Which is best? .454 Casull / .460S&W / .480RUG

Which big bore caliber is best?

  • .454 Casull

    Votes: 32 39.5%

  • .460S&W

    Votes: 33 40.7%

  • .480RUG

    Votes: 16 19.8%
  • Total voters
    81
  • Poll closed .
I prefer the 460 but that's probably because I use an X-Frame for it (2.5 ES and 5 inch), whereas my 454s are Ruger SRHs (2.5, 5 and 7 inch). My X-Frame 500 (4 inch) usually kicks less than the shorter SRHs I find. The mass and (perceived) weight distribution really makes a difference!

I'd love to shoot a 480 Ruger but no one around here seems to have one. Also, correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't 475 Linebaugh chamber 480 Ruger as well (Magnum Research BFR or several custom makers)? Maybe that'd be an option but I have no experience with them unfortunately.
 
Also, correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't 475 Linebaugh chamber 480 Ruger
Click to expand...

I think so.
I think .480 Ruger is a sort of "Special" .475 Linebaugh's "Magnum".
Only this time the "Special" came after the "Magnum"!!

However, based solely on my very limited experience with .44Spl in a .44Mag, I've found my mags to be more accurate than my .Spls, so if I went mega big-bore, then I'd go for the calibre I wanted to shoot.

In other words, if I was interested in .480Ruger, I'd get a dedicated .480Ruger, not a .475 Linebaugh.

But that's just me....
 
.460 S&W can also fire 454 casull which is the mild round.
Click to expand...

Yes, and "mild" in this case is vastly more powerful than .44 magnum. :eek:

That said, people have started discussing carry for guns in these monster calibers. Surely, nobody is talking about concealed carry here... right? I see guns in these calibers fitting the following needs:

  • Fun. (Try shooting an old pumpkin or watermelon with any of these!)
  • Longer-range extreme pistol marksmanship.
  • Hunting in cases where it substitutes for a rifle.
  • Emergency protection from bear, rhino, etc. in places where you know you might need it.

On that last one, the Ruger Alaskan is popular. It comes in the "milder" .454 and .480, though it seems more common in plain ol' .44 magnum. Does anyone here carry one concealed?
 
That said, people have started discussing carry for guns in these monster calibers. Surely, nobody is talking about concealed carry here... right?
Click to expand...

....folks that consider that have never shot one in an enclosed room with no ear protection.

The really big bores are as Cosmodragoon said, very purpose specific and concealed carry and SD against human type predators is not one of them. I love my .460 for it's extremely accurate X-Frame platform, it's terminal performance on big game and the hoot it is to shoot at the range. If I had bad guys coming over a hill @ 200 yards and I had my electronic muffs, it would be my choice of a handgun for SD. Other than that, there are many better options out there.
 
On that last one, the Ruger Alaskan is popular. It comes in the "milder" .454 and .480, though it seems more common in plain ol' .44 magnum. Does anyone here carry one concealed?
Click to expand...

As a person who has killed a lot of game with handguns of all sizes I just don't have a lot of faith in service caliber handguns dropping a badguy like the hammer of Thor, iffin I wasn't concerned how it'd look to a jury I'd be real tempted too.

I'm thinking a soft 325-350 gr lead SWC hollow point could be driven ~900 fps from a .480 Alaskan barrel without even having too much muzzle blast.
 
None of the above. .45 Colt is my 'big bore' cartridge of choice. That is the 'best' for me. :) Where I live the .45 Colt will handle all the chores I will ever need without the blast, recoil, and noise.
 
I could never figure out why they ever came out with the 460 other than to market a new gun for it, when you consider the 454 has been successfully used to take nearly every game animal on the planet, including cape buffalo and African elephant. There is a totally different platform and style of weapon for each, which is the only practical difference. I put chose the 454 because when I got my Freedom Arms when that was all their was, and prefer to keep it and put up with the heavier recoil because I can cart it around all day in a belt holster while chasing deer up and down mountains. The SW seems HUGE compared to my 7 1/2" Freedom Arms.
 
The X-Frame Smiths are many things, but small and lightweight are not among them.

I have a 5" 460 (460V) and really enjoy it.

While one should never EVER consider firing even once without hearing protection, it CAN be carried concealed in cool/cold weather. I give you the Guides Choice chest rig by Diamond D leather. I have carried my 460 in this rig hunting and had to make a pit stop for a gallon of milk on my way home. I will be damned if I am going to leave a handgun in the vehicle, even if the vehicle is locked. So I just zip my jacket up over the rig and into the store I go, nobody in the store the wiser as to the cannon under my jacket. I can't say how the XVR (8-3/8" bbl) would do in this situation though...

