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

[jackmoser65]

Nope but it can push them several hundred feet per second faster.

Which only gains you range. If you can't use it, there's not much point.

Seems like 99% of the dislike for it come from people who have never shot one.

Why would I have to buy and shoot one to figure out that it's too heavy, runs at unnecessarily high pressure and has a lot of unneeded velocity???

It's funny reading some of the comments on here about the .460. Seems like only 30 or so years ago people said the same thing about the 454.

And in 30yrs we have also learned that all that velocity is unnecessary. Particularly with cast bullets. We've learned that exceeding 1200-1300fps in revolvers doesn't make them any more effective. Doesn't increase penetration or wound channels. That what does make a difference is diameter and mass.

Do you think this Buffalo Bore .460 load...

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=126

...is really more effective than these 365gr Garrett loads....

http://www.garrettcartridges.com/45 454.html

.....just because it's faster?

 

[TMD]

And in 30yrs we have also learned that all that velocity is unnecessary. Particularly with cast bullets. We've learned that exceeding 1200-1300fps in revolvers doesn't make them any more effective. Doesn't increase penetration or wound channels. That what does make a difference is diameter and mass.

Yeah I know, Dead is Dead. But I didnt buy mine to hunt with. Its strictly a range toy and I will say this.... My 10.5" PC model was the first revolver I've ever owned that could put all 5 rounds inside a quarter @ 100yrds. It's also a hoot to shoot steel plates at 500 yards. In fact it was so accurate that it almost became boaring. Oh and yes it was off a bipod not off hand. Damn thing with scope, 3 rings, and bipod weighed in at over 8 pounds.

 

[Pond James Pond]

Heck, I see people comment all the time touting even the 44 mag chambered revolvers and the ability to fire 44spl loads making them more versatile.

For me the .44's versatility is more down to the fact that the cartridge itself seems capable of covering a wide spectrum of performance levels: warm .44Spl performance all the way to the "Ruger-only fire-breathers". Adding to that the scope of light CA to hot .44Spl loads and that spectrum widens further.

The same can be said of a .357 Mag revolver with all its ".38" caliber options and the S&W .460 in the .45 cal range.

Whether the shooter makes use of it or not, there is a wide spectrum in what the .460 can deliver in terms of performance (and cost). That choice is at best a boon, at worst inconsequential. It can't be seen as a flaw, so why not tout it?

What a .357 does have, a .44Mag somewhat less and the .460 less still is practicality.
How big an obstacle that is depends entirely on the person laying out the bills.

Which only gains you range.

Or a flatter trajectory over the same distances.

 

[Real Gun]

Yeah I know, Dead is Dead. But I didnt buy mine to hunt with. Its strictly a range toy and I will say this.... My 10.5" PC model was the first revolver I've ever owned that could put all 5 rounds inside a quarter @ 100yrds. It's also a hoot to shoot steel plates at 500 yards. In fact it was so accurate that it almost became boaring. Oh and yes it was off a bipod not off hand. Damn thing with scope, 3 rings, and bipod weighed in at over 8 pounds.

I would have bought a rifle. I do all my handgun shooting free standing, even my 8 3/8" 41 mag with scope. The guns technical capabilities just make that yield better results, but shooting with a rest and seeing how small a group the gun will shoot seems like rifle mentality to me. I can certainly allow that others might get some joy from it though. That's just one of my roll eyes things.

 

[Real Gun]

Because they can also shoot 460 S&W Mag and .454 Casull and most importantly because it is the only S&W gun to allow exploring the full pressure potential of the 45 Colt cartridge.

So what??? You're buying a 5lb .460 so you can shoot loads better suited to a much lighter gun?

Your mistaken, because S&W has no other gun to support the full range of loads for 45 Colt.

 

[22-rimfire]

I don't know why there has to be friction between posters on this thread. I certainly don't have any backup data as to the dominant buyers and shooters are, but the 460 SW in the X-frame gun would be an excellent hunting rig regardless of the weight. I suspect that those that hunt with the 460 do not carry a rifle also and it is their primary gun for the day.

