44 Or 454?

If you have shot a .454 and feel that it's controllable in your hands then you wouldn't be badly armed with one. Don't go too light or small or you'll end up with something that is very difficult to shoot more than once. Even with a handcannon like the .454, don't fool yourself into thinking one shot will always be all you need.

Personally (knowing my own limitations), I'd go with a medium sized .44magnum like a 5" 629. That's a pretty carryable package that doesn't compromise shootability too much but still packs a reasonable amount of punch.
 
I would go with a 5.5 barrel redhawk with either buffalo bores 340 at 1400 44mag or garretts 330 1400.

Also a 5.5 redhawk in 45 would be pretty usable. Any of the 300+ grain at 1300 ammo from BB Corbon grizzly or PMC would serve you well.

Call me a pussy if you wish but a 454 out of a alaskan doesnt seem like fun to me. I wouldn't bet my life on it for sure.
 
I have shot a fair number of revolvers in 44 mag, but only one in 454. I own a SRH in 454 with a 7 1/2" barrel and the recoil is stout but manageable, mostly due to the better than average stock grips and the weight of the revolver. If carrying a 3 1/2 pound loaded revolver (not including scope) is going to be a big bother, then the 44 mag has nice choices in slightly smaller platforms. I love my 454, because I can shoot hot (or mild even) 45 colt loads all the way up to some very heavy 454 loads. I happened to get a smoking deal on my 454, otherwise I'd have gotten (settled for? :D ) a 44 mag.
 
A lot of good advice and ideas.
I don't have advice, but I do have an idea for you.

Ruger Alaskan .454 --- but DON'T buy the balls-to-the-wall loads for it.
You'll get a controllable and powerful firearm that you can pack on your person.

I say that because it sounds like you're most concerned with having a HUGE gun to tote around. The Alaskan, IF you can get one, would solve most of the concerns you have, I think.
Plus, it's new and unique, and you'll be able to shoot the .45 Colt when you want to, or shoot it's high-zoot loads if you choose.

I chose a SuperRedhawk ( yet to have pix ) in the 7.5" bbl. / .44 Mag. mostly for the covered backstrap, actually it's a STUD, but it's totally surrounded by the grip.
The comment about the Redhawk's metal backstrap and covering it with a rubber grip is correct. It became too big for my arthritic thumbjoints to wrap around. I gave mine away in a trade with my best friend. It doesn't bother him like it did me.
The SuperRedhawk, as also mentioned, does indeed take the GP-100 grip. I put a Hogue on mine, and I guess there's a new Hogue coming out for the Alaskan with even more 'squishy' rubber in it. I'm looking forward to getting that grip.

Good Luck on your choice. I vote for the .454 Alaskan.
 
The 454 Alaskan is what you are after. The 454/45LC can do anything the 44 can do and more. Heavier bullet and you can go from 1,800 fps all the way down to 700 fps cowboy ammunition. It's not as easy to find as 44 but you don't have to look far either.

Control is a non issue if you buy the ammunition that fits you best. 454 offers a better power range in a much stronger(Ruger Alaskan) gun. Even the 44 SRH isn't made with the same steel recipe. If you are using HOT 45LC you will never wear it out and the chances of blowing it up are nill.

That being said 44 Magnum is my personal favorite.
 
diameters

I know that .44 has a 12,7 mm bullet diameter. How much larger is the .45/.454 caliber?

It is interesting to know how much bigger hole it would make, once it hits lets say a bear...
 
452" diameter bullets, the 45 has approximately 5% more bullet diameter than the .44 Special, which measures about .429". (Yes, the 45 is a 45, but the 44 is a 43.) .45 Colt bullets used to be about .454" across, but these days most use .452" diameter bullets. The larger caliber has just less than 10% greater frontal bullet area.
Click to expand...

Quoted from here:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Comparing 44 Special to 45 Colt.htm
 
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I am also at the crossroads of buying a 44 or 454 as I just moved to alaska and I really want to buy a handgun. I started off looking at a 44 until I saw the ballistics of the 454 and that really turned my head, but the tales of the 454's recoil also has caught my attention.
Now I don't pretend to be well versed in hand guns and in fact I have only fired a 45 and a 40 and being small rounds fired from semi autos they had almost no recoil at all.
Recently I found someone selling a used 454 with pachmayer grips, a holster, reloading dies and he says only 100 rounds through it for $500.00. This has me very tempted at jumping on this gun provided it is in good condition.
My question is should I go ahead and take the plunge on a good deal on the monster 454 and start with 45 long rounds and then gradually self load my way up to the hot loads or just go with the 44?

The prices I am looking at for new 44 vs 454 in Fairbanks is about $550 and $630 respectively. So buying the used 454 saves a lot and even saves me a bit over the 44.
 
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I would go with the 454. It coupled with the 45 Colt will do anything the 44 can do. If you are reloading it gets much cheaper than factory 44 ammo too. I will always have a 44 as they always give me that warm and fuzzy feeling but the 454 is just plain better. Also remember that when Ruger did the 454 SRH that they had to use a better grade of steel to maintain the same level durability as the 44 SRH. That being said, a 45Colt fired in a 454 gun is almost impossible to destroy in comparison to the 44 SRH.
 
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