Ruger Alaskan 454 Casuall - Moonclips?

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BreechFace

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I’m coming here to the brain trust to get educated on all things moonclips and shooting short cartridges in a revolver.

I’m in the market for a Ruger Alaskan 454 Casuall. So if I purchase one and have it milled for moonclips I assume that I can shoot 454 Casuall, 45 LC, 45 Super, and 45 ACP from what I understand.

Any downsides to milling the cylinder for moonclips? Any recommendations to do said work? Im not worried about resale value as I will be keeping this revolver forever, it’s a tool that I want to function for my needs.

My question is, is how does the cylinder handle a steady diet of 45 ACP for range fun? Should I be worried about flame cutting/pitting the point in the cylinder where the 45 ACP cartridge stops?

I know there will be a carbon ring that will build up and need to be cleaned before using any longer length cartridges. My question is more of the potential damage from the uncorking of gas on the cylinder walls.

My idea for this gun is use while hunting with 454 Casuall or 45 LC+P but would like the opportunity to shoot 45 ACP quite a bit at the range.
 
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The .454 Casull will shoot the .45 Colt with no issues. As you’ve stated, the rimless .45 ACP and .45 Super (and even .45 Win Mag if you could find any) will need moon clips or a dedicated second cylinder cut for the .45 ACP to work. (Super and ACP use the same case sizes, Win Mag is too long to fit in the ACP chamber.) The .454 chamber is really long for the ACP sized cartridge cases, I’m not too sure the long jump from ACP case to barrel will make for an accurate revolver. (It may not matter, you never know.)

Yes, shooting shorter cased ammo in a longer cylinder will eventually leave a crud ring that can hamper the insertion of longer cartridge cases into the cylinder. It just takes a bit of scrubbing with a brush and solvent to get it all out.

As for the cylinder being damaged by the shorter ammo, the .454 cranks out PSI rated at 60,000, FAR above the .45 ACP. Those SRH cylinders are big and tough, they’ll shrug off ACP pressures pretty much indefinitely. Now, if you leave a crud ring and it gets wet and creates a rust ring in the cylinder, that may become an issue... but that’s neglect-caused not use-caused damage.

My 7.5” SRH .454 Casull is a big revolver, so loading pleasant “ cowboy loads” in the .45 Colt cases makes shooting it a lot more fun.

Good luck with your search.
Stay safe.
 
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Instead of the Alaskan , consider a toklat . same gun but with a 5" barrel, very similar size but it balances better and you can get some extra velocity and sight radius. Plus it's set up for ruger rings if you ever decide to mount an optic it's simple . can't comment on the moon clips, I'd just leave it and shoot 45 colt for plinking - same cost if you're loading your own.
20200719_163721.jpg
 
Instead of the Alaskan , consider a toklat . same gun but with a 5" barrel, very similar size but it balances better and you can get some extra velocity and sight radius. Plus it's set up for ruger rings if you ever decide to mount an optic it's simple . can't comment on the moon clips, I'd just leave it and shoot 45 colt for plinking - same cost if you're loading your own.
View attachment 943182
Standard Ruger SRH (at least for me) had never been example of graceful lines and elegance like S&W 29/629 or Ruger Bisley and Old Army, but standard SRH is still OK. However, when talking about Toklat, sorry, it looks so cumbersome.
 
Standard Ruger SRH (at least for me) had never been example of graceful lines and elegance like S&W 29/629 or Ruger Bisley and Old Army, but standard SRH is still OK. However, when talking about Toklat, sorry, it looks so cumbersome.
Only cumbersome in comparison to less powerful chamberings . that's why I don't care for 44 magnum SRH , doesn't need the beef or strength but the next most powerful production DA is an x frame . that's truly cumbersome. So perspective plays a part.
 
I sure hope there’s youngins’ at Bowen learning the craft from the masters! Im in awe of the work on their website, this kind of generational wealth and skill needs to be passed down for sure.
 
If I am not mistaken, 5-bore left, and 6-bore right, still allow shooting rounds with rimmed cases without clips. I would definitely go with this modification.

Do you mind elaborating on this? It’s a bit over my head. Thank you.
Is it the way one can cut the cylinder?
 
Do you mind elaborating on this? It’s a bit over my head. Thank you.
Is it the way one can cut the cylinder?
Hope you can see here https://www.gunblast.com/images/Ruger-RH45ACP/DSC04774.jpg , cylinder is not shaved completely, so when 45 ACP is in clips it will stay on the end of cylinder. As you could see here https://www.gunblast.com/images/Ruger-RH45ACP/DSC04775.jpg , without clip, 45 ACP round will sink in . When 45 Colt round is loaded, it will stop on unshaved portion of cylinder, regardless recess for clip . See also here on this video:

.
 
