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Post by Alaskan454 on Jan 24, 2019 13:13:34 GMT -5
My username has some meaning behind it, and it's based upon the revolver that forever changed the way I look at handguns. Back in 2013 I bought a Ruger Alaskan in 44 Magnum which I thought was a beast at the time. I had never shot anything hotter than a .44 up to that point. About a year later I sold it and upgraded to an Alaskan in 454 Casull. That 454 taught me the true power and flexibility of a given cartridge when loaded to its' extremes. I have fond memories of that little revolver and a picture from one particularly fun filled afternoon is shown below. About two years ago I needed money and so it was regrettably sold, but only with the intention of someday replacing it with a custom Super Redhawk. I'm now in the planning stages for a custom double action and I would like it to be a Bowen gun. The only big bore DA revolver left in my stable is this 4" Redhawk shown below: So my thoughts on a new friend to join the existing Redhawk are wide open. The only things I have set in stone are that I want one of Bowen's SP profile custom barrels at around 4.5" in length, not sure if I want the muzzle brake option or not, and I also want a fluted and chamfered cylinder if possible. Bowen has a note on his website that they don't flute and chamfer factory cylinders with the rollmark. I'm considering both a standard Redhawk or a GP conversion on a Super Redhawk Alaskan. I'm also considering all of the calibers mentioned above in that poll. Here are my random thoughts on why each caliber would be a good choice for me: 45 Colt - I'd want to start with a factory 44 Magnum cylinder and have it rechambered to a tight 45 Colt. I already load and shoot a ton of 45, so I'll always have ammo on hand and it's one of the most flexible cartridges I've ever loaded. I currently load 45 Colt from SAA levels up to 5 shot and Redhawk only levels. I also load 454 Casull as well. 480 Ruger - Still fairly cost effective to load and could do whatever I'd require of a 340-420gr bullet. I like the idea of a 6 shot 480 DA quite a bit, but the sexy 5 shot cylinder with flutes and blackpowder chamfer are also very appealing. I'm currently loading 480 Ruger for a Blackhawk, and I'm also speaking with TK Custom about the feasibility of a moonclipped 6 shot Super Redhawk in 480 Ruger. I think moonclips would heavily sway me in the 480 direction if it's reasonable to do. 475 Linebaugh- Could also use 480 Ruger in the same gun if desired, and I have a ton of 475 brass with no gun in that caliber. 50 AE - Components are very cost effective being a true .50, but I don't have much background information on loading 50 AE in a moonclip gun. I would assume you can load these pretty hot with a roll crimp as it would headspace on the moonclip. I already shoot a lot of 335 gr .50 plinkers right now so this has some appeal to me. I'm currently loading 500 JRH and 500 WE, so I'd always have components on hand for each caliber. I also spoke with Bowen a while ago and he said they were not doing caliber conversions based upon the 500 S&W case, only 500 Linebaugh and 500 Special. 500 Linebaugh - It's the original 500 magnum, I think that says it all. The only thing holding me back here is the lack of cost effective projectiles. .510-.512 caliber bullets just don't have the same volume as the .500 category. But the pure joy of touching off a 530 gr 500L is likely worth the price of admission. I have seen dozens of beautiful custom DAs on this board, so I'm hoping some of you that have been down this path before might shed some wisdom in my direction. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.
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Post by squigz on Jan 24, 2019 13:23:31 GMT -5
I'm writing off the 45 Colt since you already have one. I know I know, you already load can share the ammo etc. but you have it, time to step it up.
I'm saying either the 475 or 500 Linebaugh.
With the 475, you get the ability to shoot the 480 for some down loads, but you can also get some great bullets cheap for this caliber and handle anything you need. I love Missouri's powder coated bullets for my 480.
As you noted, the down side to the 500 is the bullet availability. But, it's a 500, come on!
Why not look into a 500Special or a 500JRH as well? That brings you back into the category of the 50AE for bullet selections but gives you a rimmed cartridge. If these were a part of the list, they'd get my vote.
I held off on the vote itself because I had to chime in for the 50 cal's that you missed.
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Post by potatojudge on Jan 24, 2019 13:42:14 GMT -5
I'd recommend the Super Redhawk for the conversion with the barrel extension milled off and whatever barrel profile you like. The Super has a much better action by design and the weights are essentially identical. The Super has better grip arrangement and options. Bowen, as you might have seen, has Colt Anaconda barrels on hand for a conversion (and if they're spoken for already I have one I'll likely not use). Your taste, your money, you can't go wrong with the SP style.
If you have it built in 45 Colt it will shoot your existing loads, but to actually utilize the gun's ability you'll find yourself loading long 360 grain lead bullets over a heavier charge than your other guns are likely to appreciate. My 45 Colt Redhawk gets it's own loads, in part due to the load itself and in part because the chambers (it's a custom) are so tight the dies have to be set up specifically if I want the rounds to chamber.
