I will be getting my first revolver over 44mag in a few weeks. The two that I have found locally are a 8 3/8 454 raging bull and a 9.5 srh in 480. Price is almost exactly the same. I have never been a big fan of the looks of the srh. However from what I have read, the recoil of the 454 is exactly the type that I don't care for. I much prefer the heavy shove to the hard slap. Guns main use will be hunting whitetail and hogs with who knows what thrown in since it is Texas and we have everything roaming around. What say you guys on which gun to get? I can always have the barrel on the srh cut back to a shorter length in the future.

I think I would hold out for a SRH in 454.

.480 SRH would be my choice between the two.

This ^^^

X2

I would get the 480. I had a Raging Bull 454 and did not like the noise or the kick or looks. Traded it for a SBH with a 2X SCOPE.

X3

Definitely the SRH, hands down the better option

I have a 5" .454 Raging Bull and a 10" .500 Raging Bull. I love them both, though the .500 is a little heavy (wanted a 8", but couldn't find one). Lot of people trash the Raging Bulls, but I've had no trouble with mine. Recoil is very good with Taurus' grips.
My .500 is one of the most pleasant revolvers I have to shoot. I have a T'SOB and a Burris 2-6X Elite on it. That weight keeps recoil in the .44 Mag. range. Accurate? Did a brown bear at 129.
I have a .454 SuperRed that's been worked over by Ken Kelly. Nice gun, shoots good, but when I reach in my safe one of the Raging Bulls come (as long as I can keep my hands off my FA .475).

Another vote for the .480 over the .454 .The .480 kicks a bit but dosen't recoil like the .454.I don't like the Ruger factory grip but that is easily changed.

I would say handle them both. Make your choice with how you like how they handle. A little food for thought.....I have owned and hunted with a 8 3/8" Raging Bull in 454. It is a complete pussycat to shoot, even with heavy loads. If the recoils bothers you from that gun, you may want to stay with something less powerful than both rounds. I have never owned a 480 Ruger, but I have shot one and it was nice, no problems. A very simple and easy solution to noise...Walker's Game Ears

the noise from the loudest, most obnoxious pistol, will never bother you again

I would select a SRH in .480, although I would prefer the new version in 7 1/2", rather than the old target gray version.

I haven't had the chance to shoot a 454 yet. Just what I have read so far. Trying to find the time to shoot a 454 raging bull that belongs to a guy I know from work. Pretty torn right now. Don't really need all the velocity from the 454, but I know my wife will want to shoot the gun. She has no experience with anything larger than a 45 acp. The 454 will be gentle with 45 colt loads. There are no reduced loads for the 480 without reloading ( which will be done in the future). But like the idea of a big 400+ grain bullet.

.480

Save for a couple of factory loads, the .480 is pretty gentle in factor form. More of a push than a snap.

[Save for a couple of factory loads, the .480 is pretty gentle in factor form. More of a push than a snap. [/quote]

You really should read the Whitworth rateing system for handgun recoil that was posted here sometime back

Hopefully someone knows where the link is and will put it up again

It is worth reading!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!GENTLE PUSH?

Buy both, send me the .480 and I'll see how you like it.

You really should read the Whitworth rateing system for handgun recoil that was posted here sometime back

Hopefully someone knows where the link is and will put it up again

It is worth reading!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!GENTLE PUSH? [/quote]

It's all relative. In my twisted world, the .480 is indeed a gentle push!

Whitworth, you keep answering my questions inadvertent as it may be.

Just finished reading the book. I never said gentle push for the 480. I said hard shove vs slap. I know it will recoil, but just more in my preferred style.

And I am actually bidding on a BFR in 475/480, which was my first choice all along.

.480 SRH. Love mine. You can deffinately make it recoil though. 370grs at 1500 come to mind.