I have shot with a friend Freedom arms in .454 Casull, it is a nice handgun (for me the best over the best). But I hesitate between the .454 Casull and the .475 Linebaugh, This handgun 'll be a back-up and sometimes hunting, I hunt in africa with a rifle (.416 Rigby) and I want a second weapon for "a problem with a dangerous game" like fishing in Alaska in the bear country. What's the best option ?Is there a real difference between the .454 Casull and the .475 Linebaugh ?
I have not shoot with the .475 Linebaugh, I want shoot with only one hand.

quote:

Originally posted by Alain:
I have shot with a friend Freedom arms in .454 Casull, it is a nice handgun (for me the best over the best). But I hesitate between the .454 Casull and the .475 Linebaugh, This handgun 'll be a back-up and sometimes hunting, I hunt in africa with a rifle (.416 Rigby) and I want a second weapon for "a problem with a dangerous game" like fishing in Alaska in the bear country. What's the best option ?Is there a real difference between the .454 Casull and the .475 Linebaugh ?
I have not shoot with the .475 Linebaugh, I want shoot with only one hand.

Your last sentence answers your question with no opening for debate, 454......... You certainly won't enjoy shooting full power 475 420 grain bullets one handed

Shooting the 454 one-handed ain't no cake walk either. I would rather have a medium-power loaded 475 with the 375gr hard cast which would be a better protection round than a heavy loaded 454. Easier to shoot and way more thump. If you really do need to use it to save your bacon do you think you will remember the slap to your hand? Did'nt think so.

Forget the slap to your hand,try keeping it in your hand..........

Yes exactly, in Belgium is difficult to have ammunition in .475 Linebaugh, for shooting with one hand is better with a "reduced loads" I'm aware.
But I have read that some hunters have killed elephants, hippo. and buffalo with the .454 Casull like .475 Linebaugh.
I don't know if these animals feel a difference between the .454 and the .475 bores.
Thanks.

The 454 with a 360 grain WLFN at about 1400 fps is a very effective load on Large game and is quite shoot able. I had the very first 475 that Hamilton Bowen built and have not been with out one since and curently own 3 of them, with that beening said I am quite aware of what they are capable of and in terms of pure power and wound channel size they are highr on the food chain than than 454 by just a bit,but the 454 is a very cqapable cartridge and would serve your purpose very well as it will be more shootable in tht senario that you descibed

I own Freedom Arms revolvers chambered for both cartridges. Either can be loaded to the point they are no fun whatsoever to shoot. I prefer my .475 or .500 Linebaugh loaded with a moderate heavy bullet load these days as the whitetails are not too tough aoound my neck of the woods. When I get back to Africa, one or both of the Linebaughs will be heavily loaded with big bullets. I gues I concur with Finn Aagard about choosing the bigger club. I'm not knocking the .454 by any means, I just prefer the larger calibers.

MS Hitman, do you have the latest penetration results from the Linebaugh seminar? If so could you post them?
Thanks

All I have are the Jackson results and I still need to input them into a spreadsheet. I'll let you know when it's ready.

[I have not shoot with the .475 Linebaugh, I want shoot with only one hand.[/QUOTE]

IMO ,you probably will NOT notice the recoil of the 475 if you shoot at an animal.
I shot a Cape Bushbuck with my Reeder 475 Linebaugh Maximum ( 400gr WFNGC at 1500) one handed and NOT by design. We were hunting on top of a dam overlooking a 3-5 acre pond at dusk, we were expecting/hoping a bushbuck would come to drink at dusk on the other side of the pond ( 140-180 yds out)I had a TC Encore 375 GNR(45-70 necked down to 375) with me and the 475 Max on my belt.
The PH heard a noise behind us and when I saw him turn to look I looked also and there was a bushbuck walking below us ( backside of dam).I sloooly pulled the gun out and turned and shot one handed.I did not really feel the recoil.
I will post a picture in just a little while.
S.A Bushbuck
Sean

Nice animal and good shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by popenmann:
Nice animal and good shooting.

Hi Dan
, shot was all of 15 yds down the dam.That picture was taken on top of the dam.

Sean

I thought I read that there are some issues with taking unscoped pistols to SA now? Or is that depended on who is greeting you at Customs?

