[Brad5192]

I have a used .454 raging bull 6-1/2" barrel on lay-way is it over kill or fun to shoot.

[cottonmouth]

I have a SRH in .454 and I'd say it's a little bit of both.

J.B.

[t george]

i am drooling over a srh in my lgs and i would like to know if it is over over kill or fun as well?

[MachIVshooter]

.454's are fun to shoot-for a little while. But after a few rounds, the pain sets in, and you won't know which hurts worse-the web of your hand, or your wallet.

I have a SRH .454, and it sees but a couple dozen rounds a year. That siad, it's always fun to bring out the big boomers when there's a decent gathering of shooters.

[ugaarguy]

is it over kill or fun to shoot.
Remember that a .454 Casull will also shoot .45 Colt. With that you essentially have four power levels of ammo: .45 Colt cowboy loads, standard .45 Colt loads (like Winchester Silver Tip / Super X), hot "Ruger Only" .45 Colt loads (like Corbon & Buffalo Bore), and finally .454 Casull loads. In heavy guns like Raging Bulls and SRHs .45 Colt Cowboy loads have little recoil. So, you can blast the big boomer .454 loads until your hands says "Enough!" and then have fun plinking with cowboy loads for the rest of the day.

[nmlongbow]

They're all fun to shoot but if you get the 460 then you can shoot the light .45 Colt stuff, mid range 454's or the hot 460.

[t george]

the 460 is a nice idea, but it is quiet a bit more expensive is the 460 worth that diffrence?

[t george]

I geuss i need to go start my own thread if i need more info... sry i kind of imadvertenly hijacked this thred

[gbran]

I have the 454 SRH. I don't shoot 45 Colts, but load my own 454's, which can be from mild to wild. With the right loads, it can be pleasant, accurate and economical to shoot. Try some 260gr JFP's over 14gr of Unique for about 1,400 fps.

[countryrebel]

I had the 5" 454 taurus but not anymore. It messed my shooting hand up pretty bad. I could not hit the broad side of a barn with it so I went back to the 44mag. I did shoot a rifle wounded bull elk with it using a 300 grain golddot and it laid him out. If you want bragging rights and big power its a good one.

[General Geoff]

is it over kill or fun to shoot.

Yes.


:D

[Redhawk1]

There is no such thing as over kill, dead is dead. Does the 454 Casull have a lot of recoil in a .454 raging bull 6-1/2" barrel, it could, it depends on the loads you are shooting.

Personally I don't find the 454 Casull as a heavy kicker in my Ruger Super Redhawk or in my S&W 460 Mag.

Are they fun to shoot, that again depends on how recoil tolerate you may be or not be.

I never understood why anyone would say most of the big bore handguns are over kill. I live in a shotgun state and a shotgun slug is a lot more damaging to game than a 454 Casull, S&W 460 Mag or a 500 Mag.
We are allowed to use handguns during our shotgun season for deer.

[ArchAngelCD]

Originally Posted By Brad5192:
I have a used .454 raging bull 6-1/2" barrel on lay-way is it over kill or fun to shoot.
That totally depends upon why you are buying that revolver. Like the others already said, I have a feeling it's a little of both unless you are going to be in Grizzly country.

Welcome to the forum...

[Redhawk1]

That totally depends upon why you are buying that revolver. Like the others already said, I have a feeling it's a little of both unless you are going to be in Grizzly country.

How is it over kill??

[Brad5192]

I bear hunt with my Bow and want it for a back up.

[ArchAngelCD]

How is it over kill??
Would you need a .454 Casull for rabbit hunting? That would probably fall under the heading of over-kill... :p

Many people can't handle large bore handguns, for some even a .44 Magnum produces too much recoil. Others can shoot a .460 Magnum and look for more. So, his question was, "is it over kill or fun to shoot" and I think it's a little of both.

[Redhawk1]

Would you need a .454 Casull for rabbit hunting? That would probably fall under the heading of over-kill...

But the topic is 454, not rabbit hunting.

[batmann]

As a hunting round it is about as good as it gets, but recoil can be brutal with heavy loads. Nice thing about it, you can shoot .45 Colt.
When you are using a hand gun for hunting, there is no such thing as "over kill"--dead is dead.

[Redhawk1]

As a hunting round it is about as good as it gets, but recoil can be brutal with heavy loads. Nice thing about it, you can shoot .45 Colt.
When you are using a hand gun for hunting, there is no such thing as "over kill"--dead is dead.

