Here is one of the ''hand cannon'' category revolvers which comes with a free dose of grin! It is a blast to shoot. Chosen as 45-70 caliber much as anything because that old round is so versatile when being able to reload. The Holosight, although not for everyone very pretty - makes for an excellent sighting system.

45-70 Govt was originally of course a black powder round but as a smokeless has a usefully low pressure profile. For trap door use and old guns a load around 25,000 CUP is at the bottom end but for something like the BFR this can be well cranked up to the 30,000 region. With a 405 grain Lasercast SWC there is about 1550 ft lbs at the muzzle which is more than useful but leaves things quite comfortable and controllable.

A bit of fun comparison - the sublime and the ridiculous side by side!

The NAA Mini looks positively dwarfed by the BFR

This is a modern version in stainless of the venerable Model 25 - which unfortunately has "the lock" but that aside, is a fine revolver. Here we see two half moon clips but actually full moon clips are the norm for use.

This is a method permitting use of rimless .45acp cartridges, as the clips hold the rounds and make for fast unload and reload cycles. The gun's mass means that the round is extremely comfortable to shoot and it is altogether a delight.

To some this is the ''Dirty Harry'' handgun and certainly back when the movie came out Smith and Wesson had a great surge in the gun's popularity. It is interesting to note that many were sold but hardly shot, as not everyone liked the recoil and so many hit the used market in fine shape. It represents yet another fine example of the Smith "N" frame series.

It had been hoped to find a "dash 2" which would have had the old pinned and recessed characteristics (a purist's interest) ........ but this "dash 3" however is so tight and in such good shape it made temptation too much.

The Smith Model 29-3 again but a close up shot showing the charged cylinder - which rather nicely shows the depth and luster of the famous S&W bluing.

This is a modern version of the well respected Model 29 but in stainless, the M629. It is a lighter weight version and is not the most pleasant to shoot for too long! It also has the dreaded lock - a contentious feature both politically and practically.

The hard plastic Crimson Trace grips are useful for fast shooting but the downside is they are not too comfortable. For that a set of Hogues would improve matters. Overall though a nice package.

Once more we are into ''hand cannon'' category and a very capable platform for the Dick Casull .454 round. Only five shot but that does mean the cylinder walls have a generous thickness and the lock-up is both via the rear cylinder release, and .... a forward catch also. The grips are extremely well designed making recoil easy to soak up. The round is very high pressure (65,000 SAAMI) and therefore at the top end is on the 'viscious'' side with recoil.

The Bushnell 'scope is good but as with many, if not most extended eye relief 'scopes, tricky to use keeping the target in view. Too much movement either side of the rather narrow view acceptance angle and sight picture goes!

Here again the Taurus Raging Bull - at its fire-breathing best! Interesting point here however - while it usually shoots Hornady hot loads with a 300 gr bullet (or reload equivalents), this time it was shooting a 240 gr Winchester factory load which had barely half the muzzle energy. As can be seen however, the flame was most pleasing.

This makes a nice desktop background in its higher resolution form. Do download that if you wish (1494 x 1069 330k)

This is another tough Ruger gun and capable of handling the hottest loads. The grips are non-standard but happen to suit well, making finger ''damage'' against the rear trigger guard less likely.

The red dot is a very economy model but seems to hold setting OK even with the recoil. Yet again a downside of an SA revolver is load/unload speed but here, it is less irksome than with a plinking 22 SA. The gun has good hunting potential.

Well - here is a bit of history! Webley made top-break very much their own over several models and calibers - well let's say top break that would survive - not all did! When the gun is opened the ejection of empties is very fast, the effect being of almost a 'spring assist'.

The original .455 Webley round was never very 'hot' but when loaded up with 'manstopper' wadcutter bullets was deemed quite effective. It saw service from it's origins in 1915 until well after manufacture ceased in 1932 and so was seen in WWI trenches and many places thereafter. The load used now is based on a light load using 230 grain LRN's, over sized.

This example was rebuilt from almost a set of parts - having to be fully refinished, albeit only with a multiple application of cold blue. Double action is very heavy and this gun has a small problem with cocking for SA whereby if cocked too far back it can lock - but that is easily overcome in use and DA is fine. Brownells came up with a new mainspring and also a top-break locking lever spring but that latter was sadly a poor representation of the original ''V'' spring - but adequate. I drew up the old spring and new, hoping someone would find a way to make the old types - see this page.

Ruger's original Redhawk was a great gun but with the Super Redhawk they have made it much easier to fit optical sights. Here fitted with the Millet red dot which is excellent. The gun will happily handle the hottest of loads and the one piece frame is very much built for strength.

The barrel length is favored for the possible small increase gained in velocity and accuracy, as well as damping recoil a shade more. Hogue grips add to the control/comfort aspect of shooting it.

Ruger has managed to achieve a six shot .454 caliber nicely and as is obvious, the frame is built like a battleship. Ruger's have no sideplate so the frame is a strong one-piece item. In this pic' the original Ruger grips are still on and are good but they have since been replaced by some Pachmeyrs which have an edge on comfort.

The long barrel is favored for what might be a small increase in accuracy and velocity - as well as damping recoil just a shade more. Millet red dot sights are excellent and avoid the hassles involved with EER 'scopes. Although the Raging Bull is fine for the caliber, this gun is the more popular here for .454 shooting.

This Remington pattern is kept pretty much for completeness' sake and is a nice looker. Long ago a Colt pattern Uberti was shot and enjoyed (except the cleaning!), in fact the solder-repaired powder flask goes back to those long lost days!

The brass framed repro cap and ball revolvers are not able to take too much punishment, otherwise stretching can occur but as long as loads are kept sensible they are good for plinking.