BFR 45-70 or Super Redhawk Alaskan in 4-80 Ruger ???

[Magnum Wheel Man]

Well the little air weight J frame 32 H&R comes home from the shop ( off lay away tomorrow ), then 3-4 weeks to save up & pay for the lite weight S&W 44 Special... then it'll be time for another hand cannon...

looking at the new Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in 480 Ruger, or the Magnum Research BFR in 45-70...

looking for a holsterable magnum in stainless... pro's & cons...

Pro's...

BFR...
45-70...love the cartridge, own several guns in that caliber, along with lots of brass, & the reloading stuff... 7" barrel is ok, but a tad longer than I'd prefer...

Ruger Alaskan...
480 Ruger looks like something that might interest me, I don't currently have a 475 bore gun right now... the shorter barrel would holser & carry nicely... the Ruger already has the grips I like... the Ruger looks mean & nasty, & probably is a big handfull to shoot in that caliber ( remember this is the pro's ) I assume this Redhawk is still double action...

Con's...

BFR...
a little longer barrel than I'd like, coupled with the extra long cylinder makes for a pretty long revolver, even with the shorter 7" barrel... will it fit in a normal holster with that loonnng cylinder ??? I don't like wood grips on guns I use... so I'd need to change out the grips... I assume the BFR is single action only

Ruger Alaskan...
480 Ruger... cartridge looks good, but is not common enough to buy off the shelf... so it's special order or reload, & though I do reload, I don't really have time, or any of the reloading equipment, or brass for that, that cartridge yet...

 

[azredhawk44]

They are totally different guns... need to know what you want to do.

If you just wanna send 400gr of lead downrange at 1000+fps, either will go bang.

If you wanna hunt or do precise shooting, the BFR is for you.

If you want a big toothy defense gun, the SRH is for you.

I don't personally like the supersnubs that seem to be infecting the market recently, so if given the choice between either for free, I'd choose the BFR in .45/70.

 

[Magnum Wheel Man]

well I would prefer about a 4" tube, but I'm just really looking for a holsterable big banger to strap on the waist, maybe punch some close targets, or bang a little steel on the pistol range, & if I wanted something bigger than my 4" GP-100, while in the woods...

 

[Jackal]

I would suggest the .460 ruger. With that, you can fire 454 and 45lc with the ability to pack a whallop with the .460. Just my .02

 

[azredhawk44]

well I would prefer about a 4" tube, but I'm just really looking for a holsterable big banger to strap on the waist, maybe punch some close targets, or bang a little steel on the pistol range, & if I wanted something bigger than my 4" GP-100, while in the woods...

Doesn't really sound like you want either of these then.

The BFR is single action much like the Freedom Arms and Ruger Bisley/Blackhawks. 7" is the shortest offering I have seen for a BFR in .45/70, I thought most were 10-12". Even at 7", that BFR is going to be HEAVY to bring to bear if needed. That cylinder is long, and the frame is huge. Not a fast drawn, fast shot gun.

The SRH Alaskan is a snub. It's DA/SA. It would do for your woods gun, but I don't imagine it would be the most pleasing range gun. I've shot a .480 SRH with a 9.5" barrel and really liked it, but I just don't like the idea of ubermagnums in snubbies. Then again, you might, but it sounds like you want a 4" DA wheelie from the above comment.

Maybe you would like the Dan Wesson 445 series? They have something called the Alaskan Guide Special that is a 44sp/44mag/445supermag with interchangeable barrels, but one specific model comes with a standard 4" compensated barrel.

If SA is acceptable, BFR and Freedom Arms make a .475 model (480magnum that will shoot .480's) with a 5" barrel, IIRC. Or Ruger has a bisley blackhawk in .44mag.

 

[azredhawk44]

I would suggest the .460 ruger. With that, you can fire 454 and 45lc with the ability to pack a whallop with the .460. Just my .02

No such thing.

You're thinking of the .460 S&W XVR cartridge. That shares the same diameter as the 454 and 45LC... but the .480Ruger does not. It is .475 diameter.

 

[usmccpl]

Im still waiting on my 480 to get here. They aint common around here yet so it is goin to take a while for it to get here.







one shot one kill

 

[TYY]

Why not get a S&W 500 mag in 4". Already has the grips you like. Roll your own and the cartridge will go from mild to wild.

 

[grizz]

45-70 BFR!

You've already got the brass and dies? Why not the BFR? The extra barrel length is just going to help you shoot straighter. A snub nose beast of a revolver is, IMO, absurd - even for it's intended purpose.