Post deleted by fanner50

ruger blackhawk.........of course!
namely, the super blackhawk hunter model

the super redhawk in 454 or 480 would also be great choices.

now why would one want to refrain from giving opinions......in a place thats here for just that

rugers are always my pick of course i'd love to have a freedom arms if the $ were available.

Either would be a good choice for the animals you will be hunting assuming you use heavy 45 Colt loads. I have found through my shooting that when it comes to big bore revolvers I find the double action grip to be more comfortable to shoot and thus shoot it better from field positions. So my suggestion, if possible shoot both with hunting loads and decide which one feels more comfortable in your hand. If that is not possible or all things are equal you can never go wrong with a product from Ruger.

If my choice were limited to a standard Blackhawk(I don't even know for sure if they made the 45 colt in a standard blackhawk or SB only) & a Raging Bull, I'm afraid I might lean toward the Raging Bull. I hear that Taurus quality control can be spotty & there are good ones & bad ones. The Taurus would be the easiest to mount a scope on(a must for my tired eyes) & still have iron sights for backup.
Like Kyode I'd pick a Super Redhawk over either, but I know that's not an option!
Now if The Ruger is a Super Blackhawk Hunter, oe maybe even a Super Blackhawk, that could change things.
It sounds like you are trying to choose between two particular guns, so give us the particulars(if that's the case). Are they both used, what's the condition, what are the barrel lengths(that could make a big difference to me), etc.
Good luck in the choosing, & you'll love hunting with a revolver.

KYODE- I appreciate your opinion and agree. I don't have the $$ either. My statement was aimed at the guy that would say forget those and get a Glock.?? These are what I can afford and I'm willing to listen to comments.

Raging Bull 454 Casull I would say the Ruger 45 but, I think the 454 would be better for the game you are after.

Hey Fanner one thing you'll find on this forum is that Kyodee is NEVER short of opinions!!! And yes, I guess I have to admit they are usually worth listening to .
Of course I guess most of us aren't short of opinions here.
I just noticed you are in Montana. Where abouts are you? I lived in Hamilton for about 5 yrs & moved back to Alaska about 2.5 yrs ago.

Vance - To be more specific. (1.) Raging Bull 6.5" satin SS in 454 Casull or (2.) Ruger Bisley Hunter 7.5" SS Not available till March. Spring bear is April 15. This adds to my dilema. - Gary PS - Libby, Mt.

the super blackhawk hunter has those nice factory rings too.
is the super redhawk 454 outta your price range?

nuthin wrong with bigger guns, but the 44magnum is plenty for any north american game and beyond imo. it was doing it before anything else came into the picture.

Boy, in my mind it kind of comes down to which grip design you like as someone already said. I personally like a double action grip frame. I like the longer barrel better though. Also, as someone else said, it's hard to go wrong with a Ruger.
This doesn't really matter since you asked us to pick between the two, but I would probably take a used Super Redhawk in .44mag, .45 colt, .454, or .480 over either one of the guns you mention, but that's just personal preference.
I also am in what is probably a minority that will agree with Kyode that the .44 mag is plenty of gun at reasonable ranges for what you are going to be hunting. It has indeed been doing the job for along time all over the world.
I use a mod. 29 S&W .44 mag with a 8&3/8 barrel & a red dot sight to hunt moose up here & don't feel undergunned. That said, I've never shot one yet, so I may be suprised, but I don't think so. I'm using a 320gr cast bullet at about 1290-1320 fps depending on my load. I wouldn't porposely go Brownie hunting with it, but on anything less I feel comfortable. I would have no qualms about a gimmee shot on an unsuspecting moose that was perfectly broadside or quatering away @ 100 yds, & would feel comfortable with most shots out to 75 yds.
That said, I'm mostly a traditional bow hunter, so to me 75 yds is a long shot. I enjoy getting close.

Between the 2 you said I would go with the 454 Casull.

I'd go with the .454 as well except for the experience I had with my Raging Bull .454. It seems as though my Raging Bull would spit all over my face when shooting full loads. I had to cover my face to keep it from getting all bloodied up. I communicated with another Raging Bull owner via email that had the same problem with his. I traded the Raging Bull in towards a Super Redhawk .454. I have never looked back. This handgun does not mark up my face at all.

KYODE - I ruled out the Redhawk because of the grip. I have big hands and the Redhawk is uncomfortable.The 44's I have fired have beat the web of my hand to a pulp. This is the main reason the Raging Bull is considered. I had one in 45LC and loved it. The grip on the RB is great for a large pawed shooter. I have never shot a Bisley but understand it is a world apart from the standard Blackhawk.