If you can get a 480 or 475 in a 6 shot that would get my vote.
If you're going with a 5 shot, 500 Linebaugh. There's plenty of bullets available. .500 has more, but .510 has enough.
I'd recommend a white outline rear sight, white line front, and maybe a method of attaching optics in the future.
Does anybody make moon clips for 5 or 6 shot 480/475? 6 shots and moon clips would lock that chambering in for me.
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Post by magnumwheelman on Jan 24, 2019 13:46:03 GMT -5
I'm not sure if all 50 A.E. Revolvers headspace on the moon clip... quite possibly the Bowen guns do... I have a custom 50 A.E. 5 shot Super Blackhawk, & not really had bullet creep issues, so long as the brass isn't old enough that it's "relaxed" or the loads aren't too stout...
don't think you can go wrong with the 45 Colt... but really the same versatility holds true for any of the cartridges you have listed, with the powders available today... even a 460 or 500 S&W can be tamed with Trailboss
I'm really liking the 475 bore right now... even though a 45 Colt snubbie revolver is on my belt every day... if I could get a 480 gun in the same configuration... I'd be carrying the 480
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Post by whitworth on Jan 24, 2019 14:16:13 GMT -5
Huntington built this one in .500 Linebaugh for a customer. I had the "pleasure" of shooting it loaded with Buffalo Bore's 525 grain loads and it was a bear. I'm not particularly recoil shy, but this was in the heavyweight class without a doubt. Food for thought...
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Post by mike454 on Jan 24, 2019 15:02:20 GMT -5
If you're going with the full custom SP barrel, I'd probably go full custom on the chambering and make it a 500 Linebaugh. I have a gp in 500 linebaugh that's great fun. Also have a 6 shot Redhawk with Anaconda barrel in 45 Colt that's gorgeous and gets about as much out as the round as can be gotten. If there's a next one for me it will probably be a 44 Alaskan rechambered to 45 colt so I get the tight chambers and fluted cylinder. I'll have an anaconda barrel installed, mostly because I really dig the look, and Bowen is doing the Anaconda barrels pretty cost effectively right now. Don't know it that helps you any, put will probably end up costing me some money.
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Post by Alaskan454 on Jan 24, 2019 17:59:48 GMT -5
Thank you very much for the feedback gentlemen. I see there are a few things I may have forgotten to mention. For the cylinder, my preference on any cylinder would be fluted with blackpowder chamfers. It just looks so good, I had David Clements do that on my 500 JRH Bisquero and I love it. As for caliber selection:
45 Colt - I'd want to start with a factory 44 Magnum cylinder and have it rechambered to a tight 45 Colt. I already load and shoot a ton of 45, so I'll always have ammo on hand and it's one of the most flexible cartridges I've ever loaded. I currently load 45 Colt from SAA levels up to 5 shot and Redhawk only levels. I also load 454 Casull as well.
480 Ruger - Still fairly cost effective to load and could do whatever I'd require of a 340-420gr bullet. I like the idea of a 6 shot 480 DA quite a bit, but the sexy 5 shot cylinder with flutes and blackpowder chamfer are also very appealing. I'm currently loading 480 Ruger for a Blackhawk, and I'm also speaking with TK Custom about the feasibility of a moonclipped 6 shot Super Redhawk in 480 Ruger. I think moonclips would heavily sway me in the 480 direction if it's reasonable to do.
475 Linebaugh- Could also use 480 Ruger in the same gun if desired, and I have a ton of 475 brass with no gun in that caliber.
50 AE - Components are very cost effective being a true .50, but I don't have much background information on loading 50 AE in a moonclip gun. I would assume you can load these pretty hot with a roll crimp as it would headspace on the moonclip. I already shoot a lot of 335 gr .50 plinkers right now so this has some appeal to me. I'm currently loading 500 JRH and 500 WE, so I'd always have components on hand for each caliber. I also spoke with Bowen a while ago and he said they were not doing caliber conversions based upon the 500 S&W case, only 500 Linebaugh and 500 Special.
500 Linebaugh - It's the original 500 magnum, I think that says it all. The only thing holding me back here is the lack of cost effective projectiles. .510-.512 caliber bullets just don't have the same volume as the .500 category. But the pure joy of touching off a 530 gr 500L is likely worth the price of admission.
I'll also update the original post with this info.
