44 mag, 454 casull, or?
- Thread starter HALLAUSTIN
- Start date
Inspector3711
New member
Haha.. That's why I bought a .460.
newfrontier45
Moderator
That is definitely extreme. No reason for a .44Mag to weigh much more than 50oz. The Ruger Bisley Hunter 7½" being about the heaviest one should be at 52oz. A standard Bisley running 50oz and a 4 5/8" being 45oz with the svelte 629 Mountain Gun going 40oz even. If you can't spend all day walking around with a .44Mag of some sort on your hip, there's either something wrong with your holster, your belt or you are in such pitiful physical condition that you probably should stay home anyway.
A 34oz Tracker is probably great until it comes time to actually shoot the thing.
22-rimfire
New member
That's why I recommended the BFR. Something about the SRH design really hammers you. Tamer grips help.
If you can afford a Freedom Arms revolver, by all means get one. Same goes for the customs.
FYI, 240gr at 1200fps is just 'starting' into .44 Magnum range. I can get that out of my .44 Specials with the Keith load. Kick that up a bit into the 1400+ range and see what you think 
.... and/or go with a bit heavier bullet.
I'll stick with the lowly .45 Colt myself. Good enough for the soldiers (and others) in the latter 1800s then, to good enough hunting in Africa, is good enough for my uses in North America today in the right revolvers of course.
Linebaugh .45 Colt
Ross Seyfried .45 Colt
.... and/or go with a bit heavier bullet. In same size gun? ... big step. 35,000psi max vs 65,000psi max plus pushing a heavier bullet.... Yeah big step. I don't want nothing to do with it!
I'll stick with the lowly .45 Colt myself. Good enough for the soldiers (and others) in the latter 1800s then, to good enough hunting in Africa, is good enough for my uses in North America today in the right revolvers of course.
Linebaugh .45 Colt
Ross Seyfried .45 Colt
HALLAUSTIN
New member
If the loads I shot were just scraping the surface then maybe buying a strong DA 44 would be best. I'd like to try a 454 because it just looks fun. Well in reality I will go to the range this weekend and rent a 500 and get it out of my system. So I'm thinking a ruger redhawk with a 5.5 inch barrel. Thats honestly plenty, with where I live and camp it would honestly do with 44spl loads Plus I'm a history geek and the 45colt and 44mag both have great heritage.
Dispite your rude comment about my "pitiful physical condition" I will address your post..........newfrontier45 said:
I am a retired Army Officer and a Disabled Veteran. While I have many injuries, I lug my schrapnel filled body, by walking with a cane; all over the forests of the Pacific Northwest, to hunt every fall as best as I can.
I certainly AM NOT going to stay home because you think so. As for my 34oz TRACKER™ 41 Magnum; it shoots just fine and the recoil is very manageable for me.
Recoil
While the .454 has more power than the .44 mag, my experience has been that the gun weight and grips on the revolver has had the greatest effect on felt recoil for me. One of the nastiest guns I ever shot was a 4" model 29 Smith with wood grips. After about 18 shots it was just not fun any more. I have a .460 and I would much rather shoot it than that 29. However, I shot an 8 3/8" model 29 with rubber grips and it was worlds better on the hands and I really liked shooting it. As others have said already, heavy revolvers soak up a lot of recoil and, at least for me, that is as important as the caliber.
While the .454 has more power than the .44 mag, my experience has been that the gun weight and grips on the revolver has had the greatest effect on felt recoil for me. One of the nastiest guns I ever shot was a 4" model 29 Smith with wood grips. After about 18 shots it was just not fun any more. I have a .460 and I would much rather shoot it than that 29. However, I shot an 8 3/8" model 29 with rubber grips and it was worlds better on the hands and I really liked shooting it. As others have said already, heavy revolvers soak up a lot of recoil and, at least for me, that is as important as the caliber.
My personal choice would be a 454 from from Freedom Arms. While a little pricey, you really get what you pay for. The accuracy is outstanding and it is probably one of the finest revolvers made. The precision built into their guns cannot be reproduced by the lesser production guns. I have owned a number of them over the years and the plowhandle helps a lot to control the recoil and that combined with the standard porting they offer does the intended purpose of taming the large cartridge. I found all barrel lengths controllabe with a 6" becoming my favorite for holster carry....but barrels shorter than 6" can get to be a little much for a novice.
I have never been a fan of cheaply made firearms and a quality firearm like a 454 Casull will last a lifetime. I remember years back when I shot pistol silhouette matches a couple times a month at least, watching all the problems some folks had with revolvers such as Dan Wesson. I remember one person in particular get up and walk off the line after his hammer (which was cast) broke in half!
There are many cheaply made firearms available nowdays, such as Taurus
( yuk...spit...) that will shoot for a while. But look at the tolerances and fit of it compared to a good gun and you will see the differences. Take the sideplate off of a Taurus and look at the roughly cast components that were cheaply made and you will see for yourself.
Alright Taurus fans, you can relax and let the veins in your foreheads go back to normal, there is probably a place in the gun world for your pets. There will always be a market for a mediocre gun if marketing is good.
I have never been a fan of cheaply made firearms and a quality firearm like a 454 Casull will last a lifetime. I remember years back when I shot pistol silhouette matches a couple times a month at least, watching all the problems some folks had with revolvers such as Dan Wesson. I remember one person in particular get up and walk off the line after his hammer (which was cast) broke in half!
