If you had to choose between the 454 and 480 for hunting, which one would it be and why?

.480

I don't really feel that I need the flatter trajectory capability of the .454 as I will always attempt to get as close as possible to my prey, so it's a moot point for me. But even at 100 yards, the .480 will do what you ask of it. I simply like the fact that by default it will make bigger holes, and even when loaded to spec, the .480 is pretty tame in comparison. Having said all of that, this is simply a personal preference and both cartridges are more than capable of cleanly taking any game animal that walks this planet when loaded correct and the shooter does his/her part. JMHO.

The 480 will do 90% of what the 454 is capable of with half the punishment and leave a bigger mark to boot!

The previous comments are right on the money. X2

FACT

.480. Practically, a .475.

Exactly!

I have 2 .454's and 2 .475's
I hand load my .475's to .480 specs. and almost always reach for one of these before going to my .454. I get all the performance I want / need from the .480 equiv load and none of the punishment of the .454.

I am all for less punishment to say the least. Thanks for the feedback.

Older article on reloading for the 480 and touches on the 480 or 454 issue. Good read, especially if you handload.
http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell480Ruger.htm

I own a 480 SRH if that tells you anything...
As to the personal "whys" of the 480 for me, the other guys pretty well nailed it. I live in a part of Alaska where it's pretty much bear & moose. Our black bear aren't huge, but our brown bear are the costal variety & we have had brown bear killed in our area that square over 10'. One the city police shot as a nuisance bear weighed in at just over 1000# at the dump AFTER they removes the hide (with paws for taxidermy) & head. With that in mind I want a big hole & I want a HEAVY bullet that penetrates well. I also have arthritis rearing it's nasty head in my shooting hand so I want something that doesn't punish me when I shoot it. The 480 filled all those requirements (that said I have never had the opportunity to "field test" it on a critter). I would actually shoot my hunting load, 400gr hardcast at a bit under 1200fps, from my 7.5" SRH with UltraDot than my old 320 hardcast @1320fps from my Magnaported 8&3/8 mod 29 with Ultradot. The 480 is gentler on my hand & much more pleasant to shoot. Big shove rather than a sharp snap.

This upcoming fall I want to hunt elk and deer with a handgun instead of a rifle for several reasons. For the last 30 plus years, I have hunted on public land and based on my experience there is about an 1 hour window or so in the morning and evening when the elk or deer will venture out in to open land. Providing both the weather and hunting pressure allow it.

For the rest of the day, they are holed up in the deep timber. As I climb these hills pursuing big game, a rifle is both heavy and cumbersome to carry. The handgun would be the perfect timber gun in my opinion from weight and knock down perspective.

As I read various articles, blogs, etc, these two calibers frequently come up. For the last couple of months I have been going back and forth on which one to purchase, but after the feedback I received, I think the 480 is the ticket.

I'm all for the handgun, but the truth is my 7.5" 480 SRH,in it's pistol Packaging Bandito holster loaded with 6 rounds of my handloads (400gr bullet) & 4 spares on the holster weighs in at 6# 3.3oz (just weighed it). The big handguns can be a little cumbersome to carry if you are also carrying binos (I always do) & a pack (I always do).
A Kimber Mountain Rifle in a Kifaru Gunbearer (I use the Gun Bearer for rifle hunting) in 308 or 30-06, or even 300WSM would weigh no more & carry just as handily.
Again, I would still pick the handgun. I used to tell folks I preferred to hunt with the handgun because it was lighter & I never get to shoot at anything anyway so it didn't reduce my odds. The scales told me the first half wasn't true...

Seriously, if you pack a rifle in the mountains & use a pack the Gun Bearer is a game changer. It may seem awkward at first but I wouldn't be without mine rifle hunting. Incredibly fast to access (faster than a sling), incredibly secure, incredibly out of the way, & incredibly comfortable. They make a universal that will fit any pack (not just Kifaru).
http://store.kifaru.net/gun-bearers-p30.aspx

Here's the latest piece I did on the .480 SRH for Gun Digest magazine:

http://www.gundigest.com/firearm-gun-reviews/prodigal-gun-ruger-480-super-redhawk-review

Just read it. Good article Whit!

4MAG4, FYI my .475/.480's are 4.75" and 6" barreled and in my 7X leather chest holster are less cumbersome that any rifle no matter how I carry it even if I use my Eberlestock X2 back pack with rifle scabbarded. I have no problem w/ bino's secured high on my chest. I just lower the chest holster to just above belly button level and all works just fine and I'm only 5'8". I find it essential to experiment with gear and carry methods, to find what works for your body type, hunting style, etc. Put on all your hunting gear that you will be wearing when afield including a weighted backpack. Go hiking / scouting and see if it all works for you, if not then adjust / change out until it does.
Good luck, you"ll have fun doing it.

Thanks, Gregg!

FAH -- I agree that the 7x chest rig makes carrying out in the field easy and comfortable. I hunted with a pack and binos in Argentina and the 7x rig made carrying the 7 1/2-inch SRH no problem whatsoever. I can't say enough about having a well-designed rig as it makes a world of difference out in the field.

Great article as always Whit. we need a heads up when you have something new on the shelves. I don't buy many magazines anymore.

Thank you. I've been doing a lot lately for Gun Digest and they post everything online after an article hits the shelves. I'll post up more links in the future. Here's another recent one:

http://www.gundigest.com/firearm-gun-reviews/glock-20-review-viable-hunting-handgun

If I was to choose, I'd go with the 480.

