454 recoil

the differance between felt recoil in a 454 and 357 is the same as trying to catch a fast ball with a glove and trying to catch a bowling ball going the same speed
 
I used to do a lot of full power .44 mag heavy loads out of my SBH It was fun.

Usually 50 to 100 rds at a time,and I could hit well at distance.

I took delivery of an early Freedom Arms 454 Casull.I do not recall the load.I know it was a serious,full power 454 load,but not a max.

I shot maybe 4 wheels,or so? Now,if a big bear was about to bite me,I'd call it a good choice!!

Just like,sometimes,a .416 Rem mag would be the tool.

But it was not fun,particularly.It was endured.

And,for me,it crossed the line for what I could shoot WELL. I started hearing footsteps.I'd feel myself cringing,and have to refocus.

Maybe ,in time,with discipline,I could overcome that.Or not!! But,at least in the short term,my shooting would suffer from the .454.

I'm glad I tried it,but its a bit much for me.

At the same time,the FA is a wonderful handgun.Nothing says the .454 C cannot be handloaded to suit the limitations of the shooter.
If 1800 fps is toomuch,well,maybe 1500 would be OK.
 
Keep in mind that "recoil" isn't everything. Having mechanical recoil alone may be easy enough, and you can do the math to figure that out, but something that big is going to be like setting off a claymore at your fingertips.
 
Big bores recoil, plain and simple and often recoil a lot. Bullet weight is the dominant controlling factor loaded at normal caliber velocities... compare typical factory 125 gr 357 mag loads with 158 gr loads.

If you are adverse to heavy recoiling handguns, I'd say the 454 C is not for you. I don't buy a 454 C revolver to shoot 45 Colt loads. But I think almost every revolver shooter wants to experience the big boys at least a few times.
 
Not a problem? Heck I can shoot it one handed as well from a rest, with my head turned and a grimace on my face like I just had a monumental bowel movement...lol.
 
im more of a 500 S&W man myself. I do not own a .454 but I have shot several of my papaws. I own a 357, but the recoil on it is nothing.

I don't want to sound bitter in this reply, but I have shot weightless .357s and it isn't as bad as some think. there really is no way to compare the too. even in the scandium framed revolvers, the .454 has more recoil, but nothing that is going to hurt you. the .357 in the scandium frame is more like a sharp pain to me than a hard kicking gun. but recoil effects everyone differently.

im a big guy, and I get very little recoil on most small calibers. don't get me wrong, I love the .357, but it's standard loads are not comparable to the .454 standard loads. think of it like a .44 long magnum ( or a .444 short lol).

it will kick more than your .357, but it will be manageable. and if you are a big bore addict like myself, you will enjoy it.

I would suggest in getting it in the Ruger super redhawk.

get the .454 and enjoy! :D
 
here is a recoil chart I found online. I hope this helps:)

