Ruger SRH Alaskan .454 Casull Bowen conversion

[DPris]

Sounds like you're on the road.
Good luck with the project.

I've had him do a Super Red Alaskan, an older blued Red, a convertible Blackhawk, and I have his extended pins in two flattop Blackhawks and a Kodiak .44 Mag snub installed locally.

I've recommended his work for many years.

Have that Rough Country rear on several revolvers, as mentioned previously.
Denis

 

[MCMXI]

@DPris, thanks for your input and particularly for sharing your first hand experience with Bowen. I'm looking forward to having s Rough Country rear sight. XS did a very poor job with the "drop in" sights they offer for the Alaskan since they didn't figure out that the rear v-nitch sight doesn't work with their front tritium dot.

I sent Mr. Bowen an email yesterday afternoon to confirm my order, and in his usual way responded the same evening. He advised against the matte finish and reminded me to send in some handloads so that he can shoot for regulation (dial the sights in). I need to put some OT 360gr WNFP and Beartooth 345gr WLN loads together today. Fun stuff.

I asked him if he knew why Ruger claims that the barrel is 4.2" on the Redhawk whereas it's less than 4". He didn't know. The reason why I asked is that Mr. Bowen could install a barrel that's a true 4" that will look longer than the Redhawk barrel. A small detail perhaps, but that's where the devil lives.

 

[MCMXI]

I used Photoshop to virtually stick my Redhawk barrel on the SRH to get a better idea of how it might look. The sights would be different with the DX base up front and I'm still not sure if I should opt for 4", 4'1/4" or 4-1/2". I'm still leaning towards 4" particularly since the RH barrel is very close to 4" as well.

 

[MaxP]

A .454 Redhawk is pretty easy to create using the .454 cylinder out of a Super Redhawk and sticking it into a .45 Colt Redhawk. I had a cylinder left over from my .500 Linebaugh SRH project and Jack Huntington found me a Redhawk in .45 Colt to complete the project.

 

[MCMXI]

A .454 Redhawk is pretty easy to create using the .454 cylinder out of a Super Redhawk and sticking it into a .45 Colt Redhawk. I had a cylinder left over from my .500 Linebaugh SRH project and Jack Huntington found me a Redhawk in .45 Colt to complete the project.

That's very cool. I suppose the question is whether or not there are features that one prefers in the RH or SRH. I do find that the SRH fits my hand better and the trigger geometry feels more natural and comfortable. Can you provide some info on the load or loads that you shoot through your RH .454 Casull? Do you have velocity data too? It would be very helpful before I complete the work order form and ship the revolver. Thanks.

 

[MaxP]

That's very cool. I suppose the question is whether or not there are features that one prefers in the RH or SRH. I do find that the SRH fits my hand better and the trigger geometry feels more natural and comfortable. Can you provide some info on the load or loads that you shoot through your RH .454 Casull? Do you have velocity data too? It would be very helpful before I complete the work order form and ship the revolver. Thanks.

I didn't have it very long before I sent it down the road and never fed it handloads. I used it primarily for backup duty and had to put an obstinate wild hog down with it once. I typically fed it 360 grain Double Tap .45 Colt +P loads through and it was fairly obnoxious because of the Pachmayr grip. I too prefer the SRH and it's superior grip and action.

 

[horsemen61]

Op very nice big bore you will have to everyone else sharing pics gorgeous Guns!

 

[DPris]

I'd go with a 4-inch barrel, may be easier to find leather for.

As far as Red vs Super Red goes, I have one of each done by Bowen.
The Super offers better grip options & some feel the trigger can be tuned better.
Denis

 

[MaxP]

I'd go with a 4-inch barrel, may be easier to find leather for.

As far as Red vs Super Red goes, I have one of each done by Bowen.
The Super offers better grip options & some feel the trigger can be tuned better.
Denis

It is more tunable as one spring isn’t performing two functions.

 

[DPris]

Exactly.
Denis

 

[CraigC]

I'd do the Super. Couldn't find Redhawk grips that agree with me.

 

[DPris]

That's the problem I had with my Red.
Denis

 

[MCMXI]

I'd go with a 4-inch barrel, may be easier to find leather for.

Yeah, I've decided to go with a 4" barrel and no matte finish. I have a couple of Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake holsters and one Chesty Puller Suspension System. I'll check tonight to see if my RH with the 4" barrel fits the SRH Alaskan holster in terms of barrel length (there's a hole for the muzzle in both holsters). If it fits I can use the existing Alaskan holster for the 4" Alaskan.

 

[DPris]

The beadblasted finish is a personal preference I've done on several stainless revolvers to reduce possible reflection.
If it doesn't appeal to you, don't bother with it.
Denis

 

[MCMXI]

The SRH Alaskan went out today! I have no idea how long it will take but hopefully I'll get it back in a few months and maybe in time for hiking this summer. I did reinstall the factory hammer and trigger springs and loaded up some 360gr OT loads using H110 and CCI 450 primers. I didn't want Mr. Bowen doing a trigger job with Wilson Combat springs installed and it will be interesting to see how good the trigger is when I get the Alaskan back. Hopefully it feels better than it does with the Wilson springs and gives reliable ignition with the CCI 450 primers.

The beadblasted finish is a personal preference I've done on several stainless revolvers to reduce possible reflection.
If it doesn't appeal to you, don't bother with it.

I like the idea of a bead blast finish but Mr. Bowen talked me out of it stating that it's not as durable as the brushed finish which can be cleaned up with a Scotch-Brite pad. Mr. Bowen suggested that I consider a lanyard ring but I don't like the look of them. I understand the utility but I don't think that I'm likely to lose the revolver using the Simply Rugged pancake holster. I tried my RH with the 4" barrel in both holsters that I have and it looks like I could use the Alaskan in either. In fact, I probably could have managed with just the RH holster since I won't be carrying both at the same time. Live and learn I guess.

