I agree with most of the other posters that the snubby cannon is a back up weapon, not a primary hunting gun.
I originally bought my S&W, 629, 3 inch, .44 mag. simply because it was a cool looking gun. I had no real use for it. However, over the 20 odd years I've owned, it has become my favorite gun. It is accurate enough that I used it for years as my "cheat gun" in some police shoots. It has also serves as my "house gun".
I usually shoot a Blazer 240 gr. bullet out of the S&W. The same bullet out of my six inch Colt Anaconda is 150 fps faster. That still leaves me 1200 fps. My 200 gr. Winchester Silvertip, .44 Special pokes along at about 800 fps from the Smith and 875 fps from the Anaconda. The velocity loss is not enough to really concern me. I don't mess with bears.
2007-06-20 03:57:43
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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The velocity makes a difference, but the main point of the things is that they put a large hole in a vital spot. And a hard cast bullet will go where you point it with little likelihood of deflection, which is why experienced handgun hunters ignore the hype about jacketed, expanding bullets and cast those long (=good sectional density) bullets with a decent amount of tin and/or antimony for best results. It's nice to argue numbers at the campfire, but that big hole put where you want it is what does the job. After all, to stop a charge from dangerous game using energy or shock would take something like an RPG, not a handgun or rifle.
2007-06-19 22:54:01
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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Try the new S&W in 500S&W. it's offered in a short bbl version just for the guy in bear country who needs something to stop a big bear in it's tracks, yet be easily carried. Of course the muzzle blast and recoil are not for the timid. If your talking self defense at close range, no problem, but if your talking about tackling that bear at 50 yards with the gun, look to a longer bbl. and even then, you are pushing it for an open sighted handgun. It's not so much the lost velocity as it is a question of accuracy. The shorter the sight radius, the worse the accuracy.
2007-06-20 17:29:03
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answer #6
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answered by randy 7
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The concern I would have about hunting with a really short barrelled gun is effective range. The shorter the barrel the more subject the bullet's trajectory is to random variation and inaccuracy. The longer the barrel, the more stable and consistent the grouping of bullets. The trade off for a few less FPS and footpounds of impact seem to be worth the increase in accuracy.
Bowhunters know that a slow well placed shot will kill more quickly than a fast poorly placed shot.
2007-06-19 20:18:37
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answer #7
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answered by nschneeberger01 2
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