Cartridge (Wb@MV) Pistol Wt. (lbs.) Recoil E. (ft. lbs.) Recoil V. (fps)
.25 ACP (50 at 800) 0.75 0.9 8.7
.30 Carbine (110 at 1400) 3.0 4.9 10.2
.32 ACP (71 at 910) 1.0 1.7 10.5
.32 S&W Long (100 at 700) 2.0 1.2 6.2
.32 H&R Mag. (100 at 1100) 2.0 2.7 9.4
.32-20 Win. (100 at 1018) 2.0 2.8 9.4
.380 ACP (90 at 1000) 1.5 2.5 10.4
.380 ACP (95 at 900) 0.6 5.4 24.2
9mm Makarov (95 at 1025) 1.5 3.0 11.2
9x19 (115 at 1100) 1.0 7.4 21.8
9x19 (115 at 1155) 1.5 5.2 15.0
9x19 (115 at 1155) 2.0 3.8 11.1
9x19 +P (115 at 1250) 1.5 7.3 17.7
9x19 (124 at 1125) 1.5 6.0 16.0
9x19 (124 at 1157) 2.0 4.4 11.9
9x19 (147 at 1000) 2.0 4.6 12.2
.38 Super (125 at 1250) 2.25 4.9 11.9
.357 SIG (125 at 1350) 1.75 7.4 16.6
.38 Spec. (125 at 850) 1.0 5.6 18.9
.38 Spec. (130 at 819) 2.25 2.2 8.0
.38 Spec. (130 at 950) 2.25 3.1 9.5
.38 Spec. (140 at 825) 2.25 2.7 8.8
.38 Spec. (148 HBWC at 738) 2.25 2.1 7.8
.38 Spec. +P (110 at 1150) 2.25 4.0 10.7
.38 Spec. +P (125 at 975) 2.25 2.9 9.2
.38 Spec. +P (158 LHP at 900) 2.25 4.3 11.1
.357 Mag. (110 at 1300) 2.75 4.1 9.8
.357 Mag. (125 at 1209) 1.75 8.9 18.1
.357 Mag. (125 at 1220) 2.75 4.6 10.4
.357 Mag. (125 at 1450) 2.75 7.2 13.0
.357 Mag. (140 at 1022) 2.75 4.0 9.6
.357 Mag. (140 at 1323) 2.75 7.9 13.6
.357 Mag. (158 at 925) 2.75 4.0 9.7
.357 Mag. (158 at 1070) 1.75 9.4 18.6
.357 Mag. (158 at 1250) 2.75 8.7 14.3
.40 S&W (155 at 1200) 1.5 10.6 21.3
.40 S&W (165 at 1080) 1.5 9.3 19.9
.40 S&W (180 at 1027) 1.5 10.4 21.2
10mm Auto (180 at 1295) 2.25 11.4 18.1
.41 Mag. (210 at 925) 2.75 6.6 12.4
.41 Mag. (210 at 1300) 2.75 15.6 19.1
.44 Spec. (240 at 750) 3.0 4.5 9.9
.44 Rem. Mag. (200 at 1000) 3.0 6.7 12.0
.44 Rem. Mag. (200 at 1219) 4.1 6.3 10.0
.44 Rem. Mag. (200 at 1295) 4.1 7.2 10.6
.44 Rem. Mag. (200 at 1326) 3.0 11.9 16
.44 Rem. Mag. (225 at 1239) 3.0 12.4 16.3
.44 Rem. Mag. (240 at 1144) 4.1 8.0 11.2
.44 Rem. Mag. (240 at 1172) 4.1 8.4 11.5
.44 Rem. Mag. (240 at 1200) 4.1 8.9 11.8
.44 Rem. Mag. (240 at 1271) 4.1 10.0 12.5
.44 Rem. Mag. (240 at 1450) 3.0 22.5 21.9
.44 Rem. Mag. (300 at 1187) 3.0 22.6 22.0
.45 ACP (185 at 1000) 2.25 7.7 14.8
.45 ACP (185 at 1047) 2.5 6.8 13.2
.45 ACP (200 at 1010) 2.5 7.6 13.9
.45 ACP (230 at 850) 2.25 7.9 15.0
.45 ACP (230 at 916) 2.5 7.5 13.9
.45 Colt (200 at 945) 2.75 7.0 12.8
.45 Colt (200 at 1081) 2.75 8.2 13.8
.45 Colt (230 at 936) 2.75 7.9 13.6
.45 Colt (255 LRN at 860) 2.75 8.2 13.8
.45 Colt (255 LFP at 914) 2.75 10.4 15.6
.45 Colt +P (250 at 1200) 2.75 17.0 20.0
.45 Colt +P (300 at 1150) 2.75 23.9 23.7
.45 Win. Mag. (260 at 1200) 4.0 10.6 13.1
.454 Casull (260 at 1800) 3.2 39.0 28.0
.454 Casull (300 at 1650) 3.2 38.6 27.9
.460 S&W Mag. (250 at 1400) 4.5 12.8 13.5
.460 S&W Mag. (260 at 1590) 4.5 20.0 16.9
.460 S&W Mag. (300 at 1784) 4.5 32.1 21.4
.475 Linebaugh (385 at 1525) 3.0 52.2 33.5
.475 Linebaugh (400 at 1300) 3.2 38.1 27.7
.480 Ruger (325 at 1330) 3.3 23.1 21.2
.480 Ruger (325 at 1477) 3.3 33.3 25.5
.50 Action Express (325 at 1294) 3.2 29.3 24.3
.50 Action Express (325 at 1431) 4.4 25.5 19.3
.500 Linebaugh (400 at 1550) 3.0 62.3 36.6
.500 S&W Mag. (350 at 1446) 4.5 25.2 19.0
.500 S&W Mag. (350 at 1739) 4.5 45.6 25.5
 
I didn't look at all of them but this chart shows the 40S&W as almost the same as most 44 magnum loads? I do see the difference in the weight of the guns.
 
it did not copy and paste right but it does show similar recoil in the 40 and the 44. that cant be right. I am sorry for the misconception in the chart ( if there is any)
 
Charts are pretty much irrelevant unless the specific load is listed as well as the platform it is being fired in. I'm told that 460 recoil from an XVP is much milder than 454 Casull from a traditional revolver. I have little doubts, just by looking at pictures of one.

I have a freedom Arms 454 with 7.5" barrel, and a Redhawk 44 with 7.5". Both are very similar in weight and shape. The Redhawk feels quite mild after shooting the 454. At a friend's range, his buddy showed up with a 500SW with similar barrel length. We exchanged guns and tried them out. We agreed the recoil difference was indistinguishable. Mine was loaded with 240gr full power hand loads. His was factory, but I don't know what they were. I have some 340gr cast loads that are much, much, worse for those who really want to feel some pain.

The only real way to evaluate is to shoot different ones and compare. I enjoy shooting a lot of big magnums, and compared to .357, 44, and 45LC Ruger loads, the difference in 454 is very significant.
 
No worries T_PRO.
All I know is I haven't shot them all but my buddies 7.5" 454 RH felt like someone was whacking my palm with an axe handle:eek:. I've got a 8" Octagon barrel 44mag T/C that doesn't feel like it kicks as hard as his 454.
 
I feel that the .454 fired from my 7 1/2 inch SRH has two recoils...

First there is a sharp shock wave, then recoil to the hand. Some folks have bigger, better hands than I do. I started to hold with both hands, palms cupped around both sides of the grip so the recoil would try to split the heel of my hands apart, instead of wrapping a thumb around the grip. I just don't see the point of shooting something that wants to rip my thumb off.

Ammunition is so expensive that it's hard to shoot enough to get used to it. Shooting .45 long colt and .45 plus p is quite manageable. I think the .45 plus is similar to .44 mag and does give recoil, just not so painful.

I think the only reason to shoot .454 instead of using .45 LC is if you want big bear protection or for hunting large game, or maybe wild hog.
 
Honestly the Taurus model with ported barrel with 6" barrel is less felt IMO to that of a 4" S&W 686. As a matter of fact my S&W .460 XVR with interchangeable barrel tips that are compensated hits about the same as my 686. And a lot less than the unported S&W model 29 with 8" barrel. Of all of my revolvers that model 29 is by far the hardest hitting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I just don't see the point of shooting something that wants to rip my thumb off.
Click to expand...

Good point. But, some people like the challenge. I found the thumbs thing also with the SRH. You've heard the expression "I'm all thumbs."? Well, now you have a cure. :D

Better to go with a single action in my opinion.
 
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