Which .454 would you get?

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

I just got the Ruger SBH in .454, I will use .454 sparingly and it's life will subsist of heavy .45 Colt loads. Though with the chambering being .454 casull I imagine the gun will take heavy Colt loads indefinitely. I'd highly recommend you listen to MaxP's advice in the BFR however the man knows more about big bores on here than just about anyone (CraigC is a runner up) and quite literally wrote the book on big bores.

 

[Bill Raby]

The Freedom Arms gun is pretty nice.

 

[Walkalong]

I have shot a BFR .454, and it was a real nice revolver. Definitely not a plinker for most of us when using .454 ammo, but yea, you could plink with .45 Colt in it.

 

[troy fairweather]

i would get a ruger, if i had the money then the bfr.

 

[Alaskan Ironworker]

I have a Toklat and and a Raging bull, both are excellent weapons, but the Taurus cannot handle the really hot loads, (exceeding 300 grain bullet past around 1500 fps.) which is plenty anyway. Ive experienced loads hotter than this sticking brass in the cylynder of the Taurus. Ive loaded to the max with the ruger with no such issue. That doesnt mean the Taurus is a bad gun, just be aware of its limits. Im a big fan of the expansion chamber/porting on raging bulls and trackers, it almost completely mitigates muzzle flip. Part of that is also from the way the grips taper on the Taurus; they force you to take the highest possible grip, just takes some time to get used to that fat thing.

 

[cfullgraf]

If you can shoot a single action gun without discomfort, choose what suits you the best.

Most single action revolvers are not comfortable for me to shoot. Pachmayr grips make them comfortable for me but the rubber grips are not available for all grip frames or single action manufacturers.

I like my S&W X-frame 460XVR shooting full power loads. The heavy frame soaks up a bunch of the recoil. But, I have found a hot 45 Colt load for the 460 S&W Mag cases for plinking and getting used to the revolver.

I have a 45 Colt Redhawk which is overkill for the cartridge. I am sure a 454 version in the Redhawk would be a nice revolver.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have shot a BFR .454, and it was a real nice revolver. Definitely not a plinker for most of us when using .454 ammo, but yea, you could plink with .45 Colt in it.

Back in the early 1980's, I had a chance to shoot a 454 Casull single action revolver. Maybe a Freedom Arms if I remember correctly. Shooting it standing, it was the first revolver to roll me up on my heals under recoil.

Nice revolver but out of my comfort range at the time.

But, it showed me I could handle lots of recoil. When I bought the 460XVR, I was not afraid of the gun at all.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

Yeah, it does depend on the bullet no doubt. No my info certainly isn't scientific, just some penetration comparisons I've read. I know 454 does the job, but....................
Just never been a fan of the 454. Even more so for the 460 and 500 S&W Magnums. You might as well carry a short 45-70 rifle.

Me either, I've owned them all, actually still do and never use them. I'm actually a fan of the 480, or 475 over any of those.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

Of the ones the OP mentioned I like the Raging Bull. Nice guns and they tame the recoil the most. That said, if I want to shoot 454 equivalent loadings I prefer the 460XVR. Extremely nice gun and even more pleasant to shoot than the others.

 

[MaxP]

Flame cutting of the backstrap is going to be a primary concern if you actually use a lot of the hotter rounds.

Besides the 329PD (probably has more to do with the fact that the frame is aluminum), I am unaware of any currently produced big-bore revolvers that suffer the fate of flame cutting even when loaded hot. Probably the most famous “victim” of flame cutting was the the Ruger .357 Maximum, but this condition didn’t rear its head until light bullet/high velocity loads were used and even then, the erosion only went so far.

Pretty much all production .454s should be able to take a steady diet of real .454 loads without issue as far as flame cutting is concerned.

 

[CraigC]

For a dedicated hunting sixgun wearing optics, the Super Redhawk can't be beat. Unlike most other choices, you get to mount a scope or red dot and keep your irons.



And they tend to be extremely accurate.