I believe that’s the way mark at pinnacle and the folks at tk do the “conversion”. Kinda like the 627.....

Unless I’m missing something here?
 
Onty said:
Yeah, that's the reason why Bowen stepped in and crated GP-44, using SRH Alaskan:

Yep, he converted my Alaskan to a 4" model ... amazing work for sure. I'm not a fan of the aesthetics of the Toklat but I do appreciate the functional benefits over the Alaskan models. The Redhawk shown below also received Mr. Bowen's touch but didn't require such extensive surgery.

After having the Alaskan converted into something that isn't available from Ruger, and loving everything about it, it makes me want to do it all over again with the .44 Mag version of the Alaskan.

srh_06.jpg

rh&srh_bowen.jpg
 
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Obturation said:
can't comment on the moon clips, I'd just leave it and shoot 45 colt for plinking - same cost if you're loading your own.

I agree with this. .45 Colt loaded to around 14,500 psi is a joy to shoot in these big revolvers, and if you handload using Trailboss or similar the cost is comparable to .45 ACP. Unless I'm missing something, the only reason I'd do a moonclip conversion to shoot .45 ACP is if I didn't handload and wanted to save money buying .45 ACP vs. .45 Colt or .454 Casull.
 
Yep, he converted my Alaskan to a 4" model ... amazing work for sure. I'm not a fan of the aesthetics of the Toklat but I do appreciate the functional benefits over the Alaskan models. The Redhawk shown below also received Mr. Bowen's touch but didn't require such extensive surgery.

After having the Alaskan converted into something that isn't available from Ruger, and loving everything about it, it makes me want to do it all over again with the .44 Mag version of the Alaskan.

View attachment 943546

View attachment 943547
That converted Alaskan is awesome. Yep, anyone would agree it looks better than a toklat but cost restricts a lot of folks. Bowen does awesome work and when you pair that with the good bones of a ruger you get a truly world class gun. Nice guns!!
 
I deem this thread as “Dangerous”!


Before yesterday I had no idea this would interest me. I was perfectly happy looking forward to buying a Redhawk 5050 .45 ACP / .45 Colt.....but no, I had to click on this thread....:D
 
My idea for this gun is use while hunting with 454 Casuall or 45 LC+P but would like the opportunity to shoot 45 ACP quite a bit at the range.

I wonder why the .45ACP for the range? Cost of ammo? Recoil? From my experience with the really big boomers, there are very few if any real advantages of shooting such lesser calibers. They just print so much differently from legitimate ammo that one is either continuously changing the sights/scope, dealing with severe Kentucky windage or inaccuracy. This in itself makes for a plinker that doesn't get used much. 20 rounds of legitimate ammo at the range is worth more for one's accuracy and pleasure than 50 that cost the same, but don't shoot worth a dang. A 454 is a reloader's caliber anyway. You will find for hunting, making your own .454/.45 colt+p will be the most feasible, both cost wise and accuracy wise. Easy then to load down those calibers to give you something cheaper or less recoil, without the worry of the carbon ring. Big Boomers are like having a big dog. If you can't afford to feed it, you're better off without it. Want to shoot a lot of .45 ACP, get that platform.

JMTCs.
 
The idea behind having it milled for moon clips is more a novelty in my mind than anything. I do reload so I understand there is very little difference in cost between loading ACP and LC, but there are times where I get a good deal on ACP and would be nice to go and plink with it.
 
I deem this thread as “Dangerous”!


Before yesterday I had no idea this would interest me. I was perfectly happy looking forward to buying a Redhawk 5050 .45 ACP / .45 Colt.....but no, I had to click on this thread....:D

Jump on in the waters’ fine!
 
The idea behind having it milled for moon clips is more a novelty in my mind than anything. I do reload so I understand there is very little difference in cost between loading ACP and LC, but there are times where I get a good deal on ACP and would be nice to go and plink with it.
I used to really like the idea of multiple cartridges being useable in one gun. The shine wore off it for me, as was mentioned the POA/POI difference is one thing and then fiddling with moon clips and dealing with crud in the cylinder is another. If you have other 45 acp guns, use them. I will load trail boss in 454 casull cases for plinking and rarely even shoot 45 colt from either of my 454s. There is something to be said for versatility but I just never found it useful , great in theory though.
 
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