Ruger Alaskan...which model?

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GKC

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I am going to buy a Ruger Alaskan, but I am undecided on the .44 versus the .454/.45. What are the pros and cons of either caliber? The gun should be essentially the same, I assume, other than some design details on the cylinder, so that is why I mentioned the caliber primarily.
 
GKC, it would depend on what you are going to use it for. Im assuming since you've already narrowed it down to an Alaskan that this for a side arm to carry in nasty critterville. That being said, if it was me, I'd go for the 454/45 version. I see them on gun broker all the time for around $1,000 or less. I shot a buddy's years ago and man it's a handful with that short barrel and full house 454 loads. Go for it and get the BIG STICK!
 
The 454 is 1 1/2 to 2 times the ft lb of the 44 mag.
44 mag can shoot 44 spl but the 454 /45 can also shoot 45 Colt with loads from mild to hot. I think the 454/45 can be used in more situations.
I have one.
Terry T
 
Actually, I was buying it for fun...I don't anticipate being around any four legged bad critters. It could be used to ward off the two legged variety, of course.

If I get it in .454, I'd probably stick with .45 LC ammo. If I get the .44 version, I'd probably stick with .44 Special. Like I said, this is going to be just a fun gun, not my new pocket revolver. :lol: Even so, I favor the milder loads for fun.

So far, from doing some general checking, it seems that there isn't a great deal more variety of ammo for either the .45 LC or the .44 Special. Which is to say, not a lot for either one. I don't reload, so I will be buying commercial ammo, and it is all expensive.

That's the price you pay for fun, though!
 
I think there is more 'cowboy' and other bulk load / 'white box' 'stuff' out there for 45 colt than there is for 44 spl. I've picked up some good deals from Cabela's when they had a $5 shipping deal.
Terry T
 
If gonna shoot .45 get the big boy...

Ive had the .44 and i was good, fun shooting gun. Could easil shoot a box on a range trip no problems in terms of recoil... Not to mention that was the nicest stock trigger ive ever pulled on a ruger, it was nice.

Ive got the .480 and recoil is much more evident than the .44 was so cant comment on the .454... But that .480 is fun too.
 
I've got the .44 and love it. Its my woods side arm. I didn't go bigger because I knew I couldn't handle the recoil from the .454
 
To me 44 special would be a perty wimpy round for all that steel.

I have a 45/454 and really enjoy it. I do handload, and would suggest that if you plan to shoot it very much just buy a basic kit and handload, you will pay for the basic kit in no time at all and really enjoy a whole other aspect of shooting.

If you don't handload,,,, I would get the 44 mag, lots of factory choices.
left.jpg
 
Go with the 454 best of both worlds wild or mild. If you reload even better. 45 colts is a fun round for plinking 454 for big critters in the back country, ps
 
I bought the 454 and love it. I wish I had picked up a 480 alaskan when they were made. The gun is a little big for concealed carry but a great packing pistol in my opinion
 
Get the .454 if the price is reasonable. It is more versatile. Also, if you want to sell it later, it would bring a better price and sell quicker.

Another thing, the .454 and .480 Rugers have a cylinder and barrel made of a special Carpenter high strength steel whereas the .44 has whatever steel Ruger uses on everything else. I find that kinda neat and was a factor in deciding to buy my .480 Alaskan.
 
The .44 Mags are still plenty strong enough to handle whatever you want in it. The cylinder is long enough to load a 405 grain bullet.
 
Of course the .44 cylinder is strong enough. I personally liked the idea of a gun with some special high tech steel in it.
 
IMHO----The .44M version is the most practical. Has enough 'power' to handle about anything, but doesn't have the recoil of the .454C. Rounds are cheaper and can be found about anywhere and things like speed loaders are also out there.
I have many hundreds of rounds through mine and is still a 'blast' to shoot. I talked to several Alaskan owners before I purchased mine and almost all said that the .454C was too much and thay wished they had purchased theirs in .44M.
 
