FYI-Ruger Alaskan .454 Casull Velocity Ranger Report

[Southern Shooter]

I took my Ruger Alaskan to the range this weekend. The goal was to look into the velocity this short-barreled gun can produce. Here is the information.

.454 Casull Star-line cases
335 grain Cast Performance Gas Checked LFN
25.8 grains H-110

Average velocity was 1070 FPS.

Just wanted to pass this on since there is really not much data for this short-barreled Casull.

Thanks

[frankenfab]

Well, if you compare that to 800 fps with a 250 gr. boolit, or 230 gr. boolit, it looks pretty darn impressive.

What does shooting something like that feel like?:mrgreen:

Thanks for the info!

[Ole]

I have the .44 version of that pistol and in my experience you only lose about 200 fps off what my 7.5" Redhawk does for velocity.

It's a tradeoff, but i'd much rather tote around the 2.5" pistol vs the full size Redhawk.

[NHlever]

I had a chance one day to shoot all the Alaskan calibers side by side. I was surprised at how managable, and accurate the guns were, and even more surprised that I could shoot pretty good groups with such a short barreled powerhouse. (most were under, or around 2" at 50 feet, but I'm not an accomplished handgun shot) I will say that the recoil of the heaviest .454 loads comes more straight back with those guns than it does with my magnum single actions, and I did feel some tingling up near my elbows for a while after that range session. We were shooting all factory ammo, so I don't know how that compares with heavy boolit handloads. All in all, I was a lot more impressed than I thought I would be. I even liked that center of chest holster that Ruger sells for those guns.

[Southern Shooter]

I went to the range, yesterday, and spent more time with my Alaskan. Here are some numbers for you.

**260 grain RFN PB, 10 grains Trail Boss, moderate-heavy crimp.
FPS
807
804
868
869
869
-----
843 Ave


**260 grain RFN, 11 grains Unique, moderate-heavy crimp.
FPS
1017
1036
988
978
-----
1004 Ave


***360 grain RFN, 22.5 grains W296, moderate-heavy crimp
FPS
976
938
964
918
901
962
962
906
-----
940 Ave

Thanks

[Lefty SRH]

Thats got to be tuff to hang onto. I'm shooting 300gr WFN GC over 13.0gr HS-6 in my .44 Alaskan and its doing about 950 IIRC. It feel like a stout load. I shoot 22.0gr H110 in my .45colt Bisley and a 330gr BTB WFN PB and its a monster.
Those are impressive numbers.
Alaskans are special little guns!

[yovinny]

The barrels on those seem so short, does the ejector rod kick the empties all the way out of the gun ?

[Lefty SRH]

Can't speak about the .454 but they fly out of my .44mag Alaskan. They are fun to shoot!

[Southern Shooter]

NHlever,

I even liked that center of chest holster that Ruger sells for those guns.
I like this holster, better.
40857

LeftSRH,
The 360 grain plain-base at 940 FPS certainly gets my attention. But, it is not difficult to manange. Not sure if I ever want to shoot it with one hand.

This gun's sole reason for being in my home is SERIOUS protection in nature. I have been thinking that 940 FPS is still too slow. I am considering bumping up to the max charge of 24 grains of W296.

yovinny,
Honestly, I have not paid much attention to if the shells clear with a bump of the extractor rod. I just know the cases don't stick. However, next time I will check on that.

Thanks

[Southern Shooter]

Lee 452-255-RF...264 grains, plain-base, 10.5 grains Unique, LLA mixed with Penetrol.
FPS
977
1000
940
951
965
968
-----
Ave- 966.8


Lee 452-255-RF...264 grains, plain-base, 11 grains Unique, LLA mixed with Penetrol.
FPS
1022
1044
1040
1003
1020
992
-----
Ave-1020


Accurate Mold 45-360C...362 grains, plain-base, 23 grains W296, LLA mixed with Penetrol.
FPS
953
944
963
930
922
975
-----
Ave-947.8
SD-19.97
This is only .5 grain more W296 charge than the last report and the velocity was only a hair faster. But, the grouping was much tighter.

I am happy to report that there was NO leading, today.

I hope that other Alaskan .454 Casull owners can find this useful.

[41mag]

While I do not have the Alaskan, I do like the fact your listing some loads using the Lee 255gr.

I have that mold as well, and I also have a 454, for which I will stash some of your data away. I haven't really messed with anything other than mid to top end loads with it, as I had the 41 and 44, and now the 45 Colt for the lighter stuff.

Might have to give a few of those lighter bullets a try, they sure wold make nice mild target loads verses the 300+grain loads running mid 1500fps or more. Even in the heavier Raging Bull 8 3/8" lenght, after around 50 of them consecutively in a session, you can start to feel you have done some shooting for sure.

