.454 worth the extra money?

[priv8ter]

I am looking at getting a big-bore revolver sometime in the (undertermined) future. It goes between number 1 and number two on my list, swapping frequently with my desire for a full-size .357.

So...I have kind of settled on the idea of getting something in .45 Long Colt.

But!

When people talk about 'should I get a .38 or a .357' we all seem to say get the .357...it's more versatile!

So, if I got a .454, I would have that same veratility...just in a larger gun.

However, the price difference for new .38's and new .357's is quite small. .454's though...they are pricey. I mean, i can get a .45LC Rguer Blackhawk for under $360. The cheapest .454 I've seen is the Taurus Raging Bull...and they seem to go in the mid $600's.

So, if I have no real plans to go hand-gun hunting for moose or bears, is there any reason to spend the extra money for the .454, or, is that some thing I should just wait to get seperatly when I feel the need/want for a true Hand Cannon?

greg

 

[JBP]

If you plan on doing a lot of shooting I'd stay away from the 454. While you can fire 45 LC, and very accurately out of my SRH I might add, you will have to clean out the cylinders really well since the 45 LC is slightly shorter than the 454 Casull. It's the same scenario as firing 38 spls out of a 357 (which I don't do) or 44 Special out of a 44 Magnum (which I don't do either). The 454 is not a pleasant round to plink with and while I consider myself not to be recoil sensitive my upper limit when shooting my SRH is 40 rounds. If you want versatility out of a handgun go with a Ruger Blackhawk with two cylinders; one for 45LC and the other for 45ACP.

 

[Jim Watson]

.44 Magnum and a reloading press is the best way I can think of to spend the money.

 

[BluesBear]

I shoot many more .38 specials out of my .357 than I do magnum loads.
I shoot many more .44 specials out of my .44 magnum than I do magnums.

It takes very little extra cleaning. No I take that back. I really don't see any difference in cleaning time. But then when I'm done my guns are CLEAN.
I often wonder about so many people who complain about shooting shorter cartridges. When I shoot lead I shoot high quality lead bullets because it really doesn't cost any more. I've been doing this for 30+ years now and I just don't see what all of the fuss it.

 

[Hal]

I've been doing this for 30+ years now and I just don't see what all of the fuss it.

Not quite at 30 years, but closing in on it. Honestly, I think the fuss and the bad rap comes from commercial reloads.
Commercial reloads usually use fast powder and the lowest cost components, along with lubes that are meant to stay put when going through the press, not necessarily what's best for going through a gun bore.
What I've found is that if you use a decent cast or swaged bullet, on top of a powder with the proper burn rate, the worst case scenerio is usually unburned powder, or soot.

 

[klover]

I'm with Jim

.44 mag is abundant, preforms excellent results, very accurate from a 629, and I just love it in snubbies or longer.
Did much thinking about .454 myself, and decided so much cheaper may be cool. Was very surprised to find how well I could shoot the 44's.

 

[JohnK]

If you really need the extra power than the 454 is definately worth the money. If you want one of the most accurate large caliber revolvers around (Freedom Arms) then again I'd say it's likely worth the money, although you can get the same accuracy (and price) from them in 357, 45 Colt, 480 Ruger and so on.

If you just want a large caliber gun for fun shooting then my vote is that it's not worth the money. If you want a gun that can deliver some recoil just for fun a 44 Mag or heavy loaded 45 Colt can do the job. If you do decide you want to hunt you can hunt pretty much anything in the US with a 45 Colt Ruger - 325gr @ 1,300+ fps or 350gr @ 1,200 fps will do in just about anything.

 

[Majic]

Not quite at 30 years, but closing in on it. Honestly, I think the fuss and the bad rap comes from commercial reloads.

I'm not to far from the both of yall either. I also think a lot of the complaining comes from those who really just wipe down the handgun to make it shiny and don't really clean the chambers. You can shoot several hundered rounds in one day and the buildup is just not that hard if you clean it out the same day.

 

[Tony Mig]

Today while shooting both my 6" GP-100, and my 4" 686, I put a couple hundred rounds of .38 Spl's through them before pulling out the .357 maggies. No cleaning between the change in ammo, I just shot up all my .38's, then switched to the magnums....no problems....no worries, and I don't know what the fuss is about......

 

[P95Carry]

Due to ''recoiljunkyitis'' and a love of hand cannons .. I would say that .454 is good to have .... but not essential, when .44 mag can offer so much.

Answer ... have both?

My first .454 was a raging Lunatic .. nice gun . good sturdy double cyl lock-up. But having a SRH in .44 mag .. seemed logical to get same in .454. Expensive ammo to buy as factory but ... a good round to reload for.

