why the big difference in prices for Ruger Alaskan???

[magnumwheelman]

just bought my 480 Ruger Alaskan on Gun Broker... I noticed more of a range of prices on the 480 Alaskan, than I think I've seen on any other standard produced gun...

I bought mine for under $800.00 & have seen them listed for over $1,200.00 new... are there "older versions vrs new versions" that account for the price differences??? mine is advertised as NIB, from a reputable dealer that sells the Alaskans "regulary" on GB...

anyway... I'm happy... my 480 is shipping today... my dies, & bullets are here & I just added to the brass, that I've had sitting here for a couple years, in anticipation of finally buying a 480...

BTW... anything wrong with Hornady brass??? the brass I had before was once fired Hornady... I just bought a couple 100 Star Line ( I generally prefer Star Line ) but noticed that the Hornady brass ( new ) is quite a bit cheaper than the Star Line???

[magnumwheelman]

Hmmm... was just on Midways site, & now the Star Line cases are less... I wonder if someone had them mixed up when I looked 2 weeks ago???

[BigBore44]

Not sure on the price difference between them. It seems sometimes that the price's are ALL over the map.?..?
I keep my eyes peeled for good deals on all the Ruger Super Redhawk models. I am considering the same model/caliber Alaskan as you just bought...

Keep us up to date on the range report...

Thanks
BigBore44

[BigBore44]

magnumwheelman
I'm curious, what is your main purpose going to be for the 480 Alaskan?....? Concealed Carry, Huntin, Plinkin/Punchin paper?

What type of accuracy do you think the "Gun" is capable of at distance? Now I know that really comes down to the shooter but, what kind of realistic accuracy could be expected at lets say 50-75yds if the shooter does his part, or it was shot from a Ransom rest?

I was always brainwashed growing up the snub-nosed revolvers were for bad breath up close & personal distances  , but I know better these days that they can go the distance in the right hands. So with that in mind, what is a realistic distance for the short barreled Alaskan?

I want a 480 pretty badly, and I really like the little Alaskan. I just bought a used 454 SRH 7.5" bbl.  and also have a 9.5" bbl. 44mag. I used the 44 scoped this year for deer hunting, but it is definitely an UNhandy length/handling piece the way it is. I will be having one of these cut down (probably the 44 mag) to approx. 4 3/4" - 5" . I want to add a 480 to my lineup but unsure to go the 7.5" or the  Little Alaskan...?.?..?  

I keep leaning to the Alaskan so it could be used sometimes for CCW, but realistically it'll probably be used more for range & huntin.

 So I have the 7.5" 454 SRH and, I load 45colt & 454 for my Father in his TC Encore 460S&W... I don't have that much brass or bullets yet for this calibers, and no molds YET.

I have the 44 mag SRH and, I am Very Much Married to the 44 mag with about 5 or 6 guns (Long & Short guns) in this cal. with molds/dies/bullets etc. etc.

Should I buy a 44 Alaskan because I have the most components for this caliber? 

Should I go with the 45/454 Alaskan so I don't need to gear up to load for it, or take the 480 Plunge and need everything to start up with it?

After all this chatter I still don't know ..          .......LOL.....  ..

Suggestions?

BigBore44

[magnumwheelman]

I'm not going to say the Alaskan was my idea...

but I built a custom 2" 44 magnum on a Dan Wesson action 5-6 years before Ruger came out with the Alaskan... I'm sure it's more like great minds think alike

I wanted the gun as a "bear get off me" gun, as I was going to Colorado a lot more back then... IMO, a double action big bore snubbie is ideal for this purpose... mine was built on a blued gun, so when Ruger came out with the Alaskan, I had to have a stainless big bore snubbie, & added a 454 Casull... now it's time for the 480, which would likely do bear duty even better than the 454... but now, it's more to add to my collection, & enjoy shooting... I have snubbies from 22 magnum, to 480 after this purchase... 22 mag, 32 H&R... S&W's... 38 Special... Ruger... 44 Special... S&W... & the 2 Rugers in 454 & now 480...

as far as accuracy... "they say" the snubbie can shoot as accurately as a longer barrel... I can't shoot them as accurately, but I do regularly shoot from 20 ft to 50 yards, & with most, I can hit an 8" pie plate or smaller groups at 50 yards... however that depends on the gun... my worst accuracy I get with my LCR in 38 special ( sights are all black, & nonadjustable ) my best groups are with the 22 Mag, in a 351 PD S&W, with my 32 H&R Magnum J frame right behind... however the 396 ( 3" barrel ) 44 Special is right up there, & even the Casull not far behind, & still better than my LCR... the 396 has a fiber optic front sight, & adjustable rear... the Casull has custom fiber optic front & rear, & I've already ordered fiber optic for the 480 Alaskan...

the biggest disadvantage to accuracy at the longer distances is the short sight radius, & poorer sights on most snubbies... 2nd is the loss of velocity of the shorter barrel... IMO, the Alaskans have the potential for very good accuracy, provided you can see the sights & target well, & can get some practice in... remember, anything you goof up on, during your trigger squeeze process seems to be exagerated with the shorter barrel...

