Ruger Alaskan 44 mag bullets

[joecool911]

Anyone know how heavy a bullet that the 2.5" barrel will stabilize? How about the ranch dog 350 bullet for the 444?

[44man]

Anyone know how heavy a bullet that the 2.5" barrel will stabilize? How about the ranch dog 350 bullet for the 444?
I don't think so. Many say twist is twist but you need running room to build velocity. I feel even 10" would not be enough for that boolit because the velocity you can reach in the little .44 case is just not enough. My 10" SBH tops out at 330 gr and 310 is better.
The short barrel also needs a fast powder that will thump a boolit and cause skidding so you are better off making 265 gr top weight and maybe less.
Short barrels are for a bear breathing in your face and you better keep pulling the trigger.

[joecool911]

I've got a 265 grain mold for my Marlin lever gun. Bit of a round nose for better loading, but that might be a good candidate and I already own it.

[RobS]

Yep 44man has good advise on weight and powder selection. I would go with something in the 250ish grains area as it will give enough weight to penetrate. I believe that your 265 grain bullet would work pretty well and like you said you already have it so good enough. I would use a quicker powder to push it along since you are working a 2.5" barrel, however, if you are going to use a faster powder 44man is also right on the bullet possibly skidding especially if you are hitting hard at it and plan on pushing the bullet at upper pressures. If this is what you want to do then a bullet that is harder will resist the stresses placed on it better than a softer one and more than likely be more accurate. For this situation I would, if it were me, use a water quenched bullet and a powder in the AA #7/Hodgdon Longshot or possibly a bit quicker with Winchester WSF/IMR 4756/Alliant power pistol to send the slug on its way.

I'm not saying that an air cooled bullet wouldn't work either, but it will probably need a slower powder to make for an easier bullet entry into the barrel. Then with the short barrel the powder will not reach it's full potential so the remaining powder will blow on out the muzzle along with the bullet.

FWIW

[fredj338]

I can get 310gr Lee to shoot fine in my 3" M629 @ 1000fps. It's a beast of a load, but accuracy is pretty good to 25yds, all I need a snub to shoot well at. I use 2400, it works fine, but muzzle blast is fierce. I prefer my 270gr cup point @ 1050fps, better accuracy & less recoil & I can get there w/ Unique or WSF instead of the 2400. If I don't want expansion, I cast them harder.

[Beau Cassidy]

I read an article probably 25 years ago about what bullet weight was max for the .44 to stabilize. I have always remembered anything over 310 Grains started opening up groups and in some cases keyholing. I don't remember what guns were tested.

[Dannix]

A bit OT here, but I was looking at the Ruger Alaskan and couldn't figure out the point of a 2.5" barrel. Why such a shot barrel for such a bit gun? I assume it's not your CCW.

[RobS]

A bit OT here, but I was looking at the Ruger Alaskan and couldn't figure out the point of a 2.5" barrel. Why such a shot barrel for such a bit gun? I assume it's not your CCW.

Bear Country and easy packin is the intent of the Alaskan; thus it's name. This firearm is the last ditch effort from becoming a meal. :)

[JesterGrin_1]

It is what you call an OH CHIT GUN lol. As that is what you are saying when you use it lol. :)

As for the Boolit if you were talking about the Ranch Dog 265Gr RN/FP/GC that would be a good boolit to use as well as the Lyman 431244 or the 431215.

[Lloyd Smale]

I have a 3.5 inch redhawk that dustin linebaugh did for me. It shoots the 330 ballistic cast lfngc and the 320 lyman swc gc and the ballistic cast 300 lfngc real well. For powders i use wc820, and 110 for the most part. Now im talkng an inch and a half at 25 yards which is plenty good enough for the work that will be done with a gun like that. I wouldnt count on one inch 50 yards groups out of it. The 454 alaskan i had did just as well using the rcbs 300swcgc and 110.

[RobS]

Muzzle blast and fireball at night I bet. :smile: