Anyone have a Ruger Super Redhawk "Alaskan" in .45 Colt/.454 Casull?

[MCMXI]

I've been lusting after one of these for months now and have found a NIB one for a reasonable price (around $700). I have absolutely no reason to own this revolver other than the fact that I really want one. I've fallen for .45 Colt revolvers in a big way and now have five of them, three of which are Rugers. So my question is for those that have them, are there any issues with shooting .45 Colt loads in the Alaskan? I have .44 and .357 Magnum revolvers and have shot specials in them so I realize that a lead ring can build up near the front of each chamber, but those rings clean up fairly easily. Are there any other issues to be aware of with the Alaskan? I've never shot a .454 Casull but I'm sure it won't be a problem for me.

Once I buy an Alaskan, a GP100 and a 4" stainless Blackhawk in .45 Colt I'll have all the Ruger revolvers that I want. Here's what I have at present.

Thanks.

 

[cottonmouth]

I have a SRH with a 7.5 inch barrel, I have shot a few .45's out of it but I always cleaned it after I did it and it was never a problem. Since I put a scope on it I stopped shooting them.

J.B.

 

[kanook]

Watch for bullet jump with the Alaskan. When shooting it at the range, people will move away from you. And double up on your ear protection.

 

[bedwards1]

While it's fun to shoot, I can't keep scope caps on my SRH 7.5. I'd hate to think what full house loads would kick like with the shorter barrel. I doubt you will burn all the powder with it.

be

 

[xxxstarmaniac]

1858,

The Alaskan weighs enough that even hot .45lc loads barely move the barrel in my grasp. Unless you are firing hundreds of rounds at a time, the build up will be very little and cleaning a snap.

I usually fire full house .454 casull through it, but when I first shot it I fired quite a few .45lc. It is a lot of fun to shoot, but unless you're carrying it in bear country, its weight will keep it in your safe except for the odd range day.

 

[MCMXI]

Thanks everyone for your comments.

xxxstarmaniac, your reply is particularly helpful and you're right about it spending most of its life in the safe, but it falls under the "must have" category for me.

 

[MCMXI]

Well, I tried to convince my wife to let me order an "Alaskan" for me and a GP100 for her since it's our 20th wedding anniversary next week. She didn't want the GP100 since in her words, "she already has a .357 Magnum" by which she means MY 4" stainless Python ... :banghead: ... which is her favorite along with MY SIG P220. Anyway, I guess it'll just be the "Alaskan" for now and I should have it in about three weeks.

 

[SCMtns]

Well, it looks like you already decided in favor of it, but I'll tell you anyway that my experience with it has been great. I do a lot of backpacking in the Sierras and the Cascades and always go armed. I got the Alaskan to replace a 5" 629 Classic with a more compact package.

I bought the .454 mostly so I could shoot .45 Colt, a caliber I'd been interested in for a long time. This in turn got me into reloading, once I saw how expensive and uninteresting the factory loads are.

First thing I did was load up some 325 grain soft points with somewhere around 22 grains of Lil Gun. Although the recoil is entirely manageable, he blast is impressive. One of my buddies who shot the thing said that if I miss the bear, I'll still set him on fire. With only 2.5" of barrel, a good portion of the powder is still igniting in mid-air as the bullet leaves the muzzle. It's something to behold at night. I've tried a few hunting loads in .454 Casull, and honestly couldn't tell much of a difference between them and the really hot .45 Colts I've loaded up. It spits fire no matter what.

Perhaps the best part of the gun is the grip. The short barrel means that much of the recoil is dissipated as muzzle flip; the gel insert at the webbing of the hand makes the remaining recoil entirely painless. I've never wished I had a glove on for the heavy loads.

You're working on getting yourself an Alaskan, and I'm working on getting myself one of those 4" Redhawks you already have. Good choice! That's on my short list of "next guns."

EDIT to add: about 1000 Colts and 150 Casulls through the cylinder, and no trouble with rings in the chambers yet. But then I use a chamber brush to clean up every time...

 

[MCMXI]

SCMtns, I really appreciate that you took the time to make the post above ... very encouraging and informative. I've wanted an Alaskan from the first moment I saw one but they've been hard to find. If you're serious about the Redhawk in .45 Colt, (which is a great, great revolver) the place I ordered my Alaskan from has a NIB one for $635.00.

I've shot a bunch of heavy .45 Colt loads (H110) through the Redhawk and the recoil is no problem at all, in fact, I really enjoy it. I'm looking forward to trying the same loads in the Alaskan. I have no experience at all with the .454 Casull but will be reloading for that too. I have a few thousand 300gr .453 bullets from Oregon Trail so I just need to order some cases along with another Lee crimp die and I'll be set. I currently have 5 revolvers in .45 Colt, six when the Alaskan gets here, so I'm somewhat addicted ... but you seem to know the feeling.

