I hunt in upstate NY (shotgun only or pistol) I've taken many deer with slugs and wanting to use handgun. I have a smith 629 with 5 " barrell but am thinking of the new Ruger Super Redhawk in 480 or 454 Casul. I expect my shots to be under 75 yards with pistol carried with my 1187 scoped shotgun. but am thinking of putting a scope on it. Does anybody have any experience with these cartridges on deer? How far did the deer run? What was the wound like? How far can each cartridge take a deer (whitetail)? Also, I have seen some balistics where the 480 is so similar to the 44 mag in weight and velocity. Hornady 480 Ruger 325 gr. XTP-Mag velocity 1,350 is almost same as CorBon 320gr-Hard Cast 480ruger velocity 1299. (this infro from the Shooting times Ruger collector's edition magazine, on sale now, it is great if your a Ruger fan as it goes in detail most of the Ruger Guns). Is there that much difference with a 480? Also at 75 yards will I just be punching a hole quicker than with the 44? What about the 454? How far is it good to? I'd appreciate as much detailed info if anyone is willing. thanks
I have ordered a Ruger SRH Target Grey in .480 Ruger. With 400gr bullets I think it would be good on animals right up to moose, out to 75 yards, as long as you could place your shots in the lungs; broadside shots.
Since I live in Canada the law says I cannot hunt with a handgun though...
I might try it on a WT I would never do somthing as irresponsible as shooting a moose with it at any yardage.
I might try it on a WT I would never do somthing as irresponsible as shooting a moose with it at any yardage.
A 400gr bullet at 1350fps is not irresponsible! That is factory velocity for the 405gr .45-70 and I bet you would use that!
As I said, out to ~50 yards I would shoot a moose with that .480 Ruger. It depends on how those bullets penetrate and hold together. If they hold together the way I believe they would, then they would flatten a moose. If they do not, then hard cast bullets would be an option.
Btw, have you shot a moose? I've shot a bunch. They are amazingly easy to drop, for such big animals. Any well placed round (broadside in the lungs) from .243 up will knock them down... unless it is a big bull in the rut, that you have riled up. So based on my experience (25 years of hunting them in Alberta), I am certain the .480 Ruger would do the job.
Well maybe someday you can move to a country where they allow you to use a handgun and try it.
Yea, Canadian gun laws suck!! :x
If you think about it at all, you know a Ruger RH or SRH is a big pistol. My .44 mag SRH has a 7-1/2" barrel. It is hardly a concealed weapon and while it is deadly at close range... say out to 50 yards, that's about it. So this handgun, that I cannot conceal and I cannot shoot anything with (realistically) beyond 75 yards cannot go into the bush with me, yet I can take a 7mm RM, that is deadly out to ~400 yards... I cannot conceal it either btw... is legal.
The .480 Ruger SRH I have on order also has the 7-1/2" barrel. For hunting I would likely add a 2X handgun scope... well then it would really be tough to conceal.
As far as me using it on big game, well that's another story...
FYI: There are laws to allow carrying handguns in the bush in Canada, and I intend to check those out. *You need to be 1) Security (Brinks) guard. 2) Occupation such as a geologist working in remote bush. 3) Trapper. Then you can get an authorization to carry. I am going to look into the trappers license.
I hunt. I shoot handguns. I don't hunt with handguns. So I can't offer much info. However, some other cartridges to consider are the 500 S&W (500 grains of Hornday factory is devistating) or the new 460 vxr by S&W (uses the same x-frame as the 500) which you can also shoot 45 colt.
I watched a lady on OLN hunting whitetail with a scoped 454 cassul, and she took a whitetail cleanly at 100 yards, that 454 cassul hit that deer like a sledgehammer, and knocked him in the dirt. I was impressed with it. It also showed her taking a marco polo sheep at 125 yards, man what a gun and what a lady.
So up there you can own a handgun but not hunt with it?I do not understand that at all,why?
So up there you can own a handgun but not hunt with it?I do not understand that at all,why?
I don't undertand it either, but basically it's cuz' of idiot left wing politicians. :-?
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