Fanner, I think you may have answered your own question right there.
If the Raging Bull fits your hand well & you loved it in .45 Colt, why not get another in .45 Colt or the .454?
The way the gun fots YOUR hand makes all the difference, & it sounds like for you the RB is the cat's meow.
Different grips may change the way the SRH feels to you(if you haven't already tried that), I know it did for me many moons ago when I had one, but unless you can try one with some Pachmyers & Hogues, I'd stick with what I know I like.
If you could shoot before you buy you'd know if the muzzle brake is going to spit in your face.

I would go with the Ruger hands down. The 45 colt in a Ruger can be loaded quite stout, strong enough for the game you listed. The bisley grip frame fits my hand better than the blackhawk grip. Might want to check one out.

I will never own a taurus again.

I would stay far, far away from the Raging Bull. I can't speak for lesser calibers but my 454 shot loose 3 times. It would spit lead all over me. The ejector rod kept coming loose even with loc tite. But I guess if it fits your hands go for it. Maybe the 454 SRH with custom grips might work for you . Just my 2 cents.

Get the Bisley.

I agree with magman and tigger. There is no contest. Having worked on both, my humble opinion is that the Ruger is by far the better gun.

Find a ruger hunter in 45 LC and put a bisley gripframe on it. My hunter shoots 325 gr LBT's at 1360 FPS and groups around 1" at 50yd if I do my part. Planning on using mine in Idaho for spring bear soon.

custom grips would be a nice feature to add, if it would help the gun fit you better. maybe someone can link or post pics of some.
also, the rubber grips from hogue may fit you better.
i had a set of hogue rubber grips on a 4 5/8" super blackhawk that were larger and felt great.

Thanks for the input everyone. The decision is made. I took a hard look at my reloading info from past years and if speed is the consideration I can load the 45 LC to within a few hundred ft/sec of the Casull. I already have all the dies brass, etc. so I'm going with the SBH hunter in 45 LC. I just don't know wheather I should wait for the Bisley in March? I can get the reg model now at a reduced price and add the Hogue grips. What do you guys think?

I think that would be an excellent decision. You will have to let us know how the custom grips work. I have a Ruger Blackhawk in 357 max that is at the gunsmith now having a trigger job but when it gets back I think I am going to add some larger grips because the factory ones don't fit my hands either.

i prefer the standard gripframe over the bisley. but this is mostly due to what pleases MY eye.
i thought the hogue rubber grips felt great on the single action super blackhawk. some nice oversize grips in an exotic wood might look great and fit you also.

Just placed the order for the SBH Hunter. Now going to contact Hogue about grips both rubber and exotic wood. Thanks to all. - Fanner 50

I shoot a Ruger 45 Colt Blackhawk. But just noticed that S&W in coming out with a 45 caliber mega-revolver. The 460 HVR (High Velocity Rrevolver)to be specific. Operates at 65,000 psi, Shoots 200 grain bullets at over 2300fps, 200+ yards of point blank range......aaaaand shoots 45 or 454 as "light loads" Ported, recoil allegedly at about the level of a mid load 44 mag. That may be worth waiting for.

I don't think you'll be dissapointed in the Hunter! I've handled the Bisley, but never shot it, so I can't speak to real world handling under recoil, but I personaly like the feel of the standard grip frame best. I bet you'll find a pair of grips that will make it fit like a glove.
Now you just need to get to work & have a few hundred rounds of practice ammo loaded up for when it gets here.
Enjoy!

Since you are looking at the hogue wood grips check out their auction site where they auction cosmetic seconds and premium grips I just picked up a set of pau ferro for a redhawk for 23.95+ shipping. Hogue auction

Thanks for the link to Hogue auction. I'm going right now. The SBH Hunter will be here tomorrow. My fav. hunting load is 23 gr W296 Starline brass CCI Mag Pis Primer and 300Gr Hornady XTP. Anybody got some good ones post them here. I would like to use Cast Performance 300 gr FNLGC also.

Fanner,
My Ruger Custom .45 loves Cast Performance 300 gr FNLGC's over 21g of W296. I use the CCI Mag Primers as well. This combo works very well for me on Deer.

Gundawg

My ruger hunter shoots best with the 320gr LBT's over 22 grains of H110. The 300's don't seem to shoot that well, but I have not messed with loads that much on the 300's.