RH in Simply Rugged RH holster



RH in Simply Rugged SRH holster

 

[DPris]

Hamilton's a strong proponent of the lanyard ring, he put one on my conversion years ago.
I'm not a strong proponent, so I took it off.

I can respect his reasoning there, but it's not for me.

You shouldn't have a problem finding leather, if you decide you want something else.
My four-inch Super rides on occasion in a chest rig from Galco, and I've found it can also fit in SOME Smith 4-inch N-Frame leather.
I also have a conventional shoulder holster from Galco that carries it nicely.

Grips offer options, too.
If you're happy with the style above, fine.
Otherwise any grip made for a GP will also fit, and I've found the Hogue Tamer very comfortable and efficient in handling heavy recoil in the model.

Did he quote you a time frame?
If not, I suggest you forget about the gun & go about the rest of your life.
Could have changed since then, but last time I was talking about a project, he told me he was working on a two-year backlog.
Hopefully sooner on yours, but don't make any plans for it in the very near future.
Denis

 

[MCMXI]

I think I'm good with leather and have no plans to buy another holster.

Did he quote you a time frame?
If not, I suggest you forget about the gun & go about the rest of your life.
Could have changed since then, but last time I was talking about a project, he told me he was working on a two-year backlog.
Hopefully sooner on yours, but don't make any plans for it in the very near future.

I didn't discuss a time frame with him. I sent him an email today to ask about that. I have the RH to carry so I'm certainly not going to be calling every month. If it takes a year or more then so be it. I plan on keeping, carrying and using the Alaskan/GP for the rest of my life so I can live with waiting for such a great revolver. I might have to do something with my Redhawk once the SRH is back.

Grips offer options, too.
If you're happy with the style above, fine.
Otherwise any grip made for a GP will also fit, and I've found the Hogue Tamer very comfortable and efficient in handling heavy recoil in the model.

The Alaskan has the Hogue Tamer grips on it but I would like to try the new G10 grips at some point.

https://www.hogueinc.com/grips/ruger/gp100/g10

 

[CraigC]

I'd assume the G10's are the same shape as the regular monogrip. Which to me is a big negative. The Tamer is a little thicker than their normal monogrip and a lot more comfortable. I still like the old style insert grips better. If they were a quarter inch thicker across the middle they'd be perfect.

 

[DPris]

Those'll be a hard material, the contours might be nice, but I prefer the recoil-absorbing rubber on mine with the Tamer.

The first job I had him do was a blue Red, took him a year.
It was a special job, 50th birthday gift to myself, so I had it engraved, took another year there.
Figured might as well do better than factory wood, had a set of Fishpaw grips custom made for it.

Very first shot drew blood.

I find with my hand shape & the way I hold, if heavy DA revolver recoil's gonna get me anywhere, it'll tear skin at the base of my thumb.
That's the same across the board, from the LCR with +P .38s on up to a heavy Garrett 330 in a Super.

The grip fit, both on the gun & in my hand, makes a huge difference.
I've kept the wood on the blue custom, because I have not found anything that works any better, and grip options are fairly limited for the Red.

For the Super conversion, it's wide open, but I've not found anything that works better in my hand (no blood) than the Tamer.

If you remember when you get the gun back, post about how that G10 grip does for you.
Denis

 

[MCMXI]

I'd assume the G10's are the same shape as the regular monogrip. Which to me is a big negative. The Tamer is a little thicker than their normal monogrip and a lot more comfortable. I still like the old style insert grips better. If they were a quarter inch thicker across the middle they'd be perfect.

According to Hogue the new G10 grips are much closer the dimensions of their wooden grips rather than the standard monogrip. $100 is a bit of a risk for grips that may or may not work but I have two GP100s so could always use the grips on those revolvers if I don't like them on the Alaskan. I like the

If you remember when you get the gun back, post about how that G10 grip does for you.
Denis

It'll be a while but will do.

 

[DPris]

That's why I said "If you remember...."
Denis

 

[MCMXI]

I asked Mr. Bowen yesterday how long it might take to complete the work on my Alaskan. He's very good at responding to email in a timely manner and he had this to say.

"We’ll do our best to have the work done in 4—6 mos. though it may well be on into the latter part of the year as we are quite covered up. Assuming, of course, we get the rebored barrels back in a timely manner. Hope to see them this spring."

Six months would put it into September but I doubt that he'll be done by then given his "latter part of the year" comment. It's no big deal since I'll happily wait for something of this quality. I'll have to start another thread when it comes back as this one will most likely get locked down after a few months.

 

[DPris]

Whatever the wait is, it'll be worth it.
Denis

 

[MCMXI]

Whatever the wait is, it'll be worth it.

I have no doubt that it'll all be worth it in the end. It's an expensive proposition for sure, but when you think of how much it costs to buy groceries for a year, the cost of obtaining a "one of a kind" firearm that I'll have for the rest of my life pales in comparison. The other thing is that I'm divesting myself of some firearms that I don't use much if at all. I'm over the whole collecting thing. Now it's all about function and use for me.

Mr. Bowen emailed me to tell me that the Alaskan "arrived in good order" and that he'd forgotten to mention that it will cost an additional $150 to re-bore a barrel because they haven't had 5.5" or 7.5" .45 cal barrels in years. The current 4.2" barrels aren't suited to the DX bases so this is the only option. I told him that it was no big deal and that I wouldn't bother him over the next 6 to 12 months. If I haven't heard from him by Christmas I'll give him a call.

 

[DPris]

Denis