If one wanted to hunt very large game such as elk, moose, or brown bear with a handgun, then I could see the ability calibers larger than the .44 Magnum to drive heavier bullets at high enough velocity to reliably expand a JSP or JHP perhaps being useful. However, when I start thinking about hunting such large game the question that comes immediately to mind is whether a handgun of any type is the sort of firearm that I should be using in the first place. Personally, I'll take a long gun if I need more power and/or penetration than a 240-250gr bullet at 1200-1300fps can give me.
When and for what do you need more than .44 Magnum?
- Thread starter Cosmodragoon
- Start date
dalegribble
New member
hey......didn't they do a world tour with the 44 mag taking every big game animal on every continent in the world successfully some years back? now maybe all those big boomers have more power than the 44 mag but dead is dead right? someone should do a test on how fast the can unload all these big magnums on target the most accurately at dangerous game distances, i'd put my money on the 44 mag......and you would have 6 rounds instead of 5 too 
myusername
New member
I have a blackhawk 44mag. I carry it if I'm in bear country, or even mountain lion country. I'm pretty accurate with the first shot and my plan is to not need a second. I don't go to Grizzly country enough to warrant a .454, or bigger.
One issue in many places you need a hunting license. If you are just out hiking you may not be allowed to carry a shotgun or rifle. Rifles are also often limited to 5 rounds or less.
This is where my Draco AK47 comes in handy. It's technically a pistol, even though it has like a 14 inch barrel and holds 40 rounds and I have a CCW so in most places I can legally carry it without violating hunting laws. I'm pretty sure (let's say, "I hope") if a Grizzly charges me and I haven't just tripped over him, I can dump 10-20 rounds of 7.62 into him before he gets me. If that doesn't slow him down I still have the .44 to stick down his mouth. If that doesn't work I guess I'll try bear spray assuming I still have an arm.
One issue in many places you need a hunting license. If you are just out hiking you may not be allowed to carry a shotgun or rifle. Rifles are also often limited to 5 rounds or less.
This is where my Draco AK47 comes in handy. It's technically a pistol, even though it has like a 14 inch barrel and holds 40 rounds and I have a CCW so in most places I can legally carry it without violating hunting laws. I'm pretty sure (let's say, "I hope") if a Grizzly charges me and I haven't just tripped over him, I can dump 10-20 rounds of 7.62 into him before he gets me. If that doesn't slow him down I still have the .44 to stick down his mouth. If that doesn't work I guess I'll try bear spray assuming I still have an arm.
460 isnt for everyone. It may not even be "right" for me. I love to shoot it and its much more manageable than people think. I only shoot 460 cases. If you want a softer slower round than load them down. The 45lc and 454 (I havent tried them) are reported to give poor accuracy out of the gun. If you want a bit more than a 357 then the 41m might be the way to go. Also there are some tremendous deals available for 480 RH on gunbroker. I am a little concerned that the caliber might go away.
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
correction... there used to be... I was going to get one, but could never pull the cash together... those have dried up, & Ruger has started producing new ones, & they are kinda tough to get right now, & carry full price... I guess I snoozed & losed...
as mentioned before, I'm not a fan of the uber long cylinders, but also not a big fan of ultra high pressure cartridges like the full strength Casull the 480 Ruger is a normal magnum pressure round, & falls nicely between my medium 454 loads, & my custom 50 A.E. revolver... I can see one in my future... a "normal" magnum length cylinder seems to balance much better in "my" hand, than the long cylinder guns... also, the shooter should be very careful of the barrel cylinder gap on guns like the X frame, especially with longer barrels, I've learned the hard way with high pressure rounds, & long barrels, there can be the desire to steady the gun, by holding or supporting the long barrel, & I've burned my wrist a couple times doing that... so I've kinda graduated to nothing longer than a 6" barrel on my revolvers to eliminate my tendency to burn my wrists
as for not shooting short for chamber, rounds, this is something I learned in the 357 Maximum... Trailboss can be safely loaded in these big cases, giving a large variety of lower pressure / recoil / noise levels in the "dino guns", without developing carbon rings where they don't belong in the chambers...
22-rimfire
New member
That is my impression also. But I haven't seen any of the new Ruger SRH's in 480 Ruger as of yet. Wish they offered a 5.5" or even 6.5" version. I feel sure that it is the price tag on the new ones that jump started the old pricing that was found in the $500 range for SRH's. I'm looking forward to an Alaskan when the the new production begins to hit the shelves. But I think Ruger is busy busy busy these days and the 480 SRH does not seem to be a manufacturing priority for them now.
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
they are making the regular Alaskans in 480 again ( a couple guys on the internet have gotten some new ones )...
http://www.ruger.com/products/superRedhawkAlaskan/models.html
http://www.lipseys.com/itemdetail.aspx?itemno=RUKSRH2480
AFAIK, they are only doing these in 454 Casull yet, but maybe a 480 in the future ???
http://www.lipseys.com/itemdetail.aspx?itemno=RUKSRH5454
http://www.ruger.com/products/superRedhawkAlaskan/models.html
http://www.lipseys.com/itemdetail.aspx?itemno=RUKSRH2480
AFAIK, they are only doing these in 454 Casull yet, but maybe a 480 in the future ???
http://www.lipseys.com/itemdetail.aspx?itemno=RUKSRH5454
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22-rimfire
New member
Good to know that some of the new 480's are showing up. That Lipsey's 5" (in 480 Ruger) certainly would some appeal to me. But I still want a snubbie Alaskan in 480. I have no earthly need for one. It is pure "want". I'm sure it would be shot little or I suspect so.
I find it interesting that the Ruger Target Grey finish is now popular. Many didn't like it when it first came out. The new ones are satin stainless only as I understand it.
I've always said that if I got an Alaskan, it would have to be in 480 Ruger. Never cared for the 454 Casull in normal revolvers although I feel sure it is more comfortable to shoot in the S&W X-frames.
I find it interesting that the Ruger Target Grey finish is now popular. Many didn't like it when it first came out. The new ones are satin stainless only as I understand it.
I've always said that if I got an Alaskan, it would have to be in 480 Ruger. Never cared for the 454 Casull in normal revolvers although I feel sure it is more comfortable to shoot in the S&W X-frames.
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