These big revolvers are pretty easy to carry in a chest rig. But I have to say they suck if you are carrying a rifle too unless you are hunting from a fixed stand where you can lean the rifle up against the stand/tree and only retrieve it for a long shot or one you are less confident with. Carrying both still hunting would be troublesome for me. I tried it with a 9.5" SRH and both firearms become less convenient to use should a shot on game develop.

Shooting these big bore revolvers is a sport. They lend themselves to hunting deer or larger/tougher game. You do it for the challenge and the fun. If all you want to do is "put meat on the table", choose a rifle.

 

[jackmoser65]

Your mistaken, because S&W has no other gun to support the full range of loads for 45 Colt.

 

[johnwilliamson062]

Good example. Would you buy a Ruger 10" .357 Maximum to shoot .38's in it?

No, but I'd buy a 16.25" Encore barrel to hunt with and enjoy having the options. This started as a comparison of several cartridges. I have tried to stay on that track. The tangential switch to attacking/defending a $1000+ pistol isn't my concern.

Of course, OP seems to have made his decision at post 57.

Your mistaken, because S&W has no other gun to support the full range of loads for 45 Colt.

OP indicated he prefers Ruger revolvers at Post 57 also. Ruger does have such revolvers.

I'm a Ruger man

If you are shooting at fixed targets at known distance range/trajectory isn't that much of a concern. Many hunters in the general population off this forum don't use a $200 range finder. Most of those that do use a range card type system where known landmarks are precisely ranged prior to a game animal appearing then an estimation is made off of that information. Animal may be walking, so the yardage may change. In such situations the flatter trajectory is really valuable.

Not everyone is permitted to hunt with a rifle in all seasons.

 

[Real Gun]

OP indicated he prefers Ruger revolvers at Post 57 also. Ruger does have such revolvers.

Context is everything. Ruger doesn't make a 460 S&W.

 

[Real Gun]

Your mistaken, because S&W has no other gun to support the full range of loads for 45 Colt.

Reductio ad absurdem is not going to win the day. I don't believe anyone wrote that they would buy a 460 just to shoot heavy 45 Colt. My Redhawks do that for me, but we're not talking about Redhawks.

 

[johnwilliamson062]

Context is everything. Ruger doesn't make a 460 S&W.

Yeah, but my comment was in relation to a revolver that can handle Ruger/Carbine only 45 Colt loads. Ruger makes those, that's why they call them Ruger only loads. WHo cares if SW doesn't make them. Ruger does.

 

[Real Gun]

Yeah, but my comment was in relation to a revolver that can handle Ruger/Carbine only 45 Colt loads. Ruger makes those, that's why they call them Ruger only loads. WHo cares if SW doesn't make them. Ruger does.

Have your point, replying to some context upon which we disagree, but we "care" simply because we have currently been referring to the 460 S&W...you know, the one that can shoot Ruger only loads in 45 Colt.

 

[mavracer]

Again, they are generally a purpose specific firearm. They are not for everyone and they are a handful. Folks that want to pick 'em apart because of size and weight, haven't a clue as to those purposes.

So you agree they're not versatile.

I don't believe anyone wrote that they would buy a 460 just to shoot heavy 45 Colt. My Redhawks do that for me, but we're not talking about Redhawks.

Exactly the reason that the versatility selling point is a load of bovine feces, it might fly with the SO but not me.

My 10.5" PC model ........... Damn thing with scope, 3 rings, and bipod weighed in at over 8 pounds.

LOL my Ruger RSI .308 with scope and sling is under 7.5 pounds.


We have a right to not be practical, it's in our DNA too, of course if we recognized this two thirds of the posts here would disappear.

 

[Real Gun]

buck460XVR

Again, they are generally a purpose specific firearm. They are not for everyone and they are a handful. Folks that want to pick 'em apart because of size and weight, haven't a clue as to those purposes.

mavracer - So you agree they're not versatile.

