I haven't kept up with pistols for a while. So I don't know any thing about the new rounds that are bigger than the 44mag. I was looking at the Super Blackhawk in the Alaskan model I like the way it feals, I think I'm going to buy this week if I can get a little help with the chambering.

Does any one have experince with all three chamberings 44, 454, 480. Ie recoil and balistics?

Dr B

I bought a .44 / 7.5"bbl. SRH before they offered the snubnose.
I would think the .44 snubby would be a great choice for a sidearm, mostly for ammo availability.

Those jokes about handguns and bears must have some merit...no matter what the caliber is.
If that's the case, I'd just as soon be able to get and have a bunch of ammo on hand.

I shot a Taurus Raging Bull in .480 Ruger and it was a hand slapper, but FUN to shoot!
I haven't had the experience with a .454 Casull, but I'd like to try one sometime.

Good Luck on your quest.

Not the best pix, but I wanted to show the SuperRedhawk with the dark finish.
My SuperRedhawk was refinished by George Roghaar in Boca Raton, FL
The gun was NIB, unfired when my Best Friend assisted me in polishing the areas and mapping out instructions for George to give it the BLACKENED STAINLESS STEEL finish.
The only addition to the otherwise stock revolover has been the HOGUE TAMER grip, shown on the gun in this picture.



My SuperRedhwawk was refinished in contrasting matte/polished BLACK with the triggerguard/hammer left polished stainless steel.
Shown with NAHC Life Member jacket; KA-BAR USMC knife & sheath; BIANCHI Cyclone 111 holster; Winchester Platinum tip 250-gr. .44 Rem.Mag. ammo in an HKS speedloader; and Cablela's Kangaroo skin insulated gloves.

Then there's my 'other' .44 ---

This is now MY Desert Eagle MkVII .44 Magnum!
My Best Friend and I had worked out a trade a couple of years ago with the DE44 being my end of the bargain. Upon delivery, he had totally set me up to surprise me when I got it...and I was blown away! Excellent.

I guess I like the .44!

I would go with the Alaskan 454 that way you have choices on what you want to shoot out of it. You could shoot mild 45 Long Colt for practice/plinking, shoot heavy 45 Long Colt if you are recoil shy and have just as much power as the 44 mag. or go for the gusto and have the full power 454 Casull loads. The heavy 45 Colt or 454 loads should make for a very good back up revolver. The 454 and the 480 are about equal in power level with the 454 being much more versatile as noted above. Good luck.

I like the 7.5" Ruger 454 super redhawk.Its about as small of a pistol that I would even consider to shoot a grizzley with.I can shoot both of mine pretty good.I took a shoulder flap hostier and added a rubber rifle sling to it.It carries very lightly this way.I take it with me fishing and camping.I thik its pretty close to a 45-70 with the300 gr loaded bullets.Its alot eazier to pack though.It has help up in extreme weather.I really like them for the money.

I like the 480 Ruger in the Redhawk because of the bigger .475 caliber.

IMHO you give up too much in going to a 2 1/2" barrel in the SRH Alaskan. The short sight radius makes it tough to hit, and especially in the 454 you don't have enough barrel to burn the powder.

IMHO, 4 1/2" is as short as makes sense in the SRH. I plan on getting a second 480 and cutting it back to 5", just haven't found one I can't pass up yet.

I agree w/ Paul.on the 480 ......My wife has rapped off a cylinder full with one of mine and she likes the 480 ,7 1/2" Super Redhawk.. It may be psycological but when I went from a 300-335 gr. bullet to a 410 gr. bullet I had more confidence in my pistol. I think the 325 gr factory load is more uncomforatble to shoot than the 400 gr plus loads....I would like a 480 Alaskan because it fits so well in my back pocket for around the camp ect. But a 4" barrel would be nice ...For the genral run of things tho I prefer the 7 1/2 "haven,t shot a bear with a 480 yet but I like the 1 1/2 - 2 " hole it puts thru a deer

Anyone running the WWG Wolverine conversion? http://www.wildwestguns.com/Pistolsmithing/Wolverine/wolverine.html