.454 casull or .44 magnum

[mosquito]

Hello everyone!
I actually have .357 Ruger GP100 (4.2) and going to jump a step up. I enjoy recoil (on my level) and would like to try something more powerful. Main purpose self protection, bear protection - I often hike remotely my myself. Sometimes - shooting range. NOT for hunting. Dreaming about CASULL but never tried to shoot it (nobody from friends of mine has one). Not absolutely sure will I be able to manage it's recoil...
Some advices, guys?

 

[Daveinthebush]

I'd love to find a GP100 in .44 Special. It was the parent cartridge for the .44 mag. I'd feel confident with one. As a reloader I bet I get some 300 grain loads going for it.

 

[orangejuicy]

I think both are good for what you’re looking for. 454 is heavier recoil, but you can usually run .45 LC in them as well as long as you clean it well afterwards. Or if you hand load, you can make reduced power 454 loads. On the other hand, 44 Mag you can make or buy some hot bear loads and I think you’re in as good of shape. Maybe go to the store and handle a few different guns and see what you like? Ammo is easier to come by for the 44…

 

[mosquito]

I think both are good for what you’re looking for. 454 is heavier recoil, but you can usually run .45 LC in them as well as long as you clean it well afterwards. Or if you hand load, you can make reduced power 454 loads. On the other hand, 44 Mag you can make or buy some hot bear loads and I think you’re in as good of shape. Maybe go to the store and handle a few different guns and see what you like? Ammo is easier to come by for the 44…

Thank you!

 

[bottom_dweller]

I have a Taurus raging bull in 454 casull.I love shooting it. It has a 8-3/8“ ported barrel and recoil is no big deal. It was my sole hunting rig for years because my ex didn’t care for deer. Very accurate with open sights. All 5 shots into a softball at 50 yards. If I were to pack it for protection I would buy the shorter barreled version.

 

[The German]

Ok, here's my 2-cents worth, I've had several .454 Handguns, FA, and Ruger's, and after I did a Build on a Ruger SBH Bisley .44mag, I sold all the .454's I had, and the 1-.460 S&W as well,,,,, so, as you can see I've been there and done that, attached is my Go-To Heavy Loads Hand Gun...... and you've got all 6-rounds, if needed......
TG

 

[SmokeRoss]

.44 Special is pretty anemic. I have several .44 mags and .454's. Also own a Redhawk in .45 Colt that gets loaded hot. Recoil isn't a problem. Go big or go home. You might be able to rent a .454 at a range. Maybe don't try the 2" barreled version first.

 

[Daveinthebush]

Ok, here's my 2-cents worth, I've had several .454 Handguns, FA, and Ruger's, and after I did a Build on a Ruger SBH Bisley .44mag, I sold all the .454's I had, and the 1-.460 S&W as well,,,,, so, as you can see I've been there and done that, attached is my Go-To Heavy Loads Hand Gun...... and you've got all 6-rounds, if needed......
TG

How does that ghost ring sight work on the handgun? I've never seen one like that. Is accuracy as good or better than the standard sights?

 

[4merguide]

Hello everyone!
I actually have .357 Ruger GP100 (4.2) and going to jump a step up. I enjoy recoil (on my level) and would like to try something more powerful. Main purpose self protection, bear protection - I often hike remotely my myself. Sometimes - shooting range. NOT for hunting. Dreaming about CASULL but never tried to shoot it (nobody from friends of mine has one). Not absolutely sure will I be able to manage it's recoil...
Some advices, guys?

