I thought I would come here first for help! I have a 454 super red hawk 6.5 casull and a 7 shot 357 6.5 smith and wessin. My question is, which gun would be best for big game huntting? Deer, Elk. I also have a 44 mag, does anyone know like 123 wich gun would do the job the best? Thanks for all your help! Cosmo.

Within reasonable range limits and good hardcast bullets all three will work. I've used the 44 mag with great results on deer and black bear over a long period. given your choices the 44 or 45 with hardcast large meplat bullets at anywhere above 1100 fps will do an excellent job.

Keep in mind that the 44 even at slightly above 44 special velocities will carry more energy than the 357 mag. I've hunted with the 41 mag and 44 mag since the early 70's and both of those do an excellent job. Used a 210 grain Kieth style hard cast in the 41 at 1250 fps and a 255 grain Kieth style in the 44 at 1250 fps. Both kill black bear and deer well past a hundred yards.

My vote is a bigger bore than the 357, but folks are killing deer with them. If you decide to go that route do use a good bullet like the hardcast Marshall sells here on Beartooth bullets and try to keep your ranges under 50 yards.

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Bob from Idaho

Do you use a scop with your gun? I was thinking about putting one on my causll?

I've scoped several handguns, but found that I like a red dot scope much better. Most scopes will magnify any shake to the point that you really need a rest to shoot it well. Along with that eye scope alignment holding a scope at arms length can also be a problem. It takes very little misalignment to have the scope black out. Not something I want to happen out bear hunting at close handgun ranges.

I finally went to an Aimpoint for the best accuracy I could get. When you get to a sporting goods store try holding some pistol revolver scope out at arms length with one hand. You'll find that it's much easier with a red dot scope than even a 2 power pistol scope. I've found that without a solid rest a 2 by 7 pistol scope is near unusable turned up to 7 power.

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Bob from Idaho

I would opt for the .45, but you don't have to jack the velocites up to be effective. My SRH in .454 really likes the 347 grain hardcasts I have used as well as 360s. I have even killed a couple of critters with 400 grain bullets in my Casull. The key is keeping the velocity moderate.

I too use a red dot on my .475 SRH -- an Ultradot 30 ($135.00 shipped). They are great in low-light situations.

I was just talking to the place that sold me the 454 casull and he was telling me that my gun will just tare up a red dot scope becouse of the re coil.....is that true???? I have had to put lock tight on the grip screw and the cilnder screw to keep them from foling out. He was saying open sites is all i can do!!!???

I have the red dot on a .475 Linebaugh (it's built on a Super Redhawk just like my .454) and it kicks noticeably harder than my .454. No reliability issues whatsoever and the Ultradots have a lifetime warranty -- if it breaks they fix it. bfrshooter has them on his BFR in .475 and .45/70 and they have handles thousands of full-tilt loads without failure.

Hay! thanks for the information!! What I'm looking for is something like that to help in hunnting, is the red dot site only for target? or hunnting and how far can you see the red dot if that's the way it works??? is it like lazer site? I would like to site in the gun around 50 to 75 yards. If you think this is the good deal for me, can you like me know where to find one? thanks!!

No, it is not a laser, the dot is in the scope like crosshairs. Just keep both eyes open and on the deer, put the dot on the shoulder and squeeze.
Sight in for 75 yd's or an inch or so high at 50. Check POI at 100 and go hunting.

Well, don't know what POI at 100 is but it must be something we can't talk about. I just called another place that sells guns here in Montana and he told me the same thing, that the causll would tear up the reddot.....don't know just what to beleve, all thought I do beleve you guys!! just have to find one. thanks!

Cosmo -- POI means point of impact. The red dot is in the scope. We hunt with them. I have a .454 SRH and one in .475 and the .475 definitely kicks the hardest of the two. You won't tear the Ultradot up.

Just one more question.....where do I find one? just do a serch on inernet? thanks agin!

www.ultradotwest.com

The Ultradot 30 is the one I like the best........

Hay! Thanks! I found them, kind of pricy but if it will help me with the criters out here aways that would be great!

Pricey? Are you kidding? The Ultradot 30 is only $135.00 shipped. Price some of the other red dots out there and you will see that this is a bargain and to top it all off, it can handle the recoil -- that in and of itself should double the price!

Hay!!! Would it be possable for you to tell me where i can get this for that price???? I must of been lookin at the wrong site!!!! plesesss?

www.ultradotwest.com

$139.99 (it's gone up $4.99 since I bought mine last year) shipped, for the Ultradot 30. You can order it online from them or call them at 866/473-3368

I really apreate your help and I'm ordering one now! And thanks for all the help this site provieds to the beginner and experts of this great sport! Cosmo.

Cosmo, you are more than welcome! Keep us posted!

OK! will do and thanks abunch for all the help! Cosmo.