Revolver long range?

Tiny Tim said:

If that is the same as the LBT WFN (hard cast), make sure it's legal. Many states require expanding bullets for big game hunting.

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I have had discussions with many different Enforcement officers in a few different states, and none of them had issues with cast bullets being used in my revolvers or single shots.

Hard cast bullets will actually expand/deform a bit when hitting game.

I have shot close to 75 deer with my 44 mag. I run Hornady XTP @1300 fps out of a 6.5" ported barrel. Started with a scope, went to a red dot. 30 years ago... Now I could not shoot iron sights. I did it until 8 to 10 years ago when my eyes could not focus on the front sight anymore, so I retired my iron sights. Great for plinking, kept shots on game under 50 yards.
What is long distance? 125 for me:
The XTP bullet has a hollow point that will expand on bigger deer (stag) and DRT most if shot in teh correct spot right out to 100. I once shot a stag at 140 and he hesitated, roared again with some blood spittle and I sent another one at him and still he stood. Not happy but he stood, so I ran towards him, dropped and fired one more that dropped him. Both bullets at 140 were recovered under far side hide with no visible expansion. The third one at 120 was recovered and mushroomed perfectly.
On whitetail, all the ones I have shot with the XTP ran unless spined out to 111 yards. I opened the hollow point with a 1/8" drill and went 0.10" deeper, removing 9 grains of lead and they now have the same effect on whitetail as on stags. If i didn't have so many XTP 240's I would probably just purchase some hollow points with bigger openings, but this works and is a lot of fun.
On revolver shots I like to avoid a clean pass through to ensure the limited energy dump stays inside the animal.
So, at 1300 fps, 100 yards on deer is long range.
SnT

wilkup said:

I've never heard of any sort of bullet requirements, only caliber minimums for big game. I'll have to check it out.

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Wisconsin expressly states it (at least used to). That large flat meplat will leave a golf ball sized wound channel side to side, front to rear, virtually any angle on a deer.

That big meplat really does a number, no doubt. I've seen it firsthand on a deer I took last season. Shot at an angle, and the wound channel was huge—way bigger than expected. The thing about those rounds is they work from any angle, and that's the kind of reliability I look for. Speaking of, I've been tinkering with an old revolver lately and found a place, which has been a solid resource for getting some replacement revolver parts. It's been a fun project and surprisingly straightforward. Might be worth a look if you're ever fixing up something on the side.

Nice single action, I'm no great shot, and both my single action black hawks are pretty darn accurate out at 100y milk jugs on a solid rest.

sable tireur said:

Silhouette Target Pistols and a .44 Magnum Revolver are two completely different firearms. The sighting systems alone are enough to be difficult to adjust to at 200 yards.

I would give consideration to having the revolver sights refined for longer range hunting up to your 200 yard suggestion.

The sighting systems used on the Silhouette handguns are excellent! They just will cause problems trying to adapt them to your revolver.

There are still a couple of great pistol smiths around so it might be a good idea to open a discussion with them for suggestions regarding your thinking. You might be surprised with the outcome!

Enjoy the process!

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If you are willing to put a Bomar rear sight you would be good to go. My 8" Dan Wesson 44 had factory sights and I consistently shot 38 - 39 with it shooting IHMSA silhouette. Could usually get 3 or 4 shoot off chickens. They are a lot smaller then deer vitals. And you can use a rest.