Getting into the handgun hunting game. 500 S&W

order some parts from FA today and was able to speak to the gunsmith. The 45 cylinder is to min Saami spec (same as the 454) except does not have the 7deg leadin shoulder. The nice lady taking my order says ordering from them is about 18 month leadtime

Backyardsniper said:

So with the FA and the 454 cylinder you are somewhat limited on what bullets.you can run because of the cylinder length. I had asked about this earlier in the thread and was told that was only on the model 97's.

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I apologize if my response was confusing.
I shoot both the 97 and the 83. Bullet length in the 97 45 Colt is an often discussed issue and it frustrated me when I first got mine. There are many cast bullets that will not fit without deep-seating the bullet (a common solution).
There is no length issue with jacketed bullets and that's what I shoot now.

On the other hand the "short cylinder" issue with the 454 is a less common concern and never bothered me a bit. I shot up to 315g SWC-GC and never had an issue. When you start to get to the long heavies it takes more work to find a suitable bullet.
Again, jacketed bullets are rarely a problem. I would probably choose a 300 grain Swift A-frame and be happy if I was heading to Africa for plains game.

Thanks guys! This has been immensely helpful, you all have saved me what I am positive would have been a lot of headache in trial and error and learning curve with the FA. The info about the lead time also helped a lot. I do want to order one but what I think my plan is going be is purchasing a used FA in 454 and learning to shoot it while I wait the 18 months for the custom order. I can either then keep or sell the used one to help pay for the custom. You all have been a wealth of knowledge on the loading specifics and what the gun will and will not do
My plan is probably to buy a large batch of XTP bullets and if I need to tackle anything larger swift makes a 325gr A frame that should do anything I need. I can always snag a box of buffalo bore hard cast if I need some for bear defense or something like that. 90% of this guns diet will be moderate loaded hornady XTP's for target practice and local hunting. I will possibly get a 45 cylinder made for the used gun if I cant find a gun that already has one.

Were it not for really wanting the octagon barrel I would get this one, although I think I prefer the wood grips too.

I'm leaning towards a shorter barrel, I just like short barrels, I think the easier something is to carry and handle the more you will actually use it. There is a 6" on gun international with an "action job" trigger over travel screw and magna-port for $2900.
There is an older model a little more used with pachmyer grips and 4-3/4" barrel for around $2500. Any yea's or Nays on the shorter barrel or the Magna porting. The 6" gun comes with box and invoice from 2008. It looks to have bene used very little I'm guessing.

i have only 1 FA with overtravel screw. Good for targets but as FA points out for hunting, possibility of debris stopping the travel.
I would not want porting. The 454 muzzle pressure with 300gn at 1400fps
is 9670psi for 6" and for 4.75", 12799psi ! and with the shorter barrel, more unburnt powder exits. For hunting, I did get 7.5" in both 44 and 454 for the longer sight radius, velocity and reduced muzzle blast. But I think 6" is good way to go and would not need a chest holster.

Jefferry404 said:

i have only 1 FA with overtravel screw. Good for targets but as FA points out for hunting, possibility of debris stopping the travel.
I would not want porting. The 454 muzzle pressure with 300gn at 1400fps
is 9670psi for 6" and for 4.75", 12799psi ! and with the shorter barrel, more unburnt powder exits. For hunting, I did get 7.5" in both 44 and 454 for the longer sight radius, velocity and reduced muzzle blast. But I think 6" is good way to go and would not need a chest holster.

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I think the 6" may be a good compromise. I plan to run an RMR on it but the 6" probably would be a good way to go. I didnt think about getting stuff behind the over travel screw. That's a good point and I was curious about the Magna porting. I will probbaly pass on that gun. I'm gonna look into the 4-3/4 and 6" I may take a road trip if I can find a store that has some in stock so I can actually put my hands on one. I work a swing shift and I'm about to start my 7 day break when I get off work tonight. May have to burn some of this high priced gas and go see one of these guns in person.

Looks like SMJ is about 7 hours from my house. I think I can pull that off.

I've had an FA 83 454 in 4.75", 6" and 7.5". I now just have a pair of 6" - octagon and round. I sold the others after playing with them a while.

I like the 6" the best for hunting but you might feel differently.
I should mention that the 4.75" feels the best in my hand but I shoot better with the 6".

I see a few for sale with pachmyer grips. Are those older models or is that something that people have just changed out on there own. Any reason to steer clear of those?
I have tried like hell to find a store with one in stock so I can actually put my hands on one just to see if I like it and I cant find one anywhere. Except one on Guns international for sale at the cabelas on onowokonak Minnesota. It's about a 10 hour drive, but it is a 4.75" 454 with pachmyer grips. They want $2500 for it.

Last year a friend took his buffalo with a 500 S&W and an accupoint.

That's a good deal if you like the barrel length, express sights and Pachmayr grips.
I've never shot the Pachmayr grips.

