Super Redhawk or Super Blackhawk: 44, or 454/45

[Huntolive]

Sincere thanks Lost Sheep, CD, Pros, etc for your advice and exp.

I am on a steep learning curve, but am committed to re-loading.
I see the points about 454 brass.

The only thing this has me thinking, is, maybe I should settle for the 44Mag SRHH instead! ;-)

But is the 454 any harder to handload than the 44 Mag?

 

[Hammerdown77]

But is the 454 any harder to handload than the 44 Mag?

Nope

 

[Manny]

Fair enough 98Redline! ;-)

Part of why I didn't say was cause I didn't want to diasapoint you Pops!
Or let down the well informed and 44 lover Craig C.

However I am getting the 454/45LC ;-)

My buddy I'm gettin it from will is a Marine firearms expert, and offered to teach me to reload, and assist with training. Plus, I feel I get 2 levels of gun in one. I will use 45lc heavy hot loads, and can't envision ever needing a gun bigger then 454 Casul.

Still could use advice about mounting red dot or scope to SRHH.
Should be piece o cake, but my rings r standard, so do I need others to mount a ultradot 30? Is Bushnell Trophy red dot or Millet reddot a good alternative?
If scope , I like Bushnell 3200 elite. Leupld too much $. Burris 2X possible.
Those should mount w/ standard ruger rings w/ integral mounts, yes?

Happy Huntin!

Congrats on chosing a great and versital gun. Especially as your friend is teaching you to handload you should get terrific use from the gun. It's twin that resides in my gun safe is evidence of what a great choice I think it is.

A scope you may want to consider is the Weaver 2x, very nice optics and a great reliability record even on hard kickers. I find above 2x to be usefull only from a rest. YMMV.

Truthfully though I think the best all around set up may be one of the mini dot scopes such as a Burris fast fire or Trijican RDS. I'm thinking real hard of going to one mounted using the Wiegand (sp?) rail. Light, compact & tough and I am satisfied with no magnification at the distances I shoot mine at.

Hope you have good luck and a lot of fun with your new boomer.

 

[Coal Dragger]

Prosser,

I agree with you about the FA safety notch, although once engaged it should be very solid if you have a properly fitted holster with a hammer safety strap to ensure it can't be pulled back at all. Too bad they don't update it to the transfer bar on the M97. I would pay extra for this, even though it should come from the box that way.

Also suspect you are right about the trigger, tuning adds to the bottom line and helps defer liability.

 

[rajb123]

Bill Ruger helped Bill and Hillary Clinton enact very bad gun control legislation in the early 1990s.

And this is why I don't buy Ruger guns.

 

[Coal Dragger]

The old man is dead, let it go.

 

[Huntolive]

I am now leaning towards using 454 brass for all applications in the SRH, and downloading it to somethin like 260grns at 1200 fps for deer and target.

Help me out here, do I need the 454 dies?
I've gotten mixed answers. Most say NO, but that 45lc dies can leave bullets loose after recoil.

Best place to get affordable basic, decent 454 dies?

Or if not needed, I do already have access to 45lc dies and the presses.

The presses are all the same , right?

 

[Prosser]

Use the .45 Colt stuff and see if you have any problems.

You can answer part of your own question by opening a reloading manual and looking at the case dimensions, and see if and where they differ.

I suspect at the levels you are going to load bullet pulling is unlikely to be a problem.

Plus I suspect the guy who is going to teach you knows the answers to MOST of your questions.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Sincere thanks Lost Sheep, CD, Pros, etc for your advice and exp.

I am on a steep learning curve, but am committed to re-loading.
I see the points about 454 brass.

The only thing this has me thinking, is, maybe I should settle for the 44Mag SRHH instead! ;-)

But is the 454 any harder to handload than the 44 Mag?

You are most welcome. Glad I could help.

The 45/454 is theoretically better ballistically because it is a bigger bullet. But the 44 may have more selections of bullet construction available.

The 45/454 is a better round for reloading because

1) the 454 is capable of significantly higher power levels than the 44 Magnum (if you really want to go that high).
2) The 451 bullet is 5% greater diameter than the 44 (.429"), 10% greater frontal area and 16% greater mass (for the same bullet profile).

The 44 is a better round for reloading because

1) has no history of varying bullet diameters like the 45 Colt does. (Because of the history, some chamberings are set for .454" bore size and some .451".)
2) the rim of the 45 Colt is not as proud of the case body as the 44 (does not stick out as far, thus there is less for your shell holder or extractor star to engage).
3) is a tiny bit cheaper to reload.

So, it depends on your needs and preferences which is "better".

The best I can do to answer your question is to point out (what I see as) the issues that govern. But I may have missed one(s) significant to you. I only see the ones significant to me.

Lost Sheep

 

[Alaska444]

I chose the SRH in .44 magnum. With Buffalo Bore +P+, I am at .454 levels as well. I feel it is the best choice for me.