I think that was after I got back from S.A


Sean

Very nice busbuck 475/480.
Do you prefer the Freedom arms or the customs from Linebaugh or H.Bowen,... in .475 Linebaugh ?
Do you think that the .454 will do the same job ?

quote:

Originally posted by Alain:
Very nice busbuck 475/480.
Do you prefer the Freedom arms or the customs from Linebaugh or H.Bowen,... in .475 Linebaugh ?
Do you think that the .454 will do the same job ?

The Freedom Arms is a great gun I had a FA 475 but sold it so I could afford a 475 Linebaugh Maximum.I always wanted a 475 Max so I sold the FA to get it,also the Max has little more power in case I ever get a chance to hunt Cape Buff or larger.
I prefer 475 cal over anything.
The 454 is a good caliber but can not do the same job ,generaly the bullet is smaller (dia) and lighter (weight).

Sean

quote:

Originally posted by Alain:
Very nice busbuck 475/480.
Do you prefer the Freedom arms or the customs from Linebaugh or H.Bowen,... in .475 Linebaugh ?
Do you think that the .454 will do the same job ?

There are absolutely no flies on any thing that comes from Freedom Arms. They are possibly the best factory made firearms ever.. But I prefer customs using the Ruger Bisley as the foundation. Mainly because the grip fits my hand better and I find it more comfortable under recoil.

For a .475 Linebaugh I would choose the custom mainly due the larger and longer cylinder that the big Ruger frame has. The longer cylinder will allow you to use bullets with a longer nose length and less of the bullet in the case. This does have real, meaningful effects on case capacity and pressure in a revolver.

How is the ammo availability in Belgium? I think of the .475 as purely a handloading proposition (yes I know there are a few factory offerings). Neither of these cartridges are for the uninitiated shooter in terms of recoil and need to be shot on a very regular basis to become and remain proficient with them.

For you original question I don't think either cartridge is a one handed shooting affair. I about split my skull trying to shoot my Bowen five shot .45 colt with one hand. The guilty load was a 360 gr. LFN moving along at 1450 fps!

All of you are forgetting the great Magnum Research BFR revolvers! Mine outshoot the Freedoms time and time again and take any size bullet. Recoil is less also. Half the price of a Freedom. Freedom is stuck on one size frame and cylinder so big boolits don't fit. Some have the wrong twist. Why a company that makes such great guns sticks to one format is beyond me.

It comes down to personal preference. While I don't own a Freedom Arms mdl 83, I've fired many, as well as many custom custom Bisleys from various shops, Linebaugh, Bowen, Huntington. Personally the FA's fit my hands the best. The FA fit and finish is flawless, they are simply a great gun.

As far as 454 vs 475, I'm partial to heavier bullets at more modertate velocities, they are IMHO more adapted to hunting with an iron sighted revolver. To me the 475 recoil isn't as sharp as the 454, but it is more substantial, though this has alot to do with what loads your running.

If you want a flat shooting revolver, the 454 pushing 300's 1700 is hard to beat. If you want a big hammer, the 475 pushing 440's 1300 is hard to beat.

My friend has the Freedom .475 and those large, heavy boolits will not chamber. Even the Lee 400 gr reaches the end of the cylinder and a few thousandths bullet movement under recoil or not getting the boolits seated right to the top of the crimp groove will tie up the gun. With the 1 in 18 twist, it doesn't like them anyway and he has to shoot lighter boolits. Not my idea of a versatile gun or one to have facing a charging bear with the wrong boolit that might make the gun quit. Great care must be used to pick the proper boolit that will work in the stupid short cylinder.
Yes, I love the guns too but for the hunting and shooting I do, I prefer the BFR's. Someday I will buy a Freedom for the fit, finish and joy of owning one but it will not be my working gun.

I would go for the most powerful round you can find in a handgun. Since you want to shoot it one handed and use it for backup the recoil level does not matter as you will only have time for one shot.

Yeah, I've tried the Lee 400 grainers. They are fun to shoot, but for serious shooting I'll just stick to the 400 LFN or the 425 WFNGC bullets.

I dont see any use in one handed shooting with a big bore. With practice a two handed presentation is just a fast and recovery for a second shot is much faster.