What Ruger 45 Casull, 45 Colt, 44 Magnum or 480 Ruger

[huntersdog]

Looking for something for deer hunting, black bear and for woods carry. They are all very very good options for hunting, I have shot the Rugers 480 and it is a very nice shooting handgun.

Decisions decisions

[shoot-n-lead]

It might depend on what size gun you want to carry.


For your stated purpose, the only one would be the 44mag...for me...however, I have all but one of them.

[wlc]

I just recently bought a Ruger SRH Toklat in 45 colt/454 Casull. I have enjoyed it so far. I bought it for bear protection while salmon fishing and general carrying around in the woods gun outside of hunting season.

[contender1]

Well, I have several Blackhawks/Super Blackhawks in 45 Colt & 44 Mag, both plow handle, Bisley & even Hunter variations. I have a few Redhawks & a Super Redhawk. My Super is in 480. My only 454 is in a Freedom Arms.
That said, my best advice is to find the one that fits YOUR hands, that YOU can shoot comfortably. All caliber will do the tasks you listed.

[DougGuy]

Deer and black bear a 7 1/2" .44 Magnum or .45 Colt loaded to Ruger Only pressures with 300gr wide flat nose cast boolits is ALL the gun you will ever need, and that goes for elk, moose, and wild pig also.

The other calibers you listed would be a necessity in Alaska but are just too much cartridge and subsequently too much gun to tote in the deer woods in the lower 48.

[birch]

If you are new to casting and reloading boolits, I highly suggest the .45 colt. It was the round that I fell in love with and I truly believe will always be my favorite round to shoot, cast and reload. It is a work of art and somewhat forgiving as long as you use your head and dont' double charge anything.

I would also suggest a really good bullet mould. I cast with Lee, but there is something about casting for the Colt with steel seems right. I would get the Ruger--just not an old model Vaquero.

[DougGuy]

What's wrong with an OM Vaquero?

For hunting, for someone rather new to revolvers and cast boolits, adjustable sights are a help but to the old guys that know how to load and "bring the boolit to the sights" we get by just fine.

[wrench man]

What's wrong with an OM Vaquero?

You NEED to keep the "Case Colored" frames oiled up nicely!, mine has a rusty finger print on the frame that pizzes me off every time I look at it!:mad:
When I got it I KNEW! it would be a 44Mag with the case colored frame, the only decision left was plow handle or Bisley?, I handled both and about three seconds into the hold on the Bisley I KNEW it would be the Plow Handle!, but I do kinda wish it had adjustable sights like the regular Blackhawk's.

[35 Whelen]

I would get a 45 Colt. For what you need, it's all you need. It simply doesn't take an enormous cartridge fed a double handful of powder to kill a 300 or so lb. animal. I would recommend a NM Vaquero (I own one in 45 Colt), but I find the front sight a tad too narrow. Too bad Ruger couldn't have made it a full 1/8" in width. So that leaves the Blackhawk. Just this evening I've been taking a very close look to the Lipsey 45 Colt Flat Top. It's basically a NM Vaquero with adjustable sights. While not capable of handling loads as heavy as the full size Blackhawk, it will run this (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?216940-MiHec-45-270-RCBS-Rerun-brass-two-or-four-cavity-HP-or-solid&highlight=RCBS) bullet right up to 1100 fps. If that won't do it, you need a rifle.

35W

[762 shooter]

+1 Above.

My Lipsey's 45 flat top is a sweet shooting pistol. Those "medium" loads are potent.
Small enough to carry well.

The Mihec 270 SAA meplat moves a lot of meat out of the way.

762

[FlatTop45LC]

+1 Above.

My Lipsey's 45 flat top is a sweet shooting pistol. Those "medium" loads are potent.
Small enough to carry well.

The Mihec 270 SAA meplat moves a lot of meat out of the way.

762
+2!!!

My Lipseys FlatTop 45 Colt is my most used firearm. Keep it under 23000 psi and run a wide meplat and it will last you a long time and kill anything in the lower 48 states.

I have been trying to talk myself into a full sized Blackhawk for a while now and have come to the conclusion that the only two I would have are the 7.5" Bisley 45 Colt or the plow handle Hunter 41 mag.

