I have a
5.5" Ruger Redhawk 44 Mag,
7.5" 44 MAG Redhawk
7.5" 44 Mag Super Redhawk
7.5" 454 Casull Super Redhawk
and a couple of GP100s
I mention the GPs because the grips are interchangeable with the Super Redhawks. As far as I know, there are no compatability issues with early production and current production.
My Super Redhawks fit the same holsters as my Redhawks (in compatible barrel lengths), but the SRHs are a little tighter and RH a little looser. Not substantially, but I can tell when I draw from my Bianchi 111 (leather, with a thumb-break)
I forget what the weight difference is, but the SRH is a bit heavier. The big difference in shooting is in the shape of the grip, not the weight. But the lighter weight and rearward shift of the center of gravity makes the RH a bit quicker to bring onto target (with my 7.5" barrels, your experience may vary, with the shorter barrels you are considering.)
The SRH is much more comfortable, though, with full power loads, neither can really be described as "comfortable". "Comforting", though is certainly what they are in bear country. If you get aftermarket grips for the Redhawk, you could make it equally comfortable, depending on your hand shape. The SRH, using a post instead of the RH full grip frame theoretically should allow a wider selection of grip shapes, but there are, in reality, only a couple of readily available grips, and custom grip makers have to do a lot more work to make a grip to go over a post-style handle than machining or carving a pair of grip panels. You decide.
I know of two guys who owe their lives to the Alaskan's short barrel. One was jumped this past summer by a starving Brownie near Soldotna. He got off two shots before administering a stopping shot. Another guy (videographer) was paying more attention to his viewfinder than his surroundings and got jumped by a mother bear. He swears the short barrel allowed him to clear leather in time to save his life. The bear died laying on top of the still-running camera. Loss of ballistic advantage is not an issue with these two guys.
I have never seen much sense in giving up a few hundred feet per second, and a barrel only twice as long as the cartridge behind it seems wasteful. (1.3" for the 45 Colt brass and 1.6" rim to nose vs 2.5" of rifled barrel). However, the Alaskan is lighter to carry, quicker to deploy and if hunting is not even a remote possibility, then load up your fastest powder, heaviest bullet and your ballistic losses will be minimized, and your defensive utility optimized. (I will leave the long, logical progression for another time.)
Myself, I would LOVE to have a .480 Ruger SRH in your situation. I have my heart set on a 5-shot 480 with 7.5" BARREL. I am not sure any ever made it out the factory doors before they decided to stop production.
Some people compromise by taking a 7.5" SRH and lightening it with a little judicious cutting on the frame, shortening the barrel to 5" and (optionally) relieving the back of the cylinder to accept moon clips which allow shooting 45 ACP for plinking. (Wild West Guns here in Anchorage calls this package of treatments the "Wolverine Package")
The SRH action is pretty much identical to the action of the GP100, but the parts are not interchangeable. The RH action, however, is completely unique in the gun world, as knuckles pointed out.
The Alaskan does not have interchangeable front sights, nor the cutouts in the frame for mounting a scope. Not an issue for your purposes, but I thought I would mention it.
I hope my ramblings help. Post or email if you have more questions (I have turned my "notifications" on for this thread).
You have a difficult choice. $80 difference between an Alaskan vs a 4" 45 Colt which, arguably for your purposes will be ballistically identical. The resale value of the Casull is assured. However, the 4" 45 Colt Redhawk is highly prized and hard to find. Then there is the possibility of finding a 45 Colt SRH. (Of course, there is the guy who took a SRH cylinder from a 454 Casull and fitted it into his RH.) I think there are pictures somewhere in this forum.
Good Luck. Let us know what you eventually get. Of course, you could buy both, shoot both and decide which one you want to let go (fat chance!). You probably would not lose any money.
Lost Sheep