Thanks for posting your notes.

[44man]

My .45 Vaquero with the 335 gr LBT gets 1161 fps with 21.5 gr of 296, 7-1/2" barrel. Sounds like a short barrel .45 would do the same as the .454.
I see no advantage going to larger calibers and using short barrels. Most powder is burning in the air.

[Southern Shooter]

IMO, there is an advantage in a big bore / short-barreled gun if you are not very tall (5' 5"), have a 40-50 pound pack on your back and walking staff in one hand, limited locations to carry the gun and draw-time is a factor. People can say what they want. But, to me, there is a noticeable difference in accessiblity and comfort between a 2.58" and a 4"- 7.5" barrel gun.

True, maybe a rather short-barreled .45 Colt can perform similar. I had a 4.2" barreled Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt and I am sure it could be loaded very hot. But, I wanted something even shorter and the grip was large for me. And, with the 2.58" barrel I thought it wise to up it to the .454 Casull...maybe a little more case size and powder would make up for the shorter barrel.

Sacrificing some gun powder to get a heavy cast bullet moving at needed/controllable velocities is a small trade-off.

Perhaps I am wrong. Just my thoughts.

[1bluehorse]

What does shooting something like that feel like?:mrgreen:

Thanks for the info![/QUOTE]

Never shot the .454 but have fired 270gr. 45 colts with 27gr H110 and after a few shots the pain in the hand and wrist goes away.....in fact pretty much ALL feeling from your trigger finger to your hat brim goes away....... :veryconfu

A couple vicaden before a shooting session does make it a little better....:bigsmyl2:

[Southern Shooter]

Prior to actually shooting the gun I was rather apprehensive. I had read many times that it was a beast, painful, unpleasant, etc.. However, I find it enjoyable to shoot. Don't get me wrong, it is STOUT. But, what it does NOT have is that "SNAP" other guns have during recoil. It is more like a huge shoove, to me.

You must respect this round. Loose grips and limp wristing will get you in a world of hurt.

[44man]

IMO, there is an advantage in a big bore / short-barreled gun if you are not very tall (5' 5"), have a 40-50 pack on your back and walking staff in one hand, limited locations to carry the gun and draw-time is a factor. People can say what they want. But, to me, there is a noticeable difference in accessiblity and comfort between a 2.58" and a 4"- 7.5" barrel gun.

True, maybe a rather short-barreled .45 Colt can perform similar. I had a 4.2" barreled Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt and I am sure it could be loaded very hot. But, I wanted something even shorter and the grip was large for me. And, with the 2.58" barrel I thought it wise to up it to the .454 Casull...maybe a little more case size and powder would make up for the shorter barrel.

Sacrificing some gun powder to get a heavy cast bullet moving at needed/controllable velocities is a small trade-off.

Perhaps I am wrong. Just my thoughts.
My heavy boolit .45 loads are well below max.
They recoil less then a .454 yet give velocities that are close because short barrels just lose too much. Smaller cases are more efficient with short barrels and guns can be lighter.
Sorry, more powder is not a help.

[Southern Shooter]

44man,
You may be totally correct. I won't argue with you. But, the barrel length and the handle of the gun was my largest deciding factor. I looked at single and double action .45 Colts. They just did not fit my hand and felt like swinging a boat paddle inside my truck cab.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, the longer barrels do not fit my backcountry activities. Backpacking, fishing, and hiking just don't work for me toting a longer barreled revolver.

I guess that I could try some .45 Colt brass in my gun to see how they perform.

**44man, can you help me find more efficient bullet loads to run the .454 Casull from the Ruger Alaskan? Any ideas? I want to stay with heavy bullets.

I understand that there are many things going against this short-barreled gun. However, I am truly looking for solutions. For example, http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-SRHAlaskan454.htm
And, from that article things like this:

Ammunition........................................ .........Velocity
Buffalo Bore .454 360 grain LBT GC.....1219 FPS
Buffalo Bore .45 Colt Heavy 325 LBT.....1126 FPS
Buffalo Bore .45 Colt Heavy 260 Hollowpoint.....1279 FPS
Cor-Bon .45 Colt +P 265 grain Hollowpoint.....1160 FPS
Cor-Bon .45 Colt +P 300 grain Jacketed SP.....1036 FPS
Grizzly .454 300 grain Belt Mtn. Punch.....1205 FPS
Grizzly .454 335 grain LBT GC.....1001 FPS
Grizzly .454 360 grain LBT GC.....986.2 FPS
Handload 314 grain Belt Mtn. Punch 26 gr. H110.....1078 FPS
Handload 314grain Belt Mtn. Punch 28 gr. H110.....1207 FPS
Handload Hornady 250 XTP HP 28 gr. H110.....971 FPS
Handload Hornady 250 XTP HP 30 gr. H110.....1096 FPS
Handload Mt. Baldy 270 gr. SAA 8.8 gr. Trail Boss.....753.4 FPS
Handload Mt. Baldy 270 gr. SAA 10 gr. Trail Boss.....1002 FPS

Thanks

[Southern Shooter]

Back in August 2011 I posted this very brief range report.