Anyway - enough of my ramblings. At 36 oz unloaded with a 4 5/8" barrel, the smaller frame, and adjustable sights that are tall enough to run any bullet weight you can fit in the cylinder there just isn't anything not to love about this gun!

[Jupiter7]

I'll also vote 45 colt as an all around wild to mild cartridge. I won't recommend any but the Blackhawk just in case the urge for Ruger only loading hits ya. My simple reasoning is that I can share molds and sizing dies with 45auto. If DA is a requirement the new Toklat SRH looks awesome.

[44man]

Ruger SBH Hunter in .44. Next is a .480 SRH. The .45 will not match them. I shoot both the .44 and .45 Colt, No way the Colt will equal a .44. But look at a BFR in .475 or .500 JRH. NOW you have a hammer!

[Cornbread]

For your stated purposes so long as you mean black bear not grizzlies or brownies, all will work.

My personal favorite for woods carry here in MT where we do have grizzlies, sometimes in my yard as well as in the forest at large, is the 454 Casull. I have 3, love the caliber. Purely personal preference there though as you listed a bunch of good calibers although I personally do not care for .429 cal (44 mag) for carry in Montana and Alaska. Again purely personal preference from having had bear encounters myself (two this hunting season alone, didn't have to shoot either time but the first of the two he was definitely going back and forth on the charge or run idea for longer than I cared for). My closest friend out here prefers to step up to the .475 Linebaugh which you did not list but is also a good choice in the heavy handgun category. He uses that as his woods carry and he lives most of his life out of doors up here in the mountains as do I.

Really will depend on what fits you best and what you enjoy shooting the most......if you have the money, get one of each, and post reviews back here of how you like them :)

[ballistim]

Recent purchase of a 77/44 makes me want a .44 mag handgun to go with it, either a SBH or SRH most likely, have seen a few SRH shortened to 5.5", very nice!

[str8wal]

45 Colt

[jonp]

Deer and black bear a 7 1/2" .44 Magnum or .45 Colt loaded to Ruger Only pressures with 300gr wide flat nose cast boolits is ALL the gun you will ever need, and that goes for elk, moose, and wild pig also.

The other calibers you listed would be a necessity in Alaska but are just too much cartridge and subsequently too much gun to tote in the deer woods in the lower 48.
You sure that a 45Colt with a 300gr over a very nice dose of H110 would not fit the bill in Alaska as well as a 454Casull?

[DLCTEX]

I am biased toward the 480 Ruger. Controlable recoil and will penetrate a black bear from stem to stern with a cast 400 gr. boolit.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I don't think that you could go wrong with a SBH 44 magnum 7 1/2" barrel

[dubber123]

Ruger SBH Hunter in .44. Next is a .480 SRH. The .45 will not match them. I shoot both the .44 and .45 Colt, No way the Colt will equal a .44. But look at a BFR in .475 or .500 JRH. NOW you have a hammer!

Curious as to how a .45 Colt won't equal a .44? Accuracy wise maybe? Power is pretty easy to equal a .44, and if the gun's strong enough, it blows right on by a .44 mag. 30% greater case capacity makes that pretty easy.

[paul h]

I'm a huge fan of the 480, but unless you add moose and brown bears to the mix, I'd say the 44 and 45 are just as capable.

If I was to do it all over with what's currently available, I'd be hard pressed to pass up the 45 bisley convertible.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i61/rsamos/Bisley_20061129_011.jpg

It does suffer the typical Ruger malady of needing a trigger job, but from a very short initial range session it seems like even with the heavy trigger to be a great shooter with either 45 acp or 45 colt. Something to be said for accurate mild practice loads with 200 gr swc 45 acp, and the 45 colt being loaded up to whatever level you deem necessary. I figure my wife's bisley will likely end up with a 454640 flat nose over 10 gr of unique for a working load, though I'll likely pick up a 300+ gr mold for heavy loads.

