I read about the trouble you have/had with Taurus; does what happened
effect the RB any?
Like Dirty Harry said in another thread, I've not personally seen a bad RB yet. Other handguns from Taurus yes, but so far not an RB.
I like the 480, but if I were going to be hunting something that bites back and I had both revolvers in front of me, but could only take one, it would be the 454 100% of the time....
And I'd take exactly the opposite approach. I'd leave my .454 home and take the .480.
I think there is a lot of misunderstanding regarding how handguns kill game. Heck for that matter rifles too. But we're talking handguns here so let's stay on topic.
None of the straight wall cased handguns kill by shock or awe. They kill by penetration to the vitals and by making a large diameter hole all the way thru. You kill either by damaging the CNS or by tissue damage that results in blood loss that shuts down the CNS when the brain runs of out oxygen.
Any hard cast bullet of .429" or greater (some would argue .410" or greater) that weights 250 grains or more is likely to penetrate fully on any deer or deer size game if it starts at 900 fps or more. If you want more power you do not go up in velocity but in bullet diameter and bullet weight.
The .454 Casull is likely at it's prime with bullets of 300-325 grains. It pretty well max's out at 360-370 grains. Most want velocity so don't go over 300 grains. The .480 starts at 325 for a lightweight and goes up to at least 460 grains. Now a .452" bullet of 300-325 grains will penetrate a long way. Well beyond the far side of anything up to elk in size generally. BUT a .475" bullet weighting 430 grains? Well when the .454 gives out and stops that bugger is just getting it's second wind and just keeps on keeping on.
I can honestly think of no handgunning situation I'd prefer the .454 Casull for over the .480 where big game hunting is concerned. Some might say for ranges over 100 yards where the flatter trajectory comes into play. I'd say first check the ballistics tables and second that I don't use revolvers for hunting over 100 yards. I'll use a single shot specialty handgun or a rifle.