Author Topic: 44mag vs 454 casull vs 480 ? (Read 4242 times)

MTRamMan · « **on:** October 17, 2003, 12:59:27 PM »

Sorry if this has been discussed already, but I'm new here and couldn't find this topic. I live in MT and spend time in the mountains occassionaly. Here...I'm not at the top of the food chain, due to grizzlies in the woods. I plan to carry a can of counter assault bear spray, but still would like a back up weapon/ pistol. I have little experience with revolvers other than a 357 magnum. I've been told by several that 357 magnum is the smallest they would rec. for pistol caliber for protection from grizzlies. I would like to carry the biggest possible caliber that would still be "fun" to shoot and not be overly punishing on recoil. I'll be the first to shoot whatever is handed to me, but I'd still like to enjoy it at the same time.

What I'd like to hear is feedback from others with experience with these calibers, 44magnum , 454 casull and 480. I'm looking at ruger superhawks, as they feel great in my smaller hands, and Tarus Raging bulls. I like the fact that Tauurs ports their guns, but the Ruger felt more comfortable in my hands. I'm open to other choices as well if anyone cares to offer. Thanks for any input on this topic.

Dan

Jim n Iowa · « **Reply #1 on:** October 17, 2003, 01:57:24 PM »

I can only respond to the 44 mag. I have 4 in this cal a 8.5 " Taurus m44. a SBH 7.5", a RDH 5.5 " and a 2" taurus in 44sp. This is my favorite cal, I have large hands and went to declerator grips on the Rugers. The long barreled revolver shoot fine from a rest, off hand shooting for me is difficult to keep the scoped gun on target. I can tell no real difference in recoil between the two, even though the Taurus is ported. The 5.5 " rdk is my in the field carry gun. Its heavy compaired to my 4" Colt that it replaced. It is not a fun gun after +20 rd's as it tires you out on the range working up loads. So I should 44sp handloads in them when trying to have fun.
Jim

475/480 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 17, 2003, 04:12:14 PM »

I would shoot the heaviest caliber you can shoot good,If you handload get the SRH 480 you can load heavier bullets up to about 480gr at about 1000 fps or down to 285 keith type @ 1500-1600 fps,I just got my (480gr WFNGC w/.500 noselength) mould from DAN at mountainmolds I will shoot it tomorrow at the range.

supermag 445 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 22, 2003, 06:51:36 PM »

480, enough said. But all are great. good luck and have fun making your mind up. :grin:

Brian

wildman · « **Reply #4 on:** October 23, 2003, 12:43:27 PM »

I can only give one piece of advice - get one you can handle. Personally, I find that a 44mag is plenty of gun for me, although I don't have to face charging angry bears. Even when hunting, if a 44mag handgun is too small, you probably should be toting a rifle anyhow. Plus, there is a whole better selection of 44 factory ammo, in case you don't reload. Ask yourself this question - Is it better to miss something with the loud 454 and try to scare it to death, or is it better to hit it with a 44 and put holes in it? Just stay away from pepper spray. The conservation officer I talked to said that bears would appreciate pepper spray, as they like hot sauce on their dinner also!

DirtyHarry · « **Reply #5 on:** October 24, 2003, 05:49:15 PM »

Any of the three will dispatch the largest angriest bear with relative ease.
IMO what you want is to stop the bear before he gets to you and in that case you want a large projectile traveling at a slow speed, so the 480 at around 1000 fps should do quite nicely,and there should be no need for a follow up shot assuming you make yourself familiar with the gun :grin:

454Puma · « **Reply #6 on:** November 11, 2003, 03:39:02 PM »

I'm probably going to get jumped on, but if your looking for one shot bone breaking power the 454 SRH with hard cast bullets of 325-360gr range will shoot clean through a Griz!! If the 454 will drop Elephant/Cape Buffalo etc then it will sure drop a Griz. Though double action follow ups might be difficult but then again you'd be lucky to get more then one shot if the griz is close? I don't think the 44 mag has nor the 480 taken the Big 5 in Africa. Just my .02 cents. :lol:

Graybeard · « **Reply #7 on:** November 11, 2003, 06:24:42 PM »

Yes the .44 Mag has taken most likely every legal animal in the world. Many times over it has taken the big five. Now the .480 is too new so likely hasn't. But the .475 Linebaugh sure has and the .480 is very nearly it's equal.

GB

ingwenya · « **Reply #8 on:** November 23, 2003, 01:03:05 AM »

I just joined the site today although I've been reading posts for about a year, I must applaud the Greybeard. Not only is this a cool site, but you always post a reply worth reading. With that aside....

To determine how to defend yourself against a grizzly poses one question. What do you trust with your life? I own a .44 Mag SuperBlackHawk. I can load it hot. It is my favorite gun out of the nine I have. It is not the best Bear gun on the market. If its all you have, so be it. It could accomplish the job and work very well if you can shoot accurately with the proper load. True, a .475 Linebaugh or a .480 Ruger would do nicely, I wouldn't personally bet my life on them based on ballistics charts. The .475 is actually just a little obscure for me. Yes sir, my next revolver purchase will be a .454 Super Red Hawk. True it does kick a little harder than a .44 Mag, but I still can't understand why people think its "too hard to handle.". Remember, the original discussion asked what would work best to prevent one from becoming bearfood. If I truly believe my life was on the line, I would go high power and learn how to deal with recoil, resighting etc.. If you can't or don't want to do so, I would recomend a Marlin Guide Gun. Maybe a 45-70.