That said, the 480 srh has been the most accurate revolver I've every shot, and as mentioned 400 gr @ 1200 fps is at the same shootable recoil level of a 44 with 300's or a 45 with 330's. I've shot enough 475's and 500's to know adding a wee bit more lead and powder results in a level of recoil that is at a different level and is much more difficult to master. That and if 400 gr @ 1200 fps isn't enough, I'll take a rifle thank you very much!

[dougader]

I used to have 44 mag and large frame 45 Colt Bisley revolvers. I had a 454 SRH for fishing in Alaska.

But I decided to sell all those and get a new Bisley flat top in 44 Special and a Montado in 45 Colt, both made on the medium frame Ruger. Both of those are plently for deer and black bear down here and carry a lot easier.

I figure I'll step up and get a SRH in 480 Ruger for those fishing trips in Alaska. Since it's for bear problems, I prefer a double action revolver and I'll eventually get it cut back to about 4-1/2" so it packs and draws better.

[Cornbread]

If I was to do it all over with what's currently available, I'd be hard pressed to pass up the 45 bisley convertible.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i61/rsamos/Bisley_20061129_011.jpg


I thought posting p0rn was against the rules here :) Seriously stop though, I already have one in blued and now after seeing this I want it in stainless. You are ruining my will power and gun budget with posts like that :)

[44man]

Curious as to how a .45 Colt won't equal a .44? Accuracy wise maybe? Power is pretty easy to equal a .44, and if the gun's strong enough, it blows right on by a .44 mag. 30% greater case capacity makes that pretty easy.
Not so, my 335 gr and 320 gr boolits in the Colt run around 1160 fps and do work. But the .44 can reach over 1300 fps with the same weights. Thin walls of the Ruger are strong but can't be shot long with .44 pressures. Now a five shot is different.
True a larger case has less pressure for velocity but to push it is not sane. If you want to run a .45, get a 5 shot. It is still not a .454. Steel used is not the same.
I have never run a .45 to match a .44 mag. Why anyway? The .45 works as is.

[w5pv]

If I wanted a gun for all I would go to the 460 and load for any of the above mentioned.

[paul h]

Not so, my 335 gr and 320 gr boolits in the Colt run around 1160 fps and do work. But the .44 can reach over 1300 fps with the same weights. Thin walls of the Ruger are strong but can't be shot long with .44 pressures. Now a five shot is different.
True a larger case has less pressure for velocity but to push it is not sane. If you want to run a .45, get a 5 shot. It is still not a .454. Steel used is not the same.
I have never run a .45 to match a .44 mag. Why anyway? The .45 works as is.

The 45 six shot Ruger's can safely drive the same weight bullets the velocity as the 44 mag, and there is plenty of published data attesting to that fact.

http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm

My my, 310 gr cast, 23 gr H-110, 1330 fps, 30,000 cup.

[paul h]

I thought posting p0rn was against the rules here :) Seriously stop though, I already have one in blued and now after seeing this I want it in stainless. You are ruining my will power and gun budget with posts like that :)

Not my picture, just the best one I came across with google ;)

The only change I'm contemplating is green micarta grips and having it roundbutted.

[EDK]

Short answer: Double action 44 magnum.
I love my Original Size 44 magnum Vaqueros BUT operating one under life threatening stress could be a problem. Double action solves that problem. Gun of your choice in an easily carried barrel length.
44 magnum might not be as powerful as others mentioned BUT it is controllable and in-expensive to shoot compared to the others. I'd load it with #429352 clones from the Blammer group buy mould from Old West and practice double action shooting.

[dubber123]

Not so, my 335 gr and 320 gr boolits in the Colt run around 1160 fps and do work. But the .44 can reach over 1300 fps with the same weights. Thin walls of the Ruger are strong but can't be shot long with .44 pressures. Now a five shot is different.
True a larger case has less pressure for velocity but to push it is not sane. If you want to run a .45, get a 5 shot. It is still not a .454. Steel used is not the same.
I have never run a .45 to match a .44 mag. Why anyway? The .45 works as is.

Hmmm. Might want to try it in a different gun. I have 2 S&W Mountain guns in .44 mag, and .45 Colt. The 44 ran a 315 gr., the .45 ran a 320. The Fps. was virtually identical, even though the Colt had to run lower pressure due to the thinner cylinder. In the last 7-1/2" Ruger .45 I worked with, I hit over 1,300+ fps easily with a 310 gr. and H-110. I quit when I saw the velocity readings, but it was still super easy extraction, perfect looking primers, etc.