Those grips are no longer made. They used to be included on Field Grade 83s.
They are probably not original to that revolver and the grip screw is not original.
Be aware - after shipping costs you'd spend about $500 getting a set of laminated hardwood grips from FA. Each grip set is custom made to fit your revolver perfectly. There are no off the shelf grips available for FAs.

Since you seem to be new to single action revolvers I'd like to mention another issue:

The FA 83 has an older style action with no transfer bar. If dropped and the hammer hits a hard surface it can discharge. It is safest carried with only 4 in the cylinder and an empty chamber under the hammer - just like a Colt SAA.
This does require attention when hunting because it is not rare to cock the hammer then let it back down when the shot doesn't work out.

Some will tell you that this precaution is not needed. I don't agree - but that's up to you.

The BFR single actions have a transfer bar and can be carried fully loaded - might be nice if hunting dangerous game.
Double action 454 such as Ruger Super Redhawk can also be carried fully loaded. These are commonly found used at Cabelas.

I hunt almost exclusively with handguns.
Energy=mass x velocity, and handguns don't have velocity. Handgun and rifle ballistics just are not the same game. Things like the 460 too much of a good thing IMHO, and in a crazy heavy frame. What is the point? You don't keep velocity with a .45 caliber flatnose flatbase bullet.

I find a 475 Linebaugh has more of a push recoil than a snap like a 454/460. I use solids exclusively, because who needs a jacketed bullet to expand? The diameter of the solid is already more than many softs expand to. I tried XTPs, and they fail on anything hard. Solids penetrate for days, and do the job every time.

I've had success on Cape Buffalo, giraffe, bears, moose and the like with a 5.5" barrel with iron sights. And the gun weighs around 44oz vs 94oz for a S&W. It is practical and carry-able, and doesn't need a brake to be shootable. I'm not sure what else you would want.

Pachmyar grips are awful. Bisley grips roll in the hand just right, and are far easier to manage recoil with. Rubber just grips you hands and torques your wrist. Ruger Bisley, Linebaugh conversions, and FA revolvers use them for a reason. Even with stout loads in lighter revolvers, they are very shootable.

FA97s are a smaller frame than the 83s.

I don't get the point to having a rifle barrel on a pistol. Buy a 4 3/4 lb rifle if your going to use a barrel that goes down to your knees. Handgun accuracy is a very perishable skill. The idea that a 7.5" barrel sight radius over 5-6" will make up for this is crazy. It takes a ton of practice, more practice, and then not forgetting to practice after the season is over and the next one is about to start.

I didn't read all of the replies but I've been a big bore handgun guy for years...Linebaughs, Freedom Arms, etc with heavy loads. They are not for most people and require a lot of practice to control them. Those skills are perishable and without practice they don't last. It's also pretty hard on your elbows and wrists. One alternative that I have enjoyed is shooting the 500 S&W in the lever gun from Big Horn Armory. Lots of options and they do a nice job with wood as well as a take down version. That cartridge is better suited in a carbine than handgun length as well.

I’m surprised at the dislike for the 7.5” single actions. I love mine and own 4, two rugers and two colts. I just love the way they sit in my hand.

Wyatt Smith said:

I’m surprised at the dislike for the 7.5” single actions. I love mine and own 4, two rugers and two colts. I just love the way they sit in my hand.

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Because you really don't gain anything except crappy holster choices and extra weight.

A handgun is really meant for all day carry. I see so many guys buy 7.5s and then after fishing with it all day, or trying to get some work done or wood chopped, they realize that damn thing is always in the way. Then it sits in the truck, and isn't being worn when actually needed. I've shot plenty of big bores, and I've never felt like any recoil or blast improvement was to be had over a 5" (2 1/2 in barrel, yes; but that is for when a bear is chewing on your arm, not hunting per se). Seems like every time I see a chest rig on a dashboard, it has a 7.5 or 10 barrel. 5-6" stay on the belt where it aught to be. Match shooters stopped at 6" a long time ago because the sight radius after that is of no real improvement.

So, I'll ask it the opposite way. What real world good does that extra PITA barrel gain you?

When I started handgun hunting I used a Ruger Bisley 7.5" 44 mag and killed several deer and a hog or two.
That revolver was fairly comfortable to wear all day as long as I was standing and walking. However, the 7.5" barrel often got in the way when sitting on the ground or jumping in the truck for a change of location.
When I got my first FA it was a 6" 454. I liked that length much better and have never hunted with a longer revolver since. I've also hunted quite a bit with a 5.5" FA 97 which is a joy to carry. It's the only revolver I hunt with unless I'm hunting something larger than deer.

I should mention that I only used iron sights back then and like akrifleman, I saw no loss of accuracy going from 7.5" to 5.5 or 6".
I did see a drop in accuracy with 4-4.75" barrel at 50 yards (not so much at 25 yards).
This was from field positions. I rarely bench revolvers because I don't hunt that way.