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Post by savit260 on Dec 9, 2021 18:40:10 GMT -5
Based on shooting many of my own .45 Colt handloads over the past 7+ years in various revolvers and leverguns, and also reading everything I could find on the subject from John Taffin, John Linebaugh, Paco Kelly, Brian Pearce, and Randy Garrett, I've assembled the below list of maximum acceptable pressures for each firearm listed. Looking to get some feedback from others on this topic. Did I leave something out? Do you have experience to the contrary? Fire away. ***Black Powder Only - First Gen Colt SAA & New Frontier - BP-only modern clones - Traditional load is 250-260 gr bullet over 38-40 gr of FFFG. ***14,000 psi (SAAMI max 45 Colt) - Second & Third Gen Colt SAA & New Frontier - Modern SAA clones (Uberti, Cimarron, Beretta, etc.) - Modern S&W Model 3 "top break" clones ***23,000 psi (SAAMI max 45 ACP +P) - S&W 25 & 625 - Ruger New Vaquero - Ruger "mid-frame" Flattop Blackhawk - USFA SAA - Modern Winchester 1873 clones - Modern Henry 1860 & 1866 clones ***30,000 psi ("Ruger Only") - Ruger Blackhawk & Old Vaquero - Freedom Arms 97 - Dan Wesson - El Dorado - Abilene - Thompson/Center Contender ***40,000 psi - Marlin 1894 - Winchester 1894AE - Henry Big Boy ***50,000 psi - Typical custom five-shot cylinder conversions - Ruger Redhawk - Modern Winchester 1892 clones ***65,000 psi (SAAMI max 454 Casull) - Freedom Arms 83 - Certain custom five-shot cylinder conversions (as specified by maker) - Thompson/Center Encore Curious as to why the New Frontier would be listed listed with 1st Gen. Black powder SAA's ?
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Post by savit260 on Dec 9, 2021 17:43:07 GMT -5
I could be wrong but I remember reading somewhere years ago about someone using a (15 round I think) 30 carbine double stack magazine to carry 45 Coltrounds in for their single action. I don't have one handy to try out the theory but maybe 1 of you guys out there could give it a shot.
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Post by savit260 on Mar 12, 2021 20:39:16 GMT -5
Doesn't Bobby Tyler offer some type of blue finish for stainless steel?
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Post by savit260 on Jan 16, 2021 16:00:10 GMT -5
Believe it or not, Corian, yes the counter top material, it’s hard, tough, unaffected by moisture or weather, and feels good in the hand. postimg.cc/bdqsvHx8I think someone on this forum posted a picture of a gun with Witch Hazel Corian grips a while back that look very very nice!
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Post by savit260 on Jan 15, 2021 19:54:53 GMT -5
For a lighter load in 454 brass in my Ruger Alaskan...I like a 255gr coated SWC deep seated over 10 to 11 gr of Unique with a Federal SRP.
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Post by savit260 on Nov 20, 2020 22:23:07 GMT -5
I can't help but think how these grips might look on my Alaskan!!
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Post by savit260 on Nov 3, 2020 19:12:51 GMT -5
That could be the best looking GP100 I've ever seen.. Those groups are fantastic
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Post by savit260 on Jun 29, 2020 15:33:45 GMT -5
Since the subject is about carrying a Redhawk I will add this even though the OP has apparently found his solution... I happened across a Kodiak Backpacker Redhawk a while back (I traded a Glock for it). I sent it to Jack Huntington for some action work. With the Bowen sights and ugly Pachmayr grip that fits my hand well and soaks up the recoil it is fun and accurate to shoot, even with the heaviest 44 mag loads. It turned out so nice I had an iwb holster made for it locally. It is amazing how well this rig disappears even when wearing shorts and a t shirt, and it's very comfortable to carry (even on a 25 mile bicycle ride). The same could be done with an Alaskan or Tokalat Super Redhawk. My experience is similar to yours. This is how I carry my Alaskan 454 IWB. I just load it to 45 Colt level performance for carry. Very comfortable to wear hiking, bicycling or riding a motorcycle etc etc. Conceals under an untuk t-shirt.
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Post by savit260 on May 26, 2020 15:36:14 GMT -5
Here's a pic with the Pachmayr grips. Not as pretty as the fancy Walnut panel grips but less sticky and much more functional. Size wise, the Pachy's are just right for this compact package IMO.
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Post by savit260 on May 26, 2020 14:39:56 GMT -5
Been giving some serious thought to picking up a 454 Alaskan Snubbie. Thinking it might be a fun double action that could share ammo with my 45 Colt single actions, and also load up some mid-range(Ruger only type) 454 Casull rounds without having to worry about the hot stuff finding its way into the 45 Colt single actions. If anybody is willing to share their thoughts and experiences what's the Alaskan I'd love to hear it. I FIND THE 4" .45 COLT REDHAWK MORE USABLE AND VERSATILE ALONG WITH A COMPANION 4" .44 MAGNUM. I did give the 4" 45 Colt some consideration as well. Here's the conclusion I ended up coming to. I already have a 5 1/2" 44 Mag Redhawk and after giving it careful thought I decided to go with the snubby SRH Alaskan 454 as the 45 Colt 4" RH isn't that much different in size and purpose than my 44 mag. I also decided I wanted to try something with the SRH lock work. A Wolffe spring kit and a whole bunch of dry firing his given the Alaskan a pretty decent trigger. Like I mentioned earlier, I think of the Alaskan as more of a 45 Colt+P than as a full throttle 454. I've been loading 10- 11 grains of unique *deep-seated* in 454 brass with a 255 SWC. That load has more than enough authority out of the two and a half inch barrel for my purposes and isn't punishing to shoot at all. Loading these in 454 brass eliminates the Crud ring with the added bonus of keeping these heavier loads out of my SAA. With the short barrel, the Pachmayr compac grips, and the Simply Rugged iwb holster, the SRH Alaskan disappears under a T-shirt and is an absolute breeze to carry. I've been taking it out hiking, bicycling and motorcycle riding. It really is an easy carry. I understand my views on this gun seem a little unorthodox,but I'm finding it fits the niche I was looking to fill very well.
