.454 casull or .480 ruger
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bluetopper
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From all reports the recoil of the 480 is noticeably less cause of the larger bore and less pressure cartridge vs the 454 Casull. Kind of like a .357 vs .45. The 45 is more of a firm push than a wrist jarring snap.
Can't wait to get my first big bore hangun in, a 480, in later in the week.
Can't wait to get my first big bore hangun in, a 480, in later in the week.
22-rimfire
Member
Parisite, it is unlikely you will spend the afternoon at the range blasting away with your new Taurus. The 480 does kick. My first few shots with the 480 was with some hesitation. I have a 9.5" Ruger SRH. The web of my shooting hand got bloodied on the first outing. Basically, I have learned to hold a bit lower than I do on other revolvers. I do recommend a shooting glove as it will allow you to shoot longer (or it does me). I'm good for about 20-25 rounds before I get the shakes and I'm pretty much done for any handgun shooting at that point. But, I'm not "Mr. Experience" with the big bore revolvers either as most of my shooting has been with a 41 mag and some 44 mag. It is fun to shoot, but if you are going to shoot a lot, I'd take along some other guns to the range.
I wouldn't mind having an Alaskan in 480. Not interested in one except in 480.
I wouldn't mind having an Alaskan in 480. Not interested in one except in 480.
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Hornady .475 and .480 ammo is down right cheap. Same as 44 magnum, pretty much. Good stuff, too.
the ability of the .480 to shoot 420 grain LFN's is a huge advantage over the 454 topping out at 360 grains.
Difference in cape buffalo is about 2 feet, 38" vs. the high 50's for the 420's.
the ability of the .480 to shoot 420 grain LFN's is a huge advantage over the 454 topping out at 360 grains.
Difference in cape buffalo is about 2 feet, 38" vs. the high 50's for the 420's.
Like to know where you are buying your .480R/.475 LB ammo. Before shipping charges, .44 Mag ammo is 1/2 to 1/3 the price of the 480/475 ammo I could find on the net. Local sporting goods store I frequent is about the same relationship.
FWIW,
Paul
FWIW,
Paul
22-rimfire
Member
480 ammo was typically $20 a box (of 20) for Hornady prior to about Dec. 1; I saw it in the $22-23 price range after that. This is in a local store. I don't buy it online unless it is something that I can't buy locally. A year ago, I could often buy it for $18 a box. This ammo has seen price increases just like all the rest, even 22RF. Obviously, this is and has been more expensive than Winchester white box 44 mag ammo. I don't think anyone compares prices to that.
22-rimfire
Member
I don't buy 44 Magnum ammo. Sold off those handguns. I shoot 41 mags now instead and prefer it to the 44 magnum overall. You're comparing the price to the wrong caliber. You should be comparing it to 500 S&W, 454 Casull, 460 S&W which are in the same general power range. Since I don't own a 460, a 454 or 500 I don't pay much attention to prices although I recall about $50 a box for 500's. Anyway, I don't consider the Hornady price on 480 ammo to be extremely high. Lookl at their other prices. But I certainly don't plink with it which is a shame because you need to shoot to get better. I shoot more 22's than anything else these days. Been having a lot of fun reviving that sport and yes, I've paid $15 for one box of 22 shells.
IIRC, Midway had the same XTP loaded .44 magnum ammo for right around 20.00 a box.
http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse?TabID=3&Categoryid=7513&categorystring=653***691***
I notice they now charge 26. a box for the 325 .480 XTP load.
So, it's gone up a bit, but, just recently.
Wish I'd bought ammo instead of stocks with about 100 grand I had in the 90's...
I'm well stocked in .475 Linebaugh, since I couldn't believe the Hornady price awhile back.
Considering brass was in the .47 cents to 75 cent range, and, the bullets pretty much all .75 cents each, even for lead bullets, the prices for .480 ammunition start looking REAL reasonable.
JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone
Member
All this talk about short barrel velocity loss, and the cost of rounds...
I'm surprised that no one asked the OP if either gun was DA or SA. As much as I love my single action, I probably pack my double action revolver more often when in the back country. Truthfuly, yes, which ever a person is more comfortable with. I would think that either the 454 or 480 with the heaviest bullet is Bear or Moose medicine.
