If you could pick between the two which one would you choose? Looking for a bear protection pistol. I noticed smith an Wesson had some of the survival pistols that had the 2.5” barrels as well. But the other smiths are 4”. What would you experienced hunters choose?

I have the Freedom Arms Mod. 83 in 454 and it certainly has enough horsepower to put anything you point it at down if you hit the right spot. The pro of the 454 is that you can get it in a fairly normal size revolver. The con is, it has a pretty potent step to it and after five rounds shooting it with the rose wood grip, i had a good bruise on my hand. If you want to practice with it a little more, rubber oversold grips are a must have. The 500 S$W is a big shooting iron and heavy as heck .... You can shoot 45 long colt in the 454 for practice . My choice was for that reason the 454.

Longer barrel will give better speed, velocity and mass = energy. Bear are big all handguns are weak. It's doing no good shooting a magnum big bore hand cannon just to make it a flame thrower burning all the powder outside the barrel.

I’m no quick draw but the ruger .454 appealed to me more because the 2.5” barrel

Are you looking for a bear protection handgun for NC or where there are brown bears as obviously that makes a huge difference?

I have a Magnum Research BFR in 45-70 govt with 7” barrel. Chest holster.Heavy, reasonable recoil and I love it.

I bet you could be quick with a bear baring down on you!

The 500 smith is a better load but can you handle that much gun.

The 454 will kill a bear pretty dead and is a whole lot more funner to shoot.

I carry a 4” 629 in 44mag for this purpose. Center chest guides holster. I am very good with it to 10 yards but I feel if I need it I will be pushing it into the fur and squeezing. Any bigger I could not handle one handed, repeatedly.
A scared hunters first face to face with an oncoming bear he has a serious problem on his hands trying to be accurate with a handgun. Your more likely to be barrel in the fur before damage happens.
Osky

Neither. Get a 10mm. more shots available.

Another reason I like a revolver. No safety and no clip issues. No spare cylinder. 6 and out, one of us.

Osky

Not a direct answer to your question, but I'm in the 10mm camp. My Glock 20 is comfortable enough to carry anywhere with 15 rds of 200gr hardcast.
But if I had to choose between the 454 and the 500, it would be the 454 hands down.

If possible shoot them both, I have heard of some ranges having rental guns.

.454 all day long. Why just those two, though ? .475 Linebaugh is also a great one .

.460 smith does it faster and harder

I like the .460 as well. The.460 S&W is considered a super magnum round and as I understand it, it also allows you to shoot the .454 Casull and .45 Colt rounds. Just make sure you check the specific gun models specifications, first.

* gonna follow this one *

Mike

I have not shot a 454 but I own a Smith & Wesson 500 and it has a kick but I can shoot it 1 or 2 handed and hit my target. Recoil is heavy but not as much as I was expecting probably due to the weight of the revolver.

Brown bears

I vote Casull.. I have the Ruger Super Redhawk and with 335gr hard cast it will handle anything you can hit with it. For Deer size game the Hornady 240gr XTP Mag is deadly. Much easier to carry then the .500. Cheaper to reload also. My $.02.