Big Bore carry/general purpose outdoorsmen revolver pic and discussion thread

[LSP972]

Yet another example of manufacturing expediency screwing up a good thing. Don't know exactly when S&W went all-in on round butts, but to me, a round butt on anything bigger than a K frame snubbie is a bit… ludicrous.

I bought a Ruger Vaquero a while back. I don't recall the specific name, but it had a short (3.5") barrel and the "birdshead" grip frame. That felt real good in the store, but sucked large when shooting it. I dunno, maybe I simply don't have enough SSA experience (this was my first- and probably last- "thumb buster") to appreciate the difference, but it was distinctly uncomfortable to shoot.

I can only imagine what shooting a heavy-recoiling DA revolver with a round butt is like; I know a 2.5 or 3 inch barreled RB K frame ain't no picnic with magnums.

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[GJM]

I have a N frame .44 mag Nightguard (short barrel, round butt) that I shoe-horned the small Hogue K/L grips on. Recoil is prodigious.

[Hizzie]

Picked it up today. Cannot speak on the recoil control but damn that round butt fits my hand and the trigger reach appears better than my GP100's. Did I mention the sub 10lb factory DA pull?

[Malamute]

Yet another example of manufacturing expediency screwing up a good thing. Don't know exactly when S&W went all-in on round butts, but to me, a round butt on anything bigger than a K frame snubbie is a bit… ludicrous.

I bought a Ruger Vaquero a while back. I don't recall the specific name, but it had a short (3.5") barrel and the "birdshead" grip frame. That felt real good in the store, but sucked large when shooting it. I dunno, maybe I simply don't have enough SSA experience (this was my first- and probably last- "thumb buster") to appreciate the difference, but it was distinctly uncomfortable to shoot.

I can only imagine what shooting a heavy-recoiling DA revolver with a round butt is like; I know a 2.5 or 3 inch barreled RB K frame ain't no picnic with magnums.

.

I don't find the birdshead or round butt single actions to be very comfortable or handle well. The flair in the butt of the regular grip helps index the heel of the hand when shooting/cocking one handed, and give a better grip even when shooting two handed. I'm not all that high speed, but started out shooting single actions as a kid and haven't been without one since the early 70's. I agree with your assessment.

[Hizzie]

Quick pics, crap lighting.


Kodiak Backpacker vs 642


Trigger reach. I wear medium exam gloves and large mechanix.

[HCM]

Hizzie, who did that front sight on your 642 ? Looks interesting.

[Hizzie]

Hizzie, who did that front sight on your 642 ? Looks interesting.

Don Williams of The Action Works many years ago. It is tritium.

[Hizzie]

[Tamara]

Yet another example of manufacturing expediency screwing up a good thing. Don't know exactly when S&W went all-in on round butts...

For a while, during the Aughties. Although they backed off a bit with the "Classic Reissues" because the Aulde Pharte brigade on S&W forums threatened to hold their breath until they turned blue.

When you think about it, it makes sense that if you're going to standardize on one frame shape, it should be the round butt; you can always make a round-butt square with a set of conversion stocks, but you can't make a square butt round without a bench grinder. (I will add that I think a ≥ 6" round butt looks dumb.)

Personally, the fact is that the original Model 21 TRS's being round-butt guns saved me from having to make fellow S&W collectors get all butthurt and weepy by taking my .44 HE Third Model to the aforementioned bench grinder. I think the RB works a jillion times better for behind-the-hip CCW on an N-frame than the square butt.

[Lost River]

That new snubby Redhawk looks uber-cool!