-Steve
I'm surprised that no one asked the OP if either gun was DA or SA. As much as I love my single action, I probably pack my double action revolver more often when in the back country. Truthfuly, yes, which ever a person is more comfortable with. I would think that either the 454 or 480 with the heaviest bullet is Bear or Moose medicine.
-Steve
Fumbler
Member
Well...that's a good analogy, but like 22-rimfire said the 480 recoils less, but you won't be blasting away for long.
If the 454 is a wrist jarring snap that hurts really bad then the 480 is a wrist jarring snap that hurts bad.
It's a firm push compared to the 454, but the scale of the 454 compared to a 357 is enormous
I can shoot about 20 rounds of full power 480 before it's uncomfortable.
I can shoot maybe 30 rounds of full power loads before I have to stop myself a split second before every other trigger pull because I know I'm going to flinch.
When I first got my 480 I couldn't hit the paper and thought I'd bit off a lot more than I could chew.:banghead:
40 rounds of mild handloads set me on the right track and now I can shoot it as well as my 357 (which isn't really that good to start with)
ArchAngelCD
Member.
22-Rimfire,
"I don't buy 44 Magnum ammo. Sold off those handguns. I shoot 41 mags now instead and prefer it to the 44 magnum overall. You're comparing the price to the wrong caliber. You should be comparing it to 500 S&W, 454 Casull, 460 S&W which are in the same general power range.Anyway, I don't consider the Hornady price on 480 ammo to be extremely high. Lookl at their other prices."
I wasn't trying to make a valid comparison, I was just responding to Socrates remark that .480/.475 ammo was a bargain (at a $1.00/round) and no more expensive than .44 Mag ammo. If you search around, you can find a box of 50 .44 Mags for around $20. You can't find that price on the the 480/475.
At $1.00/round, an individual will not shoot enough to become proficient with a .480/.475 unless you have a lot of discretionary income.
Not trying to be argumentative, just trying (somewhat unsuccessfully I might add) to say that $1.00/round is not cheap. You can buy .44 Mag ammo for 1/2 to 1/3 of .480/.475s and you aren't going to get proficient with factory ammo unless you have a lot of money.
The 480 Ruger would be my choice.
FWIW,
Paul
"I don't buy 44 Magnum ammo. Sold off those handguns. I shoot 41 mags now instead and prefer it to the 44 magnum overall. You're comparing the price to the wrong caliber. You should be comparing it to 500 S&W, 454 Casull, 460 S&W which are in the same general power range.Anyway, I don't consider the Hornady price on 480 ammo to be extremely high. Lookl at their other prices."
I wasn't trying to make a valid comparison, I was just responding to Socrates remark that .480/.475 ammo was a bargain (at a $1.00/round) and no more expensive than .44 Mag ammo. If you search around, you can find a box of 50 .44 Mags for around $20. You can't find that price on the the 480/475.
At $1.00/round, an individual will not shoot enough to become proficient with a .480/.475 unless you have a lot of discretionary income.
Not trying to be argumentative, just trying (somewhat unsuccessfully I might add) to say that $1.00/round is not cheap. You can buy .44 Mag ammo for 1/2 to 1/3 of .480/.475s and you aren't going to get proficient with factory ammo unless you have a lot of money.
The 480 Ruger would be my choice.
FWIW,
Paul
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22-rimfire
Member
Paul, (my brother's name is Paul), I don't think $1.00 per round is cheap either for just shooting. As you said, I will likely never be as proficient with the 480 as I will with lesser powered rounds if for no other reason than I simply can't physically shoot more than 25 rounds at one sitting unless I really spread the shooting out. 41 magnum may be the exception to this rule as I seem to just shoot it well even when I start skimping on shooting it due to factory ammo prices. (I know, reload.)
As soon as the ammo manufactures started using the 20 round boxes, I knew it was a marketing effort to sell less ammo at higher prices. Same thing happened to Chlorox.... remember the new "concentrated" (BS) smaller handier size priced less... then it was the same price as the old gallons, and then they sell the old gallon size for more yet. With ammo, I convinced myself that I was buying "premium" ammo, but I don't need premium ammo just to blast away with.
