[Myrddin]

However, my husband describes the Ruger 480's recoil to be considerably worse that the S&W 500's.

Recoil? Try the Ruger 454 Casull in 7.5" with a Corbon round that produces 1905 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. Ouch. More painful than any commercial round from the S&W .500 mag in the 82 oz Hunter.

454 Casull 240gr. Jacketed Hollow Point

Range	0	50	100	125	150	175	200	yards
Velocity	1450	1297	1172	1122	1078	1042	1009	fps
Energy	1121	897	733	671	620	578	543	ft/lb
Path	-0.50	2.34	0.00	-3.46	-8.65	-15.69	-24.68	in
454 Casull 265gr Bonded-Core Hollow Point
Range	0	50	100	125	150	175	200	yards
Velocity	1800	1625	1463	1389	1321	1258	1201	fps
Energy	1907	1552	1260	1136	1027	931.5	849.4	ft/lb
Path	-0.50	1.40	0.00	-2.17	-5.48	-10.03	-15.95	in
454 Casull 285gr Bonded-Core Soft Point
Range	0	50	100	125	150	175	200	yards
Velocity	1700	1543	1401	1337	1277	1222	1173	fps
Energy	1829	1508	1243	1131	1032	945.3	870.4	ft/lb
Path	-0.50	1.58	0.00	-2.40	-6.01	-10.96	-17.37	in
454 Casull 300gr Jacketed Soft Point
Range	0	50	100	125	150	175	200	yards
Velocity	1650	1505	1374	1315	1260	1209	1164	fps
Energy	1814	1510	1258	1152	1057	974.1	902.3	ft/lb
Path	-0.50	1.67	0.00	-2.51	-6.28	-11.42	-18.05	in
454 Casull 320gr Flat Point Penetrator
Range	0	50	100	125	150	175	200	yards
Velocity	1600	1466	1345	1290	1239	1192	1151	fps
Energy	1819	1527	1285	1182	1091	1011	941.3	ft/lb
Path	-0.50	1.78	0.00	-2.64	-6.59	-11.95	-18.85	in
454 Casull 335gr Hard-Cast Flat Point
Range	0	50	100	125	150	175	200	yards
Velocity	1600	1419	1264	1198	1141	1093	1052	fps
Energy	1905	1497	1188	1068	968.6	888.2	822.8	ft/lb
Path	-0.50	1.92	0.00	-2.93	-7.37	-13.48	-21.39	in
454 Casull 360gr Flat Point Penetrator
Range	0	50	100	125	150	175	200	yards
Velocity	1500	1387	1286	1241	1200	1161	1126	fps
Energy	1800	1640	1323	1231	1150	1077	1014	ft/lb
Path	-0.50	2.01	0.00	-2.93	-7.27	-13.12	-20.58	in

[Quilla]

He also has the 454 Casull. I'll have to ask him about it. IIRC, it has a 9.5" barrel.

I appreciate the gun threads on Free Republic. This was the place I first heard of Ruger's 480 and 500 and they made incredible gifts. What do you think of this revolver S&W is reintroducing?

[kitchen]

I used to frequent a shop long ago where the 'smith made Contender barrels in .458 American. That's a straight taper H&H case cut off at 2" length. The only ballistic info I have is for a 24 inch barrel and claims a 405 grain bullet at 2100 fps for about 4,000 fp ME. Sort of a +P+ .45/70. Of course the contender barrels were 8 and 10 inches so some experimenting with powders would be required. I thought the guy was nuts, but over the years I've kicked myself for not grabbing one. Jeez, today you can't even find a .454 Casull barrel for the Contender.