I'm having a really hard time figuring out how much performance the 454 has over the 480.
Now that the 480 has been out a while, it seems handloaders can match heavy bullet velocities with another 50g over the 454, but with the lighter weights the 454 is much faster.
Is that about right?
So if you're planning on 300-350g the 454 is ahead, but over 400g and the 480 beats it.
I'm looking at the Raging Bull, and to make matters more complicated, it seems the 454 seems best in the longest barrel possible, if nothing else than to reduce report. The little 5" 480 might perform well enough to be considered for an easy-enough carry monster while the same in 454 would blow your muffs off even if you had them on.
Also, a bit wierd, the 8.75" lists as 63 oz, the 6.5" as 53, and the 5" as 51 oz.
Why so much weightloss from the first 1 3/4", and so little for the next 1.5"?

Any one have any input that might help me make this decision?
Seems they're both good for the purpose - occasional deer/elk and (?) hunting, mostly range fun and some backwoods bear pro. This makes me think 300g, maybe 350.
Thanks.

Buy both and then keep the one you like most!!!

I did a quick scan for load data from the powder Manufactor's and the only one the shows data for the 480 is Hogdon? And when you compare the two the 454 Casull wins hands down in the lighter bullet weights and as no one has data for 325gr and up for the 454 Casull other then Buffalo Bore -and they don't give data. Yes over 400 gr the 480 does have better numbers , but that is what it was built for as is the S&W 50! For bullets from 240-370 gr the 454 Casull is King and IMO what more do you need !

Hi Bwana,
I have both in SRH -7 1/2" Bll
The 480 will shoot a 305gr KTGC cast bullet 1600+ fps.
The 454 will shoot 300gr WFNGC 1600+ fps.
The 454 will shoot 395gr WFNGC 1350 fps Max in my SRH.
The 480 shoots a 400gr WFNGC 1300 fps MAX
Above 400+/- the 480 wins in my SRH'
If you have shot magnums before and dont mind recoil, buy the SW 500 a lot more power than both the 454 or 480 and more recoil ,really it depends on what caliber YOU like .I like 475 (see name)but if you like 454 or 500 all are very powerful.
Sean

I don't have a 480 but I have shot my 8" SS 454RB a lot. It likes Jacked bullets and will lead badly with cast bullets. The muzzle break helps with recoil and I like the double lockup (front and rear of the cylinder). So far I had taken 1 Deer about 30yrds with the Raging Bull. I was using Hornady XPT-Mag bullets 240 or 250gr at 1600fps I got no expansion with the Mag bullets and had to track the deer for about 200yrds (luckily it had snowed the night before). Good luck with your dilemma life is to short just buy both.

Swede44mag

Don't forget the .480 has an advantage in frontal area also. I have been going back and forth between the two-- and have decided the .480 is my choice.

Sean, that's the kinda help I DON"T need!
You're right, it is a win/win sort of proposition.
But there are tradeoffs.
I'm really loking at the Ragin Bull, since I do know how it shoots the 454's, and it is not painful. I've heard the opposite about SRH from those who've owned both, but I've also heard from those who "don't mind" the recoil from the SRH. I have yet to hear anyone say the RB was painful, nor that the SRH was a pleasure.
So, what I'm trying to calculate is the tradeoff of powderburn (blast and flash) vs bullet weight vs barrel length.
The slightly larger powder charges of the 454 dictate a longer barrel, but the higher velocities allow for a shorter barrel. The more I think on it, the 300g 454 at 1500-1600 fps from a 6.5" bbl in a 52 oz gun seem like a good set of compromises for a pocket cannon out in the forest.

I think you should take a step back and figure out exactly what your application is, then see which round fits that better. Both rounds develop for all intents and purposes, the same level of power. Where the 454 excels is higher velocities. You shouldn�t compare the same weight bullets in each gun, you should be comparing bullets with the same sd, and when you do that, you�ll see the 454 has ~200 fps advantage.

The real question is, are you trying to stretch the range a revolver can be used at, or are you looking for a closer range hammer? If I was looking to hunt with long barreled scoped revolver, then hands down I�d get a 9 �� 454 and top it with a good 2-7 variable scope. With 300 gr bullets ~2000 fps, you�d have an honest 175 yd gun. You�d also have the advantage of lots of factory ammo choices.

Personally, I want an iron sighted sixgun that I feel confident to use against a moose out to 50 yds, 75 if everything was just right, and also as defense against our over grown ground squirells. In that case, the 400 gr @ 1200 fps in .475� bore is the answer for me. I could load hotter if I wanted, but haven�t found need to. Maybe when I get my chrony fixed I�ll see how fast I can push the 400 gr longnose bullets out of curiosity, maybe not.

As far as the recoil handling of the SRH, it is a personal thing, folks hands vary. Getting your second knuckle smashed is a given with full loads until you learn how to hold the gun. You could put a hogue grip on to prevent the knuckle smash, but you�ll get a lot more barrel flip. I personally don�t care for the flip caused by a grip that forces your hand lower on the gun. Also, the 454�s recoil is much snappier than the 480�s due to higher powder charges.

Ditto what PaulH said. The 454 is a better choice for someone who does not handload. It has more ammo choices. It also has more commerical bullets available to reload. The 480 is a little harder to feed. The frontal are is just great on this animal. The 480 is not a weak gun like some like to say. The 454 recoil is a faster and snapper recoil.

It is the old theory of speed vs bullet weight.

Both are cool


Hcliff

I have the Raging Bull in 454 and except for a small flirtation with Jacketed, I shoot cast exclusivly with it. It do not get any leading and the accuracy is acceptable. I'm shooting 330-350gn cast at 1350. I could go faster, but that is the velocity that turns in the best accuracy in my gun so I stayed there. The recoil is not bad at all. If they would have had the 480 when I bought mine, I might have gotten it, but I won't trade this one off. It shoots good and I like it.

heres my take on it. If your going to use jacketed bullets the .454 has a slight edge because velocity will help. If your going to shoot cast velocities over 1300 fps can actually be counterproductive. Best penetration weve got is at around 1200-1300 fps and at those speeds id take the .480 anyday. You can shoot a heavier bullet and a bigger diameter bullet. Personally I dont have either but have alot of .45s and have a .475 and have seen what a good cast bullet at those speeds can do and have no use for a jacketed bullet. If faced with something that could bite back id much rather have a 400 grain .475 bullet at 1100 to 1200 fps then a jacketed .45 bullet at any speed and if you take out dangerous game and talk deer and black bear you wont kill then any deader or faster with either choise. I like the .480 alot of my .475 loads are in that range. I dont have any use for a .454 theres nothing it will do that i cant do with a ruger .45 with alot less recoil and noise. Just my opinion

I agree with Lar45, The recoil on my Raging Bull 454 is not bad at all. I have the 8 3/8" bbl. I get very good accuracy with Hornady 300 grain XTP's over 29.0 Gr H110.