effective range of 9.5"454Casull vs 9.5" 44Mag?

[hans g./UpS]

Any opinion/experience regards the range diiference for whitetails,etc. between a 9.5" scoped SuperRedhawk 454Casull versus the same in 44Mag?
I have the SRH 44Mag,I'm debating about trading for a SRH in 454Casull.
I already am loading 45Colt.
Thanks.

[Graybeard]

I'd not rate one to have any more effective range than the other. Both have more killing power than needed far beyond where their trajectory makes hitting too chancy for me to attempt it. Given a really good solid rest an experienced and well practiced handgunner should be able to make clean kills on deer to 150 yards and on elk to maybe 200 yards. Beyond that with either you really need to know both the distance and trajectory perfectly to be sure of kill zone hits every time.

Some might push that and I have on targets but not on game. I've made a high percentage of hits BUT NOT 100% on deer kill zone size targets out to about 400 yards with both. But I'd never even think of shooting at unwounded game at such ranges.

There is a lot of difference between shooting at a steel slab you KNOW isn't gonna move from a bench rest and shooting at a deer that likely will move from a field position.

[swampthing]

I agree with Graybeard, plus a Long Cylinder gun such as yours allows for a LBT 320g LFN, with a .500" nose to crimp, = 1500 fps with some H110.  Should do what you need to do when and "if" the need arrives. I love my 7.5" .44 , shooting 280's, trajectory is pretty much straight to 75yds and approx 3" low a 100yds with a +1.5-2 inch sight in at 50. Oh and these are loafing at 1185fps.  But if you like it buy it I hear that Ruger uses "proofed"  {100,000psi tested}  steel for that gun, shooting .45 Colts, at any speed, and the thing would probably out live a cockaroch.

[hans g./UpS]

Thanks for the insights.I hear what you're saying.My scoped 9.5"SRH with 300grXTPs will group 4"@100yards.I figure it's good out to 125 yards under the right conditions[beyond that the trajectory may be a bit loopy].
I have a 5.5" RH in 45Colt, and like the cartridge.That's why I'm considering a SRH in 454Casull-I can load/use 45Colts in it.
I've wondered whether I'd get any more range out of the SRH 454Casull considering the additional recoil/ammo expense??

[Camp Cook]

The way I see it is that it just comes down to how accurately a person can shoot a handgun.

Yes the 454 has far more power but is the shooter able to utilize that added power by being able to place the shot accurately?

Get the SRH 454 as well.  

I have a 6" 629 44mag with top loads of 240gr/270gr/300gr bullets, 2 5.5" Ruger Bisley Vaquero's in 45 Colt with top loads of 240gr/300gr/330gr bullets and a 7.5" SRH 454 Casull with top loads from 240gr/300gr/330gr/360gr/395gr bullets.

Depends on where I'm going,what I'm doing and what size of animals are in the area dictates to me as to which gun I take, but I'm ready for just about anything with these guns/loads combo.

[longwalker]

I don't know about you guys, but the reason I handgun hunt is to force myself to get closer to the game.  At least in my opinion the challange is in getting close. Not to see who can knock them down the furthest out.

Don't get me wrong I haven't shot all my handgun deer at 10 feet but I haven't shot one over 60 yards either. It just seems to me planning on long shots defeats the idea.

longwalker