Which .454 would you get?

[SDGlock23]

I'd definitely get a BFR 454, I have a Bisley version. They're much nicer than Rugers and have features the Ruger SBH 454 doesn't. They're a VERY nice gun for the money. Here's mine

 

[Jessesky]

If it’s not for defense, DA vs SA doesn’t matter. However I will note in your current readhawk you can load some 45 colt that very nearly approaches 454

 

[TTv2]

If it’s not for defense, DA vs SA doesn’t matter. However I will note in your current readhawk you can load some 45 colt that very nearly approaches 454

I know that, the goal here is a longer barrel for the longer sight radius and also so it will up the velocity even more. I figure .454 would be a better fit for such a long barrel revolver as it would further increase the power... and also so everyone at the range will see my big, powerful revolver and think, "Wow, that guy is so manly shooting the big, strong revolver and taking the recoil like a man."

Then I can walk around the range with this as my theme song:

 

[MidRoad]

I know that, the goal here is a longer barrel for the longer sight radius and also so it will up the velocity even more. I figure .454 would be a better fit for such a long barrel revolver as it would further increase the power... and also so everyone at the range will see my big, powerful revolver and think, "Wow, that guy is so manly shooting the big, strong revolver and taking the recoil like a man."

Then I can walk around the range with this as my theme song:

Well if that's the case might as well make it one of the .50 cals.

 

[Anchorite]

We then, if the carbon ring is a problem in some guns you can always use the empty case trick.

Carry the longer case in your range bag. (the .44 Magnum, .357 Magnum, ect.) Be sure you use your deburring tool to excess so the case mouth is sharp. If you do develop a ring put the sharpened case in each charge hole of the cylinder with a little tap and it will cut/knock the ring right out. I have done this at the range several times for friends I was shooting with, it works well and it's easy.

Have done the same thing over the years. Works like a charm.

 

[cfullgraf]

Ruger doesn't make the Redhawk in 454, they do in the slightly larger and uglier Super Redhawk.

Roger. I'm not a Redhawk aficionado. All Redhawks look alike to me.

 

[Obturation]

Its tough to beat the toklat.

 

[thomas15]

I love my 500 X-frame. The first time shooting it I was questioning why the heck I bought it while shaking my hurting hand. I’ve shot both single and double actions and personally prefer the doubles. My hands are on the larger side and the X frame fits like a glove. I scored a deal on it at a gun show last month for $800 including bgc, I didn’t know I needed it until I saw how cheap it was. I couldn’t see anything signifying that it had been shot more than a couple times. I shot 70 rounds through it last Sunday and my hands are still feeling it, I love it but I’m a recoil junky!

That is interesting. I have a friend that has been telling me for months that he is getting a revolver. He was all about a S&W 629 5" barrel. Now he tells me he wants a S&W 500 6 or 6.5" barrel. Not sure if he wants me to talk him out of it or not. But my attitude is try it you might like it. And I can get him started on the path to handloading his own low powder ammo. I think as long as an X frame fits the hand then why not?

 

[CraigC]

The SRH isn't bigger than the RH. It just looks that way because of the frame extension. The frames are the same size and the cylinders are even the same part. Weight is the same. The grip stud balances out the frame extension.

The Toklat is probably my favorite configuration for the SRH. I wish they made them in every chambering. I was all set to order one when I found this older target gray model (center) that already had Bowen sights on it.

 

[MaxP]

That is interesting. I have a friend that has been telling me for months that he is getting a revolver. He was all about a S&W 629 5" barrel. Now he tells me he wants a S&W 500 6 or 6.5" barrel. Not sure if he wants me to talk him out of it or not. But my attitude is try it you might like it. And I can get him started on the path to handloading his own low powder ammo. I think as long as an X frame fits the hand then why not?

In my experience, The X-frames, particularly the .500 iteration, loaded to spec don't kick as hard as many "lesser" .50 cals in that they are really large and heavy and they have an effective brake. They produce a lot of noise, however.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I think as long as an X frame fits the hand then why not?

The X- frame revolver uses an L frame grip so it is not overly large like the rest of the revolver is.

