I think I want a .454

[gofastman]

I have a 6.5" Raging Bull .44, its an ok gun, built like a tank, but pretty heavy and unbalanced.
Also I want something that I can go truly "full retard" with when the need arises.

I'm trying to decide between another Raging Bull 6.5" or a Ruger SRH.
from what I gather the Raging Bull is a much better shooter than the SRH with full house loads because of the porting, however I'm going to be shooting mostly +P(ish) 45 colt rounds through it.

I know the SRH is a tough gun and can handle a fair amount of full power .454 ammo but
is it "light" enough to make a decent 45 Colt shooter?

BTW, an X-frame Smith is out of the question, its a nice gun, but far,far too much for what I need.

[RobS]

I've had both the 6.5" Taurus RB and still own the SRH 7.5". The RB shot well but after several hundred stiff loads the revolver started to work loose and I dedicated it to the mid range loads before I sold it. The SRH has had many, many loads though it and is still the same. The thing I hated about my SRH was the thread choke or constriction where the barrel screwed into the frame. It's a real PITA and the RB never had this issue. My vote is for the SRH and the 7.5" barrel had more balance to it than the full under lug of the 6.5" RB.

Also, if you are planning on shooting cast boolits those gas ports in the end of the RB's muzzle can be an issue as they will fill with lead and the space between the end of the barrel and the gas ports also collect lead pretty badly. It would have been better if they would have extended the actual barrel the full length (the gas ports are not actualy cut into the barrel at all).

[bigboredad]

I have owned the srh in .454 and it was one of the most accurate guns you could own I currently own a srh in .480 and it is scary accurate just like the .454 and the 7.5 is well balanced despite looking like it would be awkward .

I also know what Rob feeds his guns and honestly I don't believe the raging bull could keep up and you would end up selling it later and looking for a srh. the other option would be a bfr in .454

[dmize]

I have a Raging Bull, 3 SRH's and 2 BFR's.
I love all of them to a degree BUT if I was going to buy just one it would be the SRH. The BFR would be a very very close second but only because I think the big DA design handles recoil better than the BFR.

[paul h]

I've never had the opportunity to shoot a rb, but the ones I handled I was turned off by the dual release of the cylinder.

I have shot several srh 454's and own a srh 480. Shooting modern six shooter 45 colt loads i.e. 300gr cast @ 1200-1300 fps the one I shot was very accurate, a bit over 1" at 25 yds with irons. That's what sold me on the SRH, and when I got my 480 and scoped it, I was able to shoot 1" groups at 50 yds. I've put 4000-5000 rds through my 480 and it barely looks used.

[gofastman]

My vote is for the SRH and the 7.5" barrel had more balance to it than the full under lug of the 6.5" RB.

does this mean its not as nose heavy? that's my biggest issue with the RB.

[bigboredad]

to me it is not nose heavy I think it balances very well

[**oneshot**]

I shoot my buddy's Super Redhawk 454 all the time. If it wasn't for him one of those would be on my "To Get" list. It shoots great with cast boolits.
I'm not a huge Taurus fan in the magnum calibers.

[punkinlobber]

This is the SRH I used to own. The barrel was cut to 4 and 1/2 inches and recrowned with a target crown. It was then Magnaported and I put a set of Decelerator grips on it. My hand loads consisted of cast Performance 360 grain WLFNGC bullets sitting on top of 22 grains of H110 and a very firm crimp. I fired hundreds of rounds through that beast and it never showed any sign of wear. It was a beast.

[ratboy]

BTW, an X-frame Smith is out of the question, its a nice gun, but far,far too much for what I need.

are you sure?



:kidding:



i have a RB in 41 mag and its ok. i wouldnt suggest you buy one. i wanted a Ruger in 454 for a bit but i ended up with a 460.
i do put an awful lot of 454 in it.
i might still buy a Ruger if one presents itself.

[RobS]

does this mean its not as nose heavy? that's my biggest issue with the RB.

Correct, the Ruger did not seem as nose heavy to me.

[44man]

Very tough question. The .454 is a longer range hunting gun and to reduce it to the .45 Colt is silly. Also shooting the Colt from .454 cylinders is silly, never the accuracy.
If you really want a step up, get a BFR in .475.
Now how is anything better then a .44 mag or .45 Colt? Only very large animals yet the .44 and .45 still works.
I refuse to lie to you, I love the large stuff but you need more control. You can miss more with fierce recoil. The .44 is still a fall back gun.
The .454 loaded right has fierce recoil, very sharp.
I never will own one because of the primer and prefer a larger caliber.
Now the .480 is super, the .475 better.

[Ed K]

I would prefer to say a .454 Casull 240-260gr jacketed bullet @ 60Kpsi is a longer range hunting cartridge.

I would offer a .454 Casull 320-340gr boolit @ 40Kpsi give or take is controllable and offers excellent performance. It is no longer range a cartridge than the 44mag or 475L.

I'll grant you the primer arrangement is best for higher pressure use ;)

[gofastman]

If you really want a step up, get a BFR in .475.

A .475 looks a little interesting, but I will never own a SAO revolver, I think they are stupid (just my opinion, I dont ask anyone to agree with it or like it).
I think I'm pretty set on my desire for a .45 cal round, the versatility just looks remarkable.

[punkinlobber]

I sold my SRH and bought a Model 83 Freedom arms. I don't live around big bears anymore so I just load hot 45 colt loads in 454 brass. Far more pleasant to shoot.

