I have wanted a bigbore big boomer handgun fore a while. I think my next gun purchase is going to be a thumper. I have kind of been turned on by the .475 Linebaugh now that I found out that magnum research chambers this caliber. Only problem I would have is forget factory ammo. I reload but I still like to be able to go to the gun store and pick up a box of ammo. To me from what I see the .475 Linebaugh is limited. There are only 16 bullet selections on midwayusa.com. Which is where I buy all my reloading components besides powder. If I get a .475 ill probably just have to get into casting however good luck finding lead around here. I’ve tried. Nobody wants to give it up. The tire shops will only sell to hasmat! And they do sell it with the price of led right now. So by casting I really would not save that much money cuz I would have to buy the led from a place like midway. Now I don’t see myself shooting thousands and thousands of rounds more like 500 to 600 a year. Ill probably shoot it enough to be proficient at 50 yards and under. But when I look at .500, .45, .429 diameter bullets there's lots more selections of bullets. I can’t afford a .500 Linebaugh cuz the BFR and the basic big Smiths are about the upper limit of my price range. I could afford to get a .500 S&W magnum or the .460 S&W magnum. I could even buy a .454 ruger, .45 colt properly loaded or a .44mag and hunt with it and take anything in north America except I would not hunt grizz with a handgun I am too chicken for that. On mid way USA The .429 diameter bullets range from 180g to 330g and there is 120 selections. The .45 has a tremendous selection going all the way up to 395 grain. I don’t know if you can use a 395 grainer with a .454 but definitely for the .460. The .500 has 50 selections ranging from 275 to 500g. The big smiths are too big to carry as a back up gun to my Marlin 1895G. I do like to carry a back up gun because I hunt in the thick bushes and I often sling my rifle. I have walked up on pissed off hogs before and somethings trying to get to my rifle would not be advisable. I don't know if the BFR's are the same I have never handled a BFR. The 460 seams more vestal because you can shoot 3 different calibers from it, however its freaking huge. Are the BFR's in .475 Linebaugh a burden to carry into the woods? I know that some people make conversions for the .480 rugers but most of them are in the thousands of dollars way out of my price range. So I really don’t know what to do. I always seem to come back to the idea of getting a .454 or a .44 mag because it would be easer to use as a back up and a caliber big enough to do the job. Do the big monster zombie handguns offer any great advantage to the .44 or .454 besides the way cool testosterone rush and the fact that the are big bad handguns?

i own both a 44mag {2 of them} and a raging bull in 500 s&w it has been my experance that the 500 is just to big to carry if you are carrying a rifle to. my 500 does have 10.5 barrel. i think if you use 300gr+ bullets in 44 or 45 cal you are going to be in good shape. the other thing is just as you said price of ammo you are going to shoot the cheaper ammo more so you will be more familuar with that gun wich is what realy counts. i think most people including me will be a better marksman with the 44 or 45 cal guns,just for the fact they are cheeper to shoot therefore you will shoot more. there is a gun shop down the road 10 miles from my house that sell 44 swc hardcast 240gr bullets for 8.50 per 100.that is hard to beat.just do not trust the low end hardcast to protect yourself, buy a better quality bullet try the ones on this site you will be happy.

Zapzoo, yes the 395s will work in the Casull. I have used 400 grain WFNs in my .454 and they worked well, but the 350s and 360s I have used have been more accurate . There are plenty of good bullets available for the .475 and I understand your reservation with casting as those 400+ grain bullets will suck your lead supply dry in short order. I have shot a friend's BFR .475 quite extensively and it isn't cumbersome in the least to carry. I think it has a 7.5-inch barrel, but I may be wrong...... Oh, and the .475 is a hammer!

You will have to dig six feet and pry my coffin lid off to get my BFR .475! :p

Do you guys know of any good sources for .475 bullets? I gues when shooting a thumper like that you just find a good bullet and stick to it. If I talk the plunge and get a 475 linebaugh I am going to have to start casting. So I gotta find out how to find some decent lead insted of just buying it off midway. Do any of you 475 shooters have any experence takeing game? I would like to see some pictures of bullet wounds if they are too grusome pleas do not post them PM me a link. Do any of you down load them to 850-1000fps? I have hurd of a few people doing this for light plinking or for deer and pigs. A 400g hardcast bullet going 900fps would probably still punch a whole through a white tale or a average piggy. I figgure what I will do is if I get one I will down load it shoot it till i am comftorable then bump it up a little then a little more untill I reach either the revolvers maximum or mine. My dad has a few big thumpers includeing a .475 linebaugh I have shot them but not as much as him. I think I am sold on the 475 linebaugh.

Have you tried here on the Beartooth bullet side Zap? Here's a link to the 475 selection.

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/index.htm

go to garrett ammo to see pics of big game shot with 44 mag. lots of good reading on bullets regardless of cal.

Zapzoo -- Cast Performance has a pretty wide selection of bullets for the .475. I am going to post a hunting report here in a moment. I took a couple of wild hogs with my .475 about 3 weeks ago. Standby..........:D

I will definately be trying out the BTB if i get one. I love them in my marlin 1985g clovers at 100 yards. I am planning on two handgun purchases to expand and broaden my collection. One is going to be a 44 magnum definately and the other is going to be a serrious handcannon. The handcannon is more of the I just want one factor with no real practical purpose to me other than the WOW factor. Or maby if the Zombies ever attack.

Zapzoo -- I just sent you a PM back.........