 

[tuckerdog1]

For a dedicated hunting sixgun wearing optics, the Super Redhawk can't be beat. Unlike most other choices, you get to mount a scope or red dot and keep your irons.

View attachment 835757

And they tend to be extremely accurate.

View attachment 835758

The Ruger Bisley is a good choice as well but I would treat it like a five-shot .45Colt. Most factory .454 loads as well as most handloading data is at least 10,000psi below maximum and that's where I'd stay. I would go no further than Brian Pearce's "Redhawk only" .45Colt loads that are in the 50,000psi range. Do some tuning and fit some custom grips and you have a very capable sixgun. You could also save up for a used Freedom Arms. I got my Field Grade for the princely sum of $1500 with an auxiliary .45Colt cylinder.

View attachment 835759

No offense to the fans but I've tried and just can't warm up to the BFR. There are things about them I don't like and since they can't be converted to a Bisley I'm not going to bother. That said, I think they're very strong, very well made guns that are closer to FA's than Rugers and a real bargain on the current market. I don't like the round tube ejector housing, the screw-on front sight, the shape of the blocky triggerguard or the banana shaped grip frame. Plus they're only available in stainless steel and I've had all of that I can stand.

Love the grips on your FA. Did it come with those, or did you have them made?

 

[CraigC]

No, it came with the Pachmayr rubbers. Those are bighorn sheep by Rob Rowen.

 

[Huntolive]

I have the Ruger Super Redhawk and I'm a third owner and it's still just as solid as if it were new after many hundreds of rounds a 454 and a good thousand rounds of 45 or many more and his taking Hogs whitetails and dissuaded unwanted company from neighborhood.
I have an Ultradot on it.
For the value in a double action it can't be beat you should be able to get one used for 800 or less.
That said I really like my Freedom Arms single action and I just shoot that with open sights pretty good though I have a long way to go to be able to do with it what I want right now I could hunt to about 40 yards with that. Maybe 60 with the Ultradot on the Super Redhawk. I still think if I could only have one I take the Super Redhawk because the double action might just save your ass if you actually were getting rushed by a bear, big hog or imported compact vehicle.

 

[KKJ13]

In my experience, The X-frames, particularly the .500 iteration, loaded to spec don't kick as hard as many "lesser" .50 cals in that they are really large and heavy and they have an effective brake. They produce a lot of noise, however.

My 500 is a first gen (made in 2003) and they didn’t come with brakes, only a few top side holes for keeping her level. This thing kicks like a mule, about 5 or 10 rounds in I’m done for the day with it. I did however, shoot 70 rounds in a single day right after getting it and it took almost two weeks to have my hand feel correct again.

 

[Dewey 68]

I've been thinking about a single action in 454 since I don't have either a SA revolver or anything in 45 LC. Taking my Redhawk in 44 mag to the range in 10 minutes, I may come to the conclusion that 44 mag is enough.

 

[MaxP]

My 500 is a first gen (made in 2003) and they didn’t come with brakes, only a few top side holes for keeping her level. This thing kicks like a mule, about 5 or 10 rounds in I’m done for the day with it. I did however, shoot 70 rounds in a single day right after getting it and it took almost two weeks to have my hand feel correct again.

The 6 1/2-inch .500 (I had one of these) does not have a brake but it is ported and the fact that it weighs as much as it does mitigates much of the recoil. I have found a 3-lb .454 to be considerably livelier particularly with top-end 300 grain loads.

Here's my old .500 with the miniscule (by comparison) Model 29.

 

[MCMXI]

I couldn't in good conscience recommend the Super Redhawk Alaskan in .454 Casull unless the intention is to build up a 4" version. I bought my Alaskan about 10 years ago along with a 4.2" Redhawk chambered in .45 Colt. I got higher velocities shooting .45 Colt loads from the Redhawk than I did shooting .454 Casull loads through the Alaskan using more powder and the same bullet. That 2.5" barrel might make the Alaskan marginally more "packable" but it hurts velocity, balance and sight radius. My solution was to have Mr. Bowen make me the perfect back country revolver that ended up being marginally lighter than the Redhawk. I'm not going to sell my Redhawk since it's a great revolver, but the Bowen Alaskan is better than the Redhawk and way better than the original Alaskan. It's better for a number of reasons that @MaxP has mentioned, not least of which is that the Super Redhawk has a better grip and a better trigger group. Now with the 4" barrel it offers more velocity, better balance, way better sights and a greater sight radius. I would do it again in a heartbeat. The Rough Country and Weigand sights/DX base that Mr. Bowen installs are excellent and I plan on sending my Redhawk to him for a sight upgrade once I have a load figured out so that he can shoot for regulation.

