TAURUS 454 RAGING BULL Handers
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The American Rifleman has used the phrase “Dope Bag” at least since 1921, when Col. Townsend Whelen first titled his column with it. Even then, it had been in use for years, referring to a sack used by target shoot- ers to hold ammunition and accessories on the firing line.“Sight dope”also was a traditional marksman’s term for sight adjustment information, while judging wind speed and direction was called “doping the wind.” CAUTION: Technical data and information con- tained herein are intended to provide information based on the limited experience of individuals under specific conditions and circumstances. They do not detail the comprehensive training procedures, techniques and safety precautions absolutely necessary to properly carry on similar activity.Read the notice and disclaimer on the contents page. Always consult comprehensive reference manuals and bulletins for details of proper training requirements, procedures, techniques and safety precautions before attempting any similar activity. ® TAURUS 454 RAGING BULL handers. Left-handed staff members found it necessary to switch hands and open the cylinder as if they were right-handed. Like with Taurus’ Model 445 (August 1997, p. 45), the Model 454 Raging Bull has a fluted, five-shot cylinder with .08"- deep locking bolt cuts arranged between the chambers. This arrangement maintains the integrity of the chamber walls that are .105" thick at their thinnest point. Taurus’ engineers didn’t stop after designing a gun that could handle the .454 Casull cartridge—they went on to design a gun in which the average shooter could han- dle the .454 as well. To that end, the Model 454 has a massive barrel, available in Since 1955, the .44 Mag. has been the most power- 1 3 either 6 ⁄2" or 8 ⁄8" lengths, with a full- ful factory cartridge chambered in a mass-produced dou- ble-action revolver. Taurus toppled the .44 Mag’s status length ventilated rib and solid under with its Model 454 Raging Bull in the awesome .454 Casull. lug. The barrel has Taurus’ built-in compensator system that uses eight round holes arranged in pairs on MERICAN buying habits show we Since its debut in 1955, the .44 Magnum either side of the front sight. Gas is want bigger, more-powerful, faster has been the most powerful factory cartridge directed up through the holes and Aeverything. This insatiable hunger chambered in a double-action revolver from against an angled undercut on the top rib in for power is recognized by many including a major manufacturer. That lofty and a fashion first seen by us on the Rossi Model the automobile and computer industries, lengthy status was shaken in January 1997 971 VRC (Jan. 1996, p. 50). An expansion shopping malls and fast food restaurant when Taurus announced it would be pro- chamber is part of the compensator, thus 1 chains. Bigger is better, right? ducing a double-action revolver chambered placing the origin of the rifling about 1 ⁄4" in .454 Casull. Many were doubtful this back from the muzzle. announcement would ever come to fruition, Attention was paid to felt recoil reduc- TAURUS 454 but the .44 Magnum’s status officially top- tion on the Raging Bull’s stock as well. The pled this past November when the Taurus black, stippled, mono-grip is made of a soft, MANUFACTURER: Taurus S.A. Forjas, Model 454 Raging Bull in .454 Casull recoil-absorbing, rubber-like synthetic Avenida Do Forte 511, Porto Alegre, became available. RS Brasil 91360 material and has a round butt and finger IMPORTER: Taurus International Taurus’ Model 44 frame would seem a grooves. The front extends up to the trigger Firearms, Inc., (Dept. AR), 16175 NW logical starting point for building a new, 49th Ave., Miami, FL 33014 more-powerful revolver. However, simply MECHANISM TYPE: double-action strengthening it’s stress areas was insuffi- revolver cient to contain the extremely powerful .454 CALIBER: .454 Casull 3 cartridge. An entirely new frame had to be OVERALL LENGTH: 12 ⁄8" 1 3 BARREL LENGTH: 6 ⁄2" (tested), 8 ⁄8" designed for the Raging Bull that’s not only WEIGHT: 55 ozs. larger, but incorporates several obvious 3 WIDTH: 1 ⁄4" design-strengthening features. 5 HEIGHT: 6 ⁄8" Most noticeable of the strengthening CYLINDER CAPACITY: five features is the multiple cylinder lock-up sys- RIFLING: six-groove, RH twist 1 tem. Taurus and S&W users will find the TRIGGER: 13 lbs. double-action pull, 5 ⁄2 lbs. single-action pull cylinder pin latch at the rear of the cylinder SIGHTS: Patridge front, fully-adjustable familiar, while Dan Wesson fans will rec- square notch blade rear ognize the yoke latch at the front. Both locks ACCESSORIES: Taurus Security must be operated independently, but at the System key same time to release the cylinder. This oper- Recoil from the Model 454 was rather anti- PRICE: $699 (blued), $767 (stainless) ation becomes quite natural after a few tries climactic.Those anticipating vicious, bone- as the latches are well-positioned for right- crunching recoil were happily disappointed. 