Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan .480 Ruger

[dmize]

[/quote]There might not be for most...It might not be so for others...it is the only Ruger and the very same caliber that I have seen blow up...and that was in the hands of a very experianced shooter and reloader...and when the side of the cylinder comes out and the back strap is standing vertical with bbl. pointing towards the ground there was more than sticky chambers going on...FWIW[/quote]

When I got my 480 SRH, I don't remember when I got it but it was shortly after they were released in early 2000's. There was no reloading info available so I called Hodgdon and talked to one of the guys that helped develop the round. I questioned him about the sticky extraction and how flat the primers were on factory loads. I remember him specifically telling me that they were proof tested to a level that simply cannot be reached with a powder recommended in the Hodgdon data.

[paul105]

September 5, 2014

Chronographed 420gr over 20.0gr H110:

420gr WFNGC
20.0gr H110 (LD#21)
Win WLP
New Starline .480 Ruger
Ref: Hodgdon (7 1/2” test barrel).
19.0gr 1,145 fps 34,200 psi
20.0gr 1,203 fps 38,700 psi

ACTUAL VELOCITY: 970 fps Avg for 5 shots (ES 25) at 62 Deg F and 5 long paces.


Shot 28ea 370RNFP w/24.8 H110 – still no leading w/45/45/10 tumble lube, but cases real dirty from blow back. This load recoils more than 20.0gr H110 and 420gr WFNGC.

Cumulative round count 174.



September 4, 2014

Chronographed the following at 5 long paces and 40 Deg F:

370gr RNFPBB
24.8gr H110 (LD#25)
Win WLP
Hornady 4x .480 Ruger
Ref: Hodgdon (7 1/2” test barrel).
24.0gr 1,348 fps 33,400 psi
26.0gr 1,454 fps 41,500 psi

ACTUAL VELOCITY: 1,098 fps Avg for 5 shots (lubed w/45/45/10 and reconfirmed no leading at all with this load)

400gr HSM Factory
Starline Cases
400gr Speer JFP
Advertised Velocity: 1,200 fps (bbl length unknown)

ACTUAL VELOCITY: 855 fps Avg for 4 shots

September 3, 2014.

Thoroughly cleaned and measured throats. .477 go, .478 no go w/minus plug gauges. I’ll have to look for my egg sinkers and slug the bore. The 370 RNFP that I’ve been shooting are .476” – likely explains the leading with Longshot and A2400.

Loaded and shot 20 ea 12.5gr Longshot, 370 RNFP tumble lubed twice with 45/45/10 – same bullets as yesterday. This Longshot load leads severely. Simple extrapolation of Hogdon’s data, psi of the two loads is similar (36K-37K for H110 and 38K-40K for Longshot), so burning characteristics of H110 must be more suitable for use with this cast bullet? I’ll load up some 370s w/24.8 H110 in the new Starline brass that FedX dropped off this PM.

Shot 8ea HSM 400gr JFPs after the above. This load is very mild (can’t be much over 900 fps, if that, from 2 ½” bbl) but it did clean all the lead out.

Packed the Alaskan while walking the dogs today. Six rounds of 400gr HSM JFPs weigh about 7 oz., so the loaded gun is right at 50 oz. Had it in my “universal” Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake. This holster is one of Rob’s first (he doesn’t like me to post pictures, so I won’t). I’ve had it for a long time and it is always on my pants belt. I call it universal because I’ve carried just about everything I own in it at one time for another.

FWIW,

Paul

[paul105]

September 9, 2014

Cumulative round count: 227

Chronographed again – new Starline cases and different lot of H110 (this lot and old lot shot within 20 fps of each other when previously tested in .44 Mag & .475LB)

385gr FNHP (Powder Coated) Dual Crimp Grove-Seated in Bottom Cr Gr at 1.694”
22.4gr H110 (Dillon 550 - 8lb)
Win WLP
New Starline .480 Ruger
Actual Velocity: 1,054 avg fps (ES 28), five shots at five paces and 75 Deg F

Shot the following 25 yd group (top) from a rest while chrographing. Moved windage right and shot lower right group offhand from 12 yards – pulled the first shot a bit low and left. First time shooting for accy at paper. Further tweaking of this load would probably tighten up the group some.
.