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Post by savit260 on May 26, 2020 8:09:00 GMT -5
Did they discontinue the SRH Alaskan 454? I don’t see many for sale on GB Looks like there are seven or eight on GunBroker right now. I know back in the fall when I got mine there were a lot more. Maybe they're just between manufacturing runs. I doubt it's discontinued.
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Post by savit260 on May 21, 2020 9:53:32 GMT -5
I do 44 Special, 45 Colt and 480 Ruger. Instead of pushing the 45, I just step up in caliber and keep the recoil moderate. Not for everyone, to be sure, but it works for me and the arthritis in the wrists. I did give the 480 version some consideration, but came to the conclusion that for my purposes the 45 caliber was more than adequate and I wouldn't have to add another caliber and components. I'm able to use the same 255 swc that I load for my standard pressure 45 Colts. I do use 454 brass but don't find the need to load to red line. I mostly keep them in the Ruger only ballpark. Given that I don't have any other 45 Colts able to handle Ruger only loads I figured this gives me just an extra margin of safety. By using the deep seating principles, I can use "Ruger only" load data with relative ease. At the level I'm loading these, in the 900 - 1100 fps range, you don't have a ton of recoil or muzzle blast. Actually pretty pleasant to shoot. Of course if I want tons of recoil and muzzle blasts oh, I could load up some redline 454 loads if I was in the mood, but for practical purposes what I'm loading works nicely. That said if I had a large frame 45 Blackhawk in the stable or something similar I may have opted for something else.. I've read a lot on the internet where people suggest the only use for 454 Casull is full power loads. I guess I just don't subscribe to that way of thinking. Using the deep seating methods, I see no reason why one couldn't take advantage of a TON a versatility in this cartridge. Obviously the same could be said for the 480, but in my case I wouldn't be able to take advantage of components I already have on hand. I guess my frugalness won the day!! 🙂
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Post by savit260 on May 20, 2020 18:19:20 GMT -5
I had a 454 Alaskan. I liked the gun a lot. Fun to shoot, too, but honestly my thoughts are that the 454 is all about velocity. That's what makes the 454 a great cartridge, but you lose a whole LOT of that velocity in a snubby. IIRC, my 335 grain WLNGC ran about 1435 fps from my 7-1/2" SRH. The same load gave only 1174 fps in the Alaskan, or was it 1147??? Anyway, my 45 Colt load with the 335 WLNGC gave close to 1200 fps in my 5.5 inch Bisley BH. So, what's the point then, for putting up with all that blast and recoil? If I were to get another Alaskan, it would be the 480 Ruger. Heavy, wide, moderate velocity and recoil without the blast. I have a real nice SRH 7.5" 480 and have thought about cutting it down to 4.75" (or 4.80"), which I think Ruger should offer in the Alaskan anayway, but the darn thing shoots so good as-is I feel like it would be a shame to cut it down. I hate to mess with a gun that shoots so well to begin with. Anyway, my idea is to step up in caliber and stop the race for ultra high velocity. Look at the guys here who are killing bison with the 480 with relatively light loads... 1050 fps? Anything more is wasted wrist wrenching in my mind. I tend to think of the 454 Alaskan as a heavy 45 Colt in a compact package. I've been loading 255 gr SWC to just below supersonic levels, deep-seated in 454 brass so as to keep them out of my standard pressure 45 Colts. 11 grains of unique with a sr primer seems to be about where I'm hearing the crack of the bullet going supersonic from the short barrel. Another option might have been a short barreled model 25 Smith & Wesson but I believe that 11 grain load of unique would be WAY too aggressive for a Smith. For my purposes the 454 Alaskan, treated as a heavy 45 Colt is ideal. A 255gr bullet traveling between 900-1150fps in a fairly compact package suits my needs nicely with the added benefit of these loads not fitting in my SAA & Clone.(or worse yet my open top conversion).
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Post by savit260 on May 4, 2020 16:05:38 GMT -5
I posted the pic over in my old "Considering an Alaskan" thread but figure this fine holster deserves it's own thread. Rob's work is as usual outstanding. Had him do a hammered finish on the sides where the belt slots go, and did the Inside the Waistband straps in black to blend in with my black belt. I can't imagine a holster that could conceal a SRH Alaskan better. Disappears under an untucked T shirt. Really pleased (as always) with this Simply Rugged. The pic doesn't do it justice!
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Post by savit260 on May 4, 2020 15:37:44 GMT -5
Got my new leather for the Alaskan today. Rob hit this one out of the park!! The pic doesn't do it justice. I also switched out the grips to a less attractive, but far less garment grabbing Pachmayer compacts. Hard to come by, but found a used pair on ebay for reasonable money.
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