For a little while I was in the same boat as you. I had a 44mag for a number of years but sold it. When it came time to get another pistol for about the same reasons you are, I was also thinking about the 454, so I started doing a little research. I too was thinking about recoil as I'm not a very big guy. If you're not new to handguns, most anybody can shoot a big caliber at a target and do alright. But what counts, imo, (in our case) is how fast a person can get back on target after that first shot when need be. I watched a number of videos of guys shooting and reviewing the 454. Most of these guys were bigger than me, and the one thing I noticed was recoil effecting these men. Some of these guys had arms a lot bigger than mine and weren't strangers to handguns, but it sure looked like that pistol would jump up a lot farther than I would like. A few even stated how hot it seemed to them. So, I started looking at the 45LC. Bigger hole than the 44mag, and in a heavier designed revolver that can take it, you can put rounds through it approaching what I would consider a "light" 454 round. I ended up with the 45colt in a 4" Ruger Redhawk. Like I said, I shot the 44mag for quite a while and got pretty good with it, but I'm far from, what I would call a handgun "specialist." But when I shoot those Buffalo Bore +P loads in the 45 pushing a 325-grain slug at 1,325fps. personally, for me that's about as much as I would want and still be able to get back on target after the first shot. Although I never shot the 454, and don't want to steer you away from it, after shooting bear loads in the 45colt, it's hard (for me personally) to see how fast I could shoot it accurately in fast succession. What's also nice is you can load up some cowboy rounds in the 45colt and at least get out and do a little plinking. The sad thing about it is, unless something's changed, the 4" Redhawk in 45colt got so popular it was hard for anybody to find one.

After I got the 45colt, I also was thinking about the 10mm in a 1911, and I still wouldn't mind having one. There was a pretty well-known brown bear guide on this forum for a while and that's what he carried. He was a big fan of quick shooting and higher capacity, and there is something to say about that. But that caliber isn't much different than what you have. Good luck on your choice.

 

[The German]

How does that ghost ring sight work on the handgun? I've never seen one like that. Is accuracy as good or better than the standard sights?

Hey Dave, Yea, it is Extremely Quick for that Up-Close Work, I'd like to find One for my 329PD, I talked to this manufacture a year or so ago, and they indicated that they were working on a design for the S&W Handguns......
Thanks for the reminder, I'm going to reach out, and see how they are doing..... ?
TG

 

[mosquito]

For a little while I was in the same boat as you. I had a 44mag for a number of years but sold it. When it came time to get another pistol for about the same reasons you are, I was also thinking about the 454, so I started doing a little research. I too was thinking about recoil as I'm not a very big guy. If you're not new to handguns, most anybody can shoot a big caliber at a target and do alright. But what counts, imo, (in our case) is how fast a person can get back on target after that first shot when need be. I watched a number of videos of guys shooting and reviewing the 454. Most of these guys were bigger than me, and the one thing I noticed was recoil effecting these men. Some of these guys had arms a lot bigger than mine and weren't strangers to handguns, but it sure looked like that pistol would jump up a lot farther than I would like. A few even stated how hot it seemed to them. So, I started looking at the 45LC. Bigger hole than the 44mag, and in a heavier designed revolver that can take it, you can put rounds through it approaching what I would consider a "light" 454 round. I ended up with the 45colt in a 4" Ruger Redhawk. Like I said, I shot the 44mag for quite a while and got pretty good with it, but I'm far from, what I would call a handgun "specialist." But when I shoot those Buffalo Bore +P loads in the 45 pushing a 325-grain slug at 1,325fps. personally, for me that's about as much as I would want and still be able to get back on target after the first shot. Although I never shot the 454, and don't want to steer you away from it, after shooting bear loads in the 45colt, it's hard (for me personally) to see how fast I could shoot it accurately in fast succession. What's also nice is you can load up some cowboy rounds in the 45colt and at least get out and do a little plinking. The sad thing about it is, unless something's changed, the 4" Redhawk in 45colt got so popular it was hard for anybody to find one.

After I got the 45colt, I also was thinking about the 10mm in a 1911, and I still wouldn't mind having one. There was a pretty well-known brown bear guide on this forum for a while and that's what he carried. He was a big fan of quick shooting and higher capacity, and there is something to say about that. But that caliber isn't much different than what you have. Good luck on your choice.

Thank you!!

 

[SmokeRoss]

Having killed a charging bear with a .44 magnum, and killed many others that weren't charging with the same gun. I'll take a big thump over capacity every time.

