First Revolver, Super Redhawk Alaskan

[mysr9c]

I purchased my first handgun about 4 months ago. As you could probably guess, it was an SR9c. Its everything I had hoped it would be plus some! However, purchasing a revolver has always been in the back of the mind well before the release of the SR9c.

I would like to get opinions on the Super Redhawk Alaskan .454 Casull. How would this revolver rate for a first time revolver owner? Is it normal for wanting such a high caliber?

A close friend of mine keeps telling me to get a .38 special and call it a day. I don't want to settle though. I've been putting a little money aside each month for my next purchase. Hopefully, it will be this Super Redhawk Alaskan. Every part of this revolver is beautiful to me.

 

[wwb]

A .454 Alaskan for your first wheelgun definitely qualifies as jumping off the dock into the deep water.

Never one to discourage the purchase of any firearm, I'd recommend you put some serious thought to a 4" GP-100 as your first wheelgun. .38 Spl for practice and plinking, and .357 boomers for the serious stuff... cheaper to buy and cheaper to shoot.

If you decide later that you really need the Alaskan, save your pennies and go for it.... but NEVER sell the GP - you'll regret it the instant it changes hands.

 

[sourdough44]

I would rate it a poor choice for most new to handguns. Do you reload? Is it for range use? Woods carry? They are fairly heavy,ammo is costly,blast & recoil can be substantial. Your not trolling, are you?? I'd look into a 4" or 6" 357 mag D/A revolver, GP-100 would do.

O.K., you could buy it & shoot 45 Colt cowboy loads, that would tame it.

 

[Stoots]

mysr9c, what are you planning to use this revolver for?

I love the GP100 series, as do many here. Unless you plan on some up-close bear attacks, I'd get a GP100. GP's can be used for defense, you can hunt with them, they make great range guns, ammo is easily available whether you reload or not, and their built like tanks!

Just my $0.02.

:wink:

 

[Yosemite Sam]

I have heard it said that anyone who thinks that a .454 Casull is to .44 mag what a .44 mag is to a .357 mag, is severely mistaken.

That is, a .357 has a certain level of "kick". A .44 mag makes that feel like a popgun. A .454 is more like a bomb going off.

.454 brass is $.80/ea. I can't imagine what loaded ammo goes for. $2/round?

It's one of those rounds that, unless you have a specific use like grizzly or moose hunting, you would really be better of with some a little lighter.

Then again, I'm not one to tell someone how to spend their money. If having the loudest, heaviest recoiling gun at the range is what you want, then by all means, have at it. That's not my cup of tea, however.

If you just want a revolver to try out wheel guns, I agree a GP100 or even a standard (.44 mag) Redhawk makes more sense. With the .44 mag you're still looking at $35 for 50 rounds of commercial ammo, unless you reload.

-- Sam

 

[the fatman]

Another opinion. If you reload I don't see a problem I shot an alaskan in 454 and it wouldn't of been a problem if I'd only shot a box at a time. And if you reload you can make some very tame loads. Now if you don't reload you're probably rich and arm surgery won't be that big of a deal. But I won't argue the fact that 454 is not the first choice that jumps to mind when thinking of first revolver. My first was a 22lr 22mag ruger single six.

 

[G2]

I'm with the fatman, a .22lr/mag was and would be my first wheel gun. It's so dang cheeeeep to shoot. 550rnds/ $16.

Now with that said I have a 454/45 Alaskan and they are neat guns, I am amazed how accurate they are. Factory ammo is pricey, for the 454 stuff but the 45 colt stuff is just as much fun. Cowboy loads in it . . . . well don't waste your time. As for recoil, not bad at all even w/ the full press stuff, it's the short barrel, all the powder burns way out the end. The 454 concussion is bad on those standing near by.
Remember in most states you need a 4" barrel to hunt w/ it.
SO now I'm thinking a 4" Redhawk in 45 colt.
In the lower 48, more an exotic toy.
Right now the 454/45 seem to be in short supply and the prices are up over $700

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

mysr9c, I'd have to say I agree with the people here. I'd go the the GP100 first then decide. Your profile doesn't say where you live and you really don't say what you are going to use it for. Accept to shoot. The 454 is not only expensive to shoot it's a handful. You will find that most people that shoot magnums don't shoot them regularly due to the expense and the recoil. People down load the 44 Mag, they shoot more 38's than 357's (generally speaking) and few people regularly shoot the heavy mags. If you want to become a better shot I'd jump in on the 357 and shoot 38's. If you want to risk a flinch that will stay with you for a good long time start with a 454. Granted you can shoot 45 Colt cowboy loads after a while if you aren't religious about keeping the cylinder clean you will create some higher pressures. Shooting is a great sport, take the time to enjoy it. If I lived in the lower 48 I'd carry a 357 a lot. Will do most of what needs to be done.

 

[mysr9c]

Everyone has been extremely helpful! My primary use for the weapon will be for the enjoyment of shooting. I CC my SR9c, so this will not be a replacement carry piece. I do not load and I have considered the price of ammo. I go to the range 1-2 times per month. I haven't researched the GP-100 series yet. I own a 10/22 rifle that I purchased when I turned 18 (27 now) and it's always just worked. I will certainly take all of your responses and reevaluate my next purchase.

