I considering another new adition to my collection and I was curious if anyone has owned the 454 and the 475. I not sure which one I should buy. I have fired the 454 and was impressed with it for sure but I have no experience with the 475. Can anyone help? I want to use it for deer through grizzly as I am planning on a guided hunt next year. The brand I am going with is Freedom Arms. Thanks!

A FA is a great gun. The first question I have is do you reload? The second is do you mind putting the extra money in 475 bullets? One of the reasons the 454 is great is because of the price of the 45 cal bullets.

Thanks for the reply. I do reload but I have never reloaded or even looked into the costs associated with the 475 to be fair. And yes, the FA is a fantastic gun and I have to say that I am spoiled jn owning one. Now if I just get my hands on another one in... sorry, losing my thought train there. My final question would be (I am not recoil sensitve but I am curious) which is more controlable? I am looking into a 5" barrel length BTW. Once again, thank you for the help!!

Sorry, I didn’t answer you post that well at all. The only revolver I own is in 44 but I was figuring the price of ammo / reloading components might be a factor…

Duane

Lucien, welcome to the site...I own a Custom Reeder in 475 Linebaugh and I love it...The gun, that is...when I first ordered it, I wasn't worried about recoil...That was until I stared shooting it fairly regular...It is a handful...I actually had to send it off for a muzzlebrake...lot better to shoot now. It had actually started causing damage to the cartilage in my wrist...but I'm not a real big fellow, at 150 soaking wet. If you're looking to use as a backup it probably will not affect you to bad but, if it's for a primary I would strongly suggest a brake...As for the 454, I have never fired one so, I can't give you a comparison...I do know they are both very versitle rounds, both having little brother rounds (45 colt, 480 ruger) that can be used in the same gun...454 has a larger selection for factory ammo...475, I would say is better for the handloader. Regardless of the price of ammo or bullets, I don't think that would be an issue if you're going on a grizzly hunt with a FA...LOL...Personally, if I could have an opportunity to hunt grizzly, I would lean toward the 475, bigger hole and heavier bullets.

There is a couple of fellows on this site that can answer the comparison question better than I for, they own both...hope this may have helped a little...KRal

I own 3 of each. For truly big game -large bears, bison, buffalo, bull elk - I use and prefer the .475 Linebaugh, for the extra bullet weight and diameter. For deer, hogs, average sized blackies and similar size game, either will do, and will be comfortably adequate downloaded by a couple hundred fps.
If I owned neither, I probably would buy a .454 first, because it may be a tiny bit more versatile.
The only place you'll be able to legally hunt grizzlies / coastal brown bears with a handgun is Alaska.

WOW, three of each!!! Under 50 yards is there a difference in versatility particularly if you can load it down? I am asking this because I have seriously thought about sending my SBH to a Reeder and 5 shot “?.” I would be shooting cast bullet regardless of caliber. But with the lack of funds I have plenty of time to think about it! As a reloader I do take even the cost of components into consideration. I nearly parted with my 375 Win because of the price of 375 jacketed bullets. I think the only reason I kept it was because of the price of cast bullets.

Thanks

Duane

Lucien… I didn’t mean to hijack your post and I am sorry! I hope this information actually helps you and is not more bla bla bla bla!

Sincerely,

Duane

And if I haven’t said it on anther tread, WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!!

I am content with the 454 Casull. I used to own a FA Field Grade 454, and currently am using a FA Premier Grade 454.
I have never hunted Grizz, so I can't comment on that, but I know the 454 has taken grizz's though.

Welcome to HHM Lucien!!

Nobody has stated the painfully obvious... BUY'EM BOTH and then report back to us which is better.

I own a SRH .454 and a BFR .475. I find the .475 more pleasant to shoot for some reason. Neither is ported but the .454 seems more harsh. I am not recoil sensitive so either one is okay. My BFR is probably my most accurate revolver. I do not know if a .475 tends to be more accurate than a .454 but that BFR is a shooter!

Recoil

No worries my friend! I thank you for the help as well! I am glad that i joined this sight I have to admit. Thanks to everyone that has responded actually.

I will never moon a wereworlf. Last time that I did I said "I do" and then I see her daily! Thanks for the welcome and as far as buying both> hmmm... okay. You all are going to have to help me convince the "wolf" that I NEED them both or I am SOL and will have to roll with only one! Thanks again!

Accuracy wise both 454 FA's are exceptionally accurate @ 100 and 200 yards.

I'm with tigger but if it were one it would be the 475. I own a couple of them and I've shot the 454's but the 475 is and was designed to be the best of the 454 and 500 linebaugh. With 325 grain bullets you'll get ballistics similiar to the 454 although not quite as flat shooting and with the heavier bullets the 475 will actually out penetrate the 454 or the 500 Linebaugh. It's not perfect but it's a good combination of ballistics and penetration. The 454 will give you a little more range and hits hard enough to kill anything that walks but if your going to be shooting within a 100yds or so and want a little more authority the 475 would be my pick.

I don't know but I am with Tigger buy 'em both and tell us which you like best!Welcome to the sight!