 

[JEH97LX]

Ammo is easier to come by for the 44…

For me, this is why I went with .44 mag. Since that decision, I've started reloading, so I'm thinking about a 460 S&W for the most versatility (460, 454, .45). Without reloading, I wouldn't touch a 460 unless pistol hunting was a consideration.

 

[Daveinthebush]

For me, this is why I went with .44 mag. Since that decision, I've started reloading, so I'm thinking about a 460 S&W for the most versatility (460, 454, .45). Without reloading, I wouldn't touch a 460 unless pistol hunting was a consideration.

My reason exactly. .431 muzzle loading balls for small game, 200's for .44 special loads, 240's for deer, 300 grain soft points and Keith lead bullets, shot shells... It can be about as versatile a round as it gets.

 

[Badman]

Hello everyone!
I actually have .357 Ruger GP100 (4.2) and going to jump a step up. I enjoy recoil (on my level) and would like to try something more powerful. Main purpose self protection, bear protection - I often hike remotely my myself. Sometimes - shooting range. NOT for hunting. Dreaming about CASULL but never tried to shoot it (nobody from friends of mine has one). Not absolutely sure will I be able to manage it's recoil...
Some advices, guys?

You say that you’re not a big guy and concerned w/ recoil. I have a .454 Ruger Alaskan and it’s a flame thrower in short barrel. Recently I bought a Glock 40. The long slide and heft eats up recoil and I hardly notice difference between 10mm and .40 SW. 15 rounds of rapid fire dangerous game loads are serious business. Might consider a 10mm vs wheel gun. Not going get same pressures but for self defense it fits many requirements with hood ammo.

 

[Badman]

You say that you’re not a big guy and concerned w/ recoil. I have a .454 Ruger Alaskan and it’s a flame thrower in short barrel. Recently I bought a Glock 40. The long slide and heft eats up recoil and I hardly notice difference between 10mm and .40 SW. 15 rounds of rapid fire dangerous game loads are serious business. Might consider a 10mm vs wheel gun. Not going get same pressures but for self defense it fits many requirements with hood ammo.

 

[mosquito]

I am wheel guy... )

 

[Chez]

If you're located on the peninsula and willing to buy a box of ammo for you to shoot, I wouldn't mind meeting you at the range to play with my .454's. I would bring some of my handloads so you can feel the difference in recoil.

 

[dwb1959]

Hello everyone!
I actually have .357 Ruger GP100 (4.2) and going to jump a step up. I enjoy recoil (on my level) and would like to try something more powerful. Main purpose self protection, bear protection - I often hike remotely my myself. Sometimes - shooting range. NOT for hunting. Dreaming about CASULL but never tried to shoot it (nobody from friends of mine has one). Not absolutely sure will I be able to manage it's recoil...
Some advices, guys?

I have guided brown bear hunts since 1989 so seeing these city slicker green horns thinking a home defense handgun is an Alaskan bear gun gets me laughing at the ignorant stupidly.
Many of the brown bears my clients and me took on would have killed a person with a handgun.
The minimum for Alaskan bears should be a 338 win mag.
The number of people now being killed by bears when they have a 10 mm handgun is becoming staggering because of the ignorant fad now that many idiots really believe the 10 mm handguns are some kind of bear cannons more power than any large rifles.
I had an idiot nearly ready to fight me when I told him his 10 mm handgun is near useless against AK bears, so he said his 10 mm is more powerful than a 375 H&H magnum.

 

[AKBEE]

If someone truly thought a 10mm was more powerful than a .375 H&H, I would not have wanted to be around them and a gun.

There are situations when carrying a rifle is not ideal, and many people end up setting them on the riverbank or leaning against a tree. I would rather have a good handgun with well constructed bullets accessible in a chest rig than a rifle not handy. Of course a large caliber rifle or 12g shotgun with slugs would be preferable for bear defense, but it isn’t always reality.