The point is that Hornady 480 Ruger is priced less than some of the other big bore calibers. It is why I do buy a box or two when I see it (mostly past tense now) for less than $20 per box of 20 and save it for a rainy day. Figured I needed at least 200 rounds on hand. Since the time I started buying 480, the price has increased about 150% for Hornady. If you throw in the prices of Grizzly, Cor-bon, and Buffalo Bore, the price is crazy and I can't afford to shoot it much.
As soon as the ammo manufactures started using the 20 round boxes, I knew it was a marketing effort to sell less ammo at higher prices. Same thing happened to Chlorox.... remember the new "concentrated" (BS) smaller handier size priced less... then it was the same price as the old gallons, and then they sell the old gallon size for more yet. With ammo, I convinced myself that I was buying "premium" ammo, but I don't need premium ammo just to blast away with.
The point is that Hornady 480 Ruger is priced less than some of the other big bore calibers. It is why I do buy a box or two when I see it (mostly past tense now) for less than $20 per box of 20 and save it for a rainy day. Figured I needed at least 200 rounds on hand. Since the time I started buying 480, the price has increased about 150% for Hornady. If you throw in the prices of Grizzly, Cor-bon, and Buffalo Bore, the price is crazy and I can't afford to shoot it much.
bluetopper
Member
Found a good deal on 480 ammo on gunbroker, came out to be $71 for 80 rds shipped, then I ordered 100 cast reloads online for $85 shipped. Should get me enough brass to start reloading and avoid the "over the top" price of factory ammo.
I've read up everything I can on the net about the 480 load and they say loading it with 400gr. (not available in factory loadings) is where the cartridge really shines and significantly out does the 454, plus has less recoil because of the larger bore and less pressure.
I've read up everything I can on the net about the 480 load and they say loading it with 400gr. (not available in factory loadings) is where the cartridge really shines and significantly out does the 454, plus has less recoil because of the larger bore and less pressure.
22-rimfire
Member
Interesting that you found the ammo on Gunbroker. I have never priced ammo there. 200 rounds is about right to get you started reloading it.
Hornady loads a 400 gr XTP as a factory load. Check out Midway for pricing. That is one I'd have to buy online as I have not seen it in stores in my area.
I hope you enjoy it. The recoil is substantially more than my 41 magnum or a 44 mag. Maybe the hot loaded 44's or 45's would approach it. I bought the 480 beastie to use purely for hunting and really don't shoot it much unfortunately. Socrates is a real big bore shooter and I respect his opinions a great deal. I plan on getting a BFR in 475 Linebaugh/480 in the coming months. I'm interested to see how the recoil is on a single action vs the SRH that I'm accustomed to.
Hornady loads a 400 gr XTP as a factory load. Check out Midway for pricing. That is one I'd have to buy online as I have not seen it in stores in my area.
I hope you enjoy it. The recoil is substantially more than my 41 magnum or a 44 mag. Maybe the hot loaded 44's or 45's would approach it. I bought the 480 beastie to use purely for hunting and really don't shoot it much unfortunately. Socrates is a real big bore shooter and I respect his opinions a great deal. I plan on getting a BFR in 475 Linebaugh/480 in the coming months. I'm interested to see how the recoil is on a single action vs the SRH that I'm accustomed to.
Back in August, I bought a Freedom Arms .475 LB with a 6" ported barrel. I've shot almost 5,000 rounds thru it in the last 5 months. Most of those were 400gr at a chronoed 1,100 fps. I can comfortably shoot 50 rounds in one session without any problem. I find myself saying "just 5 more". I shoot 5 plus days a week, and find the FA .475 LB to be more comfortable to shoot than a Ruger Super Blackhawk with factory grips and 240gr Mag ammo. When it comes to recoil, everybody is different. Unfortunately (or fortunately), it really is a trial and error process to find out what works for you individually.
Well, I'm off to the range.
FWIW,
Paul
Well, I'm off to the range.
FWIW,
Paul
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