.480 Alaskan

[woodman39]

I am home on R&R so I had a chance to shoot my Alaskan. It is Magna-ported so there was almost no muzzle rise which I like and the recoil was very noticable but not as bad as I thought it would be, the rubber grips do a good job of absorbing the shock.
One thing I learned is "don't place your left thumb behind the cylinder when shooting this revolver." I have'nt owned or shot any revolvers in years so I held this revolver like I hold an automatic, both thumbs high on the frame. This method place my left thumb behind the cylinder, not good, when I fired the first shot the recoil drove the revolver straight back and the edge of the the cylinder, which is quite sharp, slammed into the end of my thumb splitting it wide open and blackening my thumb nail. Fortunately there is a first aid kit at the pistol range so I got out the gauze and adhesive tape and bandage myself up. Shot it a few more time but the recoil was making my thumb bleed even more so I switched to my SR9 for the rest of the day which now felt like it had no recoil at all. I will shoot it more next week when my thumb has healed up.

 

[tulsamal]

I always get out of town visitors who want to shoot some guns while they are at my house. Sometimes from other countries as well. Sometimes they just want to shoot one or two. Sometimes they want to shoot dozens of them. But my .480 Alaskan is a consistent favorite. Even with people who only shoot a few rounds out of a .44 Magnum. It depends on what level of reload you fire out of it of course but it just seems like most people end up with a big grin on their face and turn around asking, "Can I shoot six more?"

(And mine is a factory gun so no ports.)

Gregg

 

[Tommy Kelly]

I have 1 I just had made. It was a 480 Super Redhawk 7.5" and I had it cut down to alaskan length. I love this little gun now. I have a 454 alaskan but missed out on the run of 480's so I had to make me one. It's a sweet shooter now and I enjoy it a lot. I prefer short barrels and the alaskan is a favorite of mine. I'm also a big gun nut and love the bigger calibers. My next project is to have my 45-70 BFR cut back to 5 1/2" because that's where the ERH stops I also have a BFR in 475 linebaugh that's a 7.5" it will get the same treatment if I like the 45-70 cut back.

 

[Hondo44]

I am home on R&R so I had a chance to shoot my Alaskan. It is Magna-ported so there was almost no muzzle rise which I like and the recoil was very noticable but not as bad as I thought it would be, the rubber grips do a good job of absorbing the shock.
One thing I learned is "don't place your left thumb behind the cylinder when shooting this revolver." I have'nt owned or shot any revolvers in years so I held this revolver like I hold an automatic, both thumbs high on the frame. This method place my left thumb behind the cylinder, not good, when I fired the first shot the recoil drove the revolver straight back and the edge of the the cylinder, which is quite sharp, slammed into the end of my thumb splitting it wide open and blackening my thumb nail. Fortunately there is a first aid kit at the pistol range so I got out the gauze and adhesive tape and bandage myself up. Shot it a few more time but the recoil was making my thumb bleed even more so I switched to my SR9 for the rest of the day which now felt like it had no recoil at all. I will shoot it more next week when my thumb has healed up.

Woodman,
First of all, Thank You for your service my friend!!

Yes, I hate when that happens, some of these revolvers need the 1911 "melt" treatment. 1st thing I do on new guns especially easy on SS guns, is de-horn the darn things! It seems like they leave off the final finishing step with razor edges all over them.

 

[woodman39]

I was really surprised how sharp the rear edge of the cylinder is. Ruger radiused the front edge of the cylinder but not the rear.

 

[LightningII]

Woodman,
Fine abrasive "slip stones" like tool and model makers use to debur parts work well for knocking high spots off. They come in different shapes, sizes,and grits. Look in tool supply catalogs; Brownells has some:
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/cid=0/k=stones/t=P/ksubmit=y/Products/All/search=stones
if you check some woodworking sites, you'll find curved ones for touching up various chisels/gouges.

 

[woodman39]

I'm retired military but didn't have the heavy lifting you've had, thanks for your service. Hopefully your current assignment and any followons will be complete successes.
Don

I am home on R&R from Afghanistan but I am not military, I am a carpenter employed by Fluor Government Group. I build and repair things for the army at F.O.B Airborne. Just want to clear that up, don't want anyone thinking I am military when I am not.