Maximum Effective Range

[RIFLE MAN]

Does anyone know what the maximum effective range is for the
.454 casull and the 480 Ruger when fired from the Puma 92
carbines? Which one tends to have the greater punch and game
killing capability (all factors being equal/ideal)?

Thanks,
Rifle Man

[Rangr44]

IMHO, YMMV because the maximum effective range of any rifle will be limited by the sighting equipment used on it, the abilities of it's user, and the terrain/circumstances under which/where it is fired.

I have no clue as to what an ideal would be with either chambering, but for me - the max effective range would be about 200yds, but most likely somewhat less.

I also think the both those chamberings are fairly close together in commercial offerings, with regards to power and punch - with the Casull a little ahead of the .480.

.

[454Puma]

I agree with Ranger44 I have a Puma 454.  My reloads with 240 gr XTP mags  I get 2200 fps with it and that puts it a about 225 yards MPR!  With perfect conditions  I could hit a deer at that range open sites! Would I shoot that far probably not as I can count on one hand when I had perfect conditions on any hunt!  Generally a 150 -175 yard shot would be my limit!  And anything I hit with that load at that range isn't going to far!

I'd say the 480 is going to be less maybe 125 -150 yards since it goes alot slower then the 454 Casull!

[Lloyd Smale]

problem is a puma is stuck with open sights and that makes it about a 100 yard proposition no matter what the caliber is. granted both rounds are capable of power levels at longer ranges that will cleanly kill game but you have to be able to hit them.

[Graybeard]

Both will kill effectively well beyond your ability to properly place your bullets every time. Neither moves out all that fast so trajectory becomes similar to a rainbow long before they run out of killing power especially when used with heavy hard cast bullets.

[SHOOTALL]

It would depend on the amount of pratice you are willing to do . How willing you are to learn your rifle and round. You would need to be able to range to with in a couple yards or us a range finder . If you know where to aim at a given distance and can repete it at will the range estimation is the key. When i shot IMHSA i shot a Ruger BH in 44 mag. hitting at 150 and 200 meters was not a problem although the bullet had 6 or more arc . I shot 2-3 times a week 100 -200 times each time. I knew that gun well enough to hit chickens at 200 meters more often than not .
 So if you want to shoot deer at 200 yards pratice until you can hit a 6 inch circle from a good field position every time .
 The 480 Ruger is somewhere in power between the 44 mag and 454 . That said it would seem the 454 would have the edge . BTW a 200 gr. bullet loaded to near max. in a 454 should take some arc. out of it .

[454Puma]

SHOOTALL
 The problem with lighter bullets 230 gr or less is the accuracy just isn't there! Atleast with my Puma it wasn't! Now those 240 gr XTP mags were very accurate. I can get nice three shot clover leafs at 100 yards open sites! This is why I'm confident I can go to 150-175 yards!  Sited in at 2" high at 100 puts it dead on at 150 and 2 low at 175 thats more then good for deer heck thats good enough for yotes!

[Rangr44]

FWIW, I'd like to add that Rossi Model 92's are not limited to open/iron sights, as they're not all that difficult to "peep" - somewhat extending the effective practical range, and adding a modicum of accuracy.

I've added peep sights to two, myself -

On one I replaced the bolt safety with a Skinner LoPro peep sight;

On the other I D/T'd one hole in the top/rear of each receiver sidewall for a top-mounted Williams 5D (an XS peep will fit there as well, though).

Both rifles zeroed handily, using the issue height front sight blades - to which I simply added a dollop of orange sight paint for better visibility when hunting.

.

