New to the forum and interested in a Taurus Raging Bull in .480. Not much handgun talk on here. I do not own a pisol but would like one todeer hunt with. Here in IL legal firearms are Muzzleloaders,shotguns and .45+ handguns. This particular gun is in like new condition, less than one box fired, dealer will sell for $550, says they are discontinuing the .480 and list price when gun was purchased this spring (he sold it as new) was $800+. Is this a reasonable price and would it be a good hunting gun? Dealer says Taurus is popular and high quality for the money and very accurate out of the box, I'm a novice when it comes to most of this I just have a few guns and mainly use to hunt not a lot of range shooting. Thanks for your opinions.

I don't own one but have heard good things about them.

I had a Ragin Bull in .44 Mag a few years ago. It was ok but I could not shoot it as well as my friends Ruger Super Redhawk. Maybe it did not fit in my hand as well as the Ruger. IMO there are better choices out there. I wound up working out a trade for mine that I was happy with.

Check theother firearms forums and you'll find a LOT of folks having not so positive things to say about thier Taurus firearms. Do you really think the dealer, the person selling the gun, would offer up negative comments about what they sell? If you're really needing the .480 chambering, look for a Ruger SBH.
Also, remember that this sin't a widely popular chambering so ammo might not always be readily available. If you're to reload that's a whole different story.

With S&W and Ruger selling pistols why would anyone buy a Brazilian made pistol . I would if it were 1/2 price of the other brands I mentioned but it is not

I personally wouldn't own another Taurus after my experience with a little ultra lite 38 Taurus I had.You can find a Ruger SRH for around the same money. It's a much better gun and allot stronger.Made in America. Ruger backs their products no matter how long you've owned it.Don't go by Ruger's MSRP. You can find them all day way under their suggested price.I have a SRH in 454 Casull and it shoots good. The only thing if I were doing it over again I would go with a 7 1/2" bbl instead of the 9 1/2" I have.Do as you see fit,if it was my money no questions asked I'd get the Ruger.

Thats a lot of money for a ragin bull. I just can't dig alot of things about the gun. My brother owned one and had issues with the cylinder timing. They fixed it, but he promptly sold it. Don't blame him

I can't imagine buying a 480 as my first pistol. Its a handfull for experienced pistol shooters.

So it only matters that the others are American made so long as the price is right? [&:]

I don't have much experience with Taurus. I've shot a few (including the Raging Bull) but not enough to form an opinion. That being said I will put in another "plug" for Ruger. These I have a LOT of experience with and they are tough reliable revolvers that will withstand the heavy hitting loads day in and day out with nary an hiccup. I too hunt in Illinois and last year Ikilled a nice 8-point with a fixed sighted Ruger Vaquero .44Mag (below) at just about 20 yards. I was watching him walk toward me but I didn't have a clear lane to shoot him, by the time he made his way into a clear lane he was at about 20 yards and I had forgotten to ear back the hammer!! Needles to say,even with my very best effort to keep the noise down, the "Click....click" of the Ruger got his attention and I had to make a pretty fast shot before he bolted away.


Here's the deer...The gun is on my righthip under my shirt, you can just make it out.



This year I will again leave my slug gun at home and will be hitting the woods with a Ruger .44mag only this time it will be a Hunter model with a 4x Leupold scope on it!





For $550.00 you can get yourself a "new in box" Ruger and it will last you a lifetime!

Food for thought........