.
Moved back to the rest and shot 12 rounds at a big rock (maybe 3,x3,) on berm at 220 yds, actually hit it a couple of times.

Shot 11 rounds at the spinner double action.



September 7 & 8, 2014

Chronographed 385gr FNHP (Miha) Cast, Sized, and Powder Coated by Sixshot

385gr FNHP (Powder Coated) Dual Crimp Grove-Seated in top Cr Gr at 1.642”
22.4gr H110 (LD#23 – 1lb)
Win WLP
New Starline .480 Ruger
Actual Velocity: 1,087 avg fps (ES 32), five shots at five paces and 75 Deg F

No leading for 1st 1” to 1 ½” -- some leading (not to bad) midway up barrel to muzzle. Still getting some blowback of sticky material on fired cases. Leading didn’t seem to increase with additional rounds.

Didn’t shoot any paper, but this load looks like it will shoot. Hit 70 yard popper offhand a couple times while chronographing. Hit 4” plate at 25 yds offhand and head shot popper at about 7 yards double action with 4 or 5 rounds.

385gr FNHP (Powder Coated) Dual Crimp Grove-Seated in Bottom Cr Gr at 1.694”
22.4gr H110 (LD#23 - 1lb)
Win WLP
1X Starline .480 Ruger
Actual Velocity: 1,021 avg fps (ES 27), five shots at five paces and 75 Deg F

385gr FNHP (Powder Coated) Dual Crimp Grove-Seated in Bottom Cr Gr at 1.694”
21.3gr H110 (LD#22 – 1 lb)
Win WLP
1X Starline .480 Ruger
Actual Velocity: 969 avg fps (ES 12), five shots at five paces and 75 Deg F
Note to self: Very comfortable recoil wise!

Very slight leading and minimal case mouth crud buildup when seated long w/both 21.3 & 22.4gr.

The Miha 385gr HP powder coated by Sixshot
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Loaded round with bullet.
.

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The business end of the bullet
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Paul

[Fowler]

That big MiHa bullet will shoot, I have the same mold and it took a bit to sort out how to get it to drop perfect bullets but now I have sorted that out they cast great and shoot very nicely. I intend to test them on a deer or two this fall. That red powdercoating is still odd looking but I can't argue with the success it is showing consistently.

And they double as a shot glass at the end of a hard day in the woods!

[coldtriggerfinger]

I don't know the policy on reviving old threads. Some forums like it , some don't. But here goes. Now that it's been a few years since this thread started. How is everyone liking their 480 Alaskans ? Around 1100 fps with a 380 ish gr boolit looks like a nice load.
I have a Mihec 477-640 mold on the way .

[paul105]

Was thinking about the Alaskan the other day. Has it really been that long since I started that thread? Need to take it out for a spin.

[magnumwheelman]

I love mine... I've not cast with my MiHa molds yet... but I have a "kill" with mine... one of the biggest possums I've seen was wrestling with my big outside doggie several months ago... I wanted to make sure I used enough gun

[Quick Draw McGraw]

Aug 7, 2017 7:58:06 GMT -5 magnumwheelman said:

I love mine... I've not cast with my MiHa molds yet... but I have a "kill" with mine... one of the biggest possums I've seen was wrestling with my big outside doggie several months ago... I wanted to make sure I used enough gun

That must've been one big possum! I had a run in with one as a kid. Vicious little SOBs!

[bula]

They got teef !

[coldtriggerfinger]

:-).
Hopefully soon my 477-640 Mihec mold will be here. If I have the energy this weekend I will do some smelting and maybe cast some Lee 400 gr PB and MP45 Ruger .

[coldtriggerfinger]

My 2nd Mihec mold got here a while ago. Maybe Labor Day will be a good day to start casting.