[jonp]

The 45 six shot Ruger's can safely drive the same weight bullets the velocity as the 44 mag, and there is plenty of published data attesting to that fact.

http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm

My my, 310 gr cast, 23 gr H-110, 1330 fps, 30,000 cup.

I have tried several of the loads on this chart although not to the top end. When you put 24gr H110 under a 260gr boolit you know you have a gun in your hand and the near max of 2400 makes an impressive fireball and noise. I also used a 7.5in BH and the cases came out easily with no evidence of primer flattening or brass damage.

I have to say, though, if your getting into the very top end for some reason arguing over a 44mag vs 45Colt is the wrong argument. Your argument for more power should be handgun vs rifle

[paul h]

You should try 24 gr H-110 under a 400 gr in a 480 with a bullet designed to use the full length of the cylinder. 400 grs @ 1300+ fps, make sure you have a firm grip ;)

[jonp]

You should try 24 gr H-110 under a 400 gr in a 480 with a bullet designed to use the full length of the cylinder. 400 grs @ 1300+ fps, make sure you have a firm grip ;)
Uh......it's all you big guy! No desire to go down that road for any reason.

[rintinglen]

Curious as to how a .45 Colt won't equal a .44? Accuracy wise maybe? Power is pretty easy to equal a .44, and if the gun's strong enough, it blows right on by a .44 mag. 30% greater case capacity makes that pretty easy.
That case size removes a lot of metal from the cylinder, making a 44 the stronger gun, all else being equal. But as I creep into my 60's, I no longer hotrod standard cartridges. If I die tomorrow, I don't want someone stuffing a "Ruger Only" load into a Uberti. For that reason, I'd choose the 44 magnum. The 454 is overkill, the 45 Colt is only in the argument if you hand load and risk leaving a bomb lying around, and the 480 only comes in large heavy packages. Plus, comes the day when you are 200 miles from home and the ammo bag is still on the back porch where you left it, a trip to the Local sporting goods store will likely score you a box of 44 ammo. 480, 454 not so much.
My thoughts on the topic, but others have their preferences, and can make a strong case for them.
If grizzlies were in the conversation, I'd give the 460 S&W Magnum the nod. I have only shot one, but accuracy was out standing with the full throttle 460 load, and very good with both the Casull and the Colt cartridges. Recoil was not as bad as some lesser cartridges fired from smaller guns. If they were not quite so expensive, I'd buy one. Not that I need one, but a really good gun is a joy to own. However I'd have to sell about three of my 44 magnums to pay for it. SWMBO gets touchy when the price of the gun gets up in that range.

[gandog56]

Don't know. I have both a Ruger Superblackhawk in .44 mag, and a Taurus Raging Bull in .454 Casull. Either works.

[Tom W.]

I'm not much of a fan of the .454, but then mine was an Encore pistol and I was shooting 300 gr bullets at 1750 fps, over a chrony. The .480 SRH I had was really nice, with close to max loads of H110 and 400 gr cast bullets. If it had been a shorter barreled model I still would own it. Alas, I'm down to a Blackhawk convertible in .45, and a SRH in .44 mag. When I go hunting, so does the .44. Most other woods jaunts gets the Blackhawk with the RCBS 270-SAA bullet and a healthy dose of H110.

[44man]

The point of my answer about hotter loads in the .45 is accuracy, not that it is weak. Loads shown are not needed or wanted because they serve no purpose if you can't hit anything. Recoil will do you in and with wood panels I doubt most could take 6 shots, had to put Pachmeyer's on my old Vaquero.
I know how strong a Ruger is, a friend went to 30 gr of 296 behind a 335 LBT without sticking brass in his Vaquero. DANGER! Of what use? Better off with a .454. Don't ask how he got it all in there, I don't know.
I use 21.5 gr with that boolit, any more and I can just throw the gun at the target. It is just not a .44 that runs all day with a 320 gr at 1316 fps with accuracy.

