Ruger 454 casull Alaskan

mbliss57 · Oct 24, 2019

Anyone own or have experience with this gun? It looks pretty awesome to me and I have a bead on a smoking deal FTF. It's used but unfired. I have read and seen some you tube on it. I am not sure it's any different than owning a SW 500 snubby just a different brand and slightly smaller ammo. Hickock 45 seemed to think it kicked worse than a SW 500. Although ballistics say it shouldn't. Anyone shoot the snubnose SW 500 (Emergency Survival Kit?)

Edit: purchased gun pic below!

Erocksmash · Oct 24, 2019

Great gun, built like a tank.... I had one, shot it once and said NOPE I'm done handed it of to my little brother and he now loves it.... he bought it from me had it mirror polished and it's his EDC Crazy fella

Valmet · Oct 24, 2019

IMO the 454 does have more felt recoil than the 500. To simulate- get into your car and pull onto the nearest sideroad, get up to about 35 mph, roll down your window and reach out and slap a mailbox.

Echo40 · Oct 24, 2019

mbliss57 said:
Anyone own or have experience with this gun? It looks pretty awesome to me and I have a bead on a smoking deal FTF. It's used but unfired. I have read and seen some you tube on it. I am not sure it's any different than owning a SW 500 backpaker just a different brand and slightly smaller ammo. Hickock 45 seemed to think it kicked worse than a SW 500. Although ballistics say it shouldn't. Anyone shoot the snubnose SW 500 (Emergency Survival Kit?)

Hickock45 shot a full-size S&W M500 with a 6" barrel which weighs 69oz, whereas the Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan only weighs 44oz, ergo the extra weight of the M500 helped to dampen the recoil.

The nice thing about a .454 Casull is that they can also shoot .45 Long Colt, so even in the event in which the recoil of .454 Casull proves to be too much, you can always shoot the softer-recoiling .45LC.

dr. mordo · Oct 24, 2019

I buy one without hesitating if the price is good. They are monster guns, but you can shoot 45 LC or 454, which is a great option.

gdogs · Oct 24, 2019

When I traded into mine it came with 44rds in a 50rd box. I think I shot two cylinders of 454 out of it before I decided it was a really cool 45 Colt.

Imissedagain · Oct 24, 2019

At the right price I would/would've bought one... but I like a full grip frame.
Heavy loads, according to Hornady, will loosen it up a bit too much.
I didnt buy M25s early on and passed on the Alaskan.
No pressing need for one at the time.

Ivan the Butcher · Oct 24, 2019

Bill Ruger's business partner died a long time ago, but the Ruger family kept in close contact with the extended Strum family. A first cousin lives in Central Ohio. I am an acquaintance of his. He has shown me the proto-types he had the factory build him in 44 Mag and 454 C. They do have serial numbers but the only other markings say the caliber. The barrel lengths are different from each other and different from Production guns too.

Remember, any Super Redhawk in 45 Colt will handle the 45 Super Blackhawk Only loads.

Ivan

Imissedagain · Oct 24, 2019

An Alaskan with a 45 Colt chamber..... that works for me!!!
Even my Winchester ’92 would smile.... and say... easier draw with those wrists than the 460 old man?
Accuracy rules.

inspcalahan · Oct 24, 2019

As others mentioned, the .454 has more felt recoil than the bigger options - with my .460PC, I much rather enjoy the full .460 rounds than the .454 option. Those flat hurt.

As to the Alaskan model - it'll survive the next apocalypse. It's an overbuilt tank. Felt recoil is still very stout with those .454 loads and being a 2" barrel, long range accuracy is all on you.

Plus - you'll need a quality holster, a superior belt and may even want to consider suspenders if you're going to be woods walking.

All that said - it's one heck of a fun gun if the price is right!

colt_saa · Oct 24, 2019

I have the 500ES revovler and my buddy owned the 454 Alaskan

With similar weight loadings the recoil was pretty much equal.

