480 or 454

[Takem406]

And the bear/backcountry handgun debate goes on...

Planning on buying a Smith 69 in 44.

But I'm bored at work and looking at 480's and 454.

I read that the 480 might actually have lighter recoil than the 44.
I'd also like to take up handgun hunting. Also in Montana our bear season for gun is during bow season for deer and elk. So if I can't get close enough to a big bear with the longbow I'd like the option to boom it. And it would be nice to take a bear with a handgun.
But there's also grizzlies and wolves and people running around.

To shoot 45's from a 454 would be fun. But I see there's some helluva big chunk of cast cores you can lob from a 480.

I also handload so that opens up some options.

Ive shot a good bit of 44 and they are fun. I carried a Redhawk 5.5" last fall with the HSM 305 bear loads. Those weren't too terrible to shoot and control. Not sure how they would be in the 69.

Thanks boys.

 

[MaxP]

I have two .480 Rugers -- a Super Redhawk and the new Bisley. Recoil is definitely considerably heavier than a .44 loaded to spec. That said, it is a lot more pleasant to shoot than a .454 loaded to spec.. The .480 is a great round..Heavy, large diameter projectile at moderate velocity is great bear, moose, bison, whatever medicine. I have taken a truckload of game with the .480 and have never found it lacking in the terminal performance department.

 

[buck460XVR]

If the gun will be a hunting type handgun, I'd stick with a N-Frame as opposed to a L-Frame for .44 mag.(only weighs 4 oz more in similar barrel length, will be more pleasant to shoot, holds one more round and will last longer shooting full house .44 mag) In a similar platform, .454 will be much more brutal than the .480 and the extra power not really needed. Strictly for Bear defense, again, I'd go with the N-Frame in .44 mag, but between the .480 and .454, I'd chose .454.

 

[eldon519]

At some point you aren't really gaining anything by making the bullet faster or heavier without increasing the diameter. I think .454 Casull is past that point. You can put a .45-cal hole all the way thru it with a .45 Colt shooting 300gr@1300fps or you can put a .45-cal hole all the way thru it with a .454 shooting 400gr@1300fps but either way it still has a .45-cal hole thru it. If you want more umpf, put a .475-cal hole all the way thru it.

 

[MaxP]

Spot on, Eldon! If the gun will be used for defensive purposes, I would always opt for more diameter.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If I were facing that choice I would probably choose the 454 Casull because of the greater variety of handgun chambered in 454 to choose from. Other than that, dead is dead. There is no "more dead" lol.

 

[mavracer]

I prefer the 480 over the 454, neither is really necessary as 44 mag loaded properly will do anything I really need to do.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

You might get a bit flatter trajectory and range out of the 454 with a lighter and faster bullet, but if hunting big game, I'd go with the 480, and just get your sights dialed in at the distances you want.

If deer sized or even black bear sized game was your only critters to kill, then I'd consider 454.

 

[Ed Ames]

Does the .480 actually share components with anything else in real-world reloading? I know (think I know) it uses the same diameter projectile as .45/70, .458 socom, .475 linebaugh (sp), and maybe others, but are there bullets you would actually load in both a .45/70 and .480 Ruger?

Or is it like the .460s&w where you actually need different bullets even though they are the same diameter because .45 colt JHP will disintegrate on impact instead of spreading nicely at .460 velocities?

 

[Tactical Lever]

Does the .480 actually share components with anything else in real-world reloading? I know (think I know) it uses the same diameter projectile as .45/70, .458 socom, .475 linebaugh (sp), and maybe others, but are there bullets you would actually load in both a .45/70 and .480 Ruger?

Or is it like the .460s&w where you actually need different bullets even though they are the same diameter because .45 colt JHP will disintegrate on impact instead of spreading nicely at .460 velocities?

480 Ruger uses the same bullet as .475 Linebaugh not 45-70. IIRC the Ruger and Linebaugh are made from a shortened 45-70 case. And in the Rugers case the rims were turned down. The bullet is .475 diameter.