[Groo]

Groo here
From your selection , I believe your looking at a double action maybe a shorter barrel.
If so, I would go with a larger boolet,
The 44 is "fun" from a 3in, a 454 "not so much", the 480and up can work at lighter loadings because of size and throw weight.
I discounted the 45 colt as it is like a 44 or 45 at similar loadings,
I always though the Alaskin 480 ruger was the best of the short barrels for big stuff.
Have and shot all your selection , and the easier ones to shoot would best I think.
This being said, for here east of the Mississippi , I go with a 41mag.

[dubber123]

The point of my answer about hotter loads in the .45 is accuracy, not that it is weak. Loads shown are not needed or wanted because they serve no purpose if you can't hit anything. Recoil will do you in and with wood panels I doubt most could take 6 shots, had to put Pachmeyer's on my old Vaquero.
I know how strong a Ruger is, a friend went to 30 gr of 296 behind a 335 LBT without sticking brass in his Vaquero. DANGER! Of what use? Better off with a .454. Don't ask how he got it all in there, I don't know.
I use 21.5 gr with that boolit, any more and I can just throw the gun at the target. It is just not a .44 that runs all day with a 320 gr at 1316 fps with accuracy.

The 310's at 1,300+ were actually the most accurate of all the loads tested. I was just shooting off the roof of the car with a sweatshirt for support, but they shot in 2" at 50 yds. In my current state of tune, I can't do any better. This was after a marathon lapping session to get rid of the massive frame choke. The 310's actually don't start shooting well until about 1,100 fps. It was an early LEE group buy mold, and it really hates going slow.

[jonp]

Not my picture, just the best one I came across with google ;)

The only change I'm contemplating is green micarta grips and having it roundbutted.

You google pictures of handguns? You are sick [smilie=w:

[jonp]

The point of my answer about hotter loads in the .45 is accuracy, not that it is weak. Loads shown are not needed or wanted because they serve no purpose if you can't hit anything. Recoil will do you in and with wood panels I doubt most could take 6 shots, had to put Pachmeyer's on my old Vaquero.
I know how strong a Ruger is, a friend went to 30 gr of 296 behind a 335 LBT without sticking brass in his Vaquero. DANGER! Of what use? Better off with a .454. Don't ask how he got it all in there, I don't know.
I use 21.5 gr with that boolit, any more and I can just throw the gun at the target. It is just not a .44 that runs all day with a 320 gr at 1316 fps with accuracy.

30gr? Ouch. I'd never attempt that. What possessed him to go that high when Linebaugh only maxed at 23gr or so with a 310gr cast?

[warboar_21]

I have three 45Colts. Two are blackhawks and one is a Bisley blackhawk. I had a 480 Ruger but got rid of it. Had it been a single action it would still be in my possession. It is a great caliber and I wish Ruger turned one out in single actions. I prefer single actions for large calibers. For me the 45 Colt will do everything I want and then some.

[44man]

30gr? Ouch. I'd never attempt that. What possessed him to go that high when Linebaugh only maxed at 23gr or so with a 310gr cast?
He bought the boolits and was told to start at 19 gr and work until pressure signs but he never found any. Not even a flat primer.
I stopped at accuracy. Have dropped deer from 76 to over 100 yards off hand with my load and is all I cared about.123742 5 shots from my .45 Vaquero at 50 yards.
For thought, my .44 mag loads with a 310 to 320 uses the exact same 21.5 gr of 296 but my 330 uses 21. Yes, I can go more but WHY? I don't even hot rod the .44.
The lee 310 shoots so good I put 5 in the .44, shot 3 deer and had two left. Ran out of my 330 boolit loads and did not even sight check the Lee's. To tell the truth I did not notice until I was done hunting. I did not know all I had left were the Lee boolits. But I know it does not matter.
I take my shoulder holster off in the basement and never reload, what is left in the gun is enough. Takes one shot per deer.

