New Alaskan

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Joined
Jan 26, 2008
Messages
980
Location
north carolina
Picked up this Alaskan along with 2 boxes of ammo at my lgs this morning for 1200 dollars total out the door. Anxiously waiting for it to warn up a bit before I go out in the backyard to fire a few rounds. I'm sure it won't be many.
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I just went out in the yard to test fire. I'm a 77 year old man and after a couple rounds my hand was hurting. It was very uncomfortable. I made myself fire all six rounds but in the future I will probably stick with 45 long colt rounds. Before I fired it and it being new I noticed the cylinder didn't swing in and out as freely as I thought it should. But after those 6 rounds it surely swings freely now.
 
I've had a couple of 454 Alaskans over the years. Still have one. In my experience people carry those for bears. Few actually use them for hunting, not that they don't work for hunting but IMO aren't the best for any kind of distance.
I've said before and I'll say it again, bears just aren't that hard to kill. They are thin skinned, don't have heavy bones, and have been killed with much lighter cartridges. I'm into my 70's and don't shoot just to appreciate heavy recoil. In the future mine will only see substantial 45 Colt loads. I like the Buffalo Bore ammo and Lost River ammunition. Most often it will be. 270 grain wide meplat hard cast bullet from Lost River Ammunition company out of Idaho.
Next take into consideration how much faster you can get back on target instead of recovering from what hot 454 ammo will do to you?
Congratulations to the OP on his purchase, and enjoy it with controllable ammo.
 
I've never shot the 454 Casull. I'd imagine it's a handful. Not sure why anyone would want it in a snubbie. I just got back from shooting, tried out my friends 6" Python. I thought that was more than plenty. I have a 4 1/4" Python coming, slightly worried at this point.
 
My first Alaskan is a 454C. You won't notice it but by standers will note the extreme concussion! I mostly just shoot 45 Colt in mine loaded up, not quite the snap of the 454C.

I prefer the 480R, no concussion, and no where near as snappy, still gets your attention…😎
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I have a 454C Alaskan. I bought it to have a double action 45 snubbie. It's big for that purpose bit I like it anyway. I only shoot 45 Colt through it. I find plenty of 'mild to wild' factory ammo available. I keep those in their factory boxes.
I only reload 'cowboy' level ammo so as not have any home grown monster level rounds laying around that could get into any older design firearms.
 
I have a 454C Alaskan. I bought it to have a double action 45 snubbie. It's big for that purpose bit I like it anyway. I only shoot 45 Colt through it. I find plenty of 'mild to wild' factory ammo available. I keep those in their factory boxes.
I only reload 'cowboy' level ammo so as not have any home grown monster level rounds laying around that could get into any older design firearms.
Use 454 brass and download to Ruger only level. It's what I would do, but I only own full size Blackhawks.
 
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