Taurus Raging Hunter Revolvers

When the smallest caliber a handgun is available in is .357 Magnum, it has earned the title “hand cannon.” The Taurus Raging Hunter is one of the most powerful revolvers ever produced and bridges the gap between handgun and rifle nicely in the powerful cartridges it is produced in.

Few handguns are considered good options for big game hunting, but the Raging Hunter is the exception. With barrels up to 10.5 inches in length, heavy overall weight and calibers in .44 Magnum, .454 Casull, .460 and .500 Smith and Wesson this gun is a beast. A weight of three or more pounds empty, with a ported barrel reduces the incredible recoil that these larger handgun cartridges can produce, but there will still be substantial recoil.

Originally used as a backup gun by big game guides in Alaska and the Rockies for bear defense, a growing number of hunters are now taking to the field with just a Raging Hunter in pursuit of deer, elk and even moose. This is literally the world’s most powerful production handgun.

The first thing you’ll notice is the size. This is big handgun. Calling it a “large frame” revolver just doesn't do it justice. This is a handgun for people who don’t mind a little, or for that matter, a lot of recoil. It arrives ported, with a Picatinny rail and features soft rubber grips that aid in controlling some of the massive cartridges it is chambered in.

You can set the Raging Hunter to either single or double action depending on your preference. It offers a transfer bar safety that ensures the trigger must be fully deployed to prevent accidental discharge. A solid steel frame handles the energy of larger cartridges well and sends that energy effectively in the grip to reduce rise and loss of control.

The cylinder has a capacity of five, six or seven rounds depending on the caliber. Larger diameter calibers mean lower capacity. An adjustable sight, and black matte finish that minimizes glare are standard features.

• .357 Magnum – A seven-round cylinder, 5.13, 6.75 and 8.38-inch barrels, and a weight from 55 to 71-ounces. This is the smallest caliber the Raging Hunter is offered in. It’s still a massive handgun with a total length up to 15.25-inches.
• .44 Magnum -the Raging Hunter in .44 is a lighter revolver than the .357 Magnum at a maximum of 55-ounces in the 8.38-inch length. The .44 Magnum is a legendary cartridge with engine block penetrating power and a legal sporting arm for most big game.
• .454 Casull – Long the preferred handgun for guides in grizzly bear country, the Casull is 40% more powerful on average than the .44 Magnum. The Raging Hunter in .454 has a five-round cylinder, comes in 5.13, 6.75 and 8.38-inch barrels. The most popular size, the 6.75-inch barrel weighs 54 ounces.
• .460 Smith and Wesson – Loaded with a 200-grain bullet, the .460 has the highest velocity of any of the versions of the Raging Hunter at 100 yards. The largest version features a 10.5-inch barrel, weight of 4.5 pounds and a five-round cylinder.
• .500 Smith and Wesson – The most powerful of all the Raging Hunter revolvers, the .500 delivers over 1200 pounds of energy at 100 yards, has standard barrel lengths of 4, 5 and 6-inches with the 5-inch version weighing 50 ounces. This revolver will kick with a solid recoil despite porting and custom rubberized grips, but it will drop a moose, bear or bison within range.