Author Topic: Can I do it? (Read 1051 times)

Mr. Curious · « **on:** October 27, 2005, 11:04:36 AM »

Hello everyone!
I have been hunting with pistols for only about 4 years now and I have a question. I have tried SBH,SRH,S&W,taurus,tc,desert eagles, to hunt with and it seems I like the double action grip better. I currently only have a model 19 6" and a PC 500 10 1/2". Recoil has not bothered me much but it seems to me that the single actions hurt more to me. I have owned a 454 in SRH and didn't think it was to bad at all, but the 7 1/2" SBH in 44 seemed to hurt more to me.BUT I really want a FA in 41,44,475. Should I go for it or just stick with my double actions?

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** October 27, 2005, 11:23:15 AM »

You and I share something in common. Seems we both really prefer the recoil of the double actions and find single actions somewhat painful. So let me give you my experience with the FA guns to help guide you since we seem to have a commonality in the way we deal with recoil.

I find the FA83 in .454 Casull just plain punishing on recoil with iron sights. Even loads like the Hornady 240 and 300 XTP factory loads hurt. Stuff from COR-BON and Buffalo Bore bring blood. I can deal with them with a scope mounted for a few shots but without a glove the latter two still bring blood from time to time. The Winchester 250 grain mid range load is pleasant.

The FA83 in .44 Mag is not bad. Scoped all loads I've shot have been fine. Not fun mind you but not bad. No blood at least. I think this should remain so even with iron sights which I still need to verify. They are no more than the .454 Winchester mid range load so should be OK to shoot even with irons. I think you'll be able to deal with it OK.

While I've not shot an FA83 in .41 I have an FA97 and that's NOT fun with full house loads. Neither is the FA97 in .45 Colt with the Buffalo Bore loads. Blood was lost and it dang sure hurt. With lighter loads it was a fun gun. The FA97 in .44 Special is to me about ideal. Nice comfortable shooting gun and quite accurate. It might be the best of them for a person like us who prefers a double action deep down inside. But the FA83 in .44 magnum is a real close runner up to it for best choice. If hunting is the main use it might even be the best.

Avoid the .475 Linebaugh at all cost. Leave it to the folks to prefer single action recoil.

Mr. Curious · « **Reply #2 on:** October 27, 2005, 12:46:31 PM »

Thanks greybeard,
I want a 6" with express sights. I wonder how much recoil the magna ports help reduce? My 500 is ported and it is a pussycat with 350 and 400. I don't mind the extra noise b/c a revolver is loud anyway and I wear electronic muffs for hunting anyway. I would like to find out.

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** October 27, 2005, 01:20:21 PM »

I've always considered it kinda silly to put ports on the barrel of a single action revolver. All the really do is to reduce barrel rise. The barrel rising and the grip slipping in the hand is the way single actions are supposed to handle recoil. So putting the ports on makes it work more like a double action grip yet the grip shape is not designed to work that way. Dunno maybe it's just me but that sure seems dumb to me.

But in fairness I've never tried one. Doubt I ever will. The idea just don't compute to me. Agree they work nicely on a double action but the the barrel rising and grip slipping in hand is NOT the way they handle recoil.

TScottO · « **Reply #4 on:** October 27, 2005, 01:28:10 PM »

Not being opposed to SA recoil I cannot say to or not to. I would say, however, if you are the type of person that wants a great gun in a quality package like you will find nowhere else, you should own one.

My advice would be to look around your area real hard, even if you had to drive a piece, find someone that has a FA similar to what you want and ask them if you can take it for a test drive. It would be an expensive gamble to buy one and hope. Take a minute and search the gun auctions and see what they are selling for used vs. what you would have to pay for a new one. Youll see that losing 200 bucks is real easy to do, maybe more.

Magna-porting might be for you or it might not be. It seems there are two camps: one group loves it while the other despises. I hear of very few people with the take it or leave it attitude towards Magna-porting. I have also seen FA's guns with a brake type supressor and hear they work well but I do not know who makes them.

Comparing the SAs you mentioned you have shot, in my opinion, the SBH is one of the worst grip designs for heavy recoil. See if you can shoot a Ruger Bisley. That will be as close as you can get to FA recoil without actually shooting one.

If you live around south central Mississippi you are welcome to try mine.

