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Post by bula on Jan 22, 2019 13:10:11 GMT -5
Your opinions as to availability of new or used out there ? Expected cost of new from LGS and decent price to offer for a used ? I've never yet seen one to hold let alone shoot around here. Any thoughts appreciated. Are all Alaskan 480's 6 shots ? School me, again..
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Post by leftysixgun on Jan 22, 2019 13:28:19 GMT -5
The first generation 480 Alaskans were 5 shot so I hear. They quit making them for a while but have brought them back as 6 shots is my understanding. Im a big fan of the 480, Ive never shot or held the Alaskan 480. Id really Like the opportunity to someday. Im sure its quite a handful withthe heavier loads.
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Post by bradshaw on Jan 22, 2019 14:04:33 GMT -5
bull.... look no further than the Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan for proof the Redhawk/ and Super Redhawk is the most COMPACT double action revolvers made. No sideplate gun can be scaled this small and hold together so well. If someone has to have an Alaskan just to have one, by all means fetch. The concept originates with Eric Unger (director of the casting operations, retired from Sturm, Ruger in 2007), an inveterate backwoods hiker. Unger, who refined titanium casting, had the shop make a prototype titanium Alaskan. Both Bill Ruger, Jr., and Eric Unger told me the titanium Alaskan is, “Too much of a good thing.”
If you have a chance to fire one before purchase, do so. Just to hold a gun is one thing. To shoot it is another thing. I do not speak for others. My woods derringer is an old 4-inch Model 29. Were I to walk in cold, where distance is measured across a campfire, I would prefer an Alaskan .480 Ruger to an Alaskan .454 Casull. While the .480 Ruger is not a derringer cartridge, the .454 Casull certainly isn’t. But you already specify the .480 Ruger, so your selection to buy 0r not buy is half over.
In selecting a hand cannon, personal performance counts big time. I would not fire one of these Mothers without the cushion grips. David Bradshaw
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Post by paul105 on Jan 22, 2019 14:08:17 GMT -5
I checked the three places I look first -- Buds, Davidson's, (GalleryofGuns.com) and GrabaGub. Grab a gun is the the best by far $869 + $8 = $877 + transfer fee from your local FFL. The other two are from 950 up depending upon what your local dealer charges and credit card fee from Buds. grabagun.com/ruger-super-redhk-480-ruger-alaskan.htmlHave no idea what a used one is worth -- gunbroker should give you an idea. Good Luck with you search.
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Post by paul105 on Jan 22, 2019 14:20:18 GMT -5
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Post by magnumwheelman on Jan 22, 2019 14:22:10 GMT -5
I LUV mine... almost makes the 454 Alaskan obsolete ( SHHH don't tell it though, or it's liable to bite ) funny... when I bought the 454 Alaskan, a good portion of the members here said I was going to whack myself in the face... so not true... these things are very shootable, & the 480 Alaskan is now my forever companion in the big critter woods ( oh, & for possum hunting )
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Post by Alaskan454 on Jan 22, 2019 14:35:50 GMT -5
I sold my 454 Alaskan to purchase one in 480. It's the biggest cartridge you can run and still get six shots in the Super Redhawk platform. I'm a big fan myself and would also caution one to work up in terms of power. I've shot max 300/350gr loads in the 454 Alaskan and they are zippy! You'll have a lot of fun with an Alaskan in 480.
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Post by magnumwheelman on Jan 22, 2019 14:37:43 GMT -5
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Post by whitworth on Jan 22, 2019 15:12:56 GMT -5
The first generation 480 Alaskans were 5 shot so I hear. They quit making them for a while but have brought them back as 6 shots is my understanding. Im a big fan of the 480, Ive never shot or held the Alaskan 480. Id really Like the opportunity to someday. Im sure its quite a handful withthe heavier loads. From what I understand, only 23 revolvers made it out the door as 5-shots. They are as rare as hen's teeth.
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Post by magnumwheelman on Jan 22, 2019 15:17:15 GMT -5
WHIT... I've often wondered, as the 6 shot cylinders were made of different steel... are the 5 shot guns really significantly stronger??? I understand the stop notch between chambers... but that new steel is supposed to be almost magic
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akray
.30 Stingray
"Alaska is what the Wild West was"
Posts: 388
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Post by akray on Jan 22, 2019 15:22:06 GMT -5
I saw a 5 shot 480 Alaskan at our local gun show 2 years ago. I didn't have $1350 to buy it or I would have. I've heard of at least one being converted to a 500 L or something like that. In my experience, the 454 version is more shootable than the 480. The cushion grip on the 454 does it's job but the 480 bottoms out to the steel gripframe with every shot. Both Ruger Alaskans are lots of power in a smallish package. As a side point, I see no reason for the Alaskan chambered in 44 Magnum.
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Post by magnumwheelman on Jan 22, 2019 15:59:09 GMT -5
I'd suspect the 44 was the 1st, if not, it's quickly become the smallest & heaviest... I'm not saying Ruger "copied" me... if they saw pictures... more like great minds think alike... This custom 44 Magnum has been around for 20 - 25 years now... maybe longer... it resulted from a Dan Wesson we inherited from MRS dad, after he died... it was one of those ported barrels & barrel shrouds, where the holes didn't line up, & if fired with hot loads behind lead bullets, were known for hopelessly sticking together... in this case, this 6" barrel had to be cut apart... not wanting to throw away the parts, & to appease my love for snubbies, I talked my retired buddy into putting it together for me... & it became my big critter woods gun, & worked so well, it took me several years after the Alaskan was released, for me to acquire an Alaskan... & the sole reason behind that, was that they were stainless, & IMO, more suited to rough & tumble woods work... after buying 2 Alaskans, this one now wears an unported 6" barrel... but can be switched back to snubbie version in a few moments... & in 44 magnum is not my biggest, but still every bit as capable...
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Post by leftysixgun on Jan 22, 2019 18:40:21 GMT -5
The first generation 480 Alaskans were 5 shot so I hear. They quit making them for a while but have brought them back as 6 shots is my understanding. Im a big fan of the 480, Ive never shot or held the Alaskan 480. Id really Like the opportunity to someday. Im sure its quite a handful withthe heavier loads. From what I understand, only 23 revolvers made it out the door as 5-shots. They are as rare as hen's teeth. WOW! I didnt know that it was that few, thats pretty neat. I used to own the 44mag Alaskan and it was a lot of fun. I regret selling it now. I have shot the 454 Alaskan and it was a lot for me to handle but I could see myself building up to it given the chance. As mush as I like the 480 cartridge, Im not sure how much pounding I could take. I have an uncataloged 9 1/2” SRH (stainless finish) and it hurts yours the center of your palms with my 430gr LWFN and 23.0gr of H110. The gun is really accurate.
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Post by leftysixgun on Jan 22, 2019 18:58:42 GMT -5
All this Alaskan chatter makes me want mine back and buy another!
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Post by firedude on Jan 22, 2019 20:05:31 GMT -5
I have all three. I find them to be very manageable. I am a snub fan though. My 480 has the "hard to extract brass" problem. It has been back to Ruger for a new cylinder with little to no change. This is with Starline brass. Hornady is next to impossible to get out. Wish it did not have this problem because I really like it.
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