Thoughts on Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan?

[kalipsocs]

Anyone shot one? I am interested in the .44 Magnum chambering for ammo availability and price sake, but any thoughts on the .454 Cassul and the .44 Mag would be appreciated. I would use it to punch holes in paper and for hunting trips when we might (and have) tripped over some angry hogs.

[G.A. Heath]

I have shot a Super Redhawk in .454, its nice. A bit more recoil than my Super Blackhawk (.44 mag) but either will drop a hog effectively.

[jbirds1210]

I shot the 454 a while back. I thought my nose was going to bleed after the first shot. There was very little chance of me hitting anything with any follow up shot. I was just scared that the gun was going to go off when I pulled the trigger.

[pbwalker]

I was just scared that the gun was going to go off when I pulled the trigger.

Isn't that what they're designed to do?

[jbirds1210]

I was just scared that the gun was going to go off when I pulled the trigger.

Isn't that what they're designed to do?

I was among friends and secretly hoping that the firing pin would break

[T3hK1w1]

Neat idea, but I personally think most people would not be able to get off a second shot from it, at least not one that hit anything. The Alaskan is a neat gun but I wouldn't carry it, at least not in 454 casull.

[Greybeard]

I'd really like to see the actual velocities of the .454 out of the shorter barrels. I have a 7 1/2" SRH and the muzzle blast is bad enough out of it. I don't want to be around that out of anything much shorter - and suspect the fps will be dismally lower, guessing down around hot .45 LC velocities out of a 4" gun.

[TDDude]

There was very little chance of me hitting anything with any follow up shot.

Well then, you better not miss that hog if he's charging you!! :)

[pneuby]

Oh yes, I've shot it.

Ruger comes out here with a demo team annually, to an event at our large outdoor range. I've been to two events now, and Smith and Glock were also there. To Ruger's credit, they have the most enthusiastic staff, and they welcome youngsters to come shoot.

Anyway, they bring full-house factory ammo, not reloads. IIRC, the .454 cost me $1 per round. I bought three, and shot all three DA. The targets they put out are clay pigeons suspended from fishing line, hung between bales of hay. Instant feed-back. I focused in on the 7yd hangers.

Now, let me put some perspective on this. My days of being a really high-speed, low-drag shooter and instructor are LONG...long behind me. My carry guns are 9mm, because I don't care much for recoil any longer. That said, this is how I recall it. The first shot left me with a "Wow!" kind of feeling. The second was more like "Oh my LORD!". The third was the one that told me "OK, let's throw-in the towel".

I realize this will sound like bragging, but I do so for a point. The rep who was spotting me said I was the first one he'd seen shoot it DA, and the first one NOT to flinch the successive shots. I thought to myself that I COULD, indeed, use this as intended, with real .454 ammo. I imagine momma grizz charging would induce a pucker-factor where recoil pain is the LAST of your concerns!

I waited about an hour, and I got back in line to do it again. Three rounds, but DA, followed by 2 in SA. I felt the same way. Three of those was enough to know I could do it if need be. Aside from that, I wouldn't want to practice with anything BUT .45LC! Oh yes, I broke the pigeons.