46 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN • May 1998 guard, and covers the rear of it to protect the the Security System “... A user-friendly gun knuckle of the middle finger that usually is NOT a substitute for despite its impressive takes quite a beating when shooting a hard- cautious gun handling.” caliber, the Taurus kicking revolver. Further, a red insert rises And correctly reminds us Model 454 Raging Bull .07" along the back of the grip to act as a that “... there is no such has a massive barrel with solid under lug “shock-absorber.”The insert is distinct, can- thing as a safety which is and full-length ventilat- not be easily compressed with finger pres- ‘childproof’ or which ed rib. The muzzle sure, but is functional in reducing the felt can completely prevent (below) has Taurus’ recoil. The stock is completed with brass accidental discharge ... .” built-in compensator escutcheons having the Taurus logo. The Taurus 454 system. The stock (l.) Fit between the barrel and cylinder on Raging Bull was fired has a built-in “recoil our sample was very tight. Fit between the for accuracy at 25 yds. pad” and extends for- sideplate and frame was also good except using Winchester, ward to pad the back of for a slightly gapped section that was cov- CorBon and Black Hills the 454’s trigger guard. ered by the stocks. ammunition with the Our stainless steel sample was polished results shown in the to the mirror-bright finish we have come to accompanying table. expect from Taurus. The top rib, however, Shooting a .454 Casull is matte-finished to reduce glare. at 25 yds. is like fishing For a front sight, the Taurus Model 454 for minnows with a uses a generous Patridge-style blade shark hook, so additional function firing pinned into a ramp. The rear is a striking- was done at bowling pins placed at ranges ly plain, flat black blade with square notch. to 100-yds. Function firing also included a It is very sturdy, provides a well-defined number of .45 Colt loads from various sight picture and is screw-adjustable for ammunition makers. Shooting .45 Colt in a windage and elevation. .454 Casull is akin to shooting .44 Specials The hammer has a checkered spur and the in a gun chambered for .44 Magnum. “Taurus Security System.”The system incor- Both the Winchester and CorBon ammu- porates a small “deactivation pin” in the back nition performed without failure when fired will hold up to its power. Bullets with hard- of the hammer that is raised and lowered single-action. There were a few failures to er cores and heavier jackets are required. using the supplied key. Raising the pin with fire Black Hills 300-gr. JHP cartridges that Recoil from the Taurus 454, though the key blocks the backward movement of were attributed to light firing pin strikes. stout, is rather anti-climactic. Shooters the hammer and theoretically disables the Firing double-action, the gun almost always anticipating a vicious muzzle flip and bone- gun. The instructions make it very clear that misfired regardless of ammunition. These crunching kick will be happily disappoint- failures were also attributed to light firing ed. The gas vented upward from the com- pin strikes. There were no failures to fire .45 pensator nearly eliminates muzzle rise, and Colt, single-or double-action, with the the sharp, straight-back kick is amply Taurus Raging Bull. absorbed by the rubber stock. The stock, A second Taurus 454 Raging Bull was however, is large, and may cause a problem sent to us and it fired all ammunition types for small-handed shooters.The double- in both double- and single-action though the action trigger pull was on the heavy side. The single-action pull will probably see more use, trigger did not always return and needed to 1 be encouraged forward with a slight push and it broke crisply at 5 ⁄2 lbs. from the trigger finger. This malfunction The Taurus Model 454 Raging Bull is a went away after a thorough cleaning and big step forward in the double-action about 100 shots. revolver market. It offers advanced design Freedom Arms was the first to offer the features that not only accommodate a very .454 Casull in its well-known single-action powerful cartridge, but ones that allow own- ers to enjoy shooting as well. The 454 has a five-shot cylinder with lock- revolver, as well as ammunition. Though the ing bolt cuts arranged between the cham- Technical Staff had a supply of Freedom’s bers. The capacity and the arrangement ammunition, it specifically states that it is help maintain the chamber wall integrity.