Author Topic: Why Raging Bull .480 cost less than .454? (Read 1467 times)

UMFAN1 · « **on:** March 19, 2004, 04:13:16 PM »

Does anyone know why the Taurus website lists suggested retail price for its Raging Bull in .480 Ruger alot less than the same gun in .454?

DirtyHarry · « **Reply #1 on:** March 19, 2004, 07:13:47 PM »

I would guess it is the same reason the 44 mag is not priced with the 454.
The 480 is simply not the gun that the 454 is. The ONLY advantage the 480 has is an "insignificant" diameter advantage.

zrifleman · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2004, 10:08:52 AM »

I asked the same questions since I have both a 480 and a 454 in RB. I paid about $480 NIB out the door for my 480 Ruger from a dealer/friend. One year later I purchased the 454--same gun, same dealer for about $680. I have been told by reliable sources that they are identically the same gun except for caliber. The difference in cost to the dealer is about $160 more for the 454. Why the difference in price?? Marketing! 454 is a better seller and probably will continue to be so both for Ruger and Taurus. 480 is a slow mover--probably the jobbers and the factory have too many on the shelf. What this all means is that the Taurus RB /480 is a great bargain right now that may go away and never be that affordable again.

K2 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 07, 2004, 07:37:59 AM »

There are a lot more components for a .45 caliber gun than a .48 which might have something to do with it. I think the .480 is agood cartirdge for those who need more than a .44 but that "need" is pretty slim in the general population and 454 has a lot more versatility due to the .45/454 ability. IF you are going to carry it a lot and shoot it a little then the cost savings of the 480 might make sense. If you are going to shoot it a lot with lighter loads the 454 probably will cost less in the long term to operate. Both will do the job nicely if you put the shot where it is supposed to go.

Quote from: zrifleman

I asked the same questions since I have both a 480 and a 454 in RB. I paid about $480 NIB out the door for my 480 Ruger from a dealer/friend. One year later I purchased the 454--same gun, same dealer for about $680. I have been told by reliable sources that they are identically the same gun except for caliber. The difference in cost to the dealer is about $160 more for the 454. Why the difference in price?? Marketing! 454 is a better seller and probably will continue to be so both for Ruger and Taurus. 480 is a slow mover--probably the jobbers and the factory have too many on the shelf. What this all means is that the Taurus RB /480 is a great bargain right now that may go away and never be that affordable again.

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** May 07, 2004, 01:08:03 PM »

Quote

There are a lot more components for a .45 caliber gun than a .48 which might have something to do with it.

Would you explain what you mean by that comment? More components? The guns are identical except for chambering. The number of components of them is the same. If you mean weight of metal because of smaller holes in the .454 I don't buy that. Generally speaking companies always charge more for bigger not less even tho there is somwhat less metal in them. They start with the same size chunks and just make the holes to remove some of it.

I think it has to do with the popularity of the .454 making them feel they can get more. But here locally both actually sell at same price.

GB

myronman3 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 07, 2004, 04:39:04 PM »

i think what he is talking about "more components" meaning bullets for reloading. and the fact that one can use 45 colts in a pinch. 480 reloading components are out there; but are alot harder to come by in my neck of the woods than 45 caliber bullets (loaded or unloaded).
i would tend to agree on this line of thought. the 480's lower price is probably related to supply/demand. that is my take on it (be it right or wrong).

L-Roy · « **Reply #6 on:** June 11, 2004, 05:01:52 PM »

a higher-pressure cartridge than the .480 Ruger and needs a more costly cylinder/crane assembly than the lower pressure .480 Ruger, hence the higher dealer cost of the .454 and ultimately higher consumer cost.

zrifleman · « **Reply #7 on:** June 11, 2004, 09:12:30 PM »

l-roy the guns are the same except for the size of the hole. Taurus tells me that the metallurgy is the same for both guns. It's all about marketing-- the 480 so far is a slow mover for the distributors. They are trying to get more guns out there in the hands of shooters. 454 has been around now for over 20 years and developed a popular following. 480 is the new guy on the block. The good prices on the 480 RB won't last forever.