I am a fairly experienced handgun hunter, and I have had much success with my S&W .460 Magnum XVR. My longest shot (also a one-shot kill) was a cow elk at 208 yards, prone and using a bipod. I was prone...not the cow.
I want your opinion of the finest choice for a .454 Casull deer gun. I like the weight of the Taurus RB 8 3/8" barrel, and think it would reduce felt recoil and muzzle flip. But after reading the blog, I am wary about their product and their service. Freedom Arms? BFR?

What's your opinion?

The best one is the one that feels best in your hands that y ou can shoot well. I would encourage you to try to handle and shoot examples of the Taurus, FA83, BFR, and the Ruger Super Redhawk before you make a decision.

I have had problems with Taurus revolvers. If I had to pick the best .454 it would be Freedom Arms, but I believe that .45 Colt is more that adequate for deer and for the money I would go with a Ruger, either single or double action.

My primary deer revolver is a .45 Colt Ruger Bisley Hunter. You will get as may opinions as there are members here. If we all liked the same thing we would all live in Texas and drive Fords and that would make life boring.

X2

I like my Freedom Arms Model 83; but you need to find the one that you like best.

My vote is for the Super Redhawk with a Hogue Tamer Grip. This will feel VERY similar to your 460 XVR. I have a Freedom Arms 83 and a Super Redhawk in 454 and since I prefer the feel of double action guns, the Super Redhawk is my preference.

Now if you ask me which one is prettier...

I agree, if you like the Smith DA you might like the SRH. And I think it is pretty ;-)

I do too!

I have a .454 Taurus Raging Bull-shoots great, never had problems with it; .454 Ruger SuperRedhawk, customized by Mag-Na-Port, shoots great, never had problems with it; and 7 1/2" FA .454 that I've taken 3 1/2 dozen turkeys, over 500 groundhogs, and over 100 deer. First two are very good, FA is in a class by it self.

My vote is for the FA .454. I liked it so much I have two!

One 10" scoped gun with a 2.5x8 Leupold and a 7.5" unscoped. Since acquiring the FA's, my S&W 460 stays in the safe.

Fa is the best bu fit n finish and accuracy of a rest with a scope but im more and more impressed with my srh 454. I give it the nod over the bfr 454 by virtue of a better trigger but id hunt the world over with both. The ruger is the most like your smith but if ya want the best of all get the fa.


Ive had the taurus and they were sent back for repairs multiple times before i got rid of them. Id say theyre ok if they were 400 bucks but theyll run ua nearly as mich as the ruger or bfr which just isnt right

I would much rather shoot a Linebaugh caliber, than a .454, to me that is the nastiest kicking thing in the world!

I've handled and shot some FA's....they are amazing. But I have a tough time spending that kind of coin on a gun that's performance limits are determined by cartridge range rather than shooter capability.

For example, a Ruger .44 Mag will do all that a FA .44 Mag will do in terms to maximum killing power (about 100yds). The FA may shoot 1" groups and the Ruger a 2.5" group at that distance. Both are well suited to the task and you can own five Rugers for the cost of one FA. If a Casull is good for 150yds and the FA shoots 1.5" groups and a Ruger shoots a 3" group (heck, even a 4" group) that's still the max limits of the cartridge and both guns are well capable of killing size groups.

I'll take a lightly tweaked Ruger (trigger job and maybe other little things) for under $450 rather than the FA.......everytime.

Does that make sense??

yeah, them old rugers are hard to beat!

Yer preachin' to the choir...

Yes indeed!

the Ruger choir? I've got a Bfr and a Freedom arms and would love to locate a Seville. I'm a single action guy and the only double I own is Model 58 Smith which I wouldn't take for!

Good....glad it was taken the right way.

My full custom XP-100 ran around $1600 to build...that was everything.....and still less than a FA. I can use that gun for everything from point blank range to 1,000+ yards....and it's proven that by doing so. The performance greatly out paces the shooter. If another handgun was available that could do that for the same price or less (back to the Ruger, FA, or anything comparison theme) I would certainly consider getting one. But since it's not, I had to spend the money for that type of firearm.

Ok....I'm just rambling now.

I prefer the FA's. You can find used ones for less than $1200 if your patient.

Not necessarily. Any revolver really. The cartridges are all the same and capable of the same performance, just the gun firing it varies but can't really change the effective range.

I have an FA, BFR, Smith & Wessons, and a pile of Ruger customs, and I prefer my custom Rugers over all else. But, they are all fine revolvers or I wouldn't keep 'em.

I've never met a bad gun... Just some are better than others!

well to each there own as the old saying goes, but I come from the Ross Seyfried school on handguns, to me if you can't pack on your hip and not know it's there all day until you pull it I'll just carry my .338 rifle, it's hard to call a sawed off bolt action with a scope a handgun! I'm not picking on anyone that's just me

My srh 454 is more comforttable with highend loads than my smiths are with high end 44 loads. My sons jrh is a beast with high end loads and it takes alot of time to get good with it and it can be done. Most just reload down a bit. Seems to me some justdo it with the 454. Its easy and ive got lots of above 45 colt ruger loads that dont recoil bad at all. If ya know how to handle the single actions they dont kick so bad but i feel the srh with the hogue tamers is the easiest way to enjoy the big bores in a normal sized gun

And that's OK, Ryan. I have a couple Contenders and an Encore or two; and I have killed plenty of deer (whitetails and mulies), elk (cows and bulls), antelope, coyotes, foxes, a bull caribou, a bobcat; mucho small game; etc. with them;


Including the SCI World Record Mule Deer Handgun Typical Buck; in 2003 which to my knowledge still stands (204 plus change).