I will take the 480 all day long and dial the 454 back to a hot 45 colt.

My 480 is one rig I do regret selling I had an Encore witha 2x Burris and a SRH with a 2x Burris

Loved both just was in a long range mood at the time and an Encore zeroed at 50 and 4" low at 100 did not fit the mold.

I will at some time have a Bisley BH in 480 of 500 S&W special. In my mind they are both very close.

With factory stuff on the 480 I am leaning toward that.

Oh Dear! I suffered mega angst trying to decide which one of these calibers to go with and finally decided on the .454.

I think with most folks getting into handgun hunting, the 454 is one of the first steps. But after sometime, most want more (horse power) and end up going bigger. I know this is kinda where my indulgence began.
While the 454casull has it's place. I think I would also choose the 480 over the 454.

If set on getting a .475 caliber, I personally would not buy a 480, but instead would get a 475 linebaugh. Otherwise it would drive me mad that I didn't have the option of running "full tilt" loads

, even if I were running 480 type loads most of the time.

That being said, my current love affair is with the 454 Casull, so I guess that explains my choice! One advantage is the numerous options for components and loaded ammo vs. the 480. For example, there are three different weights of Swift A-Frames for the 454, and there aren't any for the .475

Get both - Scoped 454, naked 480 (475). Wait, vice versa.

I'm no help - I have examples of each.

Now that is a good idea!

Thanks for the advice! The logical solution to my dilemma is simply one of each! Why did I waste all that time worrying? I discussed this decision with John Taffin and the Quinn brothers.
Surprisingly their advice was the same!

I just purchased a 8.5" .480 barrel for my Encore from MGM. I loved the 454 in the Ruger, but most advised that I would find it unpleasant in the encore.

I have not found the 454 to be abusive, but I didn't throw heavy for caliber bullets from it. I have no experience with the .480, but I was always found of a big chunk of lead.

Except for the time I fired stout loads from a 45-70 with 405 grain slugs. I didn't care for that in the Encore pistol.

Brenden

Yes variety is certainly the spice of life, I have both as well.
If you hand load then either is good, I lean to the .475 and shoot .480 when I want to. But if you do not hand load and do not plan on doing so then the .454 is the way to go. You will find good ammo more readily available on the shelf and you can always shoot .45 Colt thru the same cylinder for practice or smaller game.

I went with the .454 for reasons others have stated. Bullet selection, versatility etc. As BBwheelgunner said I would get the Linebaugh in .475 for the same reason if I were to move to that bore diameter. Reloading is another addiction I have but it comes in handy for getting exactly what you want out of a given caliber. The .475 seemed to be a cartridge designed for a more specialized purpose.

Always a pleasure!

I feel your pain. I have an SSK 45-70 and started using Speer 400 gr soft points and the recoil was tremendous. [approx. 1500fps] I shoot a 475 Linebaugh with 425 gr WFNGC and it is more manageable.

I know many handgun hunters that have .475 Linebaughs. Typically, initially, they load to spec. As time goes by, they load down to more mellow levels. That said, I understand the desire to have the capacity (literally and figuratively) to load up.

The top end of the .475 Linebaugh was more than I cared to deal with on a regular basis and that was in FA83. Another friend of mine has the revolver with the long cylinder(What Whitworth has)in .45 70 and 460 Marlin. The 45 70 was bearable but the 460 was brutal. One cylinder of that was enough for a lifetime. Both were factory loads. "A man has to know his limitations" and I have found mine.

It is kind of like having a sports car, or a powerful truck... you don't always have to have it "pinned out", but it is nice to know it is there if you need/ want it

I had an Encore with a 450 Marlin factory barrel with the Muzzle Tamer factory brake. I was shooting it with full tilt loads with 400s & 420s. For me the bigger issue than recoil was the torque. She liked to twist!
That said, even with the Hogue Tamer grips it was NEVER pleasant to shoot. I had a heavy forend & bipod on it & it would bust clay pigeons all day long at 200yds from field rests, but it kept bending/shearing forend attachment screws. It went down the road!

I'm actually thinking 460 S&W. I can shoot them, 454 and 45 Colt. I realize accuracy is probably not optimal with latter two and the big jump to the barrel, but I'm not sure it will matter on deer sized game.

Accuracy is accuracy irrespective of the type of game being hunted. Considering both the .454 and .45 Colt will take any game walking this earth when properly loaded, I don't really see the need for stepping up to a 4 1/2-lb revolver. But, that's just me.

Me2

I think I made a mistake when I said my friend had a 460 Marlin cylinder. It must have been the 450 Marlin. Sorry. No matter what it was it was still brutal. I await the arrival of my .454 knowing it will take anything I may encounter. Probably should have gotten one when I visited the FA factory in the 80's. My old reliable Redhawk in .44 has served me well in the interim.

We understood what you meant. I don't doubt it was brutal at all. Heck, from what I hear, it's brutal enough in a rifle, let alone a revolver.

Im different in that ive never bought into the hype of .025 of an inch. If i want bigger i just went to a 500 but even then inrarely shoot it. All the talk of velocity not helping is onlynif ya dont do anything more than shoot a cast bullet. The 454 hAs better bullet availability and ive not had any results just wow me with my ole 475 and cast bullets before i sold it. I think a 480 is a fine choice and will
Work but your options are severely limited.