harley
Single-Sixer
So does anyone know when the new 5 inch Super Redhawk Alaskan will be available?
454 super rh Lipseys
- Thread starter harley
- Start date
schloss
Single-Sixer
Heard mention of a sighting of it on another forum.
OP
harley
Single-Sixer
http://www.lipseys.com/itemdetail.aspx?itemno=RUKSRH5454
Looks like I was mistaken, Talo.
Looks like I was mistaken, Talo.
firecaptain
Single-Sixer
Yeah, I was hoping for a full lug as well.
Any idea what the price in stores will be?
I thought one of the design concepts behind SRHs was a round barrel to reduce costs. If I'm correct, forging or casting a full lug barrel for a model that other wise has an ejector rod shroud or half lug doesn't change its cost much, but would substantially raise the cost of SRHs.
I thought one of the design concepts behind SRHs was a round barrel to reduce costs. If I'm correct, forging or casting a full lug barrel for a model that other wise has an ejector rod shroud or half lug doesn't change its cost much, but would substantially raise the cost of SRHs.
OP
harley
Single-Sixer
I am much more excited about it being 454. Not a big fan of the 480 considering what I have read comparing the two rounds. Why do you prefer the 480?
I would be much more interested in .480 as well. Since they are making guns for that cartridge again, maybe there is hope.
Gregg
Gregg
OP
harley
Single-Sixer
Here is what I dont get. Yes it is a bigger hole but only slightly. The recoil of the 480 is less but so are the numbers. The 454 seems to have more killing potential when I compare the numbers. A lot can be said for shootability. And I am sure the 480 will kill deer just as effectivly as the 454 will. But if you are picking between the two and one can be loaded to 45 colt + rounds up to full house 454 rounds i find that an edge over the softer recoild of the 480. you can always load (and find on a normally stocked shelf) the 45 colt with punch and have a great day at the range, but when you want to punch through walls you go for the big boy loads? right?
And for pricing. You can shoot your 45 using a plethera of bullets and combiniations for as cheap as you want to go. I dont ever see 480 stuff available when i go to the lgs.
And for pricing. You can shoot your 45 using a plethera of bullets and combiniations for as cheap as you want to go. I dont ever see 480 stuff available when i go to the lgs.
I don't know if that is true or not. I've never in my entire life bought any bullets or brass at an "LGS." I'm only 51 though and been reloading since 1982 so that might change.... I sometimes buy powder or primers locally if I'm suddenly short and don't want to make a big order and pay the hazmat fee but that's it.
No, then I pick up a .308.
Exactly. But that's where the .480 comes out ahead. A lot of this reminds me of the whole .44 Magnum vs .44 Special debate. Yeah, I can load a .44 Magnum super hot (especially in my 9.5" SRH) and "blow things up." But the .44 Special loaded with reloads that push around 950-1100 fps will do 90% of what I want done. With a lot less blast and general drama.
Just think of it strictly in a muzzle velocity way. The bigger and heavier the bullet, the less important velocity. The .454 is what it is because it can be loaded to very high pressure and therefore get really high velocities. (Like the .460 S&W.) But if you are going to shoot one of these guns 90% of the time with reloads and cast bullets and you want to stay subsonic... then .480 Ruger makes a lot of sense. You can load those big bullets to 900 fps and it is very effective on just about everything and yet very mild to shoot.
The whole "also shoots .45 Colt" is irrelevant to me. I don't shoot .38 Special in my .357 Magnums. I sometimes shoot .38 Special level reloads out of them but I load it into the longer .357 Magnum cases. I'm sure I would be the same way if I had a .454 revolver. I would just load my milder loads in the longer case. I'm fairly certain I would get better range accuracy that way and that's where such loads are mainly used. So the .454 has no advantage there over .480. I'm loading them all in the same case either way.
Also important to note... my opinions on this are formed by the standard Alaskan. Where super high velocities with .454 aren't really possible. And blast would be tremendous if you tried. So I've always believed .480 Ruger made a lot more sense in the short barreled Alaskan. Now 5" .... I guess that helps the hotter cartridge quite a bit. As the barrel length heads out to 7.5" or even 9.5" ... the higher pressure cartridge really starts to shine. If you want or need that much power in your handgun. (The Ruger Gunsite Scout rifle is just leaning there in the corner... pick it up!)
Gregg
You don't have to throw lead at 1700 FPS to kill. A 300 @ 1200 will shoot clean through nost critters, lengthways. Heavier bullets run much more efficiently coming from fatter cases, and are easier on the shooter as well. I don't need a 454 when my 45 Colt will do all I need in that bullet range.
CraigC
Hawkeye
The .480 only "appears" to offer anything less if you still believe that energy is a proper gauge of a cartridge's potential. It is not and energy places far greater importance on velocity, less on weight and none on diameter. IMHO, the .480 is a far better cartridge than the .454 as it puts more bullet on target and does so without making your ears bleed. All the .454 gains you over the .44Mag or .45Colt is range. A 425gr .475 at 1200fps will take any game on earth, regardless of what the energy worshipers may tell you.
OP
harley
Single-Sixer
CraigC said:
Range to me is the biggest concern. I normally deer hunt from a stand and take shots 100+ yards (over a field of bean/corn) and want to put the flattest shooting projectile in the air as I can. When does the .480 fall most dramatically?