Should the "super-mags" be used for concealed carry/SD??? Of course not, and for a fairly long list of reasons. That is simply not what they were designed for.

I voted 460 S&W because hey, I own one.. But beyond that (and I hate to parrot what has already been mentioned) it is extremely versatile. Most variants of the 460 Smith are fully compensated, not just top porting.so as far as recoil they are actually not all that bad to shoot. In fact I would put felt recoil just a little more stiff than a 44mag loaded stoutly pushing 240gr bullets. The blast/concussion on the other hand... that's another story. Will clear stopped up sinuses in 3 rds or less, guaranteed! LOL!

 
If I am FORCED TO PICK one, the .454 Casull is what I PREFER of the 3 mentioned calibers, for reasons already cited by Radny and WYOsmith.

If "none of the above" is an option, then my choice and reason(s) parallel CLARK's.
 
Carry for self defense in any of these calibers seems a little "tin foil hat" -ish to me. I'm a 454 fan but I actually think that the 2 1/2 inch Alaskan is an impractically short barrel for the cartridge. I've never heard of someone shooting one with out ear protection before (like in a self defense situation or bear attack) but I'm nearly certain that even one shot from that short barrel will leave you saying 'huh?' and 'What'd you say?' for the rest of your life.
 
There are two ways to get a levergun in 460SW.
There is There is also a custom gunsmith who has converted Marlin 1895s successfully. Gun + $700 I believe.

460 SW out of those three, but...

I got a 460 Encore barrel b/c of Ohio hunting regulations. 45/70 out of a pistol was an option. When Ohio allowed some rifles and carbines I immediately went for a 45/70 Encore rifle barrel. I think 45/70 probably does better in both.
 
Last edited:
I have shot them all but own a 460. Very accurate, 5-shot groups under 2" at 100 yards, and more comfortable to shoot than a 44 mag with a 4" barrel. You load down with 454s or even 45 Colts for plinking around. The best is easy for this one, the 460 Smith.
 
RIDE-RED 350r - The X-Frame Smiths are many things, but small and lightweight are not among them.

I have a 5" 460 (460V) and really enjoy it.<snip>
Click to expand...

That is the model that interests me. Having another compensated gun, an Interarms Rossi 971 VRC (357), total length 4", I realized that the rifling in the big Smith is more like 4". The last inch of the muzzle is compensator and its interlock.
 
If I had the money I'd get a .460 not for any real reason other than I want one. I like the versatile range of ammo it shoots too. It would be a good woods gun if you were ever hunting and came across a tyranasaurus wearing body armor.
 
The .460 versatile? Is that a joke? Since when is a 5lb revolver "versatile" because it can chamber and fire three different rounds? I've never seen a report where .45 Colt accuracy wasn't dismal out of the .460.

The .460 impresses the uninitiated who get starry eyed over big velocity numbers. The .454 is a lot of unnecessary pressure, blast and recoil. The .460 is just more of the same.

The .480 is far and away the best of the bunch. Same size as .44 Magnum guns, yet utilizes much larger and heavier projectiles.


There is also a custom gunsmith who has converted Marlin 1895s successfully.
Click to expand...
He's a hack because the Marlin can't handle the pressure. This was proven years ago when they tried to adapt every existing platform to the .454. None survived that were small enough to be practical.
 
The choice relates to how you intend to shoot. But I would not get a 460 S&W thinking that I will shoot 45LC in it for "plinking". Use it for the caliber it is designed for or shoot something better designed in size and so forth for say the 45LC. There is certainly a thrill when you touch off a big bore, especially stuff larger than 44mag. I always wonder why someone would even bother shooting the low powered stuff such as normal 45LC cowboy loads in something like a big S&W revolver.

.... it felt almost like shooting a 22.... then why bother? Shoot a 22.

For me, the 475/480 was the way to go. If I want something bigger or more powerful, it would be the 500 S&W. I have no aspirations for such now.
 
The .460 versatile? Is that a joke? Since when is a 5lb revolver "versatile" because it can chamber and fire three different rounds? I've never seen a report where .45 Colt accuracy wasn't dismal out of the .460.
Click to expand...

You will have to excuse us for relying on S&W's description of the gun's capabilities.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top