Author Topic: what to buy (Read 1260 times)

mr.frosty · « **on:** August 26, 2004, 03:55:17 PM »

I need help in making a decision a RB in either 454 or 480?
besides I need a stress reliever or a new hobby and I think either would qualify :evil: .

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** August 26, 2004, 05:24:57 PM »

I have both. If I ever go down to only one of them the .480 will stay and the .454 Casull go. If you are a reloader and especially a bullet caster it is the way to go in my opinion. But if you shoot only factory ammo for sure it isn't.

unspellable · « **Reply #2 on:** August 27, 2004, 07:55:07 AM »

I'd vote for the 454 on grounds that there is a wide variety of 45 bullets at modest cost available for reloading.

Caveat: If you do reload for the 454 you want 454 dies, not 45 Colt dies. The 454 will have tighter chambers than a 45 Colt. This applies even in my case where my 454 and 45 are both RB's.

mr.frosty · « **Reply #3 on:** August 27, 2004, 01:25:22 PM »

Quote from: Graybeard

I have both. If I ever go down to only one of them the .480 will stay and the .454 Casull go. If you are a reloader and especially a bullet caster it is the way to go in my opinion. But if you shoot only factory ammo for sure it isn't.

I read about the trouble you have/had with Taurus; does what happened
effect the RB any?

DirtyHarry · « **Reply #4 on:** August 27, 2004, 02:39:58 PM »

If you are going with a big bore and have it narrowed down to those two, you might as well go with the most powerful of the two, and that is the 454.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....

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** August 27, 2004, 06:21:06 PM »

Quote

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.

Quote

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.

myronman3 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 28, 2004, 04:34:41 AM »

if you dont reload then it is about a tie between the two. if you do reload but dont cast and dont intend to, the 454 wins. if you reload and cast or intend to start casting, hands down the 480 wins. bought my 454 when i didnt cast. now i do. i would be better served (given my present interests) by the 480. but i have a 454 and just go with what i have.
i guess i would advise you to first consider how deep into handguning you are likely to get. reloading and casting are just a progression into the disease, but really add to the whole experience. if you envision taking those steps in the future, factor that into your decision. if you KNOW you arent going to ever travel that route, it makes your decision easier.
one last bit of advise: price ammo and check availiblity in your area before you buy anything. that could very well be a deciding factor.

mr.frosty · « **Reply #7 on:** August 28, 2004, 04:44:31 PM »

Thanks for the info just one more question:
what kind of recoil do I expect from the 480 /454 as comparing to the 44
or 41? I know most start light then go up to gain a perspective of what one can handle, me personally I believe I can handle it.

myronman3 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 29, 2004, 04:08:08 PM »

do you reload?

mr.frosty · « **Reply #9 on:** August 31, 2004, 10:23:01 AM »

Quote from: myronman3

do you reload?

not yet but do have an interest in it

myronman3 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 31, 2004, 12:16:05 PM »

when you reload you can run the 454 at various levels of power and recoil. full house loads arent generally needed. maybe for elk, moose, or bear; but not whitetails.
when they are at full power they are a handful, but it is tolerable. it is really easy to develop a flinch. but i rarely run them at full steam anymore.
i know alot of guys have had problems with taurus lately, and that is sad because their design really helps tame the cartridge.
i guess i am curious as to what other handguns you have shot so i know what to compare it to. i had a 35 remington contender that made my 454 seem tame.

mr.frosty · « **Reply #11 on:** September 01, 2004, 02:51:07 PM »

the handguns i have shot and this has been awhile i mean like years ago
were a lama 357 wheel gun it was my dads he sold after he became
dissatisfied with it i guess from the damage it didnt do to a bear,but
it made a wild dog buzzard lunch quick! then there have been sawed off
shot guns the packed a punch. a friend of mine had a 41 smith that shot great with 210 factory loadsbut like i said it has been awhile.
i did find some winchester ammo for the 454 250 grain with a little under a 1000 foot lbs of me, i figure that would be a good load to hunt in my neck of the woods with.

myronman3 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 01, 2004, 04:33:23 PM »

i would really hate to compare the 454 with a 357, no matter how many times i mulitplied the recoil.
i hate to suggest the 454 right out of the gate; but it can be a very versitale cartridge. my advise to you is get a reloading kit along with that 454; what you would spend on three boxes of ammo will buy you all you need to get started. and be careful. there is no need to hotrod the 454; quite the opposite. backing it off a smidge will give you longer case life and make your powder go a little longer. and you can still top 44 mag performance by a good measure without running full steam. i run a 300 gr. cast bullet @ a tad over 1600 fps. now i could run it faster, but why? the performance is there and it is very accurate.
if you decide 454, get a kit and run them at medium velocities and youll be fine.
p.s. if you forget your earplugs, expect to pee your pants and forget your name for a while. and to hear a phone ringing constantly. keep us posted....

mr.frosty · « **Reply #13 on:** September 02, 2004, 11:13:07 AM »

thanks for the advice, info and the use of an extingusher about the 454
earplugs i use when im at the range,ammo no problem i found several factory rounds i really like and the energy is something i consider a good starting round for anyone whether it be a 454 or 300 mag which i do have,
i have a good friend who reloads so that gives me something to play with.
all i have to do is buy the dies and he will load to what i like.
i dont know if you missed in my previous reply i did mention about a 41 mag with 210 factory loads that were a breeze for me to rabbit hunt(kidding) :eek: so either way im looking at 454 in a rb if not or i keep hearing bad stuff about the rb then i get a 480 in a ruger

myronman3 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 02, 2004, 12:22:11 PM »

"i have a good friend who reloads so that gives me something to play with. " said frosty.
that is perfect. gets you started and gives you an instructer.

and no, i didnt miss about the 41, but i have never shot that caliber. so i dont know how it compares to the 454. others have said it is right in between the 357 and the 44 mag. but personally i dont know so i cant really say. :wink:

DirtyHarry · « **Reply #15 on:** September 02, 2004, 12:46:19 PM »

The 41 is between the 357 and 44 in recoil, but a lot closer to the 357 than the 44 in my opinion.

Dont be afraid to go with the RB, absolutely NONE of the stories I have heard about the RB have ever been backed up. It always seems to have been one of those "my friends, dad's, brother's, boss said" type of things. You would think that in todays world where everyone has access to a digital camera someone would have taken a pic (just like Graybeard did) and posted it somewhere...