I am just about ready to plop down money for a Taurus Raging Bull Matte stainless. I have always wanted one. I can't decide if I want the 454 or the 44 mag. I realize that I can shoot 45 Colt out of the 454 and 44 special out of the 44 mag. I will probably shoot lower recoiling ammo out of both and save the other stuff when I really want to make some noise. This gun is primarily for FUN. I can't decide what barrel length or caliber to get. What is the difference in recoil and price between .44 special and 45 colt factory ammo? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in Advance.
Taurus Raging Bull: Several questions
- Thread starter daredwit
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Quickdraw Limpsalot
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Well, that all depends on a lot of things.... the first of which is whether or not you can reload ammo. If not, you'll have tons more options for ammo with the .44. Factory ammo in .45 Colt is usually at either end of the spectrum.. meaning very light loads (cowboy action) or fairly heavy loads (hunting.) You can pick up several varieties of .44 at your local shop or even WalMart. Most factory .454 ammo I've bought has run around a buck per shot.
FWIW, I have a Raging Bull in .454 and a Super Blackhawk in .44 and I enjoy them both quite a bit, but the average guy is going to have more fun for his money with a .44.
FWIW, I have a Raging Bull in .454 and a Super Blackhawk in .44 and I enjoy them both quite a bit, but the average guy is going to have more fun for his money with a .44.
P95Carry
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I would agree with QL on the broad level - 44 will give you more ''value'' shall we say in ammo terms.
That said however, if you want the enjoyment of bigger stuff then the .454 would I am sure give you plenty of satisfaction. There is little doubt that reloading is way to go with this cal, but then so too is 44 really - enabling loads to suit taste.
The 45LC will IMO have greater recoil but not by a huge lot and the gun has good weight which helps. 6" barrel length will do fine, as will the 5" with comp' included.
That said however, if you want the enjoyment of bigger stuff then the .454 would I am sure give you plenty of satisfaction. There is little doubt that reloading is way to go with this cal, but then so too is 44 really - enabling loads to suit taste.
The 45LC will IMO have greater recoil but not by a huge lot and the gun has good weight which helps. 6" barrel length will do fine, as will the 5" with comp' included.
If you are a reloader, the Raging Bull in .44 Magnum can be a lot of fun. The cylinder is longer than a S&W or Ruger .44 which means you can experiment with the long and heavy Bear Tooth and Cast Performance bullets seated shallow to increase powder capacity. I have one in .41 Magnum and that is what I use it for. It is also my most accurate .41, which is saying a lot.
I had one in .454 but the muzzle blast from the ports with full power loads was annoying compared to my SRH, so I sold it.
I had one in .454 but the muzzle blast from the ports with full power loads was annoying compared to my SRH, so I sold it.
azredhawk44
Member
If you justifiably need to have .454 power levels (martians, grizzley bears, JBT's led by Dianne Feinstein), you can get .44mag loads from Garrett cartridges. They are +P powered and seated extra long. Can only be shot in redhawks, SRH and Raging Bull. They generate around 1500 ft/lbs of energy with a 330gr hardcast slug that won't expand at all.
Get the .44. Magtech makes probably the best plinking ammo, running about 750ft/lbs, which is between a .44special and a really loaded .44mag. That, and if you handload, there are some great light recipes using Unique or Titegroup as your powder underneath a variety of lighter bullets from 180gr to 240gr.
.45LC retail stuff will either be sissy around 300ft/lbs or brutal, around 1000ft/lbs. The cartridge is that versatile. Either one will be more expensive than the .44mag magtechs I mentioned. At the right shop, the magtechs will run you about $13-$14 a box.
Honestly, if you shoot either cartridge you will save a lot of money reloading. Save your brass. When you get about 500 or so, look into reloading.
Get the .44. Magtech makes probably the best plinking ammo, running about 750ft/lbs, which is between a .44special and a really loaded .44mag. That, and if you handload, there are some great light recipes using Unique or Titegroup as your powder underneath a variety of lighter bullets from 180gr to 240gr.
.45LC retail stuff will either be sissy around 300ft/lbs or brutal, around 1000ft/lbs. The cartridge is that versatile. Either one will be more expensive than the .44mag magtechs I mentioned. At the right shop, the magtechs will run you about $13-$14 a box.
Honestly, if you shoot either cartridge you will save a lot of money reloading. Save your brass. When you get about 500 or so, look into reloading.
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