Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 454 Casull

I am looking to buy a 454 Casull. Anyone with experience with them I have a few questions.
Price has doubled since my last wish to own one in 2000. My number one choice is of course Freedom Arms Revolver. Barrel length most likely 7.5". Field grade due to current day values.
I would like it as pack gun hunting in AK.
Has any one found the Ruger Alaskan to be a good option for a pack gun?
What about the Ruger Bisley Single action?
Any info from people with these handguns would be appreciated.

Bob

I've owned several premier grade FA 83's in 454 - (3) 7.5" and (1) 10". The one I currently own started at 7.5" and I had FA cut it back to 6" and I like that better than the longer barrels. Can't speak to the Ruger Alaskan, but I'd take the 5 shot Bisley 480 Ruger over any of the 454's. I have the Bisley 480 in both barrel lengths and prefer the 4-5/8" over the 6.5"...

I had an Alaskan in .454.. Sold it about three months ago - and somebody REALLY wanted it.. I just have one .454 left - a SBH 7.5" in Target Gray.. Only fired it probably 20 times, total.. Those are rock-solid handguns though...

If cost is a concern I’d be looking for a River Toklat, 5” Super Redhawk. They’re more portable than the longer SRHs but more shootable than the Alaskan. If you really want an FA I’d suggest a 5.5” over the 7.5” just for more comfortable and convenient holster carry. Another good option and likely the one I’d end up with in reality is a chopped Bisley. I’d cut it to 5” or so if they don’t offer one in that length or close too it, same as I did my 44 Bisley Hunter.

eurosport,

FWIW, I currently own a FA .454 Casull, and in the past, have owned several others, in various barrel lengths. The one I still have was built to custom specs, with a 10" octagon barrel, MagNaPorted, with trigger work and sling swivels. It is a superbly accurate handgun, and with it I have taken a number of deer and hogs.
My only complaint about the .454 is its very sharp, some might say violent, recoil, with full-power loads. Over the years, I have gone to loading the .454 down to more reasonable velocity levels, which helps with the recoil, and as far as I can see, no great difference in terminal results on game.
More recently, I have acquired two Ruger revolvers in .480 Ruger, one a Super Redhawk with 7.5" barrel, the other a Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley with 4 5/8" barrel. I load for both, using heavy, cast bullets from Cast Performance, at MV's around 1100 fps. The recoil from these revolvers is much more manageable than from the Casull with full power loads, mostly because of the much lower operating pressures of the Ruger loads.
Terminal performance has only been tested on a buffalo, no recovered bullet because of complete passthrough.
I will continue to use the FA .454 on deer-size game, but for anything bigger, the Rugers will always see use from now on. Hope this info helps.

Bob,
I own a couple of the Ruger 454 Casull in the short barrel length, I think 1 1/2 inch!
Love to carry it, where ever I'm packing back in.
Wouldn't trade it for the World!
Gave one to my oldest Son, who Bow hunts a lot!
I like the Cordura nylon holster, I think, Uncle Mikes!
I love leather, but it squeaks and does funny things when wet!

I had a BFR Casull with a 6.5” barrel. It balanced well and liked the way it shot with +P .45 Colt loads but it was a handful with full load Casull rounds. I sold it to a friend last year because it was too heavy to carry for my liking.

My .454 FA field grade has the 6" barrel with the factory Magnaports. I don't think I'd like a longer barrel. Full house loads are quite sharp recoiling and you probably won't want to be plinking with those. .45 + p loads are accurate and not bad at all recoil wise once you are used to the max loads.

With all your advice I have made a decision to go with Ruger Super Blackhawk. I have a Stainless Steel one in 44mag with 7.5” bbl. I like it and very accurate. I will go with the Bisley SBH 4.62 bbl in 454 or 480 Ruger. I had a Taurus Raging Bull in 480 Ruger. That was a very large handgun manufactured by a lousy company with zero customer support. That was the first and last Taurus I will ever own.
I have some 480 ammo laying around for 20 years maybe I will get to shoot it someday soon.
I actually found a 480 Bisley on an online auction last night. 6.5” bbl but I can have that changed if I choose. Wish me luck. [img]http://[/img]

If you are going Alaskan (as in the 2.5" barrel) you are better off with the 480. Why? because the Casull's higher velocity is handicapped with the shorter barrel whereas the 480's bigger "hole" offsets the velocity loss a bit. Not to mention recoil is less. I have a FA 454 with the 6.5" (?) barrel and the Alaskan in 480.

I haven’t really considered the Alaskan But in 480 that would be a much more carry friendly weapon than a shortened SBH. I’ll give this option serious thought

Bob

I find my Ruger SBH 4 5/8 barreled .480 to be a near perfect balance of ample power, balance, manageable recoil, and ease of carry, in a big-bore handgun.
Problem is, these are as scarce as hen's teeth! After months of searching, I found one for sale at a gun shop back east, at a decent price, and had it shipped to my local GS. Here's a pic of mine, with a rear aperture sight installed, which really makes for rapid sight acquisition.

I own several FA 83s in 454 7 1/2," a 6" and my favorite a 4 3/4"

Bisley .480 Ruger in 4.62" (favorite) or 6.5".

Superb.

330-400gn WFN or LFN or 330gn solid copper at 1100-1200fps is all you need.

No benefit in overloading this cartridge.

That is the hen's tooth I am searching for.. Beautiful hand cannon. I will find one eventually.

Bob

If I ever moved back to Alaska I would be content with my BFR 500 JRH with its 5.5 inch barrel. I owned many revolvers in calibers above 44 mag…..45 Colt, 454 Casull, 480, 475 Linebaugh, 500 JRH and 500 S&W….. Made by Ruger, BFR, FA, and S&W. The latest Bisley BFR is what I would want.

I have lightly used versions in both barrel lengths and another 4.62" new in box that I'd part with if you're interested...

Cool rig, been wanting one for awile.

Price?

$900 from me to your FFL. If I have to ship through an FFL to yours, I may need to adjust if costs go up.