Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 454 Casull or S&W 500

thinking about getting large bore for hunting various critters hogs, deer, what ever else pops its tiny little head up. I have owned 357s, but not sure they are heavy enough. used a friends 44 super redhawk enjoyed shooting it, posible choice! I have also put two rounds thru a desert eagle 50 was not to happy with the recoil (never was an option for hunting) are those two choices (454, 500) going to feel like the desert eagle, and will porting help relieve some?

would like something I can put a scope on realy liked the looks of the S&W 500 hunter w 10 1/2" barrel

I've not shot a DE .50 AE but by design it should soak up more recoil than a revolver in either caliber you listed. For the purpose you listed I would think a .44 Mag would suffice and also offer the opportunity to use .44 Special ammo as well when you didn't need/want the full rip and snort of the Magnum. Of course a .454 could take advantage of .45 Colt offerings similarly.
These bigger bore rounds do interest me but I'm staying with my .44, like I said it has done and will do everything you said you wanted this gun for. Of course if you want one of these bigger guns let nothing stand in your way. Sean

Kmoore, First off if you shot the 50 ae in a desert eagle and you didn't like the recoil it will only get WORSE in a revolver. The 44 mag is a great cartridge capable of anything that walks the planet. It has been done already so it shows its prowness very well.

Now if want is another matter than who am I to stop you. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. I love that want thing <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> you can get anything for no reason at all. But for deer hogs and such a 44 mag will be great.

Oh one more thought is, if you handload the 45 colt is another fantastic round to consider. Also in the future you can send in a SA 44 or 45 colt to a custom gun maker and have them put on a beefier 5 shot cylinder and it puts you in the 454 casull range.

Anothe option is if you want to spend the money since you didn't say how much you want to spend is get a 454 casull freedom arms and get a second cylinder for the 45 colt then you have the best of both worlds.

So there you go and good luck

Brian

Kmoore - of course, you are aware that the .500 S&W revolver is considerably larger and heavier than the Freedom Arms revolvers and the Ruger single-actions, right? It weighs about 4.5lbs. It'll soak up some of that recoil, and of course, will be more of a bother to carry in the field.

Unfortunately, I haven't fired the .500, but I HAVE shot .454 out of the Freedom Arms revolver. 'Tweren't much fun for me or it's owner, who is a LEA firearms instructor and a fan of big bores. 'Course, you could get the taurus Raging Bull in .454 and it will be much more manageable (and heavy).

My thoughts are these:

4.5lbs ain't that bad for a hunting pistol you will likely carry in a bandolier holster. If you like the idea of having the "latest and greatest", get the .500 S&W. You can shoot the lighter loads, which are reported to be fairly comfortable to shoot.

OTOH, there's nothing in California you can't handle with the .44mag or .45lc. If you dn't already have a big-bore handgun, you might consider moving up two notches from .357mag (skipping .41mag) instead of three or four. It'll be a whole lot easier on your bank account, anyway.

If you do get the .500, be sure to report about it here. I wanna hear from a few owners before I decide whether to get one myself! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

BTW - I grew up in Napa. Graduated in '75. Any chance I might know you (or your parents <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />)?

I forgot - Ruger chambers .454 in the Super Redhawk also. It is also a fairly heavy handgun - and yes, porting does make a difference. Unfortunately, I have not had the chance to shoot any of these big boomers in heavier guns - only "normal sized" ones. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Do you have an indoor range in your area that rents guns, so you can compare?

-FreeMe

Considering that you seem to not like recoil that much (few do <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />) I would buy any of the excellent .44 mags and not look back. They will handle anything you want to handle and can be loaded down to the pussycat level easily.

I've had the Super Blackhawk 44, Redhawk 44, and now the Super Redhawk 454, unported. From a recoil standpoint, if you are comfortable with the 44s I doubt you will mind the Ruger 454.



Friends like to try the 454, several have shot mine and everyone says they expected it to be worse. I am using midrange loads and it just isn't that bad. My daughter at about 120 pounds enjoys shooting it, although it always gives her a half step backwards off her stance.



