Questions for Raging Bull 454 Owners

[GunGuy2756]

Having just bought a blued version of the Raging Bull 454 with a 6.5" barrel I am interested in your opinions and experience with this gun.
I have not received mine yet but should get it this week.

I do not hunt and not a big fan of heavy recoil these days so I will be shooting mostly 45 Colt handloads or lightly loaded 454 rounds. Probably something like a 240-250 gr bullet over 9 grs of Unique in 454 and cast 250g over 8 grs of Unique in 45 Colt.

Of course, I will have to try some loaded to potential using lots of H110 but I expect I won't be shooting too many of these.

What do you like or dislike about your RB? How is accuracy? Seems to be good from some of the vids I have watched.

Have you had any problems with yours? I assume they are well built to stand up to the rigors of 454 Casull ammo.

[RobS]

I owned the same model and it was an accurate revolver. I didn't like the porting of the barrel as it would lead up. The actual barrel stops right at the start of the ports so the last 3/4" or so is more of a muzzle break. Recoil is well distributed by the porting and the grip does really well with absorbing recoil. I've owned both the SRH 454 Casull and the Taurus Raging Bull 454 Casull. The Taurus was easier on recoil however IMO the SRH is built better and had a better out of box trigger. This has been several years back now though so I can't comment on recent production models of the Taurus Raging Bulls.

I would use 454 Casull Brass instead of 45 Colt if you are going to reload even for reduced loads. If you do use 45 Colt brass just clean the chambers of cylinder often. Also when using 454 Casull brass and slow powders like H110 make sure to load toward the top end so there is consistent ignition. You have more flexibility with H110 when using heavier boolits as they reduce the case volume. In the end, I found myself loading the 454 Casull with 310 grain boolits most often and around 1200-1250 fps and didn't need more. I did shoot max loads...............20 of them and where as I'm not shy of recoil I didn't much enjoy them after the first cylinder full.

[GunGuy2756]

I owned the same model and it was an accurate revolver. I didn't like the porting of the barrel as it would lead up. The actual barrel stops right at the start of the ports so the last 3/4" or so is more of a muzzle break. Recoil is well distributed by the porting and the grip does really well with absorbing recoil. I've owned both the SRH 454 Casull and the Taurus Raging Bull 454 Casull. The Taurus was easier on recoil however IMO the SRH is built better and had a better out of box trigger. This has been several years back now though so I can't comment on recent production models of the Taurus Raging Bulls.

I would use 454 Casull Brass instead of 45 Colt if you are going to reload even for reduced loads. If you do use 45 Colt brass just clean the chambers of cylinder often. Also when using 454 Casull brass and slow powders like H110 make sure to load toward the top end so there is consistent ignition. You have more flexibility with H110 when using heavier boolits as they reduce the case volume. In the end, I found myself loading the 454 Casull with 310 grain boolits most often and around 1200-1250 fps and didn't need more. I did shoot max loads...............20 of them and where as I'm not shy of recoil I didn't much enjoy them after the first cylinder full.

Rob, thanks for that info. I didn't even give a thought about the ports leading up. What do you use to clean yours? Since this gun is blued I don't want to risk messing up the finish with a brass brush. Maybe pipe cleaners would be easier on the finish.

After thinking about it I agree that it would be best to use 454 brass with lighter loads instead of 45 Colt so the bullet wouldn't have to make the 1/10" jump.

310gr bullets at 1200-1250fps sound nasty as far as recoil. Recoil never bothered me when I was younger when I used to shoot 200-250 full house 44 mag rounds a day out of a Smith 29. Now that I am older it takes more time to recover from bone jarring recoil.

I think my pain threshold these days is 250grs of bullet. Any more and it's no longer fun for me.

[wrench man]

My brother has one, he scoped it, the ***! Taurus scope mount WILL NOT! hold the barrel rib!?, after about a cylinder and a half you're shooting way off the target!
This also the one and only revolver that has stung the palm of my hand!, full house 454 is a HANDFULL!, if you use open sights and 45 Colt ammo it should be ok.

[RobS]

For the lead in the muzzle break/port areas I would dip the muzzle in Eds Red for a half an hour after I was done shooting it. Seemed to loosen up the lead deposits and allowed me to use a plastic edge to scrape off the outside port areas and i used a dental pick on the inside of the brake. Kind of a PITA and when the blueing wore off at the port edges I used a little cold blue and was off and going.