My buddy ended up selling his Alaskan and buying a 500 simply because he liked anything that was BIGGER

Imissedagain · Oct 24, 2019

Valmet said:
IMO the 454 does have more felt recoil than the 500. To simulate- get into your car and pull onto the nearest sideroad, get up to about 35 mph, roll down your window and reach out and slap a mailbox.

Now that’s funny!!!
A break from putting together the Tennessee Waltz etc etc for a memorial service.

CAJUNLAWYER · Oct 24, 2019

Here is a serious question. Is it feasable to have these cut for moon clips so one can shoot .45ACP in them as well as .45 colt and the 454 round???? That would be the only reason I would want one. The .45 colt and 454 is wayyyyy too expensive to quantity shoot and it would be a shame not to be able to afford to shoot it more than once a year at the old ice box behind the duck camp

double-dipper · Oct 24, 2019

If I were going to spend a lot of time out in the Alaska bush country it would be one of my top 3 picks. Its pretty much a "get off of me bear gun" IMO.

max · Oct 24, 2019

Check with Tom. I have known him for years and he does first class work.
Home - TK Custom

CAJUNLAWYER said:
Here is a serious question. Is it feasable to have these cut for moon clips so one can shoot .45ACP in them as well as .45 colt and the 454 round???? That would be the only reason I would want one. The .45 colt and 454 is wayyyyy too expensive to quantity shoot and it would be a shame not to be able to afford to shoot it more than once a year at the old ice box behind the duck camp

BLUEDOT37 · Oct 25, 2019

The two Ruger 454C's I owned had large throats, .455"-.456", which were awful for shooting cast lead bullets from. Ended up selling them.

A full tilt 454C is nothing to sneeze at but I'm happy with my 460 Carry & 500ES instead.

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Breadman1 · Oct 25, 2019

Valmet said:
IMO the 454 does have more felt recoil than the 500. To simulate- get into your car and pull onto the nearest sideroad, get up to about 35 mph, roll down your window and reach out and slap a mailbox.

That made me laugh out loud!

mbliss57 · Oct 26, 2019

mbliss57 said:
Anyone own or have experience with this gun? It looks pretty awesome to me and I have a bead on a smoking deal FTF. It's used but unfired. I have read and seen some you tube on it. I am not sure it's any different than owning a SW 500 snubby just a different brand and slightly smaller ammo. Hickock 45 seemed to think it kicked worse than a SW 500. Although ballistics say it shouldn't. Anyone shoot the snubnose SW 500 (Emergency Survival Kit?)

Well I did buy this and have a custom Alligator leather paddle holster on the way via a forum member.

I took it to the range today. The 45LC 255 grain Cowboy loads shot very well and point of aim at 15 yards and were very pleasant.

Next I had a box of 20 Federal .454 Casull 300 grain Swift A Frame cartridges. These are mighty expensive especially of you don't price shop for them. $2.85 a round! I just wanted enough to warm up the gun and make sure function was good.

The gun function was flawless.

The recoil on the 454 Casull was less brutal than I had been led to believe. I have owned and shot the 500 SW in 300 and 500 grain and I think its recoil is definetly more abusive. Don't misinterpret...The Ruger Alaskan is not for the faint at heart. All in all I am very happy with this purchase.

I sold my 500 S&W 6.5" a few years ago. I think I will start looking for another as well as the S&W 460. It's time to have a large caliber collection!

inspcalahan · Oct 27, 2019

Great to hear you're enjoying it! Since you're looking, find yourself a PC460 (around 6" +/-) and enjoy that world. So many bullet options and you can stretch out to hunting distance. Fantastic guns and the PC one's have triggers to really enjoy.

tlawler · Oct 27, 2019

For EDC, you could always load the first two chambers with .45LC and the rest with .454 Casull. Then if the bad guy decides a couple of .45LC’s weren’t too bad, you could really surprise him with the .454C.

Ruger 454 casull Alaskan

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