Thanks, glad to see someone else with some common handgun knowledge. :)

[Dr. A]

Handloaded, the 454 shows its best colors when taken up to moderate pressures. WIth it, I'm not hardpressed to shoot a deer at 150 yards like I would be shooting my 44 mag. Shooting full pressure loads is nothing I do on a regular basis. It simply isn't needed.

The chambers are much tighter than a typical 45 Colt, so accuracy is supurb (at least in my hands). 40,000 CUP pressure loads will do anything most people need. Makes for a much safer and easier to shoot load.

Not much plinking ammo is made for the 454. Too bad, as its quite fun, and an accurate piece.

[CSA 357]

There is a place for the 454, but as of now not here, maybe im old and out of date, but the 44 mag does all i need from a handgun, but i will say this cottonmouths 454 does shoot mighty good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wouldnt be afraid to take it deer hunting

[cottonmouth]

I have posted this before but one more wont hurt. :D I don't know if this is full recoil or not but as you can see it will buck a little.

J.B.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b162/cottonmouth_/IMG_1653.jpg

[ArchAngelCD]

Redhawk1,
My answer was given before the OP made a second post. You asked me how a .454 Casull could be over kill and I gave you an example. It can also be over kill for killing paper. An opinion was asked for and I gave one. I don't see why you are so disagreeable with what I said.

As for backup for bear hunting, it could be over kill there too. If the OP has never fired a .454 or has done so very rarely the recoil could get him killed. That kill he won't get over. A backup weapon is most often needed very fast and fired with one hand. A .454 is not a one handed quick fire weapon.

I have a right to my opinion without being ridiculed so back off!

[Redhawk1]

ArchAngelCD , the reason I am so disagreeable is, I hear people always tell others that the big bore handguns are over kill for deer. But you never hear that a 30-06 or most other rifles are not considered over kill. It just does not make since.
Yes you have a right to your opinion, as I have a right to disagree with it, so no I am not going to back off. You come to an open forum, and this is what you get. That is what an open forum is all about, if you don't like it, you need not participate.


I have been handgun hunting for over 30 years, and never is a handgun been considered over kill on big game, even my 500 Mag is not over kill in my opinion.
Then you say the 454 Casull is over kill for black bear, and continue to say it will get you killed because of the recoil. I don't know what 454 Casull's you have been shooting, but I can shot any of mine one handed, and I don't worry about the recoil, the first bullet will be on target because the recoil happens after I pull the trigger not before. If someone chooses a handgun as a back up, that person needs to practice with it, as if it was his primary weapon.

I have black bear hunted with a handgun for several years now, I have taken 3 black bear with handguns. I don't consider any handgun as over kill when hunting black bear. I believe in carrying enough gun to do the job.

What is your handgun hunting experience? Just want to know.

[Stainz]

My first DA revolver was a then new 7.5" .454 SRH. That was years ago - I traded it away four years ago December. While I had it, I most enjoyed shooting Hornady 240gr XTPs in .454 Casull - which I chrono-ed at 1,995 fps - over 2,100 ft-lb! I made 5-shot 50yd groups of 1.5" with it scoped (2x28 Weaver H2) - and from a a charred sandbag.

It never grouped well with regular fare .45 Colts, my 625MG with it's 4" tube easily putting it to shame. When I started reloading 'wimpy' .454s with .45 Colt +P-ish loads (255gr LSWC @960-980 fps), I was able to forgo the mandatory chamber cleaning after shooting the short-cased .45 Colts. No one made a wimpy .454, so mine were the only way to go for long term shooting fun. I could keep the scope set for the 240gr Hornadys and still hit a 12"-16" steel plate at 110yd, standing and handholding the SRH.

I got aggravated with Ruger, and sold the last of my so-named guns last summer. That SRH is the only one I still look at in the new cabinet... but my wrist's CTS problems are a lot worse now, so it's unlikely my .44 Magnum 629s will see hot ammo, making the .454 SRH even less likely.

I am sorry - I have to say this. As a part-time public RO, I saw many Taurus RBs. To be honest, if you don't think you'll shoot it much, get a Taurus RB - it'll be a self-fulfilling prophecy. They don't have the best QC, dependability, and certainly, the nicest trigger. They comp everything - and, believe me, that RB in .454 is loud. I couldn't detect any less muzzle rise with it, both revolvers being fed the same MagTech 260gr, admittedly a milder .454 load - but what the range store stocked. The grip on the SRH is a bit higher, putting the recoil more down the arm and producing less muzzle rise. To me, it was more comfortable by far to shoot than a target-gripped 29 with hot .44 Magnums - or that RB.

