Ok, this is just for pondering sake... (right now).
I already mentioned in the "Today's hunter & the 44 mag" thread that I feel the 44 mag with the right bullets is adequate for anything here in Alaska with the possible exception of brown bear.

That said, I still find myself thinking of something bigger at times, & the two production calibers that come to mind are the 480 & 454. For this conversation I really want to leave the other calibers out.
For the sake of argument, we'll use them both in the same vehicle, the SRH.
I'm not looking for a long range gun (say 100yds & under), but want something that will make a good moose & bear slayer.
My leaning is toward the 480. I like a heavy bullet at reasonable velocities. I've heard the recoil isn't as sharp with the 480. I handle the 44 mag with heavy bullets OK, but I am starting to experience some fair arthritis in my hands, especially the shooting hand(Too many years of abusing them in construction, mechanicing, & logging {chainsaw vibration}), so that's a consideration.

Actually I'll throw in one more possibility. Is the 45 Colt, say in a SBH a big enough step up over the 44 mag to warrant it's consideration? Right now I push the 44 mag to about 1325ish with 320 or 300gr Hardcast bullets.

Thoughts & experience?

Vance how have you been? I haven't seen you on in awhile. I too am a big fan of big bullets. I would go with the 480 just because you can get a 400 grain ball for it. If you like cast you can go up to 440 grains. I have a 475 Linebaugh and a couple 454's in revolvers and the 475 would be my pick if I had to pick just one. My 475 eats a steady diet of 400 grain lead bullets @1200 FPS. I like the recoil as it is a big shove compared to 350 grain cast in my 454's which is just violent. So my vote is for the 480.

Toby

I have had both and would say that the 480 was the best. However it is a lot like shooting a VW Bug at 1200FPS.

Compare a 20Ga slug and a 400gr 480--

Past 50 yards it is like a John Carnie field goal

It might be a lot easier to find 45 caliber bullets.

If you plan to hunt mostly with hardcast bullets, I would go with the 480 for the bigger hole. If you plan to use jacketed bullets, I would go with the .454 due to the large variety of .451-.452 diameter bullets that are available. You really can't go wrong with either round.

I agree with melonhead,seems like (to me anyway) that the 480 and the 475 linebaugh at moderate velocities are alot easier on the hand than the 454.

Vance,
Either of them will do anything you want to do in Alaska. I shoot very little .480, but have used both the .475 L and the .454 a great deal on game.
The .480 when loaded with the 400 gr. bullets will come within about 100 fps or so of a .475 L. Of course, 360-400 gr. .451-.452 bullets are also available from some of the specialty houses or through casting, and that can put all three on the same playing field. The .480 or .475 thus loaded seems to have a BIT softer recoil in my hands, but the recoil of all of them can be called stiff.
Although I prefer the .475 (.480) with 400's to the .454,it's probably hard to really quantify why one is better than the other on game.Frankly, I believe it's a matter of opinion and prejudice. So aw heck, pick the .480.

I personally would go .480 over the .454. Flat trajectory and revolvers shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence. I have sot my .480s at distance wth heavy bullets at moderate velocities and they do fine. Plus, they make a big hole. If you don't handload, I would recomend Bufalo Bore's 410 grain WFN at 1,200 fps -- you won't be disappointed.

Thanks guys!

Hmmm... I think I see a pattern here...
I do reload & am a fan of heavy hardcast so it looks like the majority recomendation is for the 480 which is where I've been leaning already.
Now I just need to put a few pennies away & start watching. I also have a really nice 10mm Witness pistol with the Wonderfinish & accessories that I'll probably put out as trading stock...

480 RUGER!

I have shot them both and 480 very easy on recoil 454 little bit harder but 1900 fps real nice. from the 454

Hey Tig, can I just have yours so you can go buy a brand new one

dc74, that seems to be the general opinion on recoil, & I'm glad to hear it. My hand can probably take big pushes alot better than sharp smacks nowdays.

Vance,

I don't know you personally, but it sounds like you're no novice. Before I go any further let me diclose that I'm somewhat biased as I wnet through this very same issue about 3 years ago, that said here's my thoughts. I'd like to make a suggestion. Ruger has discontinued the 480 as you know so there may be some increased difficulty in finding 480 ammo and the 475Linebaugh however still in production and an excellent round is a custom ammo and quite expensive. Now as a gun chambering the 475L can also chamber the 480 the same is true with the 454 and 45 LC. You may want to consider the 460 SW it will accomodate all 3 cartridges and can be loaded up hotter than any of the other cartridges. I load my 454 up to 360gr @ 1450 fps using Grizzly Ammo if yoy've got a 460 you can shoot 395 gr @ 1525 fps and 2040ft lbs energy using Corbon ammo. I can also load mine down low using cheaper Cowboy Action 45 Long Colt. Just food for thought I think that it offers a little more fleibility and access to the ammo.

