well-i'm gonna get one tomorrow. Iknow i should hold out for a FA IN 475 but its not in the buget right now.As of this moment i think i'm leaning for the 480, but not ruleing out a 454. Been reading all the posts from you guys,and opions are like paddys in a pasture, their all over. I like the thought of the 454, one post said it will reach out a little farther than the 480.I do reload, so thats not a factor.Just want the most versitle gun.

I believe the 480 will equal the 454 with bullets in the 300 grain range, but the 454 cannot equal the 480 with bullets over 400 grains.

Both cartridges are awesome performers and you will be pleased with whatever you decide. For a double action, it would be the futuristic looking Super Redhawk. However, as with any mass production item, you need to cross your fingers and hope for the best. Some perform very well out of the box while others require a little fine-tuning. For a single action, it would definitely be a Freedom Arms. It should be near perfect in performance out of the box. However, make sure you order a factory action job when you order your FA. I think it was around $80 and it is well worth it. If it were me, I would stop eating breakfast and lunch for a while to save up for the Freedom Arms. I think every serious hand-gunner should at least own one or two Freedom Arms revolvers. Good luck. Cheers! Ming

You got to get what you like. Me personally I would get the .480 because it is right in the middle between the .44 and the .454. The .44 is adequate for most North American game but I wouldn't want to take it up against a big griz' or Alaska brown bear. The 480 would just give you that little bit more without killing your hand. My personal opinion is the Super Redhawk, but that is mostly because I just don't care for single actions. I have heard stories about poor shooting SRHs but I have never met one myself. I know and have shot 5 other SRHs besides the one that I have. Of course with my limited experience I probably wouldn't know a good revolver if it hit me on the head. Slim

I've had a FA .454 w/ 7.5" bbl for the last 6 years. I've taken deer from 25 feet to just over 100 yds with it. None have moved more than 10 yds from point of impact. The majority have dropped in their tracks.
I reload for this fine handgun. I'm getting 100yd groups of 3.5" and 50yd groups of 1.25" all with iron sights.
The fit and finish of this gun is amazing. If you're thinking of getting one, save your pennies it will be well worth the effort.

I don't own a 44 Special or a 45 LC. Why, I own the 44 Mag and the 454 Casull. I like to be able to load up full power loads for hunting and down load for plinking. If it was me and I'm thinking of getting a new toy, it's going to be the FA in 475 Linebaugh. I like having the best of both worlds.

Okay guys I have to jump in this,and give my two cents.

I own a couple of S&W 44mags and Performance Center 44Mag plus a BlackHawk 45Colt with the 45Acp cylinder.

I bought a FA 475 5 months ago and I guess the best thing I can say is (WOW).It took me awhile to think that I needed to spend that amount off money on a FA but once you do and you get to shoot it for a while you will fall in love.The fit and finnish on these guns are the best.Get the action job and the porting(just my opion)good sights and you are ready to go.

You are going to spend $600 on the the Ruger you might get a good one you might not,I bougt my FA for $1300 and I am looking to buy another one.So I agree save your money,work overtime,do what ever it takes to get the FA you will not ever be sorry,unless your wife leaves you.They say that Freedom Arms is the worlds finest revolver and they aint lying.

Well, as one guy said, you can never have to many guns .I thought about waiting & saving for a f.a. and said to myself- yep,-- good idea, but later.Like Ming said everybody ought to own one once in thier life, and i'm gonna get one, in a 475 ported with a action job. But right now i got a 480 ruger. So far i love it-a pussy cat. The recoils not bad at all with some factory loads. I put em in a tight circle at 25 yards standing against a tree.

whoops got a double post. Hey Ming, I read on another post that you got some decelerator grips for your redhawk. How do you like them? Also I'll be looking for some dies, i thought i read on some post that somebody got either redding or hornady dies.Just wonder which are better. Thanks

Redding has always been considered the best with Forester a close second. For half the price you can get the New Dimensions from Hornady. I am a firm believer of you get what you pay for. Slim

Hey Kevin,

I got a Decelerator grip on my SRH for a while but took it off just recently. While the material feels very good but the grip is not tightly fit to the grip frame and it is a little larger than the stock grip. I just wish they would make one using the stock pattern.

As for dies for your 480, I would get a Hornady seating die and an expander die and then a Lee sizing die. For some reason, the Lee sizing die sizes the case tighter which gives the best neck tension. I don't even crimp my 475 Linebaugh ammo because it has enough neck tension to hold the bullet firmly under heavy recoil. Good luck. Cheers! Ming