Ruger Alaskan 454 Experiences
I am in the woods quite often. There are a few large animals out there that I have encountered without being armed. So after much procrastination I decided to finally get the Ruger Alaskan 454 for bear protection.
I waited in line for one early 2007. Right from the start I had problems. The darn thing would lock up (freeze) after firing a couple of rounds. I sent it back to Ruger and they fixed it at no charge. I have no idea what they fixed and they would not tell me either. I think it was a gap issue.
I chose a 454 casull from Buffalo Bore ammunition. I had problems again. The 360 gr 454 would expand and the empty casings would get stuck in my cylinder. I used a screwdriver to punch each spent round out of the cylinder because the ejector just couldn't push them out. I contacted Buffalo Bore and they had me step down to a 45 colt 350 grain. Those did just fine. No expansion problems.
I target practiced with cheaper 250 grain bullets. The Alaskan 454 is very accurate. I can group shots down to 2 inches or less at 25 feet. Then I noticed something I had never found before in a handgun. I would target practice with the 250 grains and get it accurately sighted in. When I would step up to the 350 grain Grizzly-stoppers the shot would be about 1 foot higher than the 250 grain. This is because of the huge kick when you step up to a real load. I then tried some smaller 200 grain and the shot was below where I was sighted in with the 250 grain. Long story short, as you go higher in the grain the shots rise on the target. I went ahead and sighted it for the 350 grain since that is what I will carry in the forest.
Shooting the 350 grain 45 colt or the 360 grain 454 Casull is rather painful. At first I thought it was just loud but after 25 rounds my hand begins to hurt. I have never had a gun kick this bad before. If it did not have the Hogue grips on it I think I wouldn't be able to hold on. The custom grips make all the difference. It is still very accurate with the high grain rounds but you would not want to target practice very long with the high rounds. Get it sighted in quickly.
I am very pleased with the action (after Ruger fixed it of course). I sat in front of the TV one night for about 30 minutes dry firing. Now the action is so smooth I cannot believe it. I just LOVE the 454 Alaskan and wound highly recommend it. The machining on it and workmanship is of the highest quality I have ever seen. This is well worth the $$$ spent.
I waited in line for one early 2007. Right from the start I had problems. The darn thing would lock up (freeze) after firing a couple of rounds. I sent it back to Ruger and they fixed it at no charge. I have no idea what they fixed and they would not tell me either. I think it was a gap issue.
I chose a 454 casull from Buffalo Bore ammunition. I had problems again. The 360 gr 454 would expand and the empty casings would get stuck in my cylinder. I used a screwdriver to punch each spent round out of the cylinder because the ejector just couldn't push them out. I contacted Buffalo Bore and they had me step down to a 45 colt 350 grain. Those did just fine. No expansion problems.
I target practiced with cheaper 250 grain bullets. The Alaskan 454 is very accurate. I can group shots down to 2 inches or less at 25 feet. Then I noticed something I had never found before in a handgun. I would target practice with the 250 grains and get it accurately sighted in. When I would step up to the 350 grain Grizzly-stoppers the shot would be about 1 foot higher than the 250 grain. This is because of the huge kick when you step up to a real load. I then tried some smaller 200 grain and the shot was below where I was sighted in with the 250 grain. Long story short, as you go higher in the grain the shots rise on the target. I went ahead and sighted it for the 350 grain since that is what I will carry in the forest.
Shooting the 350 grain 45 colt or the 360 grain 454 Casull is rather painful. At first I thought it was just loud but after 25 rounds my hand begins to hurt. I have never had a gun kick this bad before. If it did not have the Hogue grips on it I think I wouldn't be able to hold on. The custom grips make all the difference. It is still very accurate with the high grain rounds but you would not want to target practice very long with the high rounds. Get it sighted in quickly.
I am very pleased with the action (after Ruger fixed it of course). I sat in front of the TV one night for about 30 minutes dry firing. Now the action is so smooth I cannot believe it. I just LOVE the 454 Alaskan and wound highly recommend it. The machining on it and workmanship is of the highest quality I have ever seen. This is well worth the $$$ spent.
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I bought a Smith 460 ES for same purpose, and shoot 395 gr lead. I got the 2 3/4" because it is the pudendal equivalent of bondai. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by DancesWithSheep
I bought a Smith 460 ES for same purpose, and shoot 395 gr lead. I got the 2 3/4" because it is the pudendal equivalent of bondai.
As only you would know I'm sure.[8D] No seriously now, I've shot a Smith 460 with a long barrel, I'd not want to shoot one with the 2 3/4 barrel.0 -
quote:Originally posted by qsecofr
This is because of the huge kick when you step up to a real load.
In a pistol, heavier bullets will print higher than lighter loads. It seems screwed up, and I didn't believe it until I experienced it for myself. The recoil doesn't create muzzle rise until after the bullet has left the barrel anyway. The explanation I was given for the higher impact point was that the heavier bullets stay in the barrel longer, and gain more energy from the burning powder.0 -
I would never even think of pushing a roundhouse reload (440 grains [28.5 g])
through mine - with a muzzle energy of 2600 through my 4" S&W .500 without
a compensator!
One of my buddies up in Alaska - a veteran bush pilot - has a hard to find 2 3/4"
snubbie - 'survival gun' - with no compensator - let me shoot it one day because
I was curious. I am no longer 'curious' and don't plan to shoot it anymore! It was
not a pleasant experience. He swears by it - I swear AT it! You notice the rise with
the snubbie - it's quite dramatic!
[:D]0 -
quote:Originally posted by DancesWithSheep
I bought a Smith 460 ES for same purpose, and shoot 395 gr lead. I got the 2 3/4" because it is the pudendal equivalent of bondai.
...me too...and I love it.0 -
I got mine from a guy that put the deposit down $500.00 and shot one before he picked it up. He told me to just pay the balance and it was mine. I love the way it shoots and I customized a high rise holster for it. I have carried it on the job once or twice and scared the crap out of people that seen it. Great ofduty suprise if you ask me. It is not really that bad to shoot either, would I pay $800+ for one HELL NO. 0 -
"The recoil doesn't create muzzle rise until after the bullet has left the barrel anyway."... this is exactly what happens' the barrel does rise while the bullet is still in it. the more recoil (heaveyer bullets) the more barrel rise. 0 -
Bought one of these last Summer as a substitute for my Freedom Arms .454 Casull with a 7-1/4" non-ported barrel. The Casull is just too heavy to carry all day, but the S&W .500 Magnum with 400 gr CorBon JSP's is absolutely miserable to shoot. [:(] I still carry the Casull when I feel it is absolutely necessary, but I sold the S&W to a local guide that carries it every day and loves it. I've had many bear encounters over the years and fortunately, I've never had to shoot one in defense. [;)] 0
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