If you plan on using 250 grain boolits at mid/moderate levels then I wouldn't even look at H110 rather run a flake powder such as Unique or similar burn rate and then Alliant 2400 if you can find it for your mid to a bit over mid loads. 2400 would work well on the top side too but it doesn't sound like this is what you are after.

[shoot-n-lead]

If you plan on using 250 grain boolits at mid/moderate levels then I wouldn't even look at H110 rather run a flake powder such as Unique or similar burn rate and then Alliant 2400 if you can find it for your mid to a bit over mid loads. 2400 would work well on the top side too but it doesn't sound like this is what you are after.

This is good advice...^^^^

I have had one for a lot of years...at least 12yrs. It is an accurate revolver with any load that I have shot in it. I handgun hunt, but I have never taken it, a single time...but that will probably change this year. I have shot mostly Colt loads in it, but that will change as I have sold most of my Colt stuff and only have one mold left. Since I will not be shooting Colt much, if at all, in the future, I have already decided to just use the gun with .454 ammo when I take it hunting this fall.

I will add, that to be as big and heavy as it is...it does not seem to be as pleasant to shoot as I thought that it would be. But, it is not a beast by any stretch...very manageable. And, IMO, it is too large to be worth it, for shooting mostly Colt loads. I have shot mine quite a bit and I find it to be of pretty good quality...only Taurus that I will ever recommend to someone...my others have all been junk.

[gandydancer]

why get a power house and then load it down for most of your shooting? its like ordering a cup of coffee"decaff" with artificial sweetener phony powdered milk. why Brother? get a 44 special. just kidding. I have a 454 Casull I purchased in 1986 and a few thousand rounds later of full power loads I now have the ritis bros in both hands. I got the 45 colt cylinder for it at the time and use unique or 2400 8 or 9 grains some times even less just for fun shooting. and I know the powers is there if i want it. GD

[GunGuy2756]

For the lead in the muzzle break/port areas I would dip the muzzle in Eds Red for a half an hour after I was done shooting it. Seemed to loosen up the lead deposits and allowed me to use a plastic edge to scrape off the outside port areas and i used a dental pick on the inside of the brake. Kind of a PITA and when the blueing wore off at the port edges I used a little cold blue and was off and going.

If you plan on using 250 grain boolits at mid/moderate levels then I wouldn't even look at H110 rather run a flake powder such as Unique or similar burn rate and then Alliant 2400 if you can find it for your mid to a bit over mid loads. 2400 would work well on the top side too but it doesn't sound like this is what you are after.

I am aware that H110 should not be loaded down. If I were to use it they would be rip snortin fireball loads just with a lighter bullet than 300 grs. I plan on using Unique for mid range loads since I have quite a bit of that on hand.

[GunGuy2756]

why get a power house and then load it down for most of your shooting? its like ordering a cup of coffee"decaff" with artificial sweetener phony powdered milk. why Brother? get a 44 special. just kidding. I have a 454 Casull I purchased in 1986 and a few thousand rounds later of full power loads I now have the ritis bros in both hands. I got the 45 colt cylinder for it at the time and use unique or 2400 8 or 9 grains some times even less just for fun shooting. and I know the powers is there if i want it. GD

I like the option of having a powerhouse pistol when I want it and also being able to load down for plinking at targets without beating myself up. Been looking at these for a while now and got a pretty good deal on this one and couldn't pass it up.

[Electric88]

The Raging Bull will certainly hold up to the pressures of 454 Casull, though it isn't as strong as other firearms might be. Accuracy with it is good, when using irons. As wrench man mentioned, the scope mount doesn't work all that great on these guns. While his point of impact shifted, the one I had actually flung the scope off the gun. The recoil isn't bad though, the porting and heavy rubber grips help out with that.

I ended up selling it and buying the Ruger SRH, but a buddy has it now so I can still shoot it whenever. I don't regret selling it, but I wouldn't regret owning it either.

[bobthenailer]

For my favorite FA 454 Casulls reduced loads I use 8 to 9 grs of Tightgroup with 260 ,275 & 300 gr cast bullets for 1,000 to 1,100 fps loaded in 454 cases .

