The .44 Remington Magnum and the .454 Casull are two of the most “iconic” (I can’t stand that word, but it is fitting) big-bore revolver cartridges, each with its own strengths. The .44 Magnum is definitely more available, versatile, and has decades of ammo and firearm options behind it…including revolvers and lever guns…making it a favorite for everything from big-game hunting to personal defense. The .454 Casull, on the other hand, is the heavyweight in terms of raw power, capable of extreme energy and recoil, yet still flexible enough to shoot milder .45 long Colt ammunition. Both are impressive, but the choice often comes down to whether you value accessibility and versatility (.44 Magnum) or sheer stopping power (.454 Casull).
And now for the embarrassing part…I, Angela Montana, bought my first Ruger .454 Casull (which is a 6-shot vs. the Taurus Casull 5-shot) at 29 years-old after seeing it at Big Bear Sports in Billings, which closed in 2018, and thinking, “Wow… that’s beautiful.” I knew absolutely nothing about revolvers…zero, zip, nada…but, somehow, after a two-week layaway payment plan, I walked out with it anyway. Years later, I ended up with two of them (we won’t discuss why here lol), and now I can personally confirm that while the .44 Magnum is a beast, the .454 Casull leaves a much bigger impression…on targets, on your hands, and, apparently, on my lifelong ability to make rational firearm purchases. Oh, both of my Casulls have a 2.5-inch barrel.
Be sure to read more on each of these magnificent guns here.
