Big bore - which caliber?

L

ligonierbill

New member
If a fellow wanted more punch than .44 magnum or .45 Colt "Ruger only", what caliber should he look to? Leave out the S&W X-frame. Just too big for me to carry. Thinking the .480 Ruger (or Linebaugh's stouter version) or .454 Casull, but all suggestions are welcome. Load my own, of course.
 
I like the .475 Linebaugh ...a little bit over the .454 Casull...its a little less snappy in my opinion.

But I would want it in a solid, and heavy, single action revolver...like the Freedom Arms model 83 in a 7 1/2" barrel.
 
All revolvers in those fast chamberings will be big, but .454 Casull will let you shoot .45 Colt too. And buy a Ruger SuperRedhawk.
Where you are matters. Cabela's Dundee(Detroit) has a 7.5" in .454 Casull at $899.
 
Just wondering, what is it you're shooting at that needs more punch than .44 Magnum? This info will help determine the best choice.

Personally, I like .454 Casull for power in a handgun.
 
I have 4 big bores: 44, 454, 460 and 500. If you reload then you can make various loads. I find the 460 XVR to be most versatile since you have the 460, 454 Casull and 45 Colt ammo.

But for sheer variability, the 500 allows loading from 280-700 Grains.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
I shoot 480ruger. It's a nice round. More punch then a .44mag. Minus the recoil of other similar big bores. If you can find one. You won't be disappointed in buying it.
 
The 480 Ruger has been my bigger bore choice. I only have a Super Redhawk in that caliber, but bought a BFR in 480/475L a couple years ago and have been pleased with that six shooter. Mostly shoot 480's in it and it is all the revolver I need for hunting, if I hunt deer or even larger animals. Just have not been hunting for the last few years. I just got tired of the lease chase that goes on. Paying to hunt bothers me unless it is something really special like a high fence operation in Texas.

Have no interest in shooting powder puff loads in a bigger boar revolver.
 
Look at the Magnum Research, Inc. BFR in 45-70 chambering. They give a little more punch than the 44 Mag. and 45 Colt Ruger only.
 
If a heavy loaded .45 Colt or a .44 Magnum won't handle your game, then I'd suggest a good .577 double rifle, or a .505 Gibbs.

Bob Wright
 
Shoot one before you buy it. I have seen a good number of used big bore handguns, such as the 500 Magnum's at the Gun Store. It took less than a box of twenty rounds before the previous owner decided, it was too much fun, and traded it in for something of less fun.

Everyone goes through a magnum phase, and many, including myself, left it with trembling hands and a bad flinch.
 
It's like, truly insane fireworks....:eek: But here's a reasonable question for Ligionerbill: How well do you shoot a 44 Magnum or a really hot-loaded Ruger 45 Colt in the Blackhawk or Redhawk? If you have mastered those, then fine, have at something bigger if you simply must.
 
If you want the best performance for the category and bragging rights, pick up a .475 Linebaugh.

If you just want something bigger, and don't care what anyone else thinks, find yourself a good .480 Ruger. More tame. More reasonable. But still a step up from .44 Mag.
And, since .480 Ruger runs at reasonable pressure levels, it can be had in .44 Mag/.45 Colt size revolvers. The Ruger SBH, I believe, was only offered as a 5-shot. The Ruger SRH was on the market as a 6-shot, then a 5-shot, and then again as a 6-shot. I think most other makers (half a dozen of them?) only ran 5-shot versions.

Personally...? I opted for the 7.5" Super Redhawk, and the one that I decided was the best balance of price, condition, location, etc. turned out to be a very early production 6-shot that was sitting in a pawn shop in South Dakota. (That did, however, require weeks of scouring the internet, classifieds, and auction sites; because I couldn't find one locally, couldn't order one, and even those scattered across the country were priced crazy high - or crazy high for condition.)
It was caked in nasty filth, but turned out to be in near-new condition under the grime and slime.
 
If you just want something bigger, and don't care what anyone else thinks...

There you go - answers some of the concerns. If I shot critters with every firearm I own...well, I wouldn't have time to load.

Regards recoil: With handguns, the primary concern is followup, but I doubt anyone "doubletaps" any of these revolvers. Beyond that, it's more about the grip and the weight. My .44 is a Redhawk (not SRH). It is a pleasure to shoot. Why anyone runs .44 Specials in these is beyond me. My .45 is a Blackhawk, much lighter with a traditional plowhandle grip. For heavy loads, I like Cast Performance, and with H110 loads below Hodgdon's max, this pistol sends 325s out at >1,300, 360s >1,100. They are a handful. Tend to wack the knuckle behind the trigger guard. But, so does my Bulldog.

Now, I shoot these as well as I shoot anything, but I'd like to shoot some heavy cast out of something designed for the purpose. So, I'll go with Frankenmauser's advice and look for a .480 SRH. Cast 400s sure sound like fun. Yeah, they're selling a 5-shot Super Blackhawk in .480 and .454. A little more weight than my standard BH , but still a traditional grip.

Thanks for the input.
 
All the fast 45's are going to gain you is range. Handguns don't need a lot of velocity to work well. If you want a greater effect on big game, you want a bigger, heavier bullet, not a faster one. The 475 was once king but better bullets in the 500's has made them preferable. I'm referring to the Linebaugh, JRH, Wyoming Express, not the Smith.
 
If the X-frame is too big to carry but the Redhawk isn't, I'd first have to ask about your carry situation. That's still a lot of gun!

Then I'd probably second the advice to stay with Redhawks or look at the SRH. It's too bad though because I really like the .460. It's the next level up from .454; a sort of .45 super-magnum. It's a hoot to shoot and in the XVR, I actually find it more comfortable to shoot than .454 in a regular Redhawk. My experiences only reflect factory ammo though.

I'll be curious to see where this search takes you.
 
I'd say grab a Ruger in .460 or .454 casull, so you can shoot .45 colt as well. The .454 is too snappy for me personally.
 
In handgun cartridges, bigger is better. Going up from 45 Colt to 454 Casull only gains you velocity, which theoretically increases your range, but can you hit anything at the extended range? Most people cannot. A muzzle velocity of around 1300 fps gives you all the penetration you might ever need, without going overboard on muzzle flash or recoil.
The 480 Ruger will up your power over a Colt or 44 magnum without being uncontrollable. A 350-400 grain bullet at 1200 fps will kill anything that walks or crawls.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top