I've never loaded heavy loads so I can't comment on what it might be like. You have a wide loading spectrum with the 454, from mild 45LC to heavy 454.



If you look down thru the classifieds you will see I have the 454 for sale. I bought it for hunting a couple of years ago and never used it. Doubt that will change in the future, eyes don't allow me to focus on the sights anymore and I don't want to use a scope.



If I ever bring myself to accepting a scope on a handgun I think I will try the Magnum Research BFR in 45-70. Now thats a handgun!

what about a 480? mine is a ruger srh w/ 7.5" barrel, unported, 2x20 nikon scope. recoil is heavy, but not at all untolerable. the kick isn't sharp at all, just a steady pushing of the gun upwards.



i went 480 because i didn't want a 44, but thought the recoil of a 454 would be abit more than i cared for. anyway, i am happy w/ my gun. just thought you might want another cartridge to consider.



oh... the 500 smith... the gun is just too danged heavy for me. i think an average mountain rifle would be quicker to get into action, and steadier to get on point. a light mountain rifle would weigh about the same, it seems. those smiths are heavy!

I personally like the .454.Mine is the Raging Bull and I don't think the recoil is bad at all.My wife and son also shoot it but it is about as heavy as I would want to pack around in a shoulder holster.Best of luck on your choice and I am just learning on the picture thing.Jayco

I would also recommend a .44 Magnum. I can tell a big difference in full powered loads in the Ruger SRH in .454 Casull compared to my SRH in .44 Magnum. I also have a 5 1/2" barreled Super Blackhawk in .44 Magnum. With full powered 300g loads it will whack you pretty good too. I have also shot the Freedom Arms 454 Casull with some really hot loads and the word brutal comes to mind. If you think a Desert Eagle kicks you will really think a .454 Casull kicks. I have only seen the .500 S&W so I cannot comment on it. I've shot the Raging Bull in .44 Magnum and it was considerably more comfortable to shoot that my SRH in .44 Magnum. I would imagine the .454 Casull Raging Bull would be more pleasant than the 454 SRH.

A benefit the .454 has is that it can shoot .45 Colt loads. And if the platform is a double action revolver with a swing out cylinder you can also shoot .45 ACPs with the use of the moon clips. This results in super cheap practice ammo.

Single actions with loading gates will need a different cylinder (ala the Ruger "convertible" models) to accomindate the ACP needing to headspace on the mouth as the moon clips can't be used.

Of course with the .500 Smith you'll have the "biggest handgun" bragging rights <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> With the .500 S&W you'll either need to reload for it or have very deep pockets. The .500 S&Ws I've seen were all ported, although perhaps the ones BFR is making are not ported. You'll only shoot a ported gun without hearing protection once. For a hunting gun I personally prefer to have no porting or muzzle brakes.

Reason for the Raging bulls being more user friendly is that they are ported at the factory.

Agreed - I just don't care for the extra noise and blast of a ported handgun.

& The Raging Bull is just plain ole ugly <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> When compared to the SRH ... and neither compare to the FA (IMHO). I own a SRH and do like the looks and feel to it, but I wish Ruger would have made it a 5 shot, single action. I don't see the reasoning for a .454 in DA (quick follow-up?). If Ruger would have made it a 5-shot, the cylinders would have to be made from that damn springy steel (SS) that like to hold on to my spent casings.

I'd get what whets your appetite. All of the big bores can be loaded light. 44 mag and 44 spl., 454 and 45
Colt, 475 Freedom Arms can have a 480 Ruger cyl., S&W 500 is already loaded light by at least one ammo mfg.

I want a 500 S&W. Do I need one? Heck NO! I have a .454 FA. Do I enjoy shooting 454s? Heck NO! But....

No less of an expert than John Linebaugh says a 45Colt will do most of what ever needs to be done, but he makes the big ones cause fools like me enjoy owning them.