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Post by magnum314 on Jan 24, 2019 18:26:03 GMT -5
475 Linebaugh- Could also use 480 Ruger in the same gun if desired, and I have a ton of 475 brass with no gun in that caliber. This...and the fact that you are already apparently good to go with 45 Colt, along with my personal fondness for the 480 Ruger as a bonus of the 475...is what got my vote. Kind of a best of both worlds and fun along a wide spectrum!
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Post by Alaskan454 on Jan 24, 2019 18:47:59 GMT -5
Mr. Bowen confirmed there are multiple issues with fluting/chamfering the factory 480 cylinder. I'd still consider the 6x480 option if it can be moonclipped.
Also interesting that the 500L has not a single vote right now.
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Post by rangersedge on Jan 24, 2019 22:54:15 GMT -5
Since you do .45 and .454 now and its custom anyway, is .460 an option?
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Post by bushog on Jan 24, 2019 23:26:26 GMT -5
Will BCA do a .475 on a DA? I like the action on the Super better. I've owned 5 shot .510 conversions as well as others on both but I've never compared them side by side. The grip selection so much better for the standard RH but I can tell you that a .51 on a redhawk will make you wince with the factory stocks. So, if I were going to have a 5 shot built for heavy loads I's probably go with the Super and the Hogue grips. All that being said I have a blue .475 redhawk rebore from Clearwater I plan to have a .480 built with. Just won't shoot anything much faster than 1000fps out of it. I usually only load my cartridges to about 1050-1100 anyhow no matter what the caliber. The .50 Special I had on a standard redhawk was a sweetheart! Here are some pics: At 25yds off a sandbag. 385gn Montana Bullets over 12gns of Unique for around 1000fps.
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Snyd
.375 Atomic
The Last Frontier
Posts: 2,387
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Post by Snyd on Jan 25, 2019 0:00:04 GMT -5
500L on the SRH Alaskan with nose cropped and your barrel preference. A buddy of mine has/had a Bowen 475L Redhawk with one of Bowens 5" barrels with the chambered brake/porting. I shot it with pachmeyer grips with 435gr max loads and it was nice. Recoil/muzzle flip was on par with my 4" 454 Redhawk with 350gr 1300+fps loads. Nice, nice gun. I've toyed with the idea of one of those Bowen barrels on my 454 Redhawk but I can't justify the cost on that gun. $1700 just for the barrel.
Yup, I cast the first vote for the 500L. Might as well get it right the first time if you're gonna spend that kind of dough.
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Post by Alaskan454 on Jan 25, 2019 10:40:13 GMT -5
You guys bring up some good points.
I hadn't considered the .460 because of the intended platform.
BCA will chamber Redhawks in .475, but I believe they strongly advise a Super be used to handle the recoil.
I also agree about the grips, Redhawks look better visually but the Super has more options for recoil control in that department. I'll likely contact Rob Rowen for some advise on grips.
After pondering some of the comments I'm starting to think the 500 Linebaugh could be the ticket.
I just ordered some 395gr .45 bullets to try in my Redhawk. If they work to my satisfaction the old 45 could be loaded between 150-400 gr. Might as well make the jump to 500L for this project.
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Post by whitworth on Jan 25, 2019 11:26:51 GMT -5
The .460 is not an option as the cartridge is too long for the platform. The case alone is 1.8-inches in length.
I raised the recoil issue in that with such a short barrel you will have to ramp things up to get any meaningful velocity out of your chosen load.
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Snyd
.375 Atomic
The Last Frontier
Posts: 2,387
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Post by Snyd on Jan 25, 2019 11:42:55 GMT -5
I messed around with some 400ish grainers in my 45 redhawk a few years back. It was an rcbs 405gr .458 mould. They dropped heavier, like 420+ I think it was. I swaged em down to size that made very scant crimp goove. Bottom line is they shot good, accurate but I couldn't keep em from jumpin crimp. I now have a Redding profile crimp die, that might help. Or perhaps a different boolit, 395 like you're getting with a proper crimp groove. That boolit has a pretty long nose so it didnt' take much to tie up the gun. It was intended to be a dual gun load with the rossi 454. I've relegated it to the levergun. It's my "baby 45-70" I could push it harder I think but haven't. I settled on a 355gr wfn at 1300 in the 4" 454 Redhawk. 455-530gr are for the 500L. You guys bring up some good points. I hadn't considered the .460 because of the intended platform. BCA will chamber Redhawks in .475, but I believe they strongly advise a Super be used to handle the recoil. I also agree about the grips, Redhawks look better visually but the Super has more options for recoil control in that department. I'll likely contact Rob Rowen for some advise on grips. After pondering some of the comments I'm starting to think the 500 Linebaugh could be the ticket. I just ordered some 395gr .45 bullets to try in my Redhawk. If they work to my satisfaction the old 45 could be loaded between 150-400 gr. Might as well make the jump to 500L for this project.
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