 

[PhrankKastle]

I had a .44 Alaskan that was a great gun, I traded it for the .454 Alaskan to compliment my 45 colt lever actions. I shoot the Buffalo Bore and Corbon heavy 45's and it is a fun gun to shoot and I find the recoil very manageable in 45. The only 454 I've shot thru it so far is the Corbon 285 bonded core load and while it will get your attention I am impressed with how the grips absorb alot of the recoil so you know your shooting something serious but it is controllable, well for me anyway.
When coat weather gets here the Alaskan with corbon 200 gr hp will be my winter carry gun in a Simply Rugged sourdough holster.
For woods or winter carry I think its just about the perfect carry gun.

 

[dairycreek]

I have had my Alaskan (454/45) for a little over a year and I must say that it is a fun piece. I also handload so building both 454 and 45 ammo for it has been a lot of fun as well.

I would warn anyone that shooting heavyweight ammo in it is no fun at all. Manageable, but no fun. Another warning! Always protect your hearing but with this gun in particular. The short barrel produces a fierce sound. A little experimentation will result in great loads for both 454 and 45. Great, fun gun!

 

[SCMtns]

Hi 1858,

Thanks for the heads-up on a good deal on a 4" Redhawk, but I can actually only buy the 4" Redhawk in .44 Mag out here in CA. The same gun in .45 Colt is not on the list of "approved guns" for sale within the state. I like .44 Remington Magnum almost as much as .45 Colt, and reload for both, so I'd still be pretty happy to have a 4" Redhawk in .44.

It's either that or wait another year or two until I'm back in a free state and then buy the .45.

I'm not from here, and I ain't sticking around!

 

[MCMXI]

Thanks for the heads-up on a good deal on a 4" Redhawk, but I can actually only buy the 4" Redhawk in .44 Mag out here in CA. The same gun in .45 Colt is not on the list of "approved guns" for sale within the state. I like .44 Remington Magnum almost as much as .45 Colt, and reload for both, so I'd still be pretty happy to have a 4" Redhawk in .44.

Who would have thought that a revolver would be on a blacklist in California?!! Seems odd that you can own a .454 Casull/.45 Colt but not a .45 Colt. Is it because the revolver is relatively new?

dairycreek, thanks for reiterating kanook's suggestion about ear protection ... it's not something I would have given much thought to ... now I'll be prepared when I take it to the range for the first time. It's also good to hear that you enjoy your Alaskan.

 

[batmann]

I think your choice of an Alaskan is a good idea, mine is in .44M and is one of my favorite handguns. Mine is comfortable to shoot, even with 'heavy' mag loads. The .44M is about my limit on handguns, but you all ready have a beautiful family in .45 Colt, so it will have some great company.

 

[MCMXI]

The .44M is about my limit on handguns, but you all ready have a beautiful family in .45 Colt, so it will have some great company.

Thanks, I have these two USFA Rodeos in .45 Colt as well .... ... and I don't plan on stopping there. I'd love to find a nice S&W Mountain gun and a pre-lock 4" stainless Blackhawk.

 

[MCMXI]

Some photos of the Alaskan .... it's a beauty!! When I took it down to the police station yesterday to register it, the officer said "you don't need to register flare guns!" Everyone got a good laugh out of that quip as the Alaskan did a meet and greet with a bunch of officers behind the glass. One asked "is this thing bigger than a 500?" .... uh ... no.

So without further ado ...

 

[X-Rap]

Nice gun, looks like a lot in a small package.
I threw up in my mouth a little when you said you had to take it down to the police station to register it. I sure hope that never gets to sound normal.

 

[MCMXI]

That's the law where I live ... all firearms (expept blackpowder) must be registered. At least I can own "normal" ARs, FALs, M1As, SKSs and the like with high capacity magazines, flash suppressors etc. It could be a lot worse ... I could live in California!!

 

[X-Rap]

I try not to celebrate how lucky I am in terms of California. Man that registration thing is a real bummer, hope people think about such things when they vote.
What state are you in.

 

[KJS]

I try not to celebrate how lucky I am in terms of California. Man that registration thing is a real bummer, hope people think about such things when they vote.

I hope people think about such things all the time and contact their elected officials regularly. Get on the e-mail lists for NRA-ILA and GOA and they'll sure keep you up to date and have you writing your elected official real often. Gun owners need to make a NOISE. Thousands of pro-gun e-mails coming in daily might give even a clueless politician a hint as to what his constituents think.

 

[Big Bill]

I think it would be a unique self defense handgun. Can you imagine the surprise of a perp when he got hit with a full strength .454? I think the noise alone would scare him to death!

 

[gbran]

I have the 7 1/2 SRH in .454/.45. I load my own ammo from mild to wild and never shoot 45LC's in my SRH so I don't have to worry about that extra little ring to keep clean.

BTW, I'd like to have the Alaskan too.

 

[eddism]

Gunblast has a full article on this one. Jeff writes his review using COR BON 45LC 325gr +P Buffalo's. I found it insiteful.

 

[batmann]

NICE!!!! It will look good with the other 'family' members.

 

[recoiladdict]

those are beautiful shots of that shooter!

Man, what a nice looking gun.