Props again to Greybeard and I hope these comments helped.

swifty · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2004, 05:12:53 AM »

You need to reload your own with these calibers.
This way you can load up target loads or you can load up big medicine.
I shoot both the 44 magnum and the 454 casull. There is a big difference between target loads and "big Medicine".
If you go to the 454 casull, spend the money and buy a quality handgun.
If you plan to carry the gun with you in the mountains at high elevation the extra weight of a heavy handgun will feel like a boat anchor.
To keep the weight down, You might want to get the Model 629 Mountain gun. Load it with a substancial load with a hard cast gas checked bullet and it will do the job for you.

TennesseeNuc · « **Reply #10 on:** March 21, 2004, 06:44:08 PM »

Ram Man,
I shoot various 44 mags. and a 480 Ruger SRH. I don't own one, but have fired the 454 in the SRH. For bear protection, I would pick the 480 Ruger out of the three. More energy with a heavier bullet than the 44 mag, with less recoil than the 454.
I guess the rule to follow would be, pick the largest caliber that you can control and shoot well.
Best,
TnNuc

Tom W. · « **Reply #11 on:** April 06, 2004, 04:36:35 PM »

I haven't had to keep myself from becoming a big bitey/ scratchey critters dinner, but I think I'd opt for the .480. I don't think it has the recoil that my .44 has, but that may be due to the weight of the revolver. I load a 400 gr. SWC with 22 grains of H110 in the .480.

jd45 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 07, 2004, 04:02:32 PM »

I can't help it.....I just had to weigh in " Big bitey-scratchey critters", I'm pee'ing in my depends,...(I'm 57), what a yuk! Thank you for your humor, tho you may not have realized it! jd45

Nanook 450 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 03, 2005, 05:04:42 PM »

I chose the 44 mag, SRH - www.garrettcartridges.com makes a wicked 330 grain hammerhead that will do anything you need to a bear.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 04, 2005, 01:30:09 AM »

Any of the 3 you mentioned will work just fine. I boils down to which one you feel more comfortable with.

Old Griz · « **Reply #15 on:** June 07, 2005, 07:43:08 PM »

:cb2: MTRamMan:

I am waaaaaaaaaaay in the minority here, but I think you're right on with the pepper spray. Most folks think about the little spray stuff on key chains, and don't know about the big cans designed and formulated for bears. Check out www.udap.com/ if you haven't already. It sends out quite a cloud the bear would have to go through to get to you.

As for the caliber, I'd go with a heavy 44 simply for the follow up shots. As one writer aptly put it, try hitting a basket ball bouncing down a hit toward you at 30 mph. And that's of the Grizzly gives you any warning. Hitting an angry bear in a vital area with a handgun is not an easy task. That is unless it is already chewing on your partner, and then it's still hard because you have to shoot the bear without hitting your partner!

Use the super-duper spray first. That will stop him for a second or two while he ponders what the heck he just ran into. Then swing that 12 ga. 11-87 Police model off your shoulder that's loaded with 00 Buckslug00slug00slug (8 times). If he's still comin' climb the nearest tree and then keep shootin' him in the head with the 44 mag as he climbs up after you!

If he's still comin' . . . well, we can talk it over in heaven and you can tell me what went wrong!

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #16 on:** June 15, 2005, 01:08:56 AM »

you admitted yourself you have little experiece and I commend you for that. Buy yourself a good .44 mag and learn to shoot it well before you step up to something bigger. No gun kills unless it put the bullet where you want it to go.

Bucolic Buffalo · « **Reply #17 on:** July 02, 2005, 08:44:56 PM »

Get the gun that you can shoot best. 6 hits from a.444 is better than 6 missed from a .454 or .480

Bucolic Buffalo · « **Reply #18 on:** July 02, 2005, 09:00:55 PM »

I should mention a couple of things:

1) I carry a .44 mag when in the woods so I have my biases infavor of the .44 mag.

2) the really heavy loads from Garrett, Corbon and Buffalo Bore (Those in the 320 gran and larger) have severe recoil. if you aren't carful you will be pulling the front sight of your revolver out of your forehead after the first shot. I know of what i speak because I have shot some of those really heavy super duper . 44 mag loads. The recoil of the .480 and .454 are going to be proportionally worse.

If the recoil of even the .44 mag is going to keep you from shooting repeated follow up shots and hitting your target than the besat advise is to stay with your .357 mag. It is a good cartridge and there are .357 revolvers out there that have 7 and 8 round capabilities.

Nanook 450 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 03, 2005, 01:47:48 PM »

I think we are talking penetration, when talking about beg bear defense - both Buffalo Bore and Garrett now make a heavy, hard cast lead bullet that does not have the wicked recoil. These loads are designed to work in the super light 329pd, which I own. I've shot the Buffalo Bore stuff, heavy specials and light magnums, 250 grain Keith style bullet. I have two boxes of Grrett 44 mag defender ammo, 310 grain SuiperHardCast Hammerhead atg 1020 fps - 4 in revolver. Made for use in S&W 329pd, Tarus Titanium and all steel 44 mag revolvers.

Anyone that is concerned about personal protection, or back-up for hunting dangerous game, might look into these loads.

I can hit a pie plate at 25 yards, easily, with the Buffalo Bore and would use these for hog hunting back-up.

I think Randy Garrett's stuff will be even better, and will be controllable for big bear defense, should I ever afford to go to Alaska.

Bucolic Buffalo · « **Reply #20 on:** July 03, 2005, 07:07:55 PM »

I have to admit that i haven't tried the 310 grain stuff from garrett or the new stuff from buffalo bore. those really heavy ones are visious and that is out of a 7.5 inch and 8 inch barrels of the guns I have.

I'll have to try those 310 grain bullets from garrett sometime to see for myself.

oso45-70 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 03, 2005, 08:03:10 PM »

MTRam Man
Follow some of the guys advice and get yourself the the Revolver that feels good to ya and Shoot Shoot Shoot until you feel good with it. Good luck.

ingwenya, Welcome to GBO and wish you the best of luck too............Joe...........