This year I killed a really good mule deer buck as well as a big bull elk with my unscoped revolver and I am anxious to score them after the 90 day drying period.

Nonetheless:

I truly wish there were more categories that recognized revolvers (scoped and unscoped) for hunting for what they really are. I can say that, because I was an invited VIP to this year's 2012 SCI Convention in Las Vegas as a "Handgun Hunting Representative," along with Mr. Mark Hampton.

Lately I have found much more "satisfaction" in regards to "Handgun Hunting" with revolvers; in as much as I have killed two mule deer bucks and two bull elk the past two years with a custom Dixie Firearms .475 Linebaugh unscoped revolver.

But again, that is just me, and of course My Humble Opinion.

I agree with you, everybody should use what they like! It's always been an argument revolver vs. single shot in the handgun hunting world, but to me anyone who hunt's with a handgun of any sort is a helluva hunter! especially at some of these ranges people are shooting at out to 200 yards or more.That's way beyond my skill level

I'm a single action guy so if I were going production it would be FA, then Magnum Research but this assumes money isn't a limitations. Then I'd look at the SRH. I build my own guns but my business is down right now while I wait for my upcoming back surgery but I would strongly recommend a custom from Jack Huntington or Bowen. There are some other quality guys out there but unless you just like lazer engraved pics I would list Reeder at the bottom of custom revolver builders.

Recently I had two Rugers customized and I'm pleased on both accounts. Ken Kelly of Mag-Na-Port worked on a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter. I've mounted an Ultra Dot on a Weigand base and this has turned out to be a fine hunting revolver. Second gun was a Ruger Blackhawk that Hamilton Bowen worked his magic on with a caliber conversion and other embellishments. This Ruger is now a 10mm. Both Ruger's are ready for field work.

Mark, should we anticipate a book on revolver hunting in the future?

I really enjoyed "Addicted to Altitude".

Oh....and we're gonna need to see pics of those new revolvers.

With just a little tuning the Rugers will shoot as well as anything else.

The matter of preference over the "full dressed" single shots and revolvers with open sights, is just that a matter of preference. For those of us who spend part of every day in the forest, a 4-6" "belt gun" is the first choice. From the early writings of folks like Elmer Keith, a lot of hand gun hunting is opportunity based. The more convenient a hand gun is the more likely you are to have it with you when "opportunity" presents itself.

KRal, I am glad you enjoyed Addicted to Altitude. Now if I can only coax those sheep and ibex within 100 yds or so, perhaps another book may be forthcoming :}

If you like double actions get the S.R.H. If you like single actions go with the Freedom Arms or B.F.R.in .454 with Hogue or Pachmayr grips. If at all possiable try all before you buy as one will feel better in your hand than the rest.

Thus far, I have opted to stay out of this discussion. Everyone has an opinion. Your decision is best based upon your own experiences.

I own numerous FA revolvers and IMHO they are the best choice, if you are willing to spend the money. As has been stated repeatedly, Rugers & BFRs will suffice for hunting duties. However, I have never personally encountered a Ruger or a BFR that will shoot with my FAs. That does not mean that they do not exist. Rather, as stated, none I own or have owned or have fired exhibit the inherent accuracy that I expect from all of my FAs.

I have to agree with troper as far as which one is best. I have shot some rugers that I could get two inches at 50 yards and a handfull that shot 4-5 inches at the same distance. I would not be happy with one unless it could do the 5-6 inches at a hundred yards. I'm not saying that they can't shoot better than that but just they wouldn't for me. That said I am a little turned off by freedom arms limited one year warranty on their field grade models that still run well over 2000 dollars. Anything that pricey should be covered for everything short of putting it in a vise and beating it with a sledge.

Use what you have confidence in.

Fit and finish: FA

More accurate than a BFR? I would take that bet. They are well put together, and they use a quality barrel, and they shoot lights out. They also have a lousy grip frame and a cheap aluminum front sight and they will never be as pretty as an FA no matter how you dress it.

Now a custom Ruger (also depends on who the smith is) has all of the above as far as I am concerned: fit and finish, accuracy, smooth trigger -- oh and a transfer bar allowing for the safe carry of 5 rounds......

As an FA owner, I reserve the right to be critical -- but not too critical as they are darn near perfect -- emphasis on near.

Ain't that the truth...

Yup, plow handles and I don't get along very well (particularly in meaningful calibers), but FA's grip frame and the Bisley are two of my favorites out of the box.

Yea, if they put a decent handle on those things I would give them a try. Near pulled the trigger on a D-Max BFR with the Bisley handle, if only it weren't chambered in 50AE.

You can buy four nice Rugers for the cost. Buy four, one in each barrel length and go have some fun.

But you still wouldn't have a FA.....