As far as comp port leading two have magnaport and one has a SSK muzzle brake ,I also have a 44 mag with a 2 port comp as well as a 1911 in 38 super with a comp, all ports can be easily cleaned of leading by fireing around 5 to 10 rounds or sometimes more if leading is severe or has excessively built up, of cast with a GC or jacketed bullets using close to max loads using slow pistol ball powders , I have used WW820 , 296/H110 , 680 and Lilgun powders.
It sort of powder blast's it out, amazing !

[GunGuy2756]

My brother has one, he scoped it, the ***! Taurus scope mount WILL NOT! hold the barrel rib!?, after about a cylinder and a half you're shooting way off the target!
This also the one and only revolver that has stung the palm of my hand!, full house 454 is a HANDFULL!, if you use open sights and 45 Colt ammo it should be ok.

I don't care for scopes on handguns so no problem there. I fully expect full house loads are a handful even with being ported and heavy.

[Duckiller]

#2 son has a Raging Bull. 10-15 full power loads is about all he or I can shoot in one day. Took his sister and one of her friends shooting one day when she was in high school. I had loaded up a bunch of 165 gr 45Colt loads with light power charges, don't remember the power. Daughter and friend went crazy with it. It is accurate, with muzzle brake and weight it has light recoil. We now use full loads if we go hunting and light Colt loads to punch holes in paper.

[GunGuy2756]

For my favorite FA 454 Casulls reduced loads I use 8 to 9 grs of Tightgroup with 260 ,275 & 300 gr cast bullets for 1,000 to 1,100 fps loaded in 454 cases .

As far as comp port leading two have magnaport and one has a SSK muzzle brake ,I also have a 44 mag with a 2 port comp as well as a 1911 in 38 super with a comp, all ports can be easily cleaned of leading by fireing around 5 to 10 rounds or sometimes more if leading is severe or has excessively built up, of cast with a GC or jacketed bullets using close to max loads using slow pistol ball powders , I have used WW820 , 296/H110 , 680 and Lilgun powders.
It sort of powder blast's it out, amazing !

I don't have a favorite reduced load yet. I did order some Starline cases and 454 dies, I decided it would be best to use 454 cases after reading the responses here. I have a lot of cast 255 FP's that I will try first and see how that goes. I will be using Unique since that's what I have on hand right now.

I'll reserve my barn burner loads with jacketed bullets to help clean out the ports if necessary. Thanks for that info.

[GunGuy2756]

#2 son has a Raging Bull. 10-15 full power loads is about all he or I can shoot in one day. Took his sister and one of her friends shooting one day when she was in high school. I had loaded up a bunch of 165 gr 45Colt loads with light power charges, don't remember the power. Daughter and friend went crazy with it. It is accurate, with muzzle brake and weight it has light recoil. We now use full loads if we go hunting and light Colt loads to punch holes in paper.

Since I am starting to get arthritis in my hands I would expect that's about all the full power loads I will be able to handle at one time too.

[CLAYPOOL]

I even bought the other one to shoot .410 - 3" slugs in...Loads of fun to do. not legal for much in Illinois, but like I said loads of fun to plink with..... RAGING JUDGE MAGNUM..

[Groo]

Groo here
I have an early SS polished 6 1/2 in.
My ONLY problem was the grip ,it just did not fit.
Now I see Pachmyre has one so I may break it out of the safe again.

[Plastikosmd]

I owned and early, one years ago. I traded it for something else when money was tight. I missed it for years, later to be replaced with a FA. I used it with a scope with no issue. I think I have the mount around somewhere. It was quite comfortable to shoot and I had no function/accuracy issues. I should dig up that mount and sell it at some point!

[GunGuy2756]

I owned and early, one years ago. I traded it for something else when money was tight. I missed it for years, later to be replaced with a FA. I used it with a scope with no issue. I think I have the mount around somewhere. It was quite comfortable to shoot and I had no function/accuracy issues. I should dig up that mount and sell it at some point!

Comfortable to shoot sounds good since I don't hunt and it will be a range toy. I really like the FA but didn't want to spend that much $$.

[Plastikosmd]

No pain, soft grip. The FA is great. I do use a glove with the heavy loads. It wasn't needed with the bull. Maybe I am delicate.