Soooo my wonderful thr crew... looking at a .454 joining the house, not really looking at s&w, ruger and bfr were longtime front-runners, and they are absolutely still holding that title for other projects, but this one specifically, will dominantly run .45 colt or +p loads on occasion it will be tasked with the .454 casull loads but not its normal diet... this is for Mrs. Horsey, and recoil does factor in somewhat, how would a raging hunter serve us? We don't have one to handle locally, so just winging it here, the rail is a big plus as are the ports, but as far as what happens when the bangswitch is activated, how does it compare in manageability to a Blackhawk, redhawk, or bfr? She's not a fan of the feel of a Redhawk fwiw, and currently shoots my .41 Blackhawk with cowboy loads (deer loads are next but see no reason for issue, did swap out the factory thin "gunfighter" grips). Likely this will be acquisition #1, and #2 will be a bfr (torn between rubber plowhandle and bisley) but if it's going to be a beast she doesn't enjoy, then I won't punish her either.
.454 5ish inch barrel?
- Thread starter horsey300
- Start date
adcoch1
Member
I had an early raging bull in 454 with ports and a 5" or so barrel. It was great, slightly more recoil than the 6" 29 44 mag I had but still very manageable. Not a high volume shooter due to ammo costs, but reloading to 45c+p would make it an all day gun.
Edit to add: the recoil with the ported barrel was ever so slightly more than 44 mag through my 7.5" redhawk
Edit to add: the recoil with the ported barrel was ever so slightly more than 44 mag through my 7.5" redhawk
Targa
Member
If the Taurus is being based primarily on rather or not she will enjoy the gun, can you find a Raging Hunter in the wild to see if she will at least like the feel of the gun? As for the .454 Casull and I am assuming you’re a reloader, you can take the .454 Casull case down to a stout .45Colt+p very easily. I use Universal powder with a 250 grain cast rnfp bullet to do it for times as want a more relaxed outing with my Ruger.
On edit: I saw in your post that you can’t find one locally to handle, poor reading comprehension skills on my part..
On edit: I saw in your post that you can’t find one locally to handle, poor reading comprehension skills on my part..
bigpower491
Member
And as I've been discovering for myself this week, you can take the Casull case and a 245-255gr lead swc down to 45 Colt standard levels.
Definitely get one
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Obturation
Member
I love my ruger toklat. 5" super redhawk, it's a keeper. I can't comment on the longevity or comfort of the Taurus.
Targa
Member
Like Obturation, I have no experience with a Raging Hunter either but I will say, from my research they seem to be overly built for their assigned chambering. I actually plan on picking one up in .500 S&W if the price is right and when I finally find them available.
WrongHanded
Member
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- Jul 6, 2017
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I handled a Raging something-or-other whilst looking at .454s a while back. I didn't like the DA trigger. Stacked far too quickly, with too much weight, and then let off all at once. Every part of the double action seemed to happen in too short of a distance on the trigger. SA was just fine, but it was also a weird one to open the cylinder. I can't recall exactly, but I think I remember a secondary latch.
So, you said she doesn't like the Redhawk. How does she feel about the Super Redhawk? They are quite different in feel due to the limitations of the Redhawk's grip frame, and the differences in internals regarding the spring arrangement. The SRH is basically a larger GP100.
So, you said she doesn't like the Redhawk. How does she feel about the Super Redhawk? They are quite different in feel due to the limitations of the Redhawk's grip frame, and the differences in internals regarding the spring arrangement. The SRH is basically a larger GP100.
bigpower491
Member
I found this old thread to be very helpful to me for the project I've got going on with my 7.5" Super Red
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/454-casull-but-run-at-45-colt-levels.879595/
There's some familiar names involved in this discussion, and some very good opinions and information.
Not to hijack or anything, but long story short, 39 yrs of my trade hasn't done my hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders much good. I just can't shoot the hi end loads too much anymore.
I cannot speak for the Taurus, I've never owned or shot one, but have a good friend that said his early raging bull was the best handgun he ever owned. Well alrighty, but don't know what he would be comparing too, so dunno.
I will put this out there, tho.....from the research and work I have been doing with the 454 the last couple weeks, it could honestly be the most versatile of all the big bore revolvers. It appears to be able to do things that the others can't. Go from pop gun light to nearly king of the jungle in 1 speed loader, and in the proper case.
I mean, you're not getting hyper space 1800fps 240gr loads( if you think you'll need em)from a 44 Magnum.
I cannot speak for downloading the larger calibers, but the case length on something like a 460 might not particularly care for having a standard colt charge.
454 is a great choice and if you do take the plunge, don't even bother with 45 Colt cases.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/454-casull-but-run-at-45-colt-levels.879595/
There's some familiar names involved in this discussion, and some very good opinions and information.
Not to hijack or anything, but long story short, 39 yrs of my trade hasn't done my hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders much good. I just can't shoot the hi end loads too much anymore.
I cannot speak for the Taurus, I've never owned or shot one, but have a good friend that said his early raging bull was the best handgun he ever owned. Well alrighty, but don't know what he would be comparing too, so dunno.
I will put this out there, tho.....from the research and work I have been doing with the 454 the last couple weeks, it could honestly be the most versatile of all the big bore revolvers. It appears to be able to do things that the others can't. Go from pop gun light to nearly king of the jungle in 1 speed loader, and in the proper case.
I mean, you're not getting hyper space 1800fps 240gr loads( if you think you'll need em)from a 44 Magnum.
I cannot speak for downloading the larger calibers, but the case length on something like a 460 might not particularly care for having a standard colt charge.
454 is a great choice and if you do take the plunge, don't even bother with 45 Colt cases.
Personally I'd not get a Taurus, their Raging Hunter looks okay, just not a fan of Taurus. That said, there really aren't any other 5" 454 options out there. If it's going to be mostly warm .45 Colt, why not just get a Blackhawk 45 Colt? At one point I had a 5" SRH Toklat that I should have kept, but there is truth that the SRH is an ugly gun. I recently had an Alaskan 454, shot well and really not that bad, but I don't really need a 454. The 45 Colt is plenty and if I "need" more, I've also got 500 S&W.
I like the convertible models, have a 5.5" Bisley .45 Colt/ACP and it's a blast to shoot, easily one of my favorite guns and again the 45 Colt, especially "+P" is plenty for nearly anything. I don't know how well she, or any woman, is going to enjoy or like shooting any 454 Casull, since you said recoil is a bit of an issue. If I were you I'd be looking elsewhere besides a 454. If it has to be double action, maybe you should consider a 44 Mag as there are many more options there. Not sure any have rails but there are some 357's with rails and it would be way easier to shoot than the others. But hey, if the Taurus checks all the boxes for you, maybe that's the answer.
I like the convertible models, have a 5.5" Bisley .45 Colt/ACP and it's a blast to shoot, easily one of my favorite guns and again the 45 Colt, especially "+P" is plenty for nearly anything. I don't know how well she, or any woman, is going to enjoy or like shooting any 454 Casull, since you said recoil is a bit of an issue. If I were you I'd be looking elsewhere besides a 454. If it has to be double action, maybe you should consider a 44 Mag as there are many more options there. Not sure any have rails but there are some 357's with rails and it would be way easier to shoot than the others. But hey, if the Taurus checks all the boxes for you, maybe that's the answer.
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Ks5shooter
Contributing Member
Ruger Alaskan 454 2.5 in barrel here. Love it full power but load it down most times. Also shoot 45LC.