I consider that a non sequitur, your point, not his.

mavracer - Exactly the reason that the versatility selling point is a load of bovine feces, it might fly with the SO but not me.

I don't get why someone would care enough about the distinction to be rude about it.

 

[Real Gun]

Unexpectedly and by coincidence I got a chance to see and handle an 8" 460 XVR yesterday. I quickly concluded that "I could shoot this", previously believing my stature and hand size limited me to N-Frames and Redhawks. I want one, certainly long enough to gain the experience. The same reason I have 13 other calibers, don't hunt, and shoot only paper.

 

[buck460XVR]

I don't get why someone would care enough about the distinction to be rude about it.

Me either, since they didn't pay for the firearm, nor are they forced to shoot/use it. What I find on many of these threads is Ruger fanboys will try to use scornfully abusive remarks in attempt to make Smiths look inferior somehow to their Rugers. We all know that ain't true. I own several Rugers myself and have bought both my sons Rugers for Christmas. I have also bought them Rugers in the past. They are fine firearms for the monies.....but they ain't no S&W. These folks can't use fit or finish or accuracy claims, so they strike out with the Too Heavy, too big or too powerful insults. They went on for years about MIM parts and the ILs, but that has proved to be useless and folks have grown weary of hearing it. Especially after Ruger started to use MIM parts and ILs. Then somehow they make try to make the world believe that their "Ruger only" loads are somehow superior in a firearm not really made for them. They tend to insinuate that the abusive recoil from such guns is desired and liked. As if brutal recoil makes for a better shooter. We all know that ain't true either. So what I always figure it comes down to is folks trying to validate their own choices by belittling others. Most claim they don't care what we shoot, but them go on for pages making snide remarks and arguing against. A prime example of gun owners dissing fellow gun owners for no reason but their own insecurity. So be it. Must suck to be them.

 

[Garrett-thief1812]

Long time lurker - first time poster. I mainly shoot 9mm, .357 Mag and 12ga.

I picked the 454 Casull only because i just bought one recently. It's only for the range since i don't hunt. It's a Taurus Raging Bull 5" barrel

I took it down to the range last weekend and shot it for the first time (the gun and the caliber). I thought i could shoot it like i do my .357 Mag with just a normal stance, legs side by side. I didn't know what to expect.

I took the first shot and the gun literally pushed me back 2 steps! Guy in the next stall came over immediately to see what the hell I was shooting while the range master came over laughing since he witnessed me being pushed back. I was shooting Hornady 300gr XTP bullets.

Gun/caliber is a real beast! I think next time I'll probably bring a box of 45 long colts along with some milder 454 loads.

Considering all the heated debate, I thought we could use some humor at my expense.

 

[22-rimfire]

Great to hear your experience. It is a bit of an awakening when you touch off stuff larger than 44 mag. Shooting stuff like this always brings in the shooter flies to watch and I'd be one of them because it is almost as much fun to watch someone new to big bores shoot as it is to do the shooting yourself. In Max Prasac's book, he says that the pain starts with the 454 Casull.

 

[sandmansans]

Great to hear your experience. It is a bit of an awakening when you touch off stuff larger than 44 mag. Shooting stuff like this always brings in the shooter flies to watch and I'd be one of them because it is almost as much fun to watch someone new to big bores shoot as it is to do the shooting yourself. In Max Prasac's book, he says that the pain starts with the 454 Casull.

Yea I agree. I about Damn near broke my wrist the first time I shot a cyclinder of 700 grain tyranysaur loads out of my 4 inch .500 magnum. Grip adjustment becomes a must when shooting any of these big bores...now my hottest .357 mag loads feel like .22lr lol

 

[22-rimfire]

Shooting the bigger bores actually seems to help you shoot the lesser powered magnums better. Years ago, I thought the 357 had a lot of recoil in my 6" Python. Had a lot to learn.