I have culled my collection of everything but S&W - it's taken time - and money. I'd rather have fewer, but nicer, revolvers. Pay for the good ones once. Of course, I know folks with Taurus revolvers, including that RB, who are happy as a clam with them.

One caveat - please buy a proper sized bronze/brass .45 Colt chamber brush, longer and larger OD than a bore brush. Clean those chambers after shooting .45 Colts - and never shoot .454s after .45 Colts unless you can clean the chambers first - an over-pressure spike can be disastrous!

Overkill... I have a friend who hunts white tail with a .458 Lott or Win Mag. He claims it tenderizes the meat! I would imagine a body hit on heir hare might leave enough meat, if you could find it, to flavor a package of Ramen noodles. The guy who got my SRH got a deer each of his first two trips with it - then dropped it from a tree-stand, ruining it. I never killed anything more than a 2L pop bottle full of water, which was impressive, with it.

Ammo - don't forget .45 Schofield, a short .45 Colt with a proper sized rim, on the bottom end. That gives a .454 Casull revolver the capability of <200 to 2,100+ ft-lb. The fellow with the .458s downloads to ~.45-70 Govt levels for deer, too. Lots of capability with a .454 Casull. Oh - I love S&W, but if I get an X-frame, it'll be a .500 Magnum, that .460 Magnum just doesn't interest me.

Stainz

[ArchAngelCD]

Redhawk1,
When I mentioned rabbit hunting you said we are talking about the .454, not rabbit hunting. Then you start talking about hunting deer, what's the difference? I thought we were talking about the .454...

You also posted I said the .454 was over kill for bear hunting. No sir, I did not. I said, "As for backup for bear hunting, it could be over kill there too." I also explained buy saying, "A backup weapon is most often needed very fast and fired with one hand. A .454 is not a one handed quick fire weapon" which is true for some shooters IMO.

I'll go back the the original question by the OP, "I have a used .454 raging bull 6-1/2" barrel on lay-way is it over kill or fun to shoot." I stand by my original answer, "That totally depends upon why you are buying that revolver. Like the others already said, I have a feeling it's a little of both unless you are going to be in Grizzly country."

With no other information to go on I gave a simple answer. I can't see how that answer started all of this crap? :rolleyes:

[Redhawk1]

ArchAngelCD ,
Let's not play games here. The 454 Casull is more a big game cartridge, NOT a small game cartridge. That was where my comment came from. If you can't understand that simple example, I don't know what to tell you. :uhoh:

Do you even know what a back up is intended for? It is for stopping a charge or if need quickly, so no matter the recoil, your first shot better count. More than likely you will not have a second shot. Again there is no such thing as over kill, dead is dead.
If anyone is going to carry a back up handgun, I believe they better know how to use it in a back up situation. They have to practice with it as if in a dangerous situation.
I have a 4 inch S&W 500 Mag, I shoot it as well with one hand as I do with both hands. Why because of practice. And I think the 500 Mag has a lot more recoil than the 454 Casull, but I don't find it to be a gun I could not use if put in a situation, to where I would need to use it.
Again, any time someone chooses to carry a back up handgun, the key to knowing how to use it properly is, to practice, practice, practice.

And to the original poster, no the 454 is not over kill, there is no such thing. I practice with the loads I intend to carry in the gun as back up. ;)

[ArchAngelCD]

Redhawk1,
My first post was a reply to the very limited information provided in the OP's first post. All of your statements are in reference to the additional information provided after my first post.

The original question was:
"I have a used .454 raging bull 6-1/2" barrel on lay-way is it over kill or fun to shoot."

My original answer was:
"That totally depends upon why you are buying that revolver. Like the others already said, I have a feeling it's a little of both unless you are going to be in Grizzly country.

Welcome to the forum..."

PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS??
I think my answer was totally correct for the question asked. (remember, at the time there was no other information)

IMO for some reason this became a pissing contest for you and you can't stop peeing. I'll do us all a favor and make no further posts so you don't become dehydrated. :p

[Redhawk1]

ArchAngelCD, as I see it, your just a guilty as I am. It takes two.
So go chill out and quit drinking so much Kool Aid. :neener:

[Harley Quinn]

Well guys I'll just say this, valid points from both camps...But if I wanted a back up I'd go for the DE 50AE myself...The value of a second and third shot are as important as a first, under crisis situation...And yea they are over kill on rabbits..Pretty messy for sure...:what: