.44 vs .454

[Sergei Mosin]

That Bowen GP44 should be a Ruger factory offering. I'm sure I'm missing something, but I do not understand why Ruger persists in making both the Redhawk and Super Redhawk when the SRH has a superior action and (it seems) could be built in the same configurations as the RH.

 

[MCMXI]

If you can source a Redhawk .45 barrel, might see about putting one of these together.

That's exactly what I want but in .454 Casull. Bowen describes it as a "giant GP100". As you mentioned, I'd need to find a donor barrel.

I have no interest in adding optics so I'd be happy with the Alaskan frame as it is.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

That Bowen GP44 should be a Ruger factory offering. I'm sure I'm missing something, but I do not understand why Ruger persists in making both the Redhawk and Super Redhawk when the SRH has a superior action and (it seems) could be built in the same configurations as the RH.

A lot of people still like the RH over the SRH (this guy, for one.) The post type grip sub-assembly does not lend itself well to a lot of grip types and it completely precludes attaching a lanyard ring (not a popular option, I Know.) Also, the extended frame of the SRH is something of an eyesore to a lot of folks.

The RH is still a profitable gun for Ruger. I wonder what I would have bought, if they had discontinued the RH. A similar case study is the Security/Service Six guns, which are very similar to the RH. many people still seek out the old Security Sixes rather than buy a new GP100 (which is very similar to the SRH.) If new RH was not available, I wonder if I would have searched for a used one rather than buy a SRH.

 

[cp1969]

Here's another who prefers the Redhawk over the Super Redhawk. A 5.5" Redhawk is as heavy a handgun as I care to own.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

That Bowen GP44 should be a Ruger factory offering. I'm sure I'm missing something, but I do not understand why Ruger persists in making both the Redhawk and Super Redhawk when the SRH has a superior action and (it seems) could be built in the same configurations as the RH.

I thought the action was exactly the same between the two.

 

[CraigC]

The Redhawk has a single spring, where the hammer spring does everything, while the SRH/GP100 have two.

IMHO, the SRH is the single best handgun hunting platform available for the money, especially if you plan on using an optic. The frame is a better place to mount an optic, versus the barrel, due to the effect on balance. The SRH allows you to mount an optic to the frame and keep your iron sights. I'd like to see a new version offered without the frame extension, with the standard Redhawk barrel. A Redhawk .44 was my first centerfire revolver 27yrs ago and I never found a grip setup that worked well. The SRH is much better in that regard, even moreso if the GP Roper grips become available separately.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Ah, I see. Thanks for the explanation.

 

[Varminterror]

The post type grip sub-assembly does not lend itself well to a lot of grip types and it completely precludes attaching a lanyard ring (not a popular option, I Know.)

Neither of these statements are correct.

Maybe you're not satisfied with the shelf-ready factory options you've seen or haven't looked much for custom or semi-custom items, but the internal stud, "hidden tang" grip of the GP100, SP101, and SRH allows for a far larger spectrum of grip profiles than the traditional style, exposed backstrap Redhawk.

It's very fair to say there are a lot of guys who are fans of "traditional" revolvers, so they favor shingle style grips over internal mount grips, but it's a lie to say the exposed strap type offer more options. How many grips have you seen for a Redhawk which didn't retain the exposed backstrap? Few to none. Which means the backstrap profile better fit your hand, lest the Redhawk can't ever fit your hand... A guy can cut a broad range of profiles for the Super Redhawk.

The second point about lanyard rings is also false. Bowen offers a lanyard ring screw for the Hogue grips in the SRH/GP100, and any machinist can replicate the same. Before I became aware of the Bowen grip screw, I made my own by D&T'ing the end of the grip tenon, then used a bushing to stand through the grip itself, between the screw head (accepted a swivel) and the end of the tenon. I made mine from a hardware store bolt, welded the head to build up enough stock, through drilled for the swivel, then turned in a drill press against a file to round the head. I had about a dollar, plus a Saturday afternoon into it. Since the Bowen part only works with Hogue stirrup type mounted grips, my method of D&T'ing the tenon directly would work with any clamshell grip. Bowen's ring screw pictured below:

 

[If1HitU]

Just sharing this Big Bore baby Redhawk .44 Mag.4"

 

[Panzerschwein]

That's exactly what I want but in .454 Casull. Bowen describes it as a "giant GP100". As you mentioned, I'd need to find a donor barrel.

I have no interest in adding optics so I'd be happy with the Alaskan frame as it is.

View attachment 775604

That DOES look like a giant GP! BEAUT!!!

 

[stchman]

The .454 Casull ammo is more expensive than .44 Magnum ammo. And please don't say, "you can shoot .45LC through it", what a waste. You can also shoot .44SPL in a .44 Magnum as well if you want to.

To the OP:
If budget isn't a restriction and you want more recoil, get the .454 Casull. Maybe consider the .480 Ruger SRH.

 

[MaxP]

The .454 Casull ammo is more expensive than .44 Magnum ammo. And please don't say, "you can shoot .45LC through it", what a waste.

Why is it a waste? Excluding the really light cowboy action-type .45 Colt loads, there are some really good and rather warm 45 Colt loads that are still less than the .454 with regards to recoil but seriously terminally effective. The water buffalo in my avatar was taken with a .454 loaded with .45 Colt ammo (Garrett 405 grain +P loads).

 

[Varminterror]

I agree with @MaxP on this one - while I love full house 454c, more often than not, I load 454c brass with loads somewhere between 45 Colt Ruger Only and full 454. I have a couple motorcycles I’ve taken over 180mph and didn’t run out of top end (import governors removed), I get all I need from 0-160mph... Lots of options when you’re holding a .454c.

 

[RecoilRob]

Right...using a car analogy: you can always throttle down a powerful engine...but you cannot extract more than full power out of a smaller one. Choosing a cartridge is much the same in that you can pick one that has the most power you might need and then throttle it down. When I got my Alaskan it was in 44 Mag because having a SRH in 454 I knew that I didn't need or want that much power in the smaller gun.

 

[Alaskan Ironworker]

If you dont reload, get the .44.
I have both and love both, but the .454 is expensive even for reloaders.

 

[MCMXI]

but the .454 is expensive even for reloaders.

Compared to what? Based on my calculations to put together 5000 rounds of .44 Mag vs. the same quantity of .454 Casull using a 300gr lead bullet, H110 at max velocity, Starline brass (used 10X) and a suitable primer, I would spend around $1,400 for the .44 Mag and $1,550 for the .454 Casull which is about 11% more for the Casull. .45 Colt would be about the same as the .44 Mag, so as far as I'm concerned, differences in the cost of reloading shouldn't (and don't for me) enter into the decision process. Get whichever cartridge is best for your needs and whichever firearm can deliver your bullet of choice in a manner that works for you, whether it's felt recoil, accuracy/precision, energy on target or any other number of other variables.

I don't think anyone has a leg to stand on when it comes to criticizing someone's choice of any of the three above unless they're telling me that I was dumb to buy the Alaskan in .454 Casull. I discovered last year that my Redhawk in .45 Colt with the 4.2" barrel sends a 360gr OT WNFP downrange at a greater velocity with a max charge of H110 compared to my Alaskan using the same bullet and max charge of the same powder in a .454 Casull case. Shame on me for allowing lust to influence my decision process! Regardless, when I look at and handle the Alaskan I can't bring myself to part with it so Ruger wins again!!