[paul h]

A .475 looks a little interesting, but I will never own a SAO revolver, I think they are stupid (just my opinion, I dont ask anyone to agree with it or like it).
I think I'm pretty set on my desire for a .45 cal round, the versatility just looks remarkable.

For the handloader and bullet caster, IMHO the 480 is the better choice for a hunting handgun in terms of offering big bore power without punishing recoil. 400gr @ 1200 fps is serious medicine, but with a mere 21gr of H-110 propelling that big slug, recoil feels like a 44 mag with a bigger push. I've shot countless 310 gr lfn's over 9.7gr of unique for 950fps and near moa accuracy, and up to 460gr @ 1100 fps which just seemed like too much of a good thing.

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to shoot several 454's and a 480 before choosing which made the choice easy.

[Shooter]

.454 = .45-70 short.

[Olevern]

I assume you have shot heavy recoiling handguns and are not recoil sensitive. I had a friend who saw my Raging Bull and stated he just had to have one. One trip to the range with me to shoot my 454 Raging bull and he changed his mind. It do recoil a bit sharply.

Let him shoot one of my 44 magnum Rugers and a Lipsey 45 colt and he fell in love with the Lipsey 45 colt (loaded with heavy cast (335 grain) boolits and a full-boat load of H-110. He said that after the 454, the heavy loaded 45 LC was much more pleasant to shoot.

Personally I am not so recoil sensitive and the 454 has it's place but it is at the upper range of calibers I am comfortable shooting. Makes no sense to download it as I own a number of 44 magnums and Ruger 45 LC's. Truth be told, the .45 LC Ruger is probably all I would ever need when properly loaded, but I like the 454 for stalking them big wild boar: it puts them down right now even when not placed perfectly. (Win factory 260 grain loads)

Anyways, if you haven't shot a 454 (or more potent round; thinking 460 or 500) make sure you find a way to shoot one before you pop for the cash.

[tek4260]

I would say I would never own a DA 454 and the thought of one would be stupid..... :)

But I must say that I saw one used on video when a spear chunking went wrong. It was definitely a bacon saver!

....... unless there was a rifle fired out of the cameras view...... ;)

[subsonic]

I would say I would never own a DA 454 and the thought of one would be stupid..... :)

But I must say that I saw one used on video when a spear chunking went wrong. It was definitely a bacon saver!

....... unless there was a rifle fired out of the cameras view...... ;)

My thoughts exactly!

But maybe, just maybe, one of those little Ruger Alaskans would be cool in .454...

[tek4260]

Dad has both the 454 and a chopped 480(ruined it IMHO as I used to own it and it was a shooter for sure)

http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab246/TommyKellyphoto/014.jpg


http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=152262&p=1535379#p1535379

[subsonic]

Dad has both the 454 and a chopped 480(ruined it IMHO as I used to own it and it was a shooter for sure)

http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab246/TommyKellyphoto/014.jpg


http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=152262&p=1535379#p1535379

Would be neat to see chrono results from those two....

That target grey on the .480 does look snazzy. I think I'd leave just enough barrel to hang the sight out there.

[44man]

A .475 looks a little interesting, but I will never own a SAO revolver, I think they are stupid (just my opinion, I dont ask anyone to agree with it or like it).
I think I'm pretty set on my desire for a .45 cal round, the versatility just looks remarkable.
I love both. Yes you can download, no problem.
But you really need some SA guns too. Single shots are also wonderful.
I see you as just limiting your fun. [smilie=l:
Many have different opinions but really, all are so great to shoot, don't limit yourself.

[mk454]

i have owned every single big bore wheelgun caliber in existence except the 50 alaskan or some of the weirder ones like 50/110 and the like and i think your choice is excellent. right now i have a 475, 454,45 colt, 44 mag, and a 500 JRH and i find the 454 to be my go to round. you can back off just a touch and have a very manageable round that is siginificantly flatter shooting than the 45 colt. loading the 454 down a couple hundred fps is no more crazy than when i load my 475 down to 1200 fps or the 500 JRH is loaded from the factory by grizzly which is not near as hot as the buffalo bore rounds which were available and may still be from jack. you can shoot 400 grain loads just fine and they do work well down to 240 grain rounds that are lazer flat, or just some hornady 250 xtp rounds that are quite mild, i.e. the winchester factory rounds. the 454 kills just as nicely as anything i've got and is quite a bit more versatile imho. if i had to have one, that would be it.

for a list of manageable rounds that are at the 44mag and a bit above level you have...
hunting shack bear loads and their xtp loads which are running in the mid 1300's out of a SRH, you've got winchester and federal fusion loads which are mild as well and are basically a hot 45 colt or 44 mag round up to absolute bruisers. buffalo bore and grizzly make some very manageable genuine 454 loads that will kill anything that walks but really don't recoil very badly at all and then ya got some screamers. there is anything you could want. the other calibers i have now are useful but much more limited and on my last alaskan trip you could get 44 mag rounds in town and 454 mag rounds in town but none of the others. i'm not bashing any of the others but the 454 is just quite simply a great gun and will do anything you ask of it.

that said, ya really should get ya a single action. they are nice, i have both and i like both.

[gofastman]

what is a good price on a new .454 SRH?
I have a LGS that says they will order/sell me one for about $825

[mk454]

thats about as good as you will find right now. they sell very quickly. the ones i have, which is 3 at this point, all have very nice triggers and imho surprising fit and finish for a stock ruger.

[bigboredad]

check out gunbroker you can find some good deals over there