I would go with the .480 Ruger. A bigger, heavier bullet at reasonable pressure is easier on the ears, hands, and is usable with cast. Momentum kills better than muzzle blast.

 

[eldon519]

.480 Ruger shoots .475" bullets, same as the .475 Linebaugh.

.45-70 and .458 Socom shoot .458" bullets though there is a .475-70 wildcat that is .475" and basically takes the taper out of the .45-70 case.

.454 Casull shoots .452" bullets, the same as most modern .45 Colts.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

For me it would be a 480 or 500 in bear country. I have all the big calibers and have killed plenty of deer with the handguns, mostly with a 480.

The only thing a 454 or 460 will do close range over a 45 colt or a 44 mag is just make a lot more noise and thump the heck out of the shooter.

Oh yes a 480 does have significant more recoil than a 44 mag depending on the gun and load.

The one advantage to a 454 is you can shoot 45 colt loads in it to reduce recoil for practicing or just target shooting.

 

[Ed Ames]

480 Ruger uses the same bullet as .475 Linebaugh not 45-70. IIRC the Ruger and Linebaugh are made from a shortened 45-70 case. And in the Rugers case the rims were turned down. The bullet is .475 diameter.

Ahh...yes I can see where I made incorrect assumptions based on the parent cartridge. Thank you.

Does anyone else use .475 bullets?

I would go with the .480 Ruger. A bigger, heavier bullet at reasonable pressure is easier on the ears, hands, and is usable with cast. Momentum kills better than muzzle blast.

My personal reason for going with .454, back when I made that choice, had more to do with logistics than physics. I can go into pretty much any store that sells reloading gear and buy supplies to load .454. Likewise I can go into pretty much any gunstore and buy ammo. If I go into Walmart or other mass market chains I might be stuck with .45 colt but that's safe and at least I can get ammo.

Not sure if that has changed. Nor if it is relevant to everyone. It was just my logic at the time.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

For several years all the gun shops in my area would have one or maybe two boxes of Hornady 480 ammo on the shelf. It would disappear and about a month later one or two more would show up. In the past two years or so I've noticed all the shops in my area have 10-15 boxes sitting on the shelf most of the time and when it gets down to 3 or 4 boxes, it's restocked.

Deer and Elk hunting is big in my neighborhood, so I'm guessing that keeps the demand high. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot an elk with a 454 though.

 

[TimSr]

For the purposes mentioned, I see no advantage to one over the other.

If costs are a factor, the 454 is a lot more economical than a 480 to shoot, whether you handload or shoot factory ammo. For that matter, and the same reasons, you could look at 460 as well.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

For the purposes mentioned, I see no advantage to one over the other.

If costs are a factor, the 454 is a lot more economical than a 480 to shoot, whether you handload or shoot factory ammo. For that matter, and the same reasons, you could look at 460 as well.

While I'm a big fan of 45 Colt, 454, and 460 mag, I have to disagree a little bit. The OP mentioned grizzlies, and a desire to hunt bear with a handgun.

The 480 offers larger bullet diameter, which aids in bleed out situations when a hit isn't optimal, and heavier weight bullets, which will aid in limiting bullet deflection and increase potential of bone breakage.

The one advantage the 454 will have is range and flatter shooting bullets, but a good shot is going to do just as well with a 480. If truly long shots are desired, a 460 mag could be a good choice as well.

The differences or advantages may be academic, but they are potentially relevant in a hunting scenario or where dangerous game is involved. JMO

The 454 does offer an advantages if lower recoiling and less expensive target shooting is desired

 

[WardenWolf]

.454. Ammo is more widely available, and the caliber is not likely to go away any time soon. Given that .480 Ruger isn't particularly popular (only ever seen one company besides Ruger make firearms in it), it's likely that it will die a not-so-slow death.

 

[MaxP]

.454. Ammo is more widely available, and the caliber is not likely to go away any time soon. Given that .480 Ruger isn't particularly popular (only ever seen one company besides Ruger make firearms in it), it's likely that it will die a not-so-slow death.

