Personally I went with the 480 a couple years ago. I have sold 3 FA's in 454 since. One I wish I would have kept, a 6" with both winewood and black micarta grips, but it also had both the 45 colt cylinder and the 454. I realize today that the only real advantage of the 454 over the old colt in these strong compact revolvers is the fact the 454 holds the same performance out farther. For me with open sights this is no longer usefull as my eyes just dont work like they did in the field today like they did 30 years ago.
The other thing I found is that my wrist will give me much less problems the next day shooting the 480 Bisley than they do shooting the 454's, and out to 75 to 100 yards the 480 is my choice for a bigger hammer over the 454.
Now I also prefer a revolver that is comfortable to carry all day, and that leaves that Beast they call an X frame out! Even the SR is more bulk than I care for. Now I still like big hammers so I have now decided to try the 475, but will still be able to shoot 480 if I need. but I am going to try my first BFR to keep the weight up a little more but still keep it in a relatively useful size. But don't see where I will gain any killing advantage over the 480 for the game I hunt, deer hogs and maybe still an elk or two yet in my future?
As for those that think a 460 S&W is any better than a 454 this deserves a comment in my opinion! I never would consider such a monstrosity to drag around in the first place, but I did a little test several years ago. That 2300 fps they tote as so great is only capable with a 200 grain slug,, and then only in a 10" or 12"barrel length. So I bought a box of the 200 grain XTP's, pulled the polymer tips and loaded them in 454 cases which allowed me to shoot them in my 6" FA. with the shorter case 36 grains of H-110 was very compressed load, and a far cry from the 52 grains Hornady was loading for the overly glorified 460! End result was with 16 less grains of powder, a lot less blinding flash, and less than 120 fps less velocity, it proved to me to be no more than a bloated claim of superior power, and a total waste of time in a revolver using a 460 S&W, add the size and bulk it required to do it makes it a total inefficient waste of materials, from brass and powder to good stainless steel!!
Not to mention the waste of meat when it was used inside of 250 yards over a well placed heavy cast slug. In fact the 480 I have is way more hammer than any 460 out of any revolver as far out as you want to hit something with it.
Now if you use the round in a closed breach gun like the encore where it is able to use that powder increase for performance instead of just making it a bigger flame thrower,, It will impress for long range. With over 2750 fps available from the Encore with a 14" working barrel. Problem is at these velocities it is useless on big game as the bullets inside 150 to 200 yards will disintegrate on heavy tissue, let alone bone.
Now with the writings and teaching of John Linebaugh, even the heavy cast slugs are at there best when loaded under 1400 fps, easily capable with over 360 grain slugs in a 454. But with the high pressure it runs to do this for me the recoil is worse than the 385 grain bullets in the 480 which doesn't have as harsh a kick for these old arthritic ate up wrists and is even better medicine for big game.
So these are just some personal results I have had with these big calibers. To me the 45 Colt in the strong single actions, where open sights or red dots out to 75 to 100 yards or so is the chore, it is my only choice in 45 caliber. The 480 Ruger is even better out to those distances even over the 454 in my opinion. Now I have no hands on other than shooting a 475 a couple times a few years back at targets of opportunity, I really don't think their is going to be any real world advantage over the 480, like I found with 454 and 45 Colt inside 100 yards. But I am hoping with the extra weight, and special grip on the BFR I am going to go with, I can enjoy it as much as the heavier 480 loads in the Bisley's, when I shoot them around 1200 to 1300 fps with that heavier 385 grain load, and easier on me than the heavy hot loads in the 454, one thing is for sure, I am going to find this out.
But in the guns I prefer to hunt with, and carry in all terrain all day long, the single actions, the 480 is a better hammer than the 454, and to me the 45 Colt inside 100 yards with heavy cast big game bullets will do anything the 454 will and more than most of us will ever need in these strong single actions. But the 480 is even better and with even heavier better suited cast bullets will top that, I doubt their will be much advantage inside 100 yards using the bigger 475 over the 480 in them circumstances. But one thing I know! inside 100 yards the 460 S&W is the biggest waste of powder in any revolver cartridge I have ever had experience with,, and X frame is clumsiest revolver I have ever handled!
