Anyone Shot a .454 Super Redhawk?

I've fired one. It's heavy and built like a tank. I didn't like it. Upon firing, the trigger and rear part of the trigger guard scraped my hand up. Recoil was manageable, felt like a .44. Accuracy was decent.

I prefer the Raging Bull as the porting really helps tame the recoil and the gun is much more comfortable to shoot. Maybe it was a matter of smoothing some things around the trigger guard, I don't know. Try one if you can. It looks like a solid, well-built gun who's ergonomics I just didn't care for.
 
Owned on for a little less than a week now. Have only shot at water jugs at my place. So can't comment on the accuracy til I get out to the range. I do like the grip better than my Redhawk in 44 Magnum. Since I like recoil in guns I won't give any comments on it except to say that I expected more than what I got on heavy loads. My hammer cocking thumb on my left hand gets sore after a few rounds. Due to texture on the hammer is on the sharp side on my gun (I won't comment on other Ruger 454's due to not knowing if this is the norm).
 
One of the shooters in my department has one. In the limited time that he has shot it, it has peeled the skin back on the web of his shooting hand, now he wears a glove. He handed it to me to shoot, shot it once, thanks enough. Quite a big gun, lots of recoil.
 
One of my students wanted to fire his after the CCW class. He offered to let me have a shot to two. I fired two and this is the only handgun that I have fired in over 30 years that actually injured my hand. The web between the thumb and first firnger was brused and stayed that way for three days.
I've owned several S&W 29's and a handfull of Ruger Blackhawks and Super Blackhawks. None of them ever caused me any pain. No thanks to the 454. If I need that much punch I need a rifle.

Dave T
PCSD Ret
 
I fired a cylinder through one owned by a friend of mine. It was rugged, but actually less than I expected. Not something I'd haul out for a fun day of shooting at the range, but I think I could run several cylinders through it before it won and I gave out.

If you want to kill Bambi out to a couple of hundred yards with a handgun, you've found your ticket.
 
IMO, you will be better served (and happier) with the 5.5" Redhawk in 45 Colt (unless you were planning an African hunt).

This gun will be adequate for ALL North American game (if you use the right ammo!).

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"All my ammo is factory ammo"
 
I bought the Ruger 454 about a month ago. I have been shooting heavy 45 LCs in it. It is superbly accurate and a helluva lot of fun
to shoot. I intend to hunt deer with it this fall. Next year I am planning to hunt black bear. I will use the 454 round when I do. This gun has extreme flexibility you can hunt varmints or the biggest game. It is like a 454 engine you may not need the power all of the time but it is nice to know it is there when you need it. It is a terrific gun BUY NOW.

[This message has been edited by REast (edited August 19, 2000).]
 
I thought I`d bring this one back up because I got the chance to try one out today. I only fired a few rounds through it (300gr. fullhouse) but I was pleasantly suprised. It wasn`t much worse than 240gr. .44Mag. through my short barreled Redhawk. Certainly nothing to get excited over. I wouldn`t want to put a whole box of shells through it from the bench but it wasn`t bad at all offhand. It put those big slugs right where I aimed em too. Nice gun. Marcus
 
I have a .454 Ruger and I *love* it. The recoil is not that bad, esp. with Uncle Mike's on. I would advise against it for women or men with small hands or a small frame. If you're a big guy with strong hands, though, you should be able to cope with the recoil just fine. It's actually a lot of fun to shoot once you get used to it. Kind of like an amusement park ride. I got mine for bear protection. I've read too many stories in the Anchorage Daily News about bears waltzing off with .357 and .44 mag. holes in them. I didn't expect to actually enjoy shooting it, but I do.

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As I read the replies to this post, I am amazed at how subjective recoil really is. I purchased my 454 Ruger Super Redhawk about a month ago. I choosed the S.Redhawk based solely on how it felt in my hands. It felt better to me than the Raging Bull, or the Ruger S. Blackhawk (44 Mag.). Freedom Arms was too expensive to even try to fit it to me. My first firing session yielded a pleasent surprise. I was able to hit clay birds which was set against a high berm at 25 yards. Then I was able to hit the little broken pieces. All this was done without any prior adjustments to the sights. I was shooting Hornady's 240 grain Hollow point factory loads. Hornady claims 2000fps at the muzzle with a 7.5 inch barrel. Yes, thats 2000 feet per second. I found the pistol to be quite fun to shoot. Recoil was heavy but manageable. But everyone on the line noticed. After the 20 rounds were done, I shot 45 Long Colt Cowboy rounds (850 fps) through the 454 Super Redhawk. What a let down! (But they were cheaper) Now here is the kicker to all this. I am a thin boned male 5'4" at 140 pounds. My hands are proportioned to my height and weight. I love the 454 casull. And I love the Ruger Super Redhawk. I plan to hunt varmints with the 45 LC and deer with the 454.

Everyone will feel recoil differently. Not everyone will like the feel or fit of a firearm regardless of body type. The only way to tell if you will like it is to go shoot one.

Buy the way, mine cost $585 before tax, fees, etc... (Allentown, Pennsylvania)
 
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