I can get a good deal on a new Taurus Raging Bull in 480. I like the idea of the 480. More power than the 44 but not as brutal as the 454. What do you think? Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the forum teacherboy. Rules are simple, be nice and join in.

I've never shot a 480. Spent lots of years behind a 44 mag hunting and plinking metal targets. I've used Smiths, Rugers and the two guns I own now are Taurus products. I shoot a 41 mag tracker and have a model 85 Ultra-light carry gun. Both are great and the Taurus warrentee is also good.

The 480 looks like a good hunting round though I doubt it'll do anything the good old 44 mag wouldn't. I'd sure look at some of Marshall's cast bullets for it if your going to hunt with it.

I've killed a bunch of black bear and a pile of deer with the 44 mag and sure like a Kieth style hard cast lead bullet.

If you've not used one of these big guns I'd advise you get a shoulder or bandolier holster. There darn near impossible to carry in a belt holster.

I can get a good deal on a new Taurus Raging Bull in 480. I like the idea of the 480. More power than the 44 but not as brutal as the 454. What do you think? Thanks in advance.


I will echo the words of our Moderator on the 480 Ruger. I too was looking very hard at purchasing one a few months back. I also have a model 29 Smith & Wesson and have taken several deer wtih the pistol up close in the woods. On the advice of a couple of my friends and my dotcor I backed away sadly. My hand will not take any more recoil than the .44 mag dishes out these days. I know that those Taurus handguns are very good quality. Good Luck! ;)

Welcome teacherboy!

I have a few questions for you. What are you planning on doing with your new handgun, i.e. handgun hunting, target shooting, etc.? Probably more important, what experience do you have with harder recoiling big bore handguns?

The reason for this last question is that I think anyone can learn to shoot a .44 mag handgun very well, but it isn't the place to start. Likewise, anyone who really enjoys shooting a .44 mag can probably transition to a more powerful, harder recoiling round like the .480 Ruger, .454 Casull, 500 S&W, etc., but those definitely aren't the place to start.

The .44 mag is my favorite big bore revolver round. Other than .45 ACPs in semiautos, I have more handguns chambered in .44 mag than any other caliber. I also have a Raging Bull in .454, and a 500 S&W. They all have their good points and not so good points. I think that, in general, the .44 mag should adequately handle the needs for most handgun hunters and target shooters. It's also alot more economical to shoot, particularly if you don't hand load. The recoil level isn't that bad for most shooters either. Once you get really comfortable with the .44 mag, then you'll be ready to move up to the next level. IMO.

The cost of ammo is another consideration. Ammo for the .44 mag is readily available, and ususally not too expensive, so that makes it easy to do alot more shooting. Practice is the key to getting comfortable with any gun. Going the next step up in power, .454 ammo isn't usually too hard to find, and usually not too expensive. Ammo for the .480 Ruger and 500 S&W is a different matter. These aren't as easy to find, and usually cost alot more when you do find them. Handloading will really be a necessity for these.

Probably the best thing would be to try to find someone in you area who has some of the guns you're considering, and actually try shooting some of them before you buy. Around here, there are a few shooting ranges that will rent guns for you to try also.

I don't have a .480, so I really can't comment on it. I like my .454 Raging Bull and 500 S&W, but I shoot my .44's alot more. My 8" Dan Wesson 744VH is my favorite handgun hunting rig. It has a great trigger and balances very well in hand. If I wanted something more powerful than that, I'd recommend trying a .454 Raging Bull before making a decision. It's also a very good gun, and not that hard to shoot well. The 500 S&W isn't really any harder to shoot well than the .454, but it's bigger and heavier, and doesn't balance as well as the Raging Bull. For most of the type shooting I do, I really don't need the additional power either. FWIW.

