.454 Super Redhawk Killed my new Scope!!
- Thread starter Farmalljon
- Start date
It's more a matter of you and your ability...
Good shots with iron sights have taken game (even big game) well beyond 75yds.
Personally, I can ring the 200 yd rifle gong at my local range, offhand, one handed, shooting a stock (other than my own trigger job) 7.5"Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt using a 250gr SWC handloaded to 1100fps.
Now, I wouldn't shoot at a deer at that distance, by personal choice, offhand. Rested? I believe I could make the shot, on a standing target. Would pass if moving. Again, my personal choice. At half that distance, I feel I could make the shot on a still target, easily. Been shooting that gun and load at all kinds of distances for 29 years, and know what it, and I, can do.
Its a matter of how well you learn your gun, and load performs at all distances you might encounter a shot. The main drawback to irons on a handgun, for long distance, is the relative coarsness of the sights. IT can be done, it can be learned, but its not as easy as it might be. Install fine sights, like on a rifle, and it becomes much simpler. Still a bit tougher than a rifle, but do-able with enough practice. The main limiting factor is your skill.
Assuming a 75yd max range because of iron sights is kind of reverse hubris. While its true that many people would not be able to shoot accurately beyond that range, there are many who can.
Also, when shooting, don't fret much over group size, in time, that will come. Concentrating on make ONE good shot at long(ish) range. Then make another. When you can make perfect shots at the range, realize that you are getting there, because in the field, its tougher.
Good shots with iron sights have taken game (even big game) well beyond 75yds.
Personally, I can ring the 200 yd rifle gong at my local range, offhand, one handed, shooting a stock (other than my own trigger job) 7.5"Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt using a 250gr SWC handloaded to 1100fps.
Now, I wouldn't shoot at a deer at that distance, by personal choice, offhand. Rested? I believe I could make the shot, on a standing target. Would pass if moving. Again, my personal choice. At half that distance, I feel I could make the shot on a still target, easily. Been shooting that gun and load at all kinds of distances for 29 years, and know what it, and I, can do.
Its a matter of how well you learn your gun, and load performs at all distances you might encounter a shot. The main drawback to irons on a handgun, for long distance, is the relative coarsness of the sights. IT can be done, it can be learned, but its not as easy as it might be. Install fine sights, like on a rifle, and it becomes much simpler. Still a bit tougher than a rifle, but do-able with enough practice. The main limiting factor is your skill.
Assuming a 75yd max range because of iron sights is kind of reverse hubris. While its true that many people would not be able to shoot accurately beyond that range, there are many who can.
Also, when shooting, don't fret much over group size, in time, that will come. Concentrating on make ONE good shot at long(ish) range. Then make another. When you can make perfect shots at the range, realize that you are getting there, because in the field, its tougher.
I have an UltraDot 30mm on my 480 Ruger Super RedHawk. I like it just fine.
Tagged an 11 Point Buck and a Doe on my Antlerless ONLY tag this last deer season with it. Both were taken at 55 - 60 yards.
I have a few Burris 2-7 powers on my Contender barrels. Old models I have had for over 15 years. No problems with them.
If you must have a scope and not a Red Dot, check out gun shops and gun shows for a used Leupold. I see them fairly often for around $150.
Check out Handgun Hunter Forum also.
Bob
Tagged an 11 Point Buck and a Doe on my Antlerless ONLY tag this last deer season with it. Both were taken at 55 - 60 yards.
I have a few Burris 2-7 powers on my Contender barrels. Old models I have had for over 15 years. No problems with them.
If you must have a scope and not a Red Dot, check out gun shops and gun shows for a used Leupold. I see them fairly often for around $150.
Check out Handgun Hunter Forum also.
Bob
newfrontier45
Moderator
I can hit an old washing machine at 250yds with a Single Six shooting .22Short CB's but what does that matter? Shooting at inanimate objects or targets on the range is one thing. Shooting at live critters in the woods, particularly the deep woods of the east, is quite another. I'm sorry, I did not know I was in the company of Elmer Keith, Skeeter Skelton, Dustin Linebaugh, Brian Pearce or John Taffin. I was speaking in general terms but stand behind the numbers I posted. Besides, the point is not that iron sights are limited to 75yds, the point is that a scope extends the effective range and extends your shooting time. It is a viable addition to the dedicated hunting revolver. If you consider yourself a serious handgun hunter, you should probably have at least one scoped revolver in your battery.
Farmalljon
New member
Let me know how it works for you. I shot my Super Redhawk .454 today for the first time with no scope mounted. I can't believe the difference in recoil! When I broke the scope, I was firing 240 gr. Hornady XTPs at 1900 fps. The recoil was quite stout, but managable. The scope broke on the fourth shot, but I continued to fire the rest of the box of 20 rounds. As far as the recoil was concerned, I felt like I could have kept shooting for a while at that level of recoil without any issues. Today, I went to the range and fired some more of the exact same ammo, this time with no scope & rings mounted. Holy Crap! I fired six shots, and after that my hand was really starting to feel it. I fired another six shots, and that was enough for today.
riddleofsteel
New member
Do some research before posting. A simple Google search of J D Jones, Simmons, scope will show you the facts. J D Jones did endorse Simmons Gold Medal scopes. I spoke with him personally about the subject before buying one.