A .454 is like a Ferrari. Just because it CAN go 200 m.p.h. Doesn't mean you have to drive that fast, you just can, if you have the nerve and the skill. There are loads of all levels that can be fired in a .454 cylinder.
 
44 vs 45. I went with the 454 for a myriad of reasons, some of which don't have anything to do with the gun itself. If all you are going to do is shoot factory ammo the 44mag will be less recoil than the 454, but the 45Colt "cowboy" ammo will be about the softest shooting stuff off the shelf. About like a full size 9mm if that. If all I was going to do is "plink" and not reload I would go with the 454 and shoot cowboy ammo or get it set up to shoot 45ACP. That is the cheapest way to go for powder puff loads. Having said that an Alaskan wouldn't be my choice for a "plinker" either.

Just my opinion, but you need to have some power to make shooting the Alaskan "fun". Cowboy level loads are boring. To find the power level you want off the shelf you'll either be a lot more lucky than I am or have to start reloading. The "funnest" factory loads I have shot are the heavy bullet 45Colt Buffalo Bore loads. When you go with full power ammo I have found the heavy bullets much less harsh than the lighter bullet loads. You WILL be surprised at how well the Alaskan handles recoil.

I would also bet dollars to donuts that you will shoot some full power ammo "just because". If you want the "hostess with the mostest" the 454 is it.
 
G2 said:
To me 44 special would be a perty wimpy round for all that steel.

I have a 45/454 and really enjoy it. I do handload, and would suggest that if you plan to shoot it very much just buy a basic kit and handload, you will pay for the basic kit in no time at all and really enjoy a whole other aspect of shooting.

If you don't handload,,,, I would get the 44 mag, lots of factory choices.
left.jpg
Click to expand...

where did you get that patridge sight?
 
i have the alaskan in .44. i bought mine just for fun shooting and i also already had dies for it.
another advantage i could envision is the availability of snakeshot in the .44 caliber. i would think that the short barrel would make a tighter pattern than a longer barrel w/more rifling to distort the pellets on their way out.
 
I have some snake shot I wanna try out when the range opens back up and the weather warms up some. I'll need them when I go see my mother and grandfather.
 
I have the 44 and it is a BLAST! It is one fun gun. Now I'm after the 454 and when money and gun show up at the same time it will come home with me. For your intended purpose either would work for you. If you don't reload I think 45 Colt factory might be more available and a little less expensive than the 44 Spl or Mag.
 
I had a 454 and the funny thing is it was about the most comfortable to shoot 454 ive ever shot. Better even then my FA 454. I had mine moon clipped. It would shoot 454s or 45 colts with or without moon clips and shoot 45 acps using smith 25 moon clips. Made for a pretty versitile handgun. Personaly i would even consider one in 44 mag. To me anyway the 44 mag doesnt need that much weight to be confortable and id much rather pack around a 4 inch N frame if im wanting a 44 mag. Its much lighter and easier to shoot and probably more accurate.
 
I'm hoping to find a bargain on a .454, with the intent of shooting mid-range .45LC most of the time, but with the option of those "Ruger only" .45 Colt loads that should be a hoot from a big-bore "snubby!"

Regards,
Dirty Bob
 
I have the 44 and would like to have the 454 as well. My 44 is a fun gun and only shot 44 Mag in it. I think the 454 would be even more fun especially with the mild to wild offering.
 
I opted for the .44M. Although they LIST for the same price you can easily find one at about $300 cheaper than the .454's which seem to commonly go for list!
Also, Is the .454 REALLY fun to shoot?? I don't think so, yet the .44 mag is tolerable. I'll bet most everyone who owns a .454 usually shots .45LC in it and rarely shoots .454? Also, have you priced the .454 rounds? !!
Another thing I always think about is, availability of rounds/brass down the road. I've walked away from .41 Mag, .32H&R and a few others due to this.

d.
 
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