[44man]

I have three 45Colts. Two are blackhawks and one is a Bisley blackhawk. I had a 480 Ruger but got rid of it. Had it been a single action it would still be in my possession. It is a great caliber and I wish Ruger turned one out in single actions. I prefer single actions for large calibers. For me the 45 Colt will do everything I want and then some.
That is how I think, why try to turn a great gun into something it is not just to prove you can.
The .45 is like the 45-70, will be here forever and the 45-70 is no .458.
I see no reason for the .454 and .460 either, bigger to me means a bigger caliber, not more speed.
The .480 just might be the best for deer and up but it is no .475 and why try to make it into one?
Have a .45 and say it is low pressure so there is room, lets take it way up to it's limit.
Speed does not kill, accuracy is first, then what the boolit does.
Want speed with low pressure, get the 45-70 BFR that will out pace a .454 at way less then 30,000 psi.

[Mohillbilly]

Single action revolvers , caliber for caliber barrel length for barrel length are usually lighter and easier to carry all day . If you reload , I think you would be well served with a .45 Colt chambering , especially if it were capable of +p / Ruger , Contender loads . If Alaska/ Africa ect. is your destination , use a rifle and or a 83 Freedom Arms in what you can afford , or maybe a BFR in .475/.480 or .500 S&W

[Jtarm]

I agree with the SA choice. For me they handle recoil more comfortably. That said, I own a wicked-accurate early Redhawk .44 mag. Still prefer the ergonomics if the SA grip for my stubby fingers, though.

I've never hunted black bear or owned a .454. But if your bears come in plus sizes, that'd be my choice, especially if it will also handle .45 Colt ammo.

[Three44s]

DA here and dollar for dollar, if you can find a deal on a SRH in .480 Ruger you are in the zone in my opinion.

Mine is the 7.5" six shot.

I like it loaded at just below max or down to whatever the task at hand requires. I don't like max with this cartridge due to case sticking potential reported in a lot of them.

I would also snatch up an Alaskan in .480 in a heartbeat if one came my way at a fair price. But, my 7.5 would stay with me as well.

It's not a .475 and it never will be. It also does not cost $1300 plus. But it will end to end a bear and look for another to agravate!

I understand the packing issue. My sweetest power house is a S&W MG. But you get the right gear and you can pack the heavy iron just fine! Better than my MG on my hip in my opinion.

Best regards

Three 44s

[Lloyd Smale]

Back when I first got serious into sixguns my first 45 colt was a stainless vaguaro that got a steady diet of 320 grain lfns and 25 grains of 110. It never blew up but over a couple years got so loose that it sounded like a rattle when you shook it. Anymore my 45 colt single action rugers are never shot with any more then 21 grains of 110 with a 300-320 grain bullet. Like 44man said theres just no need for it as no game animal can tell the difference between 1100 fps and 1300 fps. A good cast bullet at either speed puts most of its energy in the dirt on the far side of anything I hunt. I agree with his preference for 44s over 45s too. Ive owned a pile of each and have found 44mags much easier to find good accurate loads for. I also agree that if your talking running on the ragged edge of safety the 44 in a super redhawk will beat out the 45 in any gun short of a Freedom arms 83 and probably will equal what that gun will do. The 44 in those platforms can be taken to a hairs breath away from 454 ballistics. My problem is I carry my hunting guns in a hip holster so the super redhawks other then the Alaskans are out of the picture and I don't want to buy a new wheelbarrow to carry around a smith 460 or 500 at camp. If ruger would give us a 5 shot single action 480 it might get the nod over the 44 but until then my favorite revolvers will allways have a caliber ending in 4.

[44man]

