454 Casull vs 480 Ruger For Bear defense
November 19, 2025 – William Sproul
.454 Casull versus .480 Ruger: A Detailed Comparison for Bear Defense
In regions where encounters with grizzly or brown bears are a realistic possibility—such as Alaska, parts of Canada, or the northern Rocky Mountains—selecting an appropriate Bear defense handgun for personal protection demands careful consideration of power, controllability, and practical performance. Two cartridges frequently discussed in this context are the .454 Casull and the .480 Ruger. Both represent the upper echelon of production revolver cartridges, delivering energy levels that rival or exceed many rifle rounds, yet they achieve this through distinctly different design philosophies. This analysis examines the strengths and weaknesses of each specifically for the role of stopping a charging bear.
Historical Context and Design Intent for Bear Defense
The .454 Casull traces its origins to the late 1950s, when Dick Casull and Jack Fullmer sought to create a handgun cartridge capable of ethically taking the largest game animals. By lengthening the .45 Colt case and substantially strengthening the brass, they produced a round that operates at 65,000 psi—nearly double the pressure of the .44 Magnum. Commercial success arrived in the 1980s through Freedom Arms, and Ruger, Taurus, and others later adopted the chambering. The .454 was explicitly engineered for maximum velocity and energy.
Ruger and Hornady introduced the .480 Ruger in 2003 as a deliberate alternative to the line of ultra-high-pressure magnums exemplified by the .454 Casull and .475 Linebaugh. The goal was to deliver comparable terminal performance using heavier bullets at moderate velocities and lower chamber pressure (around 48,000 psi), resulting in a cartridge that is physically larger in diameter (.475 inch versus .452 inch for the .454) and theoretically more controllable in rapid fire.
Here is a clear side-by-side view of the two cartridges using comparable bullet weights (Underwood Xtreme Penetrators):
Ballistic Performance
Factory data and premium defensive loads tell the story:
| Load Type | .454 Casull | .480 Ruger |
|---|---|---|
| Typical bear-defense bullet weight | 300–400 gr hardcast | 375–440 gr hardcast |
| Buffalo Bore hardcast velocity | 300 gr @ 1,650 fps → 1,813 ft-lbs 360 gr @ 1,500 fps → 1,800 ft-lbs | 370 gr @ 1,350 fps → 1,500 ft-lbs 400 gr @ 1,200 fps → 1,280 ft-lbs (Underwood/Grizzly can reach ~1,400–1,450 ft-lbs) |
| Underwood/Grizzly hot loads | Can exceed 2,000 ft-lbs | ~1,400–1,450 ft-lbs |
On paper, the .454 Casull generates more kinetic energy and significantly higher velocity. In practice with heavy hardcast bullets, the difference narrows considerably. A 400-grain .480 hardcast at 1,300 fps penetrates deeper in heavy bone and thick hide than a 300-grain .454 at 1,650 fps, because momentum (mass × velocity) favors the heavier, larger-diameter projectile.
Multiple independent gel and wet-newsprint tests (including tests by Banana Ballistics, The Real Gunsmith, and others) consistently show the .480 achieving 36–48 inches of straight-line penetration with hardcast bullets, while the .454 often achieves slightly less with comparable bullet construction due to higher velocity causing earlier upset or fragmentation in some designs.
Recoil and Shootability
This is where the cartridges diverge most dramatically.
The .454 Casull’s sharp, violent recoil is legendary. In a 50-ounce Ruger Super Redhawk, full-house loads produce approximately 50–60 ft-lbs of free recoil energy—comparable to a lightweight .375 H&H rifle. Many experienced shooters describe it as punishing, and follow-up shots under stress are objectively slower and less accurate.
The .480 Ruger, by contrast, pushes rather than snaps. The same shooters who find full-power .454 loads unpleasant often describe the .480 as “very stout but controllable.” In identical platforms, the .480 allows significantly faster, more accurate follow-up shots—the single most important factor when a bear is closing at 30–40 feet.
Practical Considerations: Availability and Versatility
As of 2025, the .454 Casull enjoys clear advantages in availability. Multiple manufacturers (Hornady, Buffalo Bore, Underwood, Grizzly, etc.) produce defensive loads, and revolvers remain in production. Most importantly, any .454 revolver can also fire .45 Colt, allowing inexpensive practice or light plinking loads.
The .480 Ruger situation is less favorable. Ruger discontinued the Super Redhawk chambering several years ago, and only occasional Lipsey’s or custom runs appear. Factory ammunition is limited primarily to Hornady’s 325-grain XTP load (excellent for hunting but not ideal for bear—expanding bullets can fail against heavy skull). Serious .480 users rely on Buffalo Bore, Underwood, or handloads for proper hardcast penetrating ammunition, making the cartridge less practical for most people.
Real-World Bear Defense Performance
Documented bear attacks stopped with handguns are rare, but the sample we do have is instructive:
- Phil Shoemaker (Alaska master guide) stopped a charging brown bear in 2016 with a .44 Magnum using Buffalo Bore hardcast — but he has stated he would prefer a .480 Ruger or .500 Linebaugh if forced to carry a revolver again.
- Multiple Alaskan residents and guides who have actually used both cartridges in the field (including guides posting on Rokslide, Alaska Outdoors forums, and 24hourcampfire) overwhelmingly prefer the .480 Ruger when they can obtain ammunition, citing superior controllability and observed terminal performance on moose and bear.
- The .454 has also been used successfully, but several incidents report missed follow-up shots due to recoil.
The consensus among professionals who carry daily in brown bear country appears to favor cartridges that allow rapid, accurate multiple hits over raw power in a single difficult shot.
Conclusion: Which Should You Choose?
If you prioritize maximum possible power, flatter trajectory for longer pokes, and the ability to practice cheaply with .45 Colt ammunition, and you are willing to invest significant time mastering the recoil, the .454 Casull remains an outstanding choice.
If, however, you value the ability to deliver multiple deep-penetrating hits quickly and accurately under extreme stress—with a cartridge that is actually pleasant to practice with in realistic defensive loads—the .480 Ruger is objectively superior for the specific task of stopping a bear that is trying to kill you.
Unfortunately, the .480’s limited availability makes it a poor practical choice for most people in 2025. Unless you already own one or are prepared to handload, the .454 Casull (or the even more powerful .460 S&W/.500 S&W) is the realistic heavy-hitting option that remains readily obtainable.
For pure bear-stopping capability in a controllable package, the .480 Ruger remains the finest cartridge most shooters never got the chance to own.
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