I wouldn't be uncomfortable shooting man sized targets at 100 yards, but would not choose to hunt at that distance myself, without magnifyed optics

[paul105]

No idea about price variance. Always found Hornady brass more expensive than Starline. Nothing wrong with .480 Hornady brass in the Alaskan. I don't care for Hornady .475 brass in the tighter FA83 .475 LB -- just my very limited personal experience.

Here's a target shot with my 2 1/2" .480 Alaskan -- upper left 25 yds rested while chronographing. Other 3 shots off hand at about 12 yds after moving windage right. Our range has two poppers at a lasered 77 yds. One is full size, the other much smaller. Can hit both offhand with reasonable consistency. The 2 1/2" Alaskan is a lot easier to shoot accurately than most other "snubbies".

As a point of reference, the 385gr HP load shown on the target chronoed 1,250 fps from my 6" FA83. The Lee 400gr also chronos right at 1,025 fps with the same load. All at 70 Deg F and 5 long paces from the muzzle.



Paul

[Alaskan454]

A few observations...Prices on these have been all over the map for 480 and 44 calibers, the 454s seem to be the most stable and usually seem to fetch a higher price on average for whatever reason. That said, you can still find ANY of the three calibers for an excellent price, especially if you look for used ones. Tons of people buy and sell stuff they don't know the true market rate for, a perfect example would be my first Alaskan in 44 magnum. I sold it used for more than I paid new and the buyer still got a good deal, I then turned around and bought a NIB 454 for what he paid me. I got lucky and the market was favorable in both directions at the time. If you look around the 480s can be had for way less than they are worth to the average buyer, this sold recently for an amazingly low price with some pricey ammo to boot. Lesson to be learned here, buy it now or fixed price style listings are where the good deals often show up. www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=518093262

As for caliber, I loved the 44 but jumped at the chance to get a 454. The 44 is the only one with a fluted cylinder and I always thought it looked the best. This was my first 454 and I couldn't be happier. At the time I was switching over some of my 44s to 45s and simplifying my reloading supply chain. I still have one 44 mag revolver but it's nice having most of my guns shooting 45 ACP or 45 Colt in a pinch. Right now I could shoot almost all of my guns with a .45 250gr RNFP bullet if I needed to. If you have a small army of 44s switch it up and get the 454 or 480, that would be a tough choice between those two however. I once heard of a guy who bought all three because he couldn't decide on caliber. Just keep in mind velocity is your limiting factor so heavy bullets with slow powder are going to work a lot better in a 2.5" barrel. A 360-400gr 454 or 370-420gr 480 doesn't have to move very fast to do its job effectively. Check out some of the recent Linebaugh penetration tests or results from members here in the field. I shoot paper and steel so that wasn't a factor I had to consider.

In the accuracy department I've had great luck with both of the Alaskans I've owned, both could hit a bowling pin at 25yds and shoot tight groups at 7-10 yd distances. Just remember the 44 Rugers usually have more consistent throat/groove dimensions than their 454s. My 44 mag shot standard .431 or .432 cast bullets very well, the 454 has a .453 groove and .455 throats so I had to bump up to .454 bullets which surprisingly (and thankfully) chamber in my FA M83 as well. The sight picture is key, factory sights were OK but I swapped the rear for a Bowen and put a HiViz up front and that combo works very well for me. I can hit steel at 50-100 yards if I do my part. Any way you decide the Alaskan is a great little gun and you will be very happy.

[magnumwheelman]

I'd have bid on that combo... it's almost $100.00 less than I paid for my new gun I just bought, & for as lightly as it appears to have been used, I'd gladly trade that use for the ammo

[seak89]

I too could keep all shots on a paper plate at fifty yards with the 454 Alaskan but my wrist are so bad I had to give it up.I'm back to full time 44mag now,it worked forty years ago and does even better today.

[magnumwheelman]

Picked up my 480 Alaskan today it's a bit gritty, but otherwise seems to be fine

[toroflow]

Dec 31, 2015 18:39:56 GMT -5 magnumwheelman said:

Picked up my 480 Alaskan today it's a bit gritty, but otherwise seems to be fine

That's the main reason I searched and held out for an older model of 480 Alaskan. I finally found a mint 2006 version. It is a "peach"!