 

[CraigC]

That right there is what the Alaskan should've been!

 

[KnightHawk]

That right there is what the Alaskan should've been!

Right on the money. ^^^^^

 

[Sour Kraut]

Although arguably “fugly”, IMHO the Ruger Toklat fills that void, although it’s a 5”, and it’s far less expensive than going the custom route.

 

[MCMXI]

Although arguably “fugly”, IMHO the Ruger Toklat fills that void, although it’s a 5”, and it’s far less expensive than going the custom route.

There's no question that from a functionality standpoint, omitting upgraded sights and trigger job, a Toklat is a great choice and equal or superior to my 4" custom. That said, for me life is too short for "fugly". Considering that I carry my Bowen Alaskan way more than I shoot it I wanted it to be something that not only is functionally superior to what it was, but also something that makes me feel good when I'm handling it, looking at it, cleaning it, carrying it etc. That's often what you pay for in higher-end products whether it's a revolver, rifle, watch, car or any other luxury item. That's the part that's personal and is hard to quantify because you can't demonstrate the benefits.

 

[Danw791]

I suggest a Smith and Wesson 460V if your goal is a hand cannon with power that attracts others and makes you look like a man. Fireballs and sonic booms that massage everything around you to impress. Full power loads out of my 460 are easier to shoot than Ruger only loads out of my Ruger Redhawk 4 inch in 45 colt, prob due to the wood round butt grip. But the 460 puts a smile on my face every time I shoot it. I can hit a coke can at 50 yards off hand fairly often so it’s accurate to boot once you master it. I’ve shot 480 Rugers 454,s and 500 smiths. I think you will be very happy with the 460. I wouldn’t get the 8 inch barrel due to the 5 inch balancing much better. You’ll give up about 200 fps off any given load but will be rewarded with a bigger fireball. Also recommend learning how to cast bullets, you will be able to shoot your big bores much more when you do.

 

[Sour Kraut]

There's no question that from a functionality standpoint, omitting upgraded sights and trigger job, a Toklat is a great choice and equal or superior to my 4" custom. That said, for me life is too short for "fugly". Considering that I carry my Bowen Alaskan way more than I shoot it I wanted it to be something that not only is functionally superior to what it was, but also something that makes me feel good when I'm handling it, looking at it, cleaning it, carrying it etc. That's often what you pay for in higher-end products whether it's a revolver, rifle, watch, car or any other luxury item. That's the part that's personal and is hard to quantify because you can't demonstrate the benefits.

I cannot/would not argue with you one bit, in fact I envy your Bowen! It’s a beauty! I was just giving a “similar option” (without the added expense) not withstanding the additional benefits of your Bowen. Do you mind telling us how much you have into your custom Bowen?

 

[MCMXI]

@Sour Kraut, I hope that I didn't come across as anything but being in agreement with you that the Toklat makes a lot of sense and is significantly cheaper than going the custom route. I have no problem letting people know how much it cost me to end up with the perfect .454 Casull back country revolver. I'm a bit of a document pack rat so I have the original purchase information for the Alaskan. I bought it new on September 30th, 2009 for $725. The excellent work by Mr. Bowen cost $1,590 so my total cost for the revolver is $2,315.

Upgrades to the Ruger SRH Alaskan performed by Bowen Classic Arms:

RD04GP - $995
Receiver modifications
Remove barrel
Shorten nose
Re-contour top strap
De-letter
Install new barrel
Trigger/action tune
Polish trigger shoe
Extra length firing pin
Add Rough Country rear site and XS tritium dot front sight

MISC - $150
Provide new barrel

R300 - $350
Shorten factory barrel
Provide/install DX base

R250 - $95
Shoot for regulation