Last year in MO they expanded our late season to now include handguns. Hunting over a field I want to be able to take a decently long shot. Since the 5 incher in question is not out yet I will probally get a standard offering soon. But am glad to hear why you prefer the 480. I guess I need more advise/research before I purchase.
The 454 is a superior cartridge for longer distance shooting (120+ yards). That is where the flatter shooting bullet will help out a ton, the same can be said for the 460. Inside 100 yards, I will take the 480 every day and twice on Sunday.
CraigC
Hawkeye
I don't think people realize that in the .480, 275's can be pushed to nearly 1700fps and 325's to 1500fps. That makes for a mighty flat shooting sixgun. Top loads in the .454 will shoot less than 1.5" flatter at 150yds when zeroed at 100yds. At 150yds you're starting to really push the accuracy capability of standard production guns.
I'd be happy to see this in a 44 mag.
I had an Alaskan in 454/45 Colt. You do lose a lot of velocity in the short-barreled 454. My handload with a CP 335 WLNGC runs 1428 fps from a 7.5" SRH, but only about 1174 fps in the snubby Alaskan... and yes, the recoil and blast are extreme even though my handload is not really a full-on max load for the 454. Max loads run 55,000 psi and on up to 65,000 psi.
My thinking is this: why would I run a snubby 454 with a 335 @ 1174 fps when I can run the same bullet at 1211 fps from my 5.5" 45 Colt Bisley Blackhawk with considerably less recoil and muzzle blast?
I sold the 454 Alaskan and would love to pick up a 4 or 5" Alaskan in 480 Ruger. When it comes to really big game, I put a bit more stock in the TKO formula (which takes into account bullet diameter as well as velocity and bullet weight) for gauging killing/stopping power than the muzzle energy calculation.
Look at this:
30-06, 180 grain bullet @ 2700 fps = 2913 ft. lbs. muzzle energy.
480, 400 grain bullet @ 1200 fps = 1279 ft. lbs. ME.
454, 335 gr bullet @ 1500 fps = 1674 ft. lbs. ME.
But the TKO (Taylor Knock Out) runs like this:
30-06: .308 x 180 x 2700/7000 = 21.4 TKO
480: .475 x 400 x 1200/7000 = 32.6 TKO (48,000 psi)
454: .452 x 335 x 1500/7000 = 32.4 TKO (55k - 65k psi)
This current offering, although stamped on the right side as an "Alaskan," is not really an Alaskan as it has those ugly integral scope base grooves in the frame. I also think that skinny barrel looks out of place on such a big bruiser like the SRH.
I'll wait and see if something more to my liking gets produced but I'm guessing I'll end up cutting down a 480 SRH to about 4.5" for my Alaskan fishing partner.
My thinking is this: why would I run a snubby 454 with a 335 @ 1174 fps when I can run the same bullet at 1211 fps from my 5.5" 45 Colt Bisley Blackhawk with considerably less recoil and muzzle blast?
I sold the 454 Alaskan and would love to pick up a 4 or 5" Alaskan in 480 Ruger. When it comes to really big game, I put a bit more stock in the TKO formula (which takes into account bullet diameter as well as velocity and bullet weight) for gauging killing/stopping power than the muzzle energy calculation.
Look at this:
30-06, 180 grain bullet @ 2700 fps = 2913 ft. lbs. muzzle energy.
480, 400 grain bullet @ 1200 fps = 1279 ft. lbs. ME.
454, 335 gr bullet @ 1500 fps = 1674 ft. lbs. ME.
But the TKO (Taylor Knock Out) runs like this:
30-06: .308 x 180 x 2700/7000 = 21.4 TKO
480: .475 x 400 x 1200/7000 = 32.6 TKO (48,000 psi)
454: .452 x 335 x 1500/7000 = 32.4 TKO (55k - 65k psi)
This current offering, although stamped on the right side as an "Alaskan," is not really an Alaskan as it has those ugly integral scope base grooves in the frame. I also think that skinny barrel looks out of place on such a big bruiser like the SRH.
I'll wait and see if something more to my liking gets produced but I'm guessing I'll end up cutting down a 480 SRH to about 4.5" for my Alaskan fishing partner.
OP
harley
Single-Sixer
So by the TKO they are basically the same... Interesting.
OP
harley
Single-Sixer
jbenceo said:
Me too. It's like a Ruger 629. That's why I like the 454. Could holster and with hot 45 colt loads you would be close to the mountain gun. Slap the scope on it and your in business mode.
I agree it is not as pretty as any smith but to me the beauty is in the machine.
Joe S.
Hunter
I like it! A "practical" alaskan
IMO, this is what the Alaskan should look like:
No. RD07GP Super Redhawk Alaskan GP-44 Combines the superior action and recoil-handling or the Super Redhawk with the more compact and versatile standard Redhawk. Available in a wide variety of configurations in the usual 5-shot chamberings; please see the tech notes for additional information.
http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/catalog/ruger_double_action_big_bore_caliber_conversions.html
No. RD07GP Super Redhawk Alaskan GP-44 Combines the superior action and recoil-handling or the Super Redhawk with the more compact and versatile standard Redhawk. Available in a wide variety of configurations in the usual 5-shot chamberings; please see the tech notes for additional information.
http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/catalog/ruger_double_action_big_bore_caliber_conversions.html
The more compact and versatile Redhawk.
The Bowen hybrid is definitely the cream of the crop. Just wish they weren't so expensive!
Gregg
Gregg