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=....,cf.osb&fp=3369bfeac41cfa6a&biw=1024&bih=467
15 years ago, when I shot Contenders with SSK calibers and heavy hitters like the 45-70, I had Simmons Gold Medal scopes that held up for years. The optics were not quite as clear as a Leupold but for a handgun they still were quite adequate and tough. However, Simmons is not the company it was 15 years ago either.
riddleofsteel
New member
44 mag-2.9 #, 300 gr., 18 gr., 1280 fps=24 ft-lbs recoil.
480 R-3.75#, 325 gr., 27.0 gr., 1518 fps=32.5 ft-lb recoil.
454-3.3#, 300 gr., 31.0 gr., 1750 fps=43 ft-lb recoil
450M-4.5#, 300 gr., 56.0 gr., 1900 fps=49 ft-lbs recoil
45-70-4.4#, 300 gr., 53 gr, 1900 fps= 48 ft-lbs recoil.
When reading their stats, you just have to make sure you are comparing apples to apples. All the loads they listed are for full power factory loads EXCEPT for the .45-70. The loads they listed for it are really weak loads and yes, they will most certainly give you very mildly recoiling loads. My Contender with start loads is like shooting a pop-gun, but when you, as they say, throttle up, the beast comes to life.
The 45-70 in an EQUAL handgun can be throttled way up to pass the recoil impulse of a 454. If you have never shot a magnumized rifle cartridge out of a handgun you know its not the gentle push the 45-70 gives with factory loads from a heavy Springfield rifle.
480 R-3.75#, 325 gr., 27.0 gr., 1518 fps=32.5 ft-lb recoil.
454-3.3#, 300 gr., 31.0 gr., 1750 fps=43 ft-lb recoil
450M-4.5#, 300 gr., 56.0 gr., 1900 fps=49 ft-lbs recoil
45-70-4.4#, 300 gr., 53 gr, 1900 fps= 48 ft-lbs recoil.
When reading their stats, you just have to make sure you are comparing apples to apples. All the loads they listed are for full power factory loads EXCEPT for the .45-70. The loads they listed for it are really weak loads and yes, they will most certainly give you very mildly recoiling loads. My Contender with start loads is like shooting a pop-gun, but when you, as they say, throttle up, the beast comes to life.
The 45-70 in an EQUAL handgun can be throttled way up to pass the recoil impulse of a 454. If you have never shot a magnumized rifle cartridge out of a handgun you know its not the gentle push the 45-70 gives with factory loads from a heavy Springfield rifle.
newfrontier45
Moderator
I do my research constantly, thank you very much. Never assume that a low post count indicates a neophyte.
That may be an important stipulation. What JD Jones did or did not say 20yrs ago just may be relevant, you think??? Did he say it recently? 20yrs ago Tasco made a decent pistol scope in the Pro-Class line but now everything they make is garbage.
Inexpensive and scope should not be in the same sentence no matter what gun you are talking about. Your gun is only as good as the optics. You don't have to get the most expensive thing out there but a low end Leupold/redfield isn't that expensive and you will be much happier.
Cool Breeze
New member
Greetings.....my 1st post here. Interesting for me since I recently went with the bfr 45-70 over the ruger casull for chamber pressure reasons mentioned.
I have the DA super redhawk in a .44mag but wanted a more potent elk caliber............
It's still a handful. So I ported it, put a pachmyer decellerator grip on it, got some gel padded gloves and got going.................it's now downright manageable with the low power "pud" factory loads............
much heavier than a super redhawk. Different design (SA) but still there's the dominant form of a super blackhawk in the design........
YO
I have the DA super redhawk in a .44mag but wanted a more potent elk caliber............
It's still a handful. So I ported it, put a pachmyer decellerator grip on it, got some gel padded gloves and got going.................it's now downright manageable with the low power "pud" factory loads............
much heavier than a super redhawk. Different design (SA) but still there's the dominant form of a super blackhawk in the design........
YO
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riddleofsteel
New member
#1 on Magnaport
I started Magnaporting all my Contender barrels above 7-30 Waters in power level with excellent results. Fewer scope failures and more comfortable shooting. The difference in a full house 45-70 shot from a ported barrel is quite significant. I also ported several rifles after multiple scope failures from recoil. I had a 30-06 Remington ADL FS that chewed up a Nikon and a Leupold Vari X III scope. I sent the scope back to Leupold and the barreled action to Magnaport. The end result was a sweet shooting, low recoil rifle that felt like it had less recoil than a factory 25-06.
I started Magnaporting all my Contender barrels above 7-30 Waters in power level with excellent results. Fewer scope failures and more comfortable shooting. The difference in a full house 45-70 shot from a ported barrel is quite significant. I also ported several rifles after multiple scope failures from recoil. I had a 30-06 Remington ADL FS that chewed up a Nikon and a Leupold Vari X III scope. I sent the scope back to Leupold and the barreled action to Magnaport. The end result was a sweet shooting, low recoil rifle that felt like it had less recoil than a factory 25-06.
the old gringo
Inactive
big boom
yup you will need to fork out the cash for a quality scope mine has a buris 4x recoil is to much for tasco or simmons
yup you will need to fork out the cash for a quality scope mine has a buris 4x recoil is to much for tasco or simmons
Cool Breeze
New member
YO....I hear you steelman.....that porting in a competant manner seems to tame the savage recoil beast (at least to a noticible degree)..........
I'm sold on it......I don't notice the increase in loudness or flash but it's in broad daylight and I'm practically deaf anyway
but it makes that 45-70 quite manageable with the lower power factory 300 grain loads..........
I'm sold on it......I don't notice the increase in loudness or flash but it's in broad daylight and I'm practically deaf anyway
but it makes that 45-70 quite manageable with the lower power factory 300 grain loads..........