Raging Bull vs Smith 460

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osteodoc08

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Before my dad had suddenly passed away we had contemplated getting a super magnum to play with. He loved the 45LC so we had discussed the 454Casull and 460 Smith for obvious reasons. He cast his own with and without GC as well as shot factory jacketed.

I've got the itch to continue this bargain and get one for myself. Locally I have available to me a Smith 460 With the 8-3/8 barrel. It is big and heavy, but grips fit my hand fine. There is also a Taurus RB 454 Casull new. Grips equally good and is a more trim package from a weight perspective.

Purpose will be a just cause gun/range toy. Perhaps hunting, but I have a dedicated 41Mag BH Hunter I use for this.

I live in NW GA so my 41 Mags are capable of dispatching any critter around me. From a cost perspective the Taurus is $800 and the Smith $1150. As of right now I can get my hands on 454 Brass only. Bullets/powder/primers I already have.

I'm torn cause I like the Smith, well, cause I love my Smiths.

The Taurus passes the inspection test just fine and actually locks up on each cylinder tighter than the Smith. But Smith is fine too. The Taurus is also some 20 ounces lighter making it much easier to shoot off hand, where the Smith would be a bench rest only affair due to its weight (for extended shooting).

What is everyone's opinion on the two above.

I know Ruger makes the SRH in 454 but I cannot find any locally and don't like purchasing something I can't fondle first
 
One of the pistols I most regret trading was a 454 RB. There was something I wanted more at the time.
 
I considered the Smith 460 because it would shot the 460, 454, 45 Colt and 45 Schofield. I then compared the 460 to the 454 and the difference in price didn't seem worth it to me so I went with the Raging Bull which has been a really good gun. I've settled on 300 gr bullets with Lil'Gun, 2400 and IMR 4227 powders. It is accurate to say the least, however it is heavy but in my area a 454 is fine as a backup gun when hunting. I've had the gun now about 3 months and put a few hundred rounds through it from factory Magtech 260 gr as well as FA 300 gr, Hornady HP etc all have worked well. Soon hopefully I will get the molds I bought through a group buy from Ranch Dog of his new 330 gr design bullet.
 
I would think there are very few indeed that need to exceed .454 by going with .460S&W.

I haven't owned one but keyboard commando experience says that the Raging Bull is highly rated for a Taurus. Never have seen much if any bashing.


Well, now that I think about it there was 1 fellow whose front sight blade detached right away and went flying, that's about it. Does it have those weird "cooling finned" rubber grips? Never tried those either but they make me a bit skeptical.
 
I've been contemplating the same thing as the OP. I love the 45LC but would like to have the extra oomph of the 454 and 460. The S&W 460v with the 5" barrel seems like the sweet spot. No idea how it manages recoil compared to its 8" bigger brother.
 
Well being I'm turning 67 years old tomorrow I can tell you as someone that shots one. After that first shot you will forget about what the Raging bull's grips look like as you will learn to love them. As for the barrel that comes in not only for strength but also to mount a scope if wanted. The Raging Bull is truly a tank hand gun.
 
Well, I may have to go and get that RB tomorrow then. The money saved I can get brass and components.
 
Small world, my son's birthday is today. Happy birthday joecil!

Enlighten us philistines. The grips look uncomfortable. Do the "fins" collapse under grip? Do they truly mitigate recoil and allow a firm stable purchase on the weapon?
 
Maybe not. I do remember a Taurus grip for big bores that looks like the block of a motorcycle engine with "fins". Maybe joecil will educate us.
 
Sorry I misunderstood what he meant by fins in that I thought he was talking about the top of the barrel. Now with that said the grip is a solid rubber grip with a softer rubber shock absorber on the back but no fins. Below is a picture of what I have the 6.5" barrel stainless model.
 

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I believe they are called "ribber" grips and are indeed very comfy to shoot big loads with. I have a Taurus tracker in .44Mag and it is truly a blast!

~Wingnut13
 
Looks nice to me. I'm no fan of "billboards" but they mean little to me one way or the other in the end. I see it has the same cylinder release as my Dan Wesson. Takes a bit of getting used to but I do not see that as bad.

Hmmm...no it doesn't. It has a S&W release. What is that checkered piece in front of the cylinder?
 
I like the versatility of the S&W in that it can use the other calibers, but I too Chose the Raging Bull....

Awesome Hand Cannon!

I liked the appearance of the early generation grips with the red recoil pad better than the ribber grips... but the ribbers are a little easier on the hand tho.... :)
 
Well, from all you can tell from a keyboard, looks like the Raging Bull to me.....why couldn't it also fire .45 Colt and .45 Schofield? Would it need cylinder modification for 3 out of 4?......

unless of course you are hunting freight trains. And then you better get a BIG rifle, or a rocket launcher.
 
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I just shot a .460 the other day. Both a 2.5" and a 8". I've owned taurus revolvers before and I wouldn't think twice about it. Go for the smith hands down
 
That's interesting. I've had a Taurus before. Wasn't bad. I've actually had more issues out of my Smiths, but then again I have more of them already.
 
Oh believe me I am a dyed in the wool Smith fan, especially the old ones.

For critical thinkers in this instance, I don't believe pure brand loyalty is the way to go. If you have specific criticism for the Raging Bull, then this is the place.

Pure Smith over Taurus? Inquiring minds wanna know.

Why?
 
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When I bought my 44 Tracker the guy at Sportsman Warehouse said the medium frame Taurus revolvers were the worst of the Taurus. He warned me not to buy it, but I didn't listen and mine went back to Taurus.

However, he did say the Large frame Taurus revolvers were ok. He was right about my Tracker so have no reason to doubt the durability of the Raging Bull.
 
I do not know much about the .460 but I really like my Freedom Arms 454. I mostly shoot heavy 45lc but the 454 has taken a lot of big game. It is my main hunting weapon except white tail deer and then I use a 44. I am well satisfied with the 454 but either will do you proud. When I get another big boy it will be a shorter 454 [mine is now a 7.5"].
 
I have both, the raging bull and a 8 7/8 Smith xvr. I much prefer the Smith. I loath the ribber gripsthat gage conte on some of my Taurus revolvers, I always replace with hogues. However my raging bull came with a red and black non ribber grip. The ribbers feel squishy and awful to me, but some like them.
The Smith tames recoil much better if your shooting 454 but both are manageable. 100 yard groups are about half with the Smith but both shoot great and if you could do your part would take whitetail much father. The trigger is also better on the Smith. I do prefer the finish of the Taurus over the shiny Smith. Also 460 brass ifs no higher, I order starline from midway.
 
The Raging bull 454 Casull will fire 454, 45 Colt and 45 Schofield rounds though I've never shot the Schofield I have shot some pretty stout 45 Colt rounds with it.

Also it does have a double latch system to drop the cylinder and it is a bit large to use for a CCW weapon in my opinion however it does make a great back up gun in Bear country.
 
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