Thanks Gunslinger. I bought it on saturday. I started out with a 686/357 about 15 years ago and sold it and bought a 308 Savage Striker. I wanted a wheel gun again and a great opportunity came up and I got a 629 classic DX but sold it to purchase the 480. I love shooting handguns. I feel much more comfortable with them. My main use is hunting and then pleasure shooting. You're probably laughing and thinking who would shoot a 480 for pleasure but it has no more recoil than my 44 did. Must be the porting. The real fun is the Striker. I shoot it way better than my Tikka T3 270wsm and that is an accurate rifle. I have a hard time with recoil from the bench with rifles and slug guns. I tolerate the pistol recoil far better. I can't tell you why it's just the way it works for me. Thanks for your help.Welcome teacherboy!

I have a few questions for you. What are you planning on doing with your new handgun, i.e. handgun hunting, target shooting, etc.? Probably more important, what experience do you have with harder recoiling big bore handguns?

The reason for this last question is that I think anyone can learn to shoot a .44 mag handgun very well, but it isn't the place to start. Likewise, anyone who really enjoys shooting a .44 mag can probably transition to a more powerful, harder recoiling round like the .480 Ruger, .454 Casull, 500 S&W, etc., but those definitely aren't the place to start.

The .44 mag is my favorite big bore revolver round. Other than .45 ACPs in semiautos, I have more handguns chambered in .44 mag than any other caliber. I also have a Raging Bull in .454, and a 500 S&W. They all have their good points and not so good points. I think that, in general, the .44 mag should adequately handle the needs for most handgun hunters and target shooters. It's also alot more economical to shoot, particularly if you don't hand load. The recoil level isn't that bad for most shooters either. Once you get really comfortable with the .44 mag, then you'll be ready to move up to the next level. IMO.

The cost of ammo is another consideration. Ammo for the .44 mag is readily available, and ususally not too expensive, so that makes it easy to do alot more shooting. Practice is the key to getting comfortable with any gun. Going the next step up in power, .454 ammo isn't usually too hard to find, and usually not too expensive. Ammo for the .480 Ruger and 500 S&W is a different matter. These aren't as easy to find, and usually cost alot more when you do find them. Handloading will really be a necessity for these.

Probably the best thing would be to try to find someone in you area who has some of the guns you're considering, and actually try shooting some of them before you buy. Around here, there are a few shooting ranges that will rent guns for you to try also.

I don't have a .480, so I really can't comment on it. I like my .454 Raging Bull and 500 S&W, but I shoot my .44's alot more. My 8" Dan Wesson 744VH is my favorite handgun hunting rig. It has a great trigger and balances very well in hand. If I wanted something more powerful than that, I'd recommend trying a .454 Raging Bull before making a decision. It's also a very good gun, and not that hard to shoot well. The 500 S&W isn't really any harder to shoot well than the .454, but it's bigger and heavier, and doesn't balance as well as the Raging Bull. For most of the type shooting I do, I really don't need the additional power either. FWIW.

I can get a good deal on a new Taurus Raging Bull in 480. I like the idea of the 480. More power than the 44 but not as brutal as the 454. What do you think? Thanks in advance.

teacherboy

Personally I would go with the 454 Raging Bull simply because you can get the extra cylinder and use .45 Colt loads this is highly recomended because of flame cutting in the cylinders by the shorter .45 Colt cases. The same thing happens in .357 magnums using 38 Spl loads. Some just clean and scrub real good using one cylinder. Anyway, get a new Taurus and they also pay for a years membership either new or renewed to the NRA, which makes a nice $35.00 deal for ya that you don't have to fork out.

But like others have stated, unless your into reloading the .480 and or a 500 is very costly. Its your pocket book, you do what you want.

I just posted this on another thread but figured it applied here too. See http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot28.htm about using the 255-gr SWC in 45 Colt, Elmer Keith wasn't foolin when he endorsed the use of these.

Marshall sells em too.

Read this artical written by J. Marshall Stanton Handgun Hunting Loads-A Critical View (http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/index.htm)

YMMV :D