460/454

I've got a Taurus Raging Hunter 454 and had a raging Bull 454 previously. It's a fun gun to shoot either plinking or will full house stuff. I would advise you that if you plan to shoot it a lot to look into reloading. 2.00 every time you pull the trigger gets old fast. Yes you can shoot 45lc through them but there is a chance of the shorter case leaving a ring in the cylinder. I cast my own bullets and have my costs down to about .06 per round. I plan to hunt with it as it's very accurate. It's the one in my sig.

I would get a .454 because it can be had in reasonably sized guns. Those x frame smiths are ignorantly gigantic.

Pretty much the case with any heavy-magnum handgun, unless you live/hike in bear country. I have a .50 AE Desert Eagle just because, reload for it too and those dies weren't cheap. It's fun measuring out powder charge weights for a pistol that are suitable for some rifle cartridges.

I have a .460, .500 and a .50ae and while all are fun the .460 is probably the most impressive and most versatile. If you get the .460 get the 8.3 inch barrel so you can get the most out of the round. If you just want to screw around get a .500 with a short barrel. The desert eagle is a different animal with its thick grip and rotating recoil feeling it gives. All are fun and don't let anyone tell you not to get one there is definite fun to be had.