My SRH in .480 is a pussycat to shoot with the Hogue "tamer" grip. My Bisley in 45LC with 265's has a bigger "kick" than the .480 with 325 XTP's. And, the bigger the hole the better ;-)

I`am pretty much in the same boat as you as far as my shooting wrist is concerned because of a job related injury which is why I had muzzle brakes installed on my 454 and 475 handguns.There is a definate difference in felt recoil between the two calibers with the 454 having a "faster" kick then the 475. However, having seen first hand how big your grizzles can be I would use the widest,heaviest bullet I could handle....

good advice james lol but both would do the job. a nice 3 lb trigger makes big deffrens in shooting not recoil lol

Well I took the 1st step toward 480 ownership.
I put my Fedora recurve up for sale

The bigger hole makes a difference in my opinion. The .480 is nearly the round the .475 is and I don't give a rat's backside how fast you push a .45 in any of its iterations, it ain't a .475. I think ME is a poor way to judge the effectiveness of a cartridge and more of a marketing tool for the various manufacturers. The .454 in nearly all of its factory iterations produces more ME than the .475 Linebaugh, not to mention the various loadings of the .460 Smith, but neither, in my opinion, are in the same class as the .475/.480. Large diameter, heavy bullets at moderate velocities just flat out work better than lighter, smaller and faster (revolver rounds), particularly on big game.

Get the .480 and never look back -- you will not be disappointed in the least.

I DON'T KNOW THAT .015" ON EACH SIDE OF THE BULLET WILL MAKE THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE EXCEPT FOR CUTTING LINES ON PAPER. THE ENERGY IS WHAT WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE. YOU DON'T GAIN THAT MUCH BETWEEN THE TWO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THE RECOIL AND BULLET CHOICE WOULD BE ABOUT THE ONLY DIFFERENCE.IT'S NOT LIKE COMPARING THE 500 NITRO TO A 22 LONGRIFLE. I THINK EITHER WAY YOU GO YOU WILL HAVE ENOUGH GUN TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT YOU NEED TO.

Last fall I had this same dilemma and chose the 480. What made me go with the 480, was looking at all the ads for 454 that said: "Only has 10 rounds through it".
I figured that they took their new toy out to the range, shot it 5 times, took it home, put it away, take it back out 3 months later, shot it again, then said: "the hell with this gun", and put it up for sale. LOL

WHY ARE YOU YELLING?! By the same token, there is no need to move up from a .429 magnum to a .45 Colt, or .454, or .460 since there is so little "real difference" in size. This line of thinking can lead to stagnation. Why innovate at all? Bullet choice and placement are always critical, but when you go big, you no longer really require expansion, requiring less velocity, etc.

The high pressure .454 is an unpleasant cuss to shoot, but so is my .475 when you push the speed up, but I have realized that you don't need to push them hard to get it done as they will go end to end on even large animals, and ME has nothing to do with it. It is momentum that is transfered and this favors a heavy bullet.

Oh, and I'm not a paper puncher. If I were, I can assure you that I would choose something cheaper, easier to shoot and way more pleasant than my various big-bore handguns. Why beat yourself up unnecessarily??

I have had both, and kept the .480 Ruger SRH.
I LOVE that gun.
I also still have my .44 SRH.
The .480 and .44 DO feel alot alike in recoil.
At least as long as the .480s heaviest bullets are kept
at moderate velocities.
The .454 was, as mentioned by others, unpleasant to shoot much.
And I am not recoil sensitive.
I know some people like the ability to shoot colts in their casulls. I personally dont target shoot with my hunting guns.
Besides, 45 colts and (44 specials) around here are expensive as hades.
As far as power comparison, if you believe the Taylor KO system, (which I do since I shoot solids)you can see how the 480 starts to pull away from the Casull quite easily, no matter how hard you try to force out the Casull. More caliber and weight wins every time.
With less kick, blast, and boom.
Bullets are abundant for both if you reload.
With cartridges like the 480 and 454, you have too for costs sake.
I settled on the 355gr Leadhead for my deer bullet in the 480.
I like H110 and 2400.

Hey Vance have you given any thought to a BFR .475 Linebaugh/.480 Ruger? I know that you started off mentioning the SRH so I was wondering if you were stuck on a double action. The BFR can take either round so you can go with a little more power if need be. I really like my BFR. It is my most accurate revolver.

Recoil

X2

I am the odd-duck, and I would go with the 454, simply because I already have dies brass, bullets, etc.
I am not arguing against the reasoning of going with the 480-It is some sound reasoning.

Thanks for all the help guys.
See my new thread, "OK, so I bought this 480"

Ernie, if I had the 454 stuff I'd be right with you, but I don't. I'm starting from scratch for either one, no dies, not even a chunck of brass, no bullets on hand in either caliber.
I do agree with your reasoning though. This last year when I decided I needed a "practical" Alaska gu & decided to get a Marlin Guide Gun again, I went 450 Marlin rather than the more common 45-70 simply because I had all the components & dies from my 15" Encore.

I am not judging either cartridge. For myself, I would like to have a 454 Casull SRH though.

Here in PA you can't find a 454 Casull SRH to buy, and 480 Ruger SRH are dust collectors.

I believe you might have some trouble finding 480 ammo. I never have owned a 480 but From what I hear from my local gunshops is that the 454 sort of pushed the 480 aside.I just bought myself a Magnum Research BFR 454. I know that the 454 has sharper recoil, but from what I have heard from the other members is that the 454 is an excellent cartridge up to and including the large bears. Just use the right bullet and you should be good to go.