I'm looking at getting either a 5" Ruger .454 SRH Toklat or a 5-1/2" .44 stainless Redhawk. Among other things, I would be bringing it to SW AK for my second AK hunt for brown bear, moose, etc ... -- to use it when I am around camp, in the raft, etc ... when I won't be lugging around a rifle. I may be in the minority, but I was very glad I brought a handgun last time. I had my SA .454 when hanging out around camp, sitting by the fire at night, wandering about a bit, etc ... It is what it is. I liked not having to either lug a rifle everywhere or go unarmed. Just me.
Mostly forgetting caliber differences, my main question is whether the action on the SRH is so much better than the RH to favor getting the Toklat?
I far prefer the looks of the Redhawk, but I can get over that. I used to have a .44 Redhawk and liked it, but I found the grip slightly uncomfortable. But this could be overcome with an aftermarket grip.
They weigh about the same.
I do not consider the admitted .454 advantage in power and diameter (over the .429) so great as to be decisive for me. For example, I think the available BB .44 ammo is potent enough for even a giant bear if the shooter does his part. I just don't think that a 340gr HCFN bullet leaving a muzzle at about 1,400fps is lacking. And, while selecting hotter .454 loads is not wrong, it comes with the tradeoff of longer times between shot #1 and shot #2.
My FA shoots (chronographed) the BB 360gr HCFN bullet at around 1,500 fps. Better than the .44, but I'm not sure that a .360gr bullet going fairly fast will do that much better than a 340gr bullet going only about 100 fps less.
So, I'm good with either the .454 or the .44.
I usually don't have trouble making decisions, but I'm hung up on this one (perhaps because there's no wrong answer). So, I appreciate any help nudging me one way or the other.
If the action on the SRH is significantly better, that might be the thing that make the decision. But, if the SRH action is not that much better, I might go with the RH.
Thanks in advance for any input.
Mostly forgetting caliber differences, my main question is whether the action on the SRH is so much better than the RH to favor getting the Toklat?
I far prefer the looks of the Redhawk, but I can get over that. I used to have a .44 Redhawk and liked it, but I found the grip slightly uncomfortable. But this could be overcome with an aftermarket grip.
They weigh about the same.
I do not consider the admitted .454 advantage in power and diameter (over the .429) so great as to be decisive for me. For example, I think the available BB .44 ammo is potent enough for even a giant bear if the shooter does his part. I just don't think that a 340gr HCFN bullet leaving a muzzle at about 1,400fps is lacking. And, while selecting hotter .454 loads is not wrong, it comes with the tradeoff of longer times between shot #1 and shot #2.
My FA shoots (chronographed) the BB 360gr HCFN bullet at around 1,500 fps. Better than the .44, but I'm not sure that a .360gr bullet going fairly fast will do that much better than a 340gr bullet going only about 100 fps less.
So, I'm good with either the .454 or the .44.
I usually don't have trouble making decisions, but I'm hung up on this one (perhaps because there's no wrong answer). So, I appreciate any help nudging me one way or the other.
If the action on the SRH is significantly better, that might be the thing that make the decision. But, if the SRH action is not that much better, I might go with the RH.
Thanks in advance for any input.
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