[NickSS]

You can also mount a Marbles tang sight only takes D/T one hole.  The other thing is that I have observed a lot of shooters at my club trying to hit silhouette targets at 200 yards shooting prone from cross sticks and I have also seen a lot of missed targets too.  These guys for the most part are excellent shooters firing top quality BPCR rifles.  We also have any number of other folks who do not practice as regularly as these guys do come out and shoot too.  They invariably do poorly at first but get better over time if they keep coming back.  So with a low velocity weapon it is not as easy as one would think to hit a small target at 200 yards.  The Rams are about the size of a Deers chest area and I see more of them missed than hit by most shooters except for the really great shots.  So if you want to hunt and reliably kill animals your need to know two things. Your point black range and how to shoot well.  Both take practice to learn.  I also see dozens of hunters each year come to our hunters sighting in days and proceed to shoot five inch groups from a bench rest and think they will be ready to shoot game.  Perhaps they are, but if they do get an animal at anything but short range it is more luck than skill.  So if you want to shoot to longer ranges practice a lot at those ranges with whatever rifle you plan to use.  Then you will maximize your chance of a good clean kill in the field.

[Sweetwater]

When your sites cover the target and more, the range is further than ethical. JMHO - been there, done that, will not again. Just isn't proper and ethical. One needs to be able to see where to place the bullet, and then be able to put it there. Our 200m rams were bigger than deer chests - bigger than Elk chests. (bigger than the kill zones) They still helped me figure this out with the help of a few "donor antelope"; Does shot at extended ranges "just to see". Of course it was in season and with appropriate tags. Said antelope were harvested, though shot placement left a lot to be desired, and multiple shots were employed for "finishers". Finishers aren't necessary when shots are placed properly - ethically.

Still JMHO based on having done it, so obviously biased by my personal capabilities and limitations..

Regards,
Sweetwater

[Graybeard]

The 480 Ruger is somewhere in power between the 44 mag and 454 . That said it would seem the 454 would have the edge . BTW a 200 gr. bullet loaded to near max. in a 454 should take some arc. out of it .

While those are common misconceptions they are nevertheless MISconceptions.

The lighter 200 grain bullet is short short and fat it's BC is very low. By the time it reaches 100 yards it is already moving slower than a heavier bullet started out at a slower velocity. For ranges out to 200 yards it falls far behind heavier bullets with better BCs.

Same holds true for the .480. It is not in between in power really. If you understand how handgun bullets kill then you'll realize that if you want more killing power in a straight wall pistol round you go larger in diameter and heavier in bullet weight you do not push the bullet faster. The .454 Casull pretty well tops out at 360 grains tho there are a few slightly heavier bullets they are rare and your barrel might or might not stabilize them. In the .480 a 370 grain is really kinda considered a light weight tho you can get 325s they are kinda like a 200 in the .454 too short and fat. I most commonly use bullets of 400-430 grains in the .480 and with them killing power is greater than the .454 due to the larger bullet diameter and greater bullet weight.

Both however have way more than the minimum needed to kill game cleanly way beyond the ranges most can accurately place their bullets.

If you know the range precisely and are a really good shot from field positions those big heavy bullets will get the job done as far as you can place the bullet in the kill zone.

[SHOOTALL]

Sweetwater , most groups i shot at rams were in the 6 in group size over the front leg as i liked to knock the front of the target off the stand . I the same thing could be done on game , but that's just me .

[Sweetwater]

Shootall - No Doubt. I could 20 years ago, but a lot couldn't and I can't today. My Dad and I used to play a game with the pigs. We'd set them normal and put hits on them that turned them around. Boring with that. we set the target facing us and took chest shots head on. That is a tiny target, but eyes were way sharper then I was practiced up, so to speak. I shot antelope with open sites back then at over 300 yards - I had a Contender then in 6.5TCU. It was wonderfully accurate, BUT ran out of horspower at that range. Sure I got the antelope but it took a 2nd shot at 50ft and in the mean time, that antelope was a hurting unit. Not cool. Wild game are not stationary, like a steel target, and stuff happens.
Those with better eyes and prcticed up may choose to take that shot. Fine. I did. I won't again.

Again, JMHO from experience.

Regards,
Sweetwater

[SHOOTALL]

To each his own and ablity .