Ruger introduced the cartridge in the Super Redhawk back in 2001. Last August they put it (finally) in the Super Blackhawk and now it can be had in both. Taurus also used to chamber Raging Bulls in .480 however they no longer do, but that could change. Keep in mind that they also used to offer a .500 Smith and no longer do. Magnum Research listed their BFR as a .480 Ruger/.475 Linebaugh.

I don't think they are as unpopular as you may believe and there has definitely been a resurgence since the SBH was released. I bought my first .480 back in 2001 and quickly discovered its merits as a hunting caliber. Big, heavy bullets at moderate velocity make for great big-game medicine without the debilitating recoil of the .454 loaded to spec. There's a lot to like about the caliber. .475 Linebaugh fans saw it for what it was immediately and that is a slightly shorted .475 Linebaugh.

 

[Takem406]

Thanks for all the replies! Not worried about ammo, as long as I can get brass online and I can have the wife's uncle cast bullets.

 

[Takem406]

What about going the opposite direction and going with a 41? There's a variety of hot cast core loads for woods protection. I read through the 81 pages of the 41 thread and no one mentioned using it for woods protection... But there was a lot of people hunting with them.

 

[CraigC]

The .454 is a great cartridge but its only advantage over the .45Colt is velocity. That velocity does nothing but flatten trajectory and extend its range to perhaps 150yds. The .480 is a measurable step up in bullet weight and diameter, truly a bigger hammer. That said, the .480 is not necessarily a lumbering hulk. With lighter jacketed bullet loads, it is capable of impressive velocity and range. The 275gr Gold Dot can be propelled at up to 1700fps and the 325gr at 1500fps. Perfectly suitable for deer up to 150yds, if the shooter is up to it.

 

[MaxP]

There's a variety of hot cast core loads for woods protection.

Actually Federal's CastCore loads are fairly mild albeit good loads. Their .41 Mag load threw a 250 grain hardcast bullet at an advertised 1,160. But, if you are after hot hardcast loads, there are a number of manufacturers to include Buffalo Bore, Double Tap, Grizzly Cartridge, and Underwood.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

As to the 41 Magnum, remember, the 41 Magnum would have replaced the .357 Magnum as a police carry weapon if it weren't for bad timing. It came along at a bad time for it because the LEO community was changing over to semi-autos. I think it might have been just as popular as the other 2 popular magnum cartridges if it came along earlier. Instead we have the 10mm and 40 S&W, not that it's a bad thing, don't bad for the 41 Magnum.

 

[Tactical Lever]

Ahh...yes I can see where I made incorrect assumptions based on the parent cartridge. Thank you.

Does anyone else use .475 bullets?




My personal reason for going with .454, back when I made that choice, had more to do with logistics than physics. I can go into pretty much any store that sells reloading gear and buy supplies to load .454. Likewise I can go into pretty much any gunstore and buy ammo. If I go into Walmart or other mass market chains I might be stuck with .45 colt but that's safe and at least I can get ammo.

Not sure if that has changed. Nor if it is relevant to everyone. It was just my logic at the time.

Not super common for sure, but I am pretty confident that there will always be cases. In a pinch they can be made, too.

There was quite a clamour for Ruger to make the Blackhawks in it; but it took them awhile just to catch up on other stuff.

I would love to get one, and will one day. But only with full intentions of reloading and shooting cast. For price, performance and satisfaction.

.475 for the Linebaugh, and I think there is a Turnbull cartridge that uses it also. I'm sure that cast bullets would not be too tough to get, but I would want to cast my own. Once you get that big, even cast isn't that cheap if you are buying them.

 

[Tactical Lever]

.454. Ammo is more widely available, and the caliber is not likely to go away any time soon. Given that .480 Ruger isn't particularly popular (only ever seen one company besides Ruger make firearms in it), it's likely that it will die a not-so-slow death.

It will be a niche cartridge that will always have a diehard following. I feel that more people will come to recognize it's not-so-modest capabilities and there will be renewed interest. Much like the 45-70.