My father retired (Army) in GA roughly 10 years ago. We used to live in Fairbanks, Alaska. That's about the closest I've been to a bear. It's very unlikely that I will see anything large enough for an Alaskan .454. I updated my location. Sorry if it may have seemed like a troll post. I check the RF just about everyday. I just don't log in. I really enjoy the classified section. I've learned quite a bit just watching what people list.

I look forward to following up with everyone as to my next purchase!

 

[hugazombie]

My very first firearm purchase was a GP100 357 mag. I bought a SRH Alaskan 44 mag a month later and it's been my full time range toy every since Target shooting with a big bore handgun (snub even!) really is as fun as it sounds With a 454 Alaskan, if I didn't reload, I'd probably have to settle shooting mostly 45 colt, I can't imagine factory 454 ammo being all that much fun to plink with :shock:

 

[JSam]

The first handgun I ever bought was the Alaskan .454. That was three years ago and I haven't regretted it once. I picked up a Lee Classic Loader kit for .45 colt and I shoot it as much as I want. Sure there are cheaper guns to own and shoot, but if you've been saving the money and really want it, do it.

I carry .454 loads about once a year on the elk hunt for protection, but I really don't need to. I handload a 300 gr. hardcast to about 1100 ft/sec and that's plenty for anything I'll encounter in Utah.

Don't let anyone try to tell you to start with something else if the Alaskan is what you want. Having said that, I also recently picked up a Speed Six .357 and it has been a blast to own and shoot. I also reload for that now.

I looked at and fantasized about the Alaskan in the mail-order catalogs and online for a couple years before I finally picked it up. What a fun day that was!!

Sometimes you gotta throw practicality out the window and have some fun.

I say "pull the trigger" on that Alaskan!!

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Start with a couple of boxes of .45 Colt's and just sprinkle in a few .454's when you feel you can handle some real recoil. Be sure to hold on to the gun with two hands and let your arms absorb the recoil. The gun should come up and to the side of your head. If you let it come straight back it can get you in the forehead. Are you sure you want to do this? :shock:

...Jimbo

 

[batmann]

The jump from 9MM to .454C is a big jump, I am one who loves the Alaskan platform only mine is in .44M. If you want an Alaskan, you might want to think about one in .44M. Much easier to shoot IMHO.

 

[CanonLyles]

OK, I'm going to be the devl's advocate... :twisted:

I say, go for the .454! Then again, I am a little bit of a recoil junky. Just a little bit. LOL It will be expensive. It will kick. But, if you want something like that, do it. Recoil is a big reason why I bought my .357 SP101 and .300 Win Mag M77. I've only put one box of .38 spl through the SP. The very first box, and that's all Wally World had. Recoil is great stress relief. Plus, ammo is cheaper than therapy... usually. haha

 

[contender]

As a long time instructor of shooters,, I have to say that more folks stick with shooting when it's FUN! Too many shooters become gun owners & not shooters due to recoil. All of us shooters out here have seen many 44 mags that were in mint condition due to only having been fired a few times & put away. Quite often with the original box of ammo only missing 5-6 rounds. ( I saw the mentioning of that here just in the last week in one post.)
I will say that most long time shooters started with something much smaller, usually a 22 cal and learned how to shoot revolvers before moving up to heavier calibers. Plus,, the cost of ammo for a 22 LR is a LOT less than ammo for a 454. That helps the learning curve a lot as well. I will say I strongly suggest a progression into heavier calibers to make you a better shooter.

 

[Pal Val]

A .454 Casull Alaskan? That's like taking your first pony ride on a Brahma bull. Hold tight and don't let go. It's gonna be a bumpy ride.

 

[drew76]

I would recommend you go to a range where you can rent a 454 or even a 44 magnum and shoot one if you have never done it before. Shooting it one time may quell your appetite to want to buy one and instead opt for something more practical. For a lot of people, the novelty wears off after the first trip to the range.

 

[s4s4u]

I got no issue with the chambering, the 454 Casull is an awesome performer. My issue is with the platform. A snubby of any kind takes a lot of work to get proficient with, one in 454 will take a lot of work to simply hold on to. If you want a 454, get a SRH with a real barrel. If you want a snubby, get a GP100.

 

[G2]

A .454 Casull Alaskan? That's like taking your first pony ride on a Brahma bull. Hold tight and don't let go. It's gonna be a bumpy ride.

The Houge Grip with the Gel Pac is very easy to hang on too.

I would recommend you go to a range where you can rent a 454 or even a 44 magnum and shoot one if you have never done it before. Shooting it one time may quell your appetite to want to buy one and instead opt for something more practical. For a lot of people, the novelty wears off after the first trip to the range.

I think the Range idea is a good one and a local Range rent's both quite a bit.

I got no issue with the chambering, the 454 Casull is an awesome performer. My issue is with the platform. A snubby of any kind takes a lot of work to get proficient with, one in 454 will take a lot of work to simply hold on to. If you want a 454, get a SRH with a real barrel. If you want a snubby, get a GP100.