How great a five shot SBH in .480? However I think Magnum Research works very close with Ruger since Ruger makes all the castings and parts except the barrels for the BFR's. There might be an agreement there.
I found the BFR .475 on sale and it cost me $715 out the door, best dang revolver I ever shot so I bought the 45-70 and got it cheap too. When I got it able to shoot 1" targets at 100 yards I could not stop there. I know the guys at MR and got a custom shop .500 JRH for $840. Yeah, that's right. it did not disappoint with many 1/2" groups at 100.
I tout and push the BFR's for a reason, not profit but because I never seen any revolvers with the accuracy potential in my life. I admit to getting a deal you can't but beside the point.
Ruger has raised prices to the point that a BFR is not out of the question and Ruger does make some money from them. So you support both companies.
I did not know what to expect with my first until I seen a Ruger on steroids and I was at home then. Buy the BFR in .475/.480 and you have the SBH in the package you want. The BFR's are stupid, crazy accurate. Hand lapped Badger barrels and fit to perfection, throats on the money and bore and groove to perfection. Forget outside finish for more money, they are still a thing of beauty and a mark is removed like on a Ruger, piece of Scotch-Brite.
My custom shop is fit like a Freedom but with just enough cylinder play for alignment, hardly felt. Trigger never needed touched, no creep and about a 2# let off.
I will forever love a Ruger and a BFR is just a big Ruger.
Next in line is a SRH and then the SBH Hunter, both will do 1/2" at 50 yards.
The BFR's are much stronger then the Freedom, same carpenter steels but thicker. BFR cylinders are the same steel used in the SRH .480.
The BFR's have perfect twist rates for each caliber and will handle a huge range of boolit weights. Cylinders are longer for any boolit. Frames only need a turret.

[jonp]

He bought the boolits and was told to start at 19 gr and work until pressure signs but he never found any. Not even a flat primer.
I stopped at accuracy. Have dropped deer from 76 to over 100 yards off hand with my load and is all I cared about.123742 5 shots from my .45 Vaquero at 50 yards.
For thought, my .44 mag loads with a 310 to 320 uses the exact same 21.5 gr of 296 but my 330 uses 21. Yes, I can go more but WHY? I don't even hot rod the .44.
The lee 310 shoots so good I put 5 in the .44, shot 3 deer and had two left. Ran out of my 330 boolit loads and did not even sight check the Lee's. To tell the truth I did not notice until I was done hunting. I did not know all I had left were the Lee boolits. But I know it does not matter.
I take my shoulder holster off in the basement and never reload, what is left in the gun is enough. Takes one shot per deer.

I went up to about 20gr H110 and had enough. 30gr must be really hard on both the gun and the wrist.

[44man]

Why I put Pachmeyer grips on it. Now I can shoot all day when before 6 shots was enough.

[selpaw]

I have a 45 Colt Redhawk with 4.2" barrel. Strong gun that shoots great. For what you need I don't think you need any more. Pleasant to shoot which means you can get more practice which is a better guarantee of effectiveness than larger caliber. selpaw

[jwp475]

Not so, my 335 gr and 320 gr boolits in the Colt run around 1160 fps and do work. But the .44 can reach over 1300 fps with the same weights. Thin walls of the Ruger are strong but can't be shot long with .44 pressures. Now a five shot is different.
True a larger case has less pressure for velocity but to push it is not sane. If you want to run a .45, get a 5 shot. It is still not a .454. Steel used is not the same.
I have never run a .45 to match a .44 mag. Why anyway? The .45 works as is.


I'm running 335 45 colt loads at 1334 FPS. That is easily done with 25 grains of H-110/296.

[huntersdog]

I picked up a Ruger Redhawk in 44 mag to start with. Thanks for all those who replied to this thread.

[Lloyd Smale]

got to agree here. to me a 45 colt or a 44 mag are about identical because I rarely run either past 1200 and most of the time its around 1100fps. even a 300 grain bullet out of either at 1100 fps is fairly pleasant to shoot and will shoot through a heck of a lot of animal. days of doing stupid things like loading 25 grains of 110 with a 320 in a 6 shot ruger 45 are over. It buys you very little in the field and recoil becomes unpleasant and if you make a steady diet out of shooting loads like that your gun will eventually need work.
I have a 45 Colt Redhawk with 4.2" barrel. Strong gun that shoots great. For what you need I don't think you need any more. Pleasant to shoot which means you can get more practice which is a better guarantee of effectiveness than larger caliber. selpaw

[Thumbcocker]

It is always a pleasure when Lloyd and .44 man weigh in on boolits in hunting handguns. I have learned much from them.

[Charlie U.]

huntersdog,
As you say....they are all good options. My personal favorite of them is the 480Ruger.

I would suggest you start with the 44mag simply because it is the most commonly available thing on your list. It will give you the broadest selection of guns and components.

