SRH Questions (and some pics)

[Charlie U.]

Hi Ruger Fans,

I picked up this SRH 480Ruger (9.5" barrel) a few months ago. It was on Gunbroker and I snagged it NIB for $625. It now wears a 30mm ultradot and is all ready for deer hunting this fall. The seller also had a 7.5" model in brushed stainless, but I went with the longer barrel because of personal preference.

I've dialed her in using Hornady 400gr. XTP factory loads with it and am VERY pleased with it's accuracy. Whatever she lacks in looks is more than made up for in power and function.
She kicks pretty nicely, but not quite the same snap as a 454casull.
Recoil is very similar to shooting a 44mag with 300gr. gorilla loads.

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By way of comparison here is the SRH along side a Police Service Six 357mag (4" barrel)

My questions are:

A)How many Super RedHawks were produced in the brushed stainless finish???
I know that almost all of the 480Ruger SRHs in 7.5" and 9/5" were made with the target gray finish. These non-target gray guns seem to be uncommon.....the last few produced. I am curious about how rare my gun might be. Even if it is a rarity I still intend to hunt with it.....I'm not a collector.
(I did call Ruger Customer Service with this question. They were very good about exchanging the 1" scope rings for the 30mm rings, but couldn't-or-wouldn't provide info regarding the number of non-target gray guns)

B)When (date) did Ruger stop building revolvers in 480Ruger cal. and is there much hope for them resuming manufacture of handguns in that cal???

Any discussion/comments about the dropping of the target gray finish or the 480Ruger cal. is welcome.

Thanks,

 

[Stoots]

Welcome to RugerForum!

Nice score!

I can't help with numbers produced, and I'm not sure when Ruger stopped making guns in .480, but the chance of them resuming production isn't likely.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Instant Classic. I could be wrong but I don't think they are puting the 'target gray' finish on anything now. Last I saw was a 5" target gray GP-100 that Talo had made and that was a while ago.

 

[chefrob1]

nice lookin' rig......got the same set up in 44mag., still workin' on dialing in the ultradot.

 

[exlogger]

Man that's a sweet looking Service Six. Is that an SRH next to it? :wink:

 

[Bob R]

My understanding is that Ruger still puts out a few 480 SRH's and all the new ones are Stainless Steel.

If you don't already, start reloading. Several reasons, and a big one is ammunition cost. You can also tune the loads up and down. I even have a shotshell load worked out. I have a 7.5 and a 9.5 both are the older Target Gray ones. I wish my 7.5 was Stainless Steel instead of Target Grey, I would already have the barrel shortened to 5".

What I would do. First pull the grip off. Look down the inside back and see if it has a strip of Powder Blue material down the back strap on the inside. If it does not order a set of Hogue "Tamer" Grips for it. The Tamer has the Sorbothane insert, and is the factory grip on the Alaskan's. It will soak up lots of recoil. (Available from Midway)
I have put a Green Marbel Fiber Optic front sight on all 4 Super Redhawks I have owned for Back Up open sights. If you ever need to hunt with open sights the Green Fiber Optic front sight is GREAT in low light early and late in the woods. (Available from Midway)
You already have a 30mm UltraDot. That is as good as it gets for an optical revolver sight for hunting.
Check with Graft and Son. Last time I checked they still had Speer 480 Brass in stock.
I have a Lee 400gr bullet mold for mine. It likes that bullet. While the Lee 325 Gas Check looks great, my gun does not shoot them well. I have heard this from others on the Handgun Hunter Forum. I think they are too short for the large diameter. I was shooting some 355 Gas Checks I bought from Midway last year. My guns shot them very well.

You will really like it.
I tagged an 11 point on my Any Deer Tag, and a Doe on my Antlerless Only Tag last November with mine.
I would get your gun in the woods well before season and start working with it. If you hunt from a Ladder Stand for example set it up, and practice getting on targets all around the stand. Work at different light levels. You will probably need to turn the UltraDot down as the light starts to fade, Up as it gets brighter in the woods. I have a Wal Mart shooting stick that I hunt with. It has a metal bullet point on the bottom. I epoxy putty a Cain Tip over the bullet point. When used in a stand it keeps the tip from making noise as well as dropping through the expanded metal. On the ground the cane tip keeps the tip from making noise on rocks.
I carry mine in the woods in a Custom Rectangular Pistol Case with Dee's added for a shoulder strap. I had it made from a Boyt Counter Matt. It has a Flap Opening on the end. I wear the case like a Muzzleloader Possibles Bag. If you are walking you can leave the case end open to access the revolver like a Horizontal Carry Shoulder Holster. Hook your 550 cord to the handles to hoist the revolver up into the stand without dinging the gun up. Works Great.
Looks like you have a case that will work. You can have Dee's sewn on to all 4 handle locations just above where the handles attach to the case body on the Inside so the Dees will come together to attach the carry strap. Attach the Dee's above the case body high enough that with the gun in the case you can get the Dee's together on the front and back. I got some clips off a surplus sleeping bag carrier for the strap and had them sewn on to some OD Webbing.

Enjoy it, the 480 SRH is as good as it gets for North American Game.

Bob

 

[Charlie U.]

Thanks for the feedback,

Rob,
I checked the grips as you suggested.....No blue insert, so I guess I don't have the tamer grips. I've put 60 rounds thru it now and the recoil is not what I would consider excessive. I am content with the grips that are on it, so I will leave it stock for now.....Better to spend my funds on getting some reloading gear or a holster. I would like to find a bandoleer style rig with a nice holster for it. So far I'm finding that holsters for the 9.5" with scope are not all that common.

Do you have pics of the "Dees" and how you attached them?

You mentioned using ladder stands for hunting...Yep, that's exactly how I will be hunting this fall. I will be using several stands and a ground blind.

Cheers,

 

[s4s4u]

No blue insert, so I guess I don't have the tamer grips.

That sure looks like the Tamer. The Monogrip is pointed at the bottom rear of the grip. If it has a soft spot at the top of the grip, below the hammer, it is a Tamer. The Tamer is also a little fatter than the Mono. In any event, if it doesn't bother you, keep on shooting what you got. But, the Tamer does make a difference.