Take Care,
Scott

Mr. Curious · « **Reply #5 on:** October 28, 2005, 03:55:28 AM »

I live in northwestern Oklahoma and I don't know of anyone who was a FA, but I will continue to look. I don't mind the SRH but I don't want I long barrel or to scope it. My 500 has an Eo-tech and it is my long range gun(100yds). I look at pistol hunting as a close encounter situation and would like at iron sighted revolver for about 50 to 60 yards. I know where I hunt with all the huge wheat and milo fields I am putting myself at a disadvantage for hunting with a handgun, but I am 31 and enjoy the challenge of getting close. Anyone can sit in a shooting tower with their high powered magnum rifle and with practice get very good at longe Shooting, but that is it---Shooting--not IMHO hunting. I want to see their nostrils flare and the whites of their eyes. There is nothing like getting close to a mature animal and it realizing something isn't quite right as you start squeezing on the trigger. Also, when it's over and the shot is true and the animal is yours the sudden onset of nervousness, testerone rush, and pure adrenaline that flows through you is the best medicine in the world for me. Enough about my ideas of hunting, like I said I will have to find someone with an FA to try out.

Thanks for all the insights.

Graybeard · « **Reply #6 on:** October 28, 2005, 04:59:07 AM »

I believe the FA97 in .44 Special or the FA83 in .44 Magnum either would be an excellent choice for you. The recoil level of these two guns is perfectly acceptable to me with any sane load for the two rounds. So I think you'd find it the same.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 28, 2005, 11:11:46 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard

I've always considered it kinda silly to put ports on the barrel of a single action revolver. All the really do is to reduce barrel rise. The barrel rising and the grip slipping in the hand is the way single actions are supposed to handle recoil. So putting the ports on makes it work more like a double action grip yet the grip shape is not designed to work that way. Dunno maybe it's just me but that sure seems dumb to me.

But in fairness I've never tried one. Doubt I ever will. The idea just don't compute to me. Agree they work nicely on a double action but the the barrel rising and grip slipping in hand is NOT the way they handle recoil.

I have a BFR in 500 Mag and have it Mag-na-ported. It still recoils like a single action but a lot less. I found it more controllable than without it being Mag-na-ported. So it was not a dumb idea in my opinion, it works. So it does not make a single action recoil like a double action.

Onty · « **Reply #8 on:** November 21, 2005, 04:22:09 PM »

Quote from: Graybeard

...I find the FA83 in .454 Casull just plain punishing on recoil with iron sights. Even loads like the Hornady 240 and 300 XTP factory loads hurt. Stuff from COR-BON and Buffalo Bore bring blood...

Bill, when FA like 454 recoils, what brings blood? Is the hammer that hits hand during rotation, trigger guard hits middle finger or just straight recoil with the grip hitting the hand? Thanks.

Graybeard · « **Reply #9 on:** November 21, 2005, 05:16:47 PM »

It's the hammer. I have shot double actions so many years I have developed a very light grip when shooting. With a double action it doesn't tend to roll in the hand and so the hammer doesn't get me. But with a single action eventually I forget to hold tighter and it bites me. Besides I have arthritis in my hands really badly and don't have a real strong grip any way.

So with the heavy recoiling single actions it rolls up and the hammer cuts me.

SJPrice · « **Reply #10 on:** November 23, 2005, 05:51:43 AM »

Bill,

I find the same problem when I shoot heavy +P loads out of my 4 1/2 inch 45 BH. It rolls (more like snaps) back and the hammer HURTS. On the other hand with my 4 1/2 inch 475 Linebaugh the recoil roll back is slower and more controlable. I know the weight of my 475 is better matched to the recoil than the Ruger BH weight is matched to the +P loads and that has a major impact. I find I would much prefer to shoot mid to moderate 400 grain loads from the 475 which are more than adequate for any game under 1,000 pounds (excluding Browns and Grizzlies) than to fire 300 grain "hunting" (44 mag level) loads from my BH. I wonder if the preasure curve and caliber have an effect on the way the recoil behaves as well. Any thoughts anyone?

454PB · « **Reply #11 on:** November 23, 2005, 07:51:59 AM »

I own a FA83 with 4 3/4" barrel, a Ruger SRH with 7 1/2" barrel, and a Tuarus RB with 6 1/2" barrel. For me, the SRH is the worst to shoot, the Taurus next, and the FA last. I know it doesn't seem logical, but that's the way I see it. I learned long ago to wear a good padded shooting glove with all my big bore handguns.

I mostly shoot 310 gr. to 330 gr cast gas checked bullets at from 1400 to 1600 fps, depending on which gun I'm chronographing. If you feel the lighter bullets will do the job, they will also reduce recoil.

I replaced the Ruger grips with a set of Hogues, and that seemed to help a lot. I also feel that the Pachmayer grips on the FA 83 help a lot, although they are butt ugly. The Taurus is fine as supplied.

One point to consider is that the FA can only be safely carried with 4 rounds, the Taurus 5 rounds, and the Ruger with 6.