Of course, true satisfaction will be achieved when you have all of them.

[44man]

I might have killed more deer with the .44 then any and even though I like the heavier boolits for penetration, from 250 up works. Where I found trouble was too much expansion and lack of penetration.
The .45 colt does not lack penetration with a decent boolit either. I still like a heavier boolit. 300 is my start for hunting and velocity of 1150 to 1200 will go though anything.
No matter what, I want two holes.
The Colt will never be BETTER then a .44 but can equal it in killing power without driving it to .44 velocities. What you lose is the ability to hit when you push the .45.
I work groups to see them tighten and more powder starts the way up again. There is no sense looking for velocity once groups start to open. .44 works the same but velocity will be higher at the best groups. No way out of it. Stop at groups or back up to the best.

[44man]

I went up to about 20gr H110 and had enough. 30gr must be really hard on both the gun and the wrist.
I do not think 30 gr was any worse, he never shot them here. I would never try that but I think velocity might have gone down while recoil increased from more powder to push. He might have had plugs of compressed powder exit the barrel.

[Lloyd Smale]

pay attention to jwp too, hes probably took more really big game with a revolver then anyone here.
It is always a pleasure when Lloyd and .44 man weigh in on boolits in hunting handguns. I have learned much from them.

[44man]

I have killed many deer with my Old Army C&B with round balls. I use 41 gr of Swiss FFFG for about 1100 fps. It is amazing and breaks bone like a sledge. But the rifling is wrong for the velocity so I have to shoot very close. I dare not shoot to 50 yards, it is a 10 to 20 yard gun.
I always prefer accuracy with no regard to velocity if you shoot farther. No problem with close shots.
I have never used a chronograph to work loads. I have been bashed over wanting pure accuracy for hunting. But deer are pretty small after all. Most of what you guys use will kill them but darn, you have to hit them too.
Look at the posts about placement of the shot, it is true and a revolver is really a POC when it comes to long range placement. But done right, it will do the job past 100 yards.
The one gun I don't trust is my C&B.

[Nicholas]

After obtaining a slightly used 454 SRH at a bargain price, I no longer saw a need for a 44 mag revolver. That may change, but right now I am interested in setting up a 41 mag RH or BH with a 2x leupold as a second deer hunting revolver.

[44man]

After obtaining a slightly used 454 SRH at a bargain price, I no longer saw a need for a 44 mag revolver. That may change, but right now I am interested in setting up a 41 mag RH or BH with a 2x leupold as a second deer hunting revolver.
.41 good but go with a red dot if you have light conditions from dim to bright.

[jonp]

After obtaining a slightly used 454 SRH at a bargain price, I no longer saw a need for a 44 mag revolver. That may change, but right now I am interested in setting up a 41 mag RH or BH with a 2x leupold as a second deer hunting revolver.

I had one with a Nikon Monarch. That is one fantastic scope for the money

[whatzuptan]

Hmm I go with the redhawk Alaskan in 454 . Then you also have the option to still use 45 colt

[alamogunr]

I have just run across this thread and have read every post, including the "+1's". Since I don't hunt it is all academic from my standpoint but no less interesting. One thing stands out for me. There is no single answer to the question that the OP posed. Some very knowledgeable people have posted conflicting points of view(and done it w/o any rancor). I found it very interesting.

[paralaska]

I have 2 .454 casull Rugers :the 7&1/2 inch and the 5 inch Toklat; also a .454 Rossi lever. I love them all. I might be interested in getting a .480 someday.
I see the .480 as strictly for hunting (shooing a big heavy bullet), whereas the .454s are a little more versatile: they can shoot .45 long colt and ammo, brass, bullets are more easy to come by.
If only 1 is doable . . . then my vote would be for .454.

[Cornbread]

Hey paralaka, I have a 454 rossi lever too. Love mine, although the bead in the front site on mine fell out the first time I shot it. I just put a dab of flourescent orange metal paint in the hole instead and it has worked great ever since. Man can you burn through the 454 ammo quick with that thing!

[paralaska]

Mine actually has the fiber optic front and a squared off 2 dot rear. I find it a lot easier than the buckhorn to get on target quickly.