''Worth the extra money'' . well yeah - to me .. but this choice is very personal. I'd also not be phased one bit by use of shorter 45LC cartridges and cleaning ... if done often enough it is no sweat at all.

If at all possible ... find someone with a .454 and try it .. you'll either cringe or fall in love!

 

[Valkman]

I think .454 Casull is a great cartridge, and alot of fun to shoot. I reload so that was a consideration when I bought it as ammo isn't cheap.

I was actually looking for a .44 Mag but got such a good deal on this I couldn't refuse. There are people out there who buy these and cannot handle them - look for those kind of deals and you can get a good price.

 

[only1asterisk]

priv8ter,

Did you look into reloading? I seem to remember it mentioned on another thread. If you will handload, it doesn't really matter. If you are not going to handload in the near future, the 44 Magnum is a better move. You have a wider variety of factory ammunition and power levels. If you have your heart set on a .45 then get a one, or .454 if you feel the need.

So, if I have no real plans to go hand-gun hunting for moose or bears, is there any reason to spend the extra money for the .454, or, is that some thing I should just wait to get separately when I feel the need/want for a true Hand Cannon?

If you don't go hunting (with a handgun as your primary weapon) for elk, moose, or bear the .454 is big-time overkill. I don't see any need for all that noise and recoil if it's just for deer or hogs.

I may be biased. While I have no problem with a .44 Mag, the .454 (full power) is in an altogether different class. I don't like it. It isn't nearly as fun for me as my senselessly overpowered rifles.


David

 

[priv8ter]

Thanks!

Well, I have looked into reloading...right now I rent an apartment, and my wife has told me I can't buy any more gun stuff until we are in a house. Plus, things were crowded enough without trying to pile reloading stuff into my apartment. Once I move, I am thinking of getting anice relaoding setup for Christmas.

I think I will probably not get a .454. The main decision I have to make is going .45LC, or .44 Mag. If I was to go buy a gun today, I would probably order a Ruger Blackhawk in .45LC, with the .45 ACP conversion cylinder. That sounds like a fun combo, and like JBP says, it would be very versatile.

greg

 

[halvey]

I've seen Ruger SRH .454's for $450 used. Wait for a good deal and buy a reloading press. That said, the .45 Colt will give you all the power you need for most North American game (as will the .44).

 

[tex_n_cal]

You can make a pretty fair case that the .480 Ruger is more powerful than the .454. Loaded with hard cast non-expanding bullets, both will shoot through big animals, but the .480 makes bigger holes. I don't recall any 6 shot revolvers that have more power. The .500 S&W and various LInebaugh rounds are all in 5 shot revos.

I like my .480 - but with top loads, make no mistake, it kicks like 4 mules.

 

[Stainz]

My vote goes for the Blackhawk .45 convertible, as that is how I started. It allowed me to shoot up the 'cheap' big bore ammo I had amassed for my G21 and AMT Backups, .45 ACP, and introduced me to my all-time favorite round - the .45 Colt. My first DA was the .454 SRH - and I still don't regret it. I don't hunt... I just plink. That .45 Colt can be loaded from wimpy to big bang - and the bigger bang of the .454 is to be experienced. That SRH, besides being a 'Made in the USA' product, is a six shooter with better ergonomics than the RB - and, locally at least, is cheaper ($559).

Be aware... the .45 Colt is addictive. Two years ago this fall, I made the 'mistake' of counting those bags of .45 Colt brass I had saved over several years of shooting my Blackhawks, SRH, and S&W 625 Mountain Gun... there were over 2,700 of them! I ordered a Dillon 550B and goodies, despite my never having touched a reloading press. Now I shoot to reload! Seriously, my rationale of 'cheaper ammo' really reverted to what others had suggested... 'more ammo'. Think about that when you get 'room'.

One aside re revolvers. They are addictive! My evil-bottom-feeders are all gone... revolvers now occupy my handgun locker space. Okay, I'll still admit to having a Ruger MKII .22LR plinker - they shouldn't count! Also, that reloading press allowed me to get my first .44 and .357/.38. In fact, I had my M10 & M66 for months before they ever saw a commercial round. As I said, reloading is 'another' hobby... it sure seems to enhance the other one.

Stainz

 

[Hal]

make a pretty fair case that the .480 Ruger

Can make a pretty fair case for the .480 Ruger being a kissing cousin to a 20ga slug too. Given a nominal expansion of ~ 20%, there ain't a whole heck of a lot of difference between the 2.
Pity of it is, I bet there'll never be a dead soft 300-400 gr lead bullet load made commercially for it.