Range Report--Ruger SRH Alaskan .454 Casull, 335 gr. Cast Performance, 26 gr. H-110

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I went to the range yesterday with my Ruger SRH Alaskan .454 Casull. Out of 10 rounds the Average velocity came to be 1098 FPS and a Standard Deviation of 21. They were no barn-burners but, I was able to handle them quite well. I think they will penetrate quite well. And, at 25 yards, I was able to put the bullets on the target.

Thanks------------

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=459519


For a 2 1/2" barrel that is not too bad...or, is it?

Thanks

[44man]

Back in August 2011 I posted this very brief range report.



For a 2 1/2" barrel that is not too bad...or, is it?

Thanks
It is what is to be expected. Short barrels are a problem with about anything. Good for carry or back up but sad for velocity and energy.
Nature of the beast, purely a mechanical function.
You will never burn all the powder in the gun and never spin the boolit up to accuracy.
It makes little sense to carry a huge caliber in a short barrel when a shorter case and lighter gun will do the same thing.

[Southern Shooter]

My thought is that I cannot effeciently carry or manipulate a longer barreled .45. But, I can carry a 2 1/2" barrel big bore that throws 335-360 grain bullets at acceptable speeds...and, I can produce acceptable groupings at the point of aim out to 25 yards...all of which is good for a backcountry defensive gun.

I can accept the loss in velocity. I can accept the unused gun powder. I can accept the nature of the beast.

So, in my case, it makes little sense to carry a .45 Colt with a longer barrel.

[Southern Shooter]

**44man, can you help me find more efficient bullet loads to run the .454 Casull from the Ruger Alaskan? Any ideas? I want to stay with heavy bullets.

I am looking for solutions...not for the already known, obvious draw backs. Let's search outside of the box.

Thanks

[runfiverun]

for the 260 you could try
up to 15 grs longshot at 36k cup
up to16.8 grs of hs-6 at 36k again.
or step up to some data for a 300 gr bulet.
31 grs h-4227
30.0 h-110/296
31.0 lil' gun
31.5-34.5 aa-1680
these are all using a win small rifle primer and in the 53k pressure range.
any of those should get you over 1k velocity with the 260.
with the heavier bullet you'll have to use some experience to extrapolate.

[44man]

Well, you need to look at it different. The boolit will do all you need even if a little slow.
You should be able to get about the same velocities using .45 brass and less powder.
That would be worth working with just to see.

[Southern Shooter]

Ok, I see where you are coming from. It sounds like it would be worth trying. A little experimentation can't hurt.

Thanks

[Southern Shooter]

Just passing along a few more numbers.

Ruger SRH Alaskan .454 Casull
362 grain plain-base boolit
23 grains of W296

FPS:
923
966
919
957
971
------
Ave-947 FPS
SD-24.5

[Silvercreek Farmer]

Just passing along a few more numbers.

Ruger SRH Alaskan .454 Casull
362 grain plain-base boolit
23 grains of W296

FPS:
923
966
919
957
971
------
Ave-947 FPS
SD-24.5

That's subsonic! I wonder what it would sound like with a can! All kidding aside, the Alaskan is a beautiful chunk of steel!

[Southern Shooter]

Just passing on today's experience with my Ruger SRH Alaskan .454 Casull with the 2.58" barrel........

Went to the range today. Sunny. Warm 80 degrees. The bullets fired were from my Accurate Mold 45-360C plain-base, straight wheel-weight lead. The bullets were the "rejects" in my last casting. Out of 140 bullets cast 114 weighed in at 362 grains and the remainder weighed anywhere from 364-370 grains.

I just grabbed 20 of the mixed weight bullets, did not check their weights, and loaded them on top of 23.5 grains of W296 and used my Lee Factory Crimp Die. The numbers are listed below in the order they occurred.

FPS:
1033
1040
1024
1044
1056
1044
1030
1044
1027
1031
1031
1056
1024
1064
1039
1024
1031
1036
1020
1058
------------
N=20
Hi=1064
Lo=1020
Ave=1037.8
SD=12.8

[MT Chambers]

For those new to casting/reloading, it should be noted that all those Corbon and Buffalo Bore, read: expensive ammo, can be duplicated at home, with either bought or self cast bullets (LBT type molds), for a fraction of the cost.