ok folks, time for everyone's input!
I have a friend looking for a handgun. He's an avid hunter and good shot with rifle or scattergun. Works a larger family farm and lives out there too, when he's not away finishing college! I know my suggestion, but lets here the what and why's from yall, Bye the way, fairly large hands, so grip frame size shouldn't be a factor!
Thanks to y'all!

Smith and Wesson Model 25 in 45 Colt, Ruger Redhawk in 45 Colt.
Nuff said.
Jim

I tend to lean towards the single actions for "work" and carrying around the farm or ranch. I like the Ruger Blackhawk, Mine is in .357 Mag. but maybe a .41 Mag would be better for his needs
Seems like I'm the only one who shoots single action anymore & likes it

My favorite handgun is the Super Blackhawk in 44 mag., but maybe a better work/carry/hunting gun is the Blackhawk in either .44 mag. or .45 Colt with a 4 5/8" barrel. Obviously, the .357 or .41 mag. are good options also. A close second favorite is the 4" or 5" S&W, again in either .44 mag or .45 Colt. I assume at his age, iron sights are still preferable for what the gun will be used for, so these options should work nicely. I've gone the Redhawk route also, but prefer the trigger/action of the S&W.

Dan

For inexpensive and nearly indestructable, hard to go wrong with a Blackhawk/Super Blackhawk. Used ones are easy to find. Recoil tolerance will answer the question of which caliber.

.44 mag comes to mind, with the option of .44 specials for practice & non-demanding hunting (varmit control). I've killed various critters with Rugers in .357, .44 mag, and .45 Colt. They all work.....

If you buy used, and don't care for it, shouldn't be any big deal to get your money back out of it.

Good luck.

Come to the light side of the force. Big hands like the zeppy's? Dont want to shoot weenie loads? Buy a .480 ruger

http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?model=480SS8M&category=Revolver

Stainless Super Blackhawk 5.5" barrel ROUND trigger gaurd and a set of Hogues. Sean

May I suggest a Ruger GP-100 in .357 Magnum. It's the best all around/general purpose hand gun you could ask for. Easy to carry, easy to shoot and nothing complicated about it (like safeties, de-cockers and slide stops). It's accurate and built like a tank.

i SEE MOST HAVE ADVISED THE RUGERS. Let me throw this at y'all! I had a super blackhawk made in the 70's, and was happy with it for the most part.

The last several years I have bought several more (6), and none of these guns will shoot worth a hoot. 3" @ 25 yards is as good as it gets.

I have talked to EVERY gunsmith I can find on these boards, the likes of Bowen, Strogh, (?) Reeder, Dunlap, Singletary, Linebaugh, and many others.

Do I have your ear yet? To a man, they tell me they can't garrentee they can make a Ruger shoot. They tolds me some will, and some never will. reguardless of money spent.

I am very disappointed. I hunt with my guns, and if they won't connect with a grouse @ 25 yds, its useless to me.

Several of these "smiths told me in their letters, to not be so cheap, and spend the money for a "Smith or a Colt.

I too, felt as someone else said, that for working, using guns, the Ruger sinlgle action couldnt be beat.........now I know different.

I would recommend a Glock 22 .40 cal. It's lightweght, great caliber, not much recoil, and reliable.

As the posts will clearly show, most of us have a good rapport with Ruger products. What one person succeeds with another may stumble along. Nothing in life is guaranteed. A gun smith can only do so much to insure a level of performance from a given firearm, no matter what brand, the rest is up to the shooter. The recommendations on this post are from people who have had positive results with Ruger handguns, otherwise they would not recommend them.

If Rugers don't push your buttons anymore then I would like to suggest you look at Smith & Wesson, another brand name that many of us are quite familiar with and will most whole heartedly recommend. If not S&W, then Colt or Dan Wesson, etc., etc.,etc.

As the posts will clearly show, most of us have a good rapport with Ruger products. What one person succeeds with another may stumble along. Nothing in life is guaranteed. A gun smith can only do so much to insure a level of performance from a given firearm, no matter what brand, the rest is up to the shooter. The recommendations on this post are from people who have had positive results with Ruger handguns, otherwise they would not recommend them.

If Rugers don't push your buttons anymore then I would like to suggest you look at Smith & Wesson, another brand name that many of us are quite familiar with and will most whole heartedly recommend. If not S&W, then Colt or Dan Wesson, etc., etc.,etc.

Don't get me wrong, Ruger turns out a product that will go "bang" every time, for a long time. The thing that hurts me, is all these custom 'smiths, telling me that even though they make a ton of money working on Ruger handguns, if you want an accurate ( 1" to 1 1/2") gun.....shoot something else!!!
Makes one wonder..........DOES Ruger hand pick the guns they send to all those writers?

And.....on that line of thought, Two of the famous 'smiths i mentioned above, told me some of the articles that have appeared on THEIR work, described a gun they didnt remember...........i.e., they shot it from a Random Rest before they shipped it, yet somehow, the writer shot much tighter groups!!!!!

My Ruger Bisley in .45 colt with beartooth bullets and heavy charges does quite well. :)

Hoping to get supporting response. However, I also shoot colt, Smiths, vintage military 1911's of various makes, and some odd pieces you may not have heard of. Every maker has some arms leave factory less than "accurate". Manufacturers are increasingly pressured to adjust tolerances for speed and simplicity in manufacturing, thus the thriving aftermarket smithing business. My latest ruger purchase shoots 1" at 25 out of the box (properly lubricated of course). My new Smith model 41 wouldn't outshoot my new MkII though both were new and I paid more than thrice as much for the smith. My 1970's vintage model 41 will shoot on a par with it though. I tend to think that a lot of human error creeps in as we age, and that every mfg selects by hand the piece to send in for reviews. I also might think there is human error in the reviewers art. As for you never know what you get, I purchased an old Mitchel 1911 at an estate sale, shot very little and has accuracy better than my 1991A1 Go figure. Where does all this lead, I dunno, my boy is having surgery tomorrow and I am just ranbling maybe. Anyway thanks for all the suggestions and keep 'em coming. I think the man for whom this is all meant reads this thread regularly and appreciates it though he hasn't joined us yet. May we all greet and support the novices in our sport so they too might pass it on. Thanks very very much to you all!
:)

Tarheel Catfish,
I notice everyone who has responded to your post recommends big bore guns. They're fine for experienced handgunners. But no lesser sage than Elmer Keith used to recommend a .22 for a first handgun. Reason: low blast, low recoil, and above all, cheap ammo. If you're going to learn to shoot a handgun well you have to shoot it a lot, and centerfire pistol ammo ain't cheap. Walmart promo packs of 550 rounds of 22s are, and they let you get in a lot of necessary practice.

Xzec.

I'll agree with Mainiac, S&W 617, Ruger Single Six, or a Sig Trailside (which is three times the gun when compared to any S&W M41 I've seen that was made in the last five years) It's a shame S&W has brought the disgrace of poor quality to the previously sought after M41, especially at the price they charge for them.

excellent point on the .22 -you hear that Lee!?!
I shoot the rimfire more often than the centerfires myself! especially the shotshell cartridge with balloons! (the grandkids think I'm better than Annie Oakley LOL)
Great suggestion! Thanks a ton!

How did yr son's surgery go, Tarheel?

I think that starting out shooting a used but in good shape K-frame S&W Model 18 (.22 LR) with a 4" barrel and a used but in good shape K-frame S&W Model 66 (.38 Special/.357 Magnum) with a 4" barrel would be the quickest and most pleasant way to learn handgunning. Dennis