The 454 w/ a 9.5" barrel is what's hard to hang on to. The Snubby Alaskan doesn't have enough barrel to burn powder and the recoil is not there.

IMO; The 454/45 is the way to own this gun. 45 Colt cowboy loads are like a .38 special. 454 in a federal fusion is quite nice, Corbon does wake one up but not what you think. I personally prefer the Speer Gold Dot 454.

The Range of ammo that is available from 45cowboy to 454 Corbon,BB, Grizley is immense, and if you load your own it can really be dialed in & for much less denero.
The 44 mag, yes one can get the 44 special to the 44 Corbon, ect. So on the low end it's a match but can't get to the top end of the 454. All the time the pressures of the 44 are higher than the 45Colt, and recoil is not as nice as the 45 colt push. Hard to explain but I have shot both side by side and my friend sold his 44 mag to get the 454/45.

I do like the look of the fluted 44 cylinder.

DO these guns make sense?? Kinda reminds me of the old saying, "It's a jeep thing, If you have to ask, You probably won't understand."

 

[Tommy Kelly]

Obviously a lot of these people have never shot a 454 alaskan. I have one and enjoy it a lot. Most of the commercial loads available arent bad at all. If you are recoil sensitive you can always shoot 45 colts in it for super light loads the 45 colt cowboy loads are almost wimpy. I think the thing is the short bbl's. I also have a 500 S&W with the 4" bbl it isn't bad either. People talk about the recoil of the 500 in the long bbl. I even have some 700 gr cast bullets loaded for the 500. My alaskan's recoil is about comparable with shooting 357 ammo in my sp101. Not really bad at all. I really like the size of the alaskan it's a lot smaller than the X frame on the 500.

 

[mohavesam]

I have a safe dedicated to rimfires, so I'll never discourage one from a 22 purchase. A decent 22LR revolver or pistol is a must for any handgunner. Practice makes safety, practice makes accuracy, and accuracy makes it fun.

That said, a 4" high quality DA 357 revolver such as the GP-100 gives years of practice with at least three different power levels - from target WC to full-power magnum loads. I'd never be without one.

A 454C SRH snubbie? I cannot fathom practicing with one, and sold mine because I just don't run into many Brown bears or runaway zoo animals in my travels. No experienced shooters I know would recommend such an iron for a new handgunner. Besides, having to choke down Excedrins just to go shooting is not my idea of enjoyment!

BUy a firearm you can shoot! ALOT!

 

[Silent Sam]

While I wouldn't recommend it as a first revolver, it is not that hard to shoot well. I was very apprehensive about it until I shot it. It handles full house loads well and is a pussycat w/light - medium 45 Colt level loads. It is easier to shoot than a 4" Redhawk w/ heavy loads for me. It is also much easier to handle than a lightweight 357 for those drawing their experience from that perspective. Not my idea of a 'range' gun but does surprisingly well on targets. It is not cheap to feed but that is the chambering, not the gun. If you like power it will deliver. It is reasonably packable, more so than an X-frame. I am taking mine on an elk hunt in the fall. I chose it over a 5.5" Blackhawk 45. Muzzle flip is not an issue as it is with longer barreled guns but blast and concussion are considerable w/ full power loads. Standing beside one is much more unpleasant than shooting one. That cushy grip works assuming it fits you.

 

[Hugh]

I agree with most of the others regarding the .454. If you don't plan on spending a lot of time where that much power is necessary for defense, I believe it is not the best choice.

 

[mysr9c]

I spent the majority of my morning visiting local gun shops here in Augusta. The selection was very slim needless to say. Almost every store had 2-3 SP101s. Only 1 store had a GP100 for sale (Shooters). They also had a GP100 for rental to use at their range. Both revolvers were .357, 4" barrel and a blued finish.

Personally, I like the way stainless looks. My SR9c is blued. I want a stainless gun. However, I was excited to have the option to rent the gun. It was $10 + ammo. It was well worth it. I loved shooting it. I noticed very little recoil with single action. It was also very accurate. Double action is another story though.

The guy at the range told me it takes some time to get used to. I struggled A LOT with accuracy when trying to pull the trigger. I'm assuming this becomes easier with time. Overall, I was very satisfied with the experience.

Could I handle the recoil of a .454? Without firing one, it's hard to say. The recoil of the .357 didn't phase me at all. I went through 20 rounds today and I left the range feeling really great about purchasing a GP100 .357 in the near future. I do have a question that I couldn't figure out...

Why were there so many SP101s today when shopping around? Is this revolver a newer model? Or do GP100s generally have a better reputation that drive sales?

I still have my eyes on the Alaskan. It just won't be my next purchase. 8)

 

[Merlinspop]

Why were there so many SP101s today when shopping around?
8)

Only a guess, but I'd bet that Ruger recently finished a production run of SPs and they've made their way through the distribution channels.

Also, the Universe knows I want one but haven't squirreled away sufficient funds. As soon as I do, supply will dry up. I already have a GP, so there'll be a ton of them on the market at that point.

B