You have got to watch the werewolfs!! LOL<LOL

OK, reasons to buy both guns.
~ The 7-1/2" barreld 475 is for primary hunting

~ The 4-5/8" barreld 454 is for backup on the hip, don't want to be knocked to the ground by a grizzly bear and not have a secure gun on the hip for defense.

~FA guns hold there value, so it's like saving for retirement times 2

~You can shoot 45 Colt in the 454 and the wolf will enjoy shooting it (this is also a great way to get the second cylinder in 45 Colt)

~If one gun/optics happens to get damaged during the hunt you have the other so the trip is not a total wash

~You need the two different calibers for different types of game

I'm sure the other guys can chime in with more good reasons! LOL

Hay, if I didn’t respect your opinion I wouldn’t ask! I think for “me” and already having 3 44Mags, I would go with the 475. However THANK YOU for your time.

Duane

Keep talkin', I am taking notes! I agree with the value idea as well. I do know that they are well worth it, have one in 44 at the moment along with my 29-2. I think that is WHY it is going to be so hard to say that I need MORE. Keeps life interesting I suppose! The other obstacle is the "wolf" is British and cannot understand guns at all anyway!

I agree (I am still thinking about the TWO idea), I think that the 475 would be the first choice for me. I also hear that the recoil on the 475 is nasty but not as sharp as the 454, more of a roll than a sharp smack. At least, that is what I am told anyway.

I think with “full house” loads in either one I would want a magnaported barrel. it is going to be loud anyway, at least make it comfortable to shoot!

Damaged the cartiledge in your wrist? Hmmm, I am big guy, six four 210 lbs but at the same time, bone is bone. You must have shot the hell outta that to do damage like that. I would think that for fun I could load it down and plink in the 800fps range and then throttle it up for the hunt.

You make tough case for the 454 first in your response. That settles it! I am going to get both. Dog house here I cone!

Now your talking!!!!

We'll be looking for a full report soon.

I'm 6'3" @ 260 and I've always had a thing for the hardest kicking of big bores and in fact the 475 Maximum was next on my list but in January I will be getting two pins and a plate in my right wrist and I'll find out when they do the MRI on my left wrist in two weeks if I'm just looking at two pins and my ligaments reattached or if I'll get the plate in it too. I would strongly suggest using any recoil management you can because no matter how big you are or how insensitive to recoil you are it will take a toll, especially if you shoot alot.

Right. I am on it!

Recoil is an interesting animal. The gun, grips, and load can have alot to do with it. I remember not to long after the 500 S&W was out I got to try a couple. At the SWPA blast and blab Tony V had a BFR in 500 Smith. I shot 5 rounds thru the gun. Recoil was nasty! The gun is light and the grips were hard rubber. I'm a fairly rugged guy with a strong grip. The gun tried to twist out of my hand and the barrel was pointing straight up upon firing. I was thinking to myself if this is what the 500 is like I DON"T want one. About an hour later Gerry got out his 8-3/8" 500 Smith and asked if I wanted to try it. I was walking over to the bench with my body screaming NO MORE, but the brain was reasoning that I must try it to double rule out that the 500 was not for me. WOW what a differance. The S&W was easy and very comfartable to shoot. It had a nice soft rubber grip, was twice the weight of the BFR and the porting kept the gun from rising much at all. Needless to say, the mind was in overdrive to get one and the body agreed it could handle the gun.

I know Tony V got some better grips and had the BFR ported not too long after the shoot. So if you opt for a light weight single action in a thumper, good hand fitting grips and some type of muzzle break is a good idea to keep the body happy and in one piece.

Tigger, I have looked into the Smith in 500 and I have to say that I was intrigued and then held one at a local gun shop here and was somewhat put off by it. It looks so strange with that huge cylinder and such. I am amazed that it was pleasant to shoot to say the least.
You are right though about the design of the grip and the way that the gun fits you in regards to felt recoil and huch pounding the body can take. I have owned many heavy hitting guns in the past and got away from them due to the damage that it was bound to cause at a later date. I want a gun that hits like a freight train, is very portable (5.5") barrel, and is something that I can load up or down to suite the situation and isn't going to rip my head off with the hotter loads. I keep thinking that the FA is the way to go. I guess I want my cake and eat it too. Power, control, and flexibility. I have that to a degree in the 44 mag but I guess that I want something even more flexible. I am hunting for the right combination.

You are right the 500 is a pig! It's very heavy and huge in the hand. But after touching off a few I loved it. I have always had strong hands and arms so holding the big gun freehand was not much of an issue for me. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I know some guys that dislike the 500 just because it's so big and gangly. The SRH is also a weird looking gun, but it appeals to me.

Lucien,
You're on the right track when you talk about getting both. Remember, one of these days you'll be dead and gone...and you won't be buying anything then.
Still another way to look at it is that most people probably lost more in their 401-K's in the last couple of months than the cost of 2 FA's...and they damned sure didn't get ANY fun out of that !

LOL! Tigger.

If you can afford both the 454 and 475 by Freedom Arms, that would be wonderful and also solve the caliber question. If you could only afford one of these and asked me which one...I would recommend a field grade 454 with a 10" barrel and never look back....