Ruger Super Redhawk vs. Ruger Redhawk

[MarineHawk]

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.

[ADfields]

SRH clock works are quite a bit more refined and a lot more can be done with them but RH once well broken in isn't all that bad. There is a lot more grip freedom with the SRH and much better recoil absorbing grips can be had, with RH your pretty stuck with steel smacking you in the palm. SRH is quite a bit better improved gun over RH but it still is pretty ugly to my eye with the mostley pointless frame extention on the front.

Nope, you won't go wrong with ether . . . I'd not get a SRH in 44 but in 45(454) I'd prefer the SRH for the grip . . . Heck just get both!

[MarineHawk]

Thanks for the helpful info ADfields.

I haven't tried them yet, but I thought something like this: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/338...ProductFinding
would be pretty good on the RH. Probably not as comfy as the huge rubbery grips on the SRH.

I'm only getting one.

As to the caliber, I'm not even considering a SRH in 44; I'm considering the 5" .454 SRH Toklat vs. the 5.5" RH .44 Rem.

Also, I forgot to say, I'm not planning to mount a scope or red dot, which seems to favor the RH.

I'm really torn.

I'm starting to think the Toglat SRH is better for practical purposes, but 20 times uglier than the Redhawk. If so, I probably will get the SRH.

[The German]

Hey MH, Here's my Ruger Go-To Package, a guy can't have to many Ruger's.--- :topjob:

[Snyd]

Functionally the SRH has many advantages over the RH like AD mentioned. Smoother action, more easily tuned. More grip options because of the design of the grip frame. But, like you I find the SRH ugly as sin!

For what you are describing you want it for, I'd point you towards the SRH. Plus you'd have a 45. You already shoot 454 so are familiar with the round. Plus, a .452 wfn 360-400gr will make a heck of a hole

My buddy has a SRH 480 he sent off to Mag-na-port for the 480 Advantage treatment they have. I pack a 4" 454 Redhawk. Here's a fun little video of the guns and us doing some shooting last fall. I must say, I REALLY like the feel of the SRH. But, I like my 45 Colt BisHunter the best

http://s1079.photobucket.com/user/pb...782a0.mp4.html

[Amigo Will]

The SRH action is much nicer to my shooting but the RH is a strong enough gun and looks better. I would really like to find a real cheap SRH and have SKS do a beast conversion on it.

[travelers]

Try to shoot both Redhawk and Super Redhawk.

The Redhawk feels nice in my hand, but I find it uncomfortable to shoot, with heavy loads, regardless of grip I used...

Super Redhawk shoots nice for me, I have a .454 shortened to 4 3/8" with the grips off of a Alaskan model. Fits my hand perfect.

The 5 1/2" Redhawk balances nice in the hand, and is nice looking. I have one in 45 Colt.

I have a Super in 44 mag. 7 1/2", I'd like to get it cut down to 5 1/2".

If you get a Redhawk, check the barrel to see if it is over/under clocked, before you buy. Not too uncommon.

[Paul H]

Go with the Toklat! Smother action, lighter, more comfortable to shoot and more accurate.

[MarineHawk]

Thanks to you all for all the helpful advice. I just ordered the Toklat. I'll let you know how it works out. I suppose I've always got my Model 83 for looks and hunting:



But I think the shorter DA SRH should be more practical for many outings.

[Snyd]

Nice! On both the FA and the new Toklat!

Thanks to you all for all the helpful advice. I just ordered the Toklat. I'll let you know how it works out. I suppose I've always got my Model 83 for looks and hunting:



But I think the shorter DA SRH should be more practical for many outings.

[Vance in AK]

I'll be the odd guy (not uncommon for me). I really like the looks of my target gray 7.5" SRH in 480! That said I'm more concerned with function than looks so I love my SRH twicw as much! I find my SRH with Hogue grips & fairly heavy loads more pleasent to shoot than my RH 44mag ever was with any grip I put on it, but that's just a shape of the hand thing & may be different for others.

[MarineHawk]

I got mine last weekend. Really like the action. It's not a pretty as some other guns, but, like a good power drill, I'm not really asking for it to make me want to stare at it.

[MarineHawk]

Functionally the SRH has many advantages over the RH like AD mentioned. Smoother action, more easily tuned. More grip options because of the design of the grip frame. But, like you I find the SRH ugly as sin!

For what you are describing you want it for, I'd point you towards the SRH. Plus you'd have a 45. You already shoot 454 so are familiar with the round. Plus, a .452 wfn 360-400gr will make a heck of a hole

My buddy has a SRH 480 he sent off to Mag-na-port for the 480 Advantage treatment they have. I pack a 4" 454 Redhawk. Here's a fun little video of the guns and us doing some shooting last fall. I must say, I REALLY like the feel of the SRH. But, I like my 45 Colt BisHunter the best

http://s1079.photobucket.com/user/pb...782a0.mp4.html

Snyd, thanks again for posting all this information and that good video. That's some nice shooting, and it looks like it was fun. A couple of questions: Do you think that the 400gr-sized .45-cal bullets will do anything significantly more than the 360gr (or close) bullets when fired out in the 1,200fps to 1,400fps range? I was getting right around 1,500fps with the BB HCWFN 360gr loads out of my 7-1/2" FA. I figure that I would be getting somewhere between 1,300fps to 1,400fps with the same 360gr loads out of the 5" SRH (I will check before too long). I have the gut feeling (could be wrong) that I probably would be getting diminishing, if any, returns by going beyond a 360gr bullet up to 400gr in that caliber and velocity range, but I would appreciate your insight, since you seem to shoot a lot of loads in both rough weight ranges. Obviously, I would think the 400gr+ bullets would be superior on something really huge, like a cape buffalo, elephant, or T-Rex, etc ... But do you think that going from 360gr to 400gr gives that much more penetration than the 360gr in those velocity ranges on a bear-sized animal? Or will the 360gr at that speed have more than enough penetration? I know it's a somewhat subjective question, but I'd be interested in your thoughts.
Also, I read (I can't remember where) that some people with some .454 revolvers have trouble stabilizing the 400gr bullets. Do you know anything about that? Is that for barrels with a lesser twist rate than the 1/24" SRH twist?

Obviously, I welcome anyone else's comments as well.

[Amigo Will]

I feel once above 340gr. in 45colt or 454 you start to lose or at most break even. I would think the 460S&W with the extra powder would get more real power from the heaver bullets.JMOFO

[atvalaska]

...ok I mite be late to the parade...my black hawk .44 ...rolls when shot ...my old red hawk ..not so much...my buddy's 1975 s&w 629 hurts >period ...what is the deal