The Ruger Bisley is a good choice as well but I would treat it like a five-shot .45Colt. Most factory .454 loads as well as most handloading data is at least 10,000psi below maximum and that's where I'd stay. I would go no further than Brian Pearce's "Redhawk only" .45Colt loads that are in the 50,000psi range. Do some tuning and fit some custom grips and you have a very capable sixgun. You could also save up for a used Freedom Arms. I got my Field Grade for the princely sum of $1500 with an auxiliary .45Colt cylinder.



No offense to the fans but I've tried and just can't warm up to the BFR. There are things about them I don't like and since they can't be converted to a Bisley I'm not going to bother. That said, I think they're very strong, very well made guns that are closer to FA's than Rugers and a real bargain on the current market. I don't like the round tube ejector housing, the screw-on front sight, the shape of the blocky triggerguard or the banana shaped grip frame. Plus they're only available in stainless steel and I've had all of that I can stand.

 

[MaxP]

For aThere are things about them I don't like and since they can't be converted to a Bisley I'm not going to bother.

You mean Ruger's iteration of the Bisley. Why would you want to put the inferior grip configuration on a BFR? I actually like not busting my middle knuckle on the trigger guard! I know you don't like the aesthetics, but if we Bash Bovines this year, I want you to shoot my .500 JRH loads in your custom Bisley, and my BFR in .500 JRH side-by-side, and tell me which one is friendlier on the shooter. Deal?

 

[CraigC]

It's their gun and they can call it what they want but what MRI calls a "Bisley" is nothing more than a modified Super Blackhawk pattern. It shares nothing in common with the Colt or Ruger Bisley. For me, the Ruger Bisley is the superior grip design. If it were an actual Bisley, I'd be on board. I've never had an issue with busting my knuckle so all the increased room behind the triggerguard of the BFR serves to do when in my hands is throw the balance too far forward. I don't mind the aesthetics, it's the feel I don't care for. It's the same problem I have with the XR3-RED grip frame. It's a minor nuance but an important one, to me.

 

[MaxP]

It's their gun and they can call it what they want but what MRI calls a "Bisley" is nothing more than a modified Super Blackhawk pattern. It shares nothing in common with the Colt or Ruger Bisley. For me, the Ruger Bisley is the superior grip design. If it were an actual Bisley, I'd be on board. I've never had an issue with busting my knuckle so all the increased room behind the triggerguard of the BFR serves to do when in my hands is throw the balance too far forward. I don't mind the aesthetics, it's the feel I don't care for. It's the same problem I have with the XR3-RED grip frame. It's a minor nuance but an important one, to me.

Will you take me up on my offer? No milquetoast loads, but the real deal bovine slaughtering stuff.

 

[MidRoad]

Will you take me up on my offer? No milquetoast loads, but the real deal bovine slaughtering stuff.

Video or it didn't happen!

 

[CraigC]

Of course.

 

[lionking]

BFR or Ruger Super Redhawk. The SRH is a great platform if a double-action is desired and they are generally quite good. The BFR is a fantastic piece all the way around. Here's my .454. I took this one to South Africa last year.

View attachment 835620

just saying.....

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...n-old-west-revolver-10-shot-challenge.848334/

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

For a dedicated hunting sixgun wearing optics, the Super Redhawk can't be beat. Unlike most other choices, you get to mount a scope or red dot and keep your irons.

View attachment 835757

And they tend to be extremely accurate.

View attachment 835758

The Ruger Bisley is a good choice as well but I would treat it like a five-shot .45Colt. Most factory .454 loads as well as most handloading data is at least 10,000psi below maximum and that's where I'd stay. I would go no further than Brian Pearce's "Redhawk only" .45Colt loads that are in the 50,000psi range. Do some tuning and fit some custom grips and you have a very capable sixgun. You could also save up for a used Freedom Arms. I got my Field Grade for the princely sum of $1500 with an auxiliary .45Colt cylinder.