There are many cheaply made firearms available nowdays, such as Taurus
( yuk...spit...) that will shoot for a while. But look at the tolerances and fit of it compared to a good gun and you will see the differences. Take the sideplate off of a Taurus and look at the roughly cast components that were cheaply made and you will see for yourself.
Alright Taurus fans, you can relax and let the veins in your foreheads go back to normal, there is probably a place in the gun world for your pets. There will always be a market for a mediocre gun if marketing is good.
newfrontier45
Moderator
I apologize for making certain assumptions. Unless I know otherwise, when I make a comment like that, I'm going to assume an individual does not have any physical impairments. I see a lot of people online whining about the weight of a full sized firearm and I just don't understand it. As Clint Smith said, a sidearm is supposed to be comforting, not necessarily comfortable. Certainly not weightless. I made that comment not because I'm a pillar of fitness but because I am not a pillar of fitness. I'm fat and overweight, out of shape and 8yrs of sitting behind a desk have taken their toll on my condition. However, I still am able to walk over hill & dale carrying a full sized big bore revolver and always have. So unless folks have physical impairments such as yours, it's difficult for me to sympathize with those who complain about a few ounces on their hip. A good leather holster and gunbelt makes all the difference in the world.
I agree. I would love a 5.5 inch RedHawk in .45 Colt. I was always a .44 Mag fan though. I have a few gallons of brass that I collected over the years in .44 mag. I am afraid to try a really stout 45 Colt though. I do not want to get addicted to a new caliber, although I have dies and a shell plate for it. I do have a SRH in 454 Casull but I have never fired 45 Colt through so I do not run the risk of the dread crud ring.
I think a Bisley framed 45 Colt may be calling me soon.... Will the madness ever stop..??
Strafer Gott
New member
I bought a SRH in .454 Casull to shoot Ruger only .45 Colt loads, and I must say, it really is working out for me. I load my own with Speer 260gr and a load of Bluedot. It's like a Casull lite. I have a shoulder holster for it, but usually just tote it like a little rifle. I'm thinking maybe a Blackhawk with the same loads might make a better carry piece. At least I could wear it on the hip!
Apology accepted; - THANK YOU.newfrontier45 said:
I agree with you about the belt and holster. I have two "Looper®" double layer leather, Kydex® lined; gun belts from Blade-Tech® and they are superb. Additionally I use quality Galco® leather holsters for all of my handguns.
My use and selection of caliber for woods & trail carry was based on several factors. I wanted something bigger than my several 357 Magnum revolvers. Where I live in the Pacific Northwest, (WA state); we have a lot of Bears and Cougars. While most of the Bears are Blackies, we have Grizzlies in the North Central, & Northeast portions over the state.
I tried three steel frame 44 Magnum double action revolvers, a 4", 6½", and a 8⅜" barrel. Recoil was manageable from the 6½" and 8⅜" (N frame size) guns, but, because of their weight; 53 & 63oz, they were too heavy & long for belt carry I felt. I could carry them in a diagonal chest holster, like a Simply Rugged® Chesty Puller system. As I carry my Binos in a harness on my chest however; the aforementioned holster system wouldn't work so well. I thought I had what I wanted in the K frame size, 34 ounce, TRACKER® 44 Magnum. Unfortunately for me, the recoil was too much; especially if I had to shoot with my weak (left) hand, where I am missing a finger. Hmmmmmmmmm, back to the drawing board. After further research and shooting; I settled on a 34oz TRACKER® albeit in 41 Remington® Magnum. I am able to shoot the stoutest handloads, and Buffalo Bore® loads, with no problems. Recoil, even shooting weak handed, is manageable for me.
Many folks feel that a 454 Casull, 460 S&W® Magnum, or a 500 S&W® Magnum are needed for the largest Brown, Kodiak, Grizzly Bears. Long before those calibers were available however, Alaskans and Canadians, were killing the big bears with 41 and 44 Magnums.
Now I AM NOT saying the 41 Remington is the best Bear defense, trail gun. I AM SAYING however; it is the best FOR ME.
Last edited:
I have owned a lot of different revolvers in my life, but my 5.5" Redhawk 45 colt is my all time favorite
got both
I like both, I reload and if I could only have one I'd take the 454. I load it down for plinking and carry it loaded hot in AK or wilderness in Oregon. Now that I have a 10mm I'd leave the wheel gun at home more than in the past.
A 454 kicks very hard and sharp. My left wrist is permanently broken but functional. I can shoot right or left, but the hard kicking guns are too much for my left wrist. I mostly notice this with the 10mm Colt and the SRH 454. The glock 40 and even the RH 44 mag don't seem to be a problem. The broken wrist really seems to set a pain threshold and the 454 crosses it, but has enough benefits too make it ok.
I like both, I reload and if I could only have one I'd take the 454. I load it down for plinking and carry it loaded hot in AK or wilderness in Oregon. Now that I have a 10mm I'd leave the wheel gun at home more than in the past.
A 454 kicks very hard and sharp. My left wrist is permanently broken but functional. I can shoot right or left, but the hard kicking guns are too much for my left wrist. I mostly notice this with the 10mm Colt and the SRH 454. The glock 40 and even the RH 44 mag don't seem to be a problem. The broken wrist really seems to set a pain threshold and the 454 crosses it, but has enough benefits too make it ok.
silvermane_1
New member
IMHO i say go with a .480 Ruger in a SRH/Alaskan, plenty of power.
Inspector3711
New member
I just want to say thank you for your service and personal sacrifice sir.