View attachment 835759

No offense to the fans but I've tried and just can't warm up to the BFR. There are things about them I don't like and since they can't be converted to a Bisley I'm not going to bother. That said, I think they're very strong, very well made guns that are closer to FA's than Rugers and a real bargain on the current market. I don't like the round tube ejector housing, the screw-on front sight, the shape of the blocky triggerguard or the banana shaped grip frame. Plus they're only available in stainless steel and I've had all of that I can stand.

What does the extra Colt cylinder do for you when you can just load the rounds in the Casull cylinder?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a 45 Colt Redhawk which is overkill for the cartridge. I am sure a 454 version in the Redhawk would be a nice revolver.

Ruger doesn't make the Redhawk in 454, they do in the slightly larger and uglier Super Redhawk.

 

[MidRoad]

What does the extra Colt cylinder do for you when you can just load the rounds in the Casull cylinder?

I hear it's a BAD idea to shot 454 after you just shot a bunch of 45 colts through a cylinder for fear of excess pressure due to carbon and other build up. So have one of each you would t have to worry about cleaning that sucker good before firing 454 in it.

 

[KnightHawk]

Where do you guys come up with this nonsense??? I paid the princely sum of $500 for my Marlin 1895. With the Grizzly 405gr Punch load, there is no game on planet earth that cannot be hunted. Show me another dangerous game rifle for $500 that is also very well suited for anything from deer on up. The .30-30 is a deer cartridge that can be used for elk sized game if needed.

But a .460 in a revolver will handily outpace a standard pressure .45/70 rifle....it’s all that.

I reload so most of my 45-70 are tailored to what I need. I tend to forget that there are folks out there that buy off the shelf factory loads.

Yeah Max your right, but like Craig points out the versatility of the 45-70 makes it in my book. I am aware that the 460 is also versatile, being able to use lesser cartridges.
Anyway I see people buy the X frame guns, and I see lots of them for sale on the used market. With a claim "I only shot 10 rounds, like new". X frames are in more ways then one, a massive gun, and some people can handle them, and most can't when it comes down to it.
I am one that just would prefer a reasonable sized six gun, or a 36" 45-70 rifle. Or both.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

What does the extra Colt cylinder do for you when you can just load the rounds in the Casull cylinder?

Some shooters feel they get better accuracy without the additional jump from the shorter cartridge like the in the 38/357. They also don't like the carbon buildup in the cylinder in front of the shorter case.

Personally none of that bothers me.

 

[MaxP]

I reload so most of my 45-70 are tailored to what I need. I tend to forget that there are folks out there that buy off the shelf factory loads.

Yeah Max your right, but like Craig points out the versatility of the 45-70 makes it in my book. I am aware that the 460 is also versatile, being able to use lesser cartridges.
Anyway I see people buy the X frame guns, and I see lots of them for sale on the used market. With a claim "I only shot 10 rounds, like new". X frames are in more ways then one, a massive gun, and some people can handle them, and most can't when it comes down to it.
I am one that just would prefer a reasonable sized six gun, or a 36" 45-70 rifle. Or both.

Ah yes, but my chosen platform for both the .460 and .500 Smith & Wessons is the BFR......with a 7 1/2-inch barrel, we are getting significantly higher velocities than their X-frame counterparts with longer barrels. Also, they carry and point better at least for me.

Also, the versatility of the .460, in my opinion, lies in the fact that it can be loaded all the way up to 65,000 psi.

 

[MidRoad]

Some shooters feel they get better accuracy without the additional jump from the shorter cartridge like the in the 38/357. They also don't like the carbon buildup in the cylinder in front of the shorter case.

Personally none of that bothers me.

No but a pressure spike that could potential hurt you should

Edit: at least at 454 pressure.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

Ruger doesn't make the Redhawk in 454, they do in the slightly larger and uglier Super Redhawk.

I think he meant if they were to make it. The cylinder size between the Redhawk and super red are the same. Some makers have put the super Redhawk culinder in a Redhawk and have good results in fact I think a couple here have done that.