Big Bore Home Defense Revolver Help?

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WheelGunRealGun

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I'm getting a big bore low pressure revolver for home defense.

I've narrowed it down to the Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan (which, if I can handle the weight, might work as a CCW). I would only be shooting .45 Colts through this. Or the S&W M25 .45 Colt. The S&W design is 100 years old and is well proven. The SRH is a relatively new design.

Which would last longer, in terms of rounds fired, and why? How would one know the Alaskan would if it's a newer design?
 
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The SRH is a much heavier built weapon, and will withstand much higher pressure loads (this has been tested and is established fact). It then stands to reason that lighter loads will stress it less than the same loads will the S&W, so it will last longer. That is not the same thing as saying the S&W will fail you. I think you would have to shoot tens of thousands of rounds of factory (not +P) 45 Colt loads before it started to loosen up.
 
If you're considering buying the Ruger SRH Alaskan that was designed for .454 Casull and shooting .45 Colt in it, then you should never wear that gun out. The .454 Casull is one of the highest pressure standard production rounds available.
 
The SRH is a much heavier built weapon, and will withstand much higher pressure loads (this has been tested and is established fact). It then stands to reason that lighter loads will stress it less than the same loads will the S&W, so it will last longer. That is not the same thing as saying the S&W will fail you. I think you would have to shoot tens of thousands of rounds of factory (not +P) 45 Colt loads before it started to loosen up.
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What he said!! I use to own a 454 Alaskan and it was a breeze to shoot 45 LC rounds out of. Caliber changes and no longer shooting SASS (45 LC), I now own a Alaskan in 44 mag. Same with this gun which is my carry/house gun. Simply Rugged makes a low profile pancake holster for the Alaskan that also can be worn inside the pants. http://www.simplyrugged.com/ I also own smiths, but for the big rounds I'd lean towards the Ruger. Smithy.
 
I'm getting a big bore low pressure revolver for home defense.
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Why?

I've narrowed it down to the Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan (which, if I can handle the weight, might work as a CCW).
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It is a CCW handgun, for defense against bears.

All the threads you've started asking questions and this is what you've come up with?
 
Either will work well for you, if over-penetration is not a factor...thin walls in apartments etc...and they may be too big in the grips for your wife or GF to handle depending on her hand size...just a cpl thoughts...Rod
 
Ruger Blackhawk

I keep a New Super Blackhawk in 44mag in my bedstand loaded with 44 spec. over penetration could be a problem??? I figure if I miss with the bullet it will set the B.G on fire.


Rich
 
Either one will last a lifetime. If you get the Ruger when you run out of bullets you can use it as a club and pistol whup'm.
 
BlackMamba said:
The SRH is a much heavier built weapon, and will withstand much higher pressure loads (this has been tested and is established fact).
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WheelGunRealGun said:
Where has it been tested?
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It hasn't - he's just making forum noise.

But I'm wondering why you wouldn't prefer a 357 revolver instead? The Ruger Alaskan is a very large & heavy chunk of steel. A S&W N-Frame revolver is still a large handful. There are a lot of revolvers chambered for .357, .45acp that would be much better "home defense". A lot of firearms would be much better home defense than the Alaskan.

This is America and you can buy what you want. But you posted about "home defense" and "ccw" which are two areas where the Alaskan kindof sucks. For example, you could get a Glock model 23 which would give you 4" barrel 357Mag power, 13 shots, rust free, easy maintenance, easily CCW'able, for $500 new. Or for pure home defense you could get a Mossberg M500 shotgun for $200 used that would last you and your heirs forever.
 
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The question between the two revolvers is really which one you can shoot better under presure.

In a defense situation pointability is the most important issue. Does the weapon naturally line up on target when you draw and present.

For me the Ruger Double actions do not work. The sights are low and left when I draw and bring up to the target. At 25 yds, without conciously adjusting the alignment I miss a standard silloute target.

The Smiths sights line up on line and front sight a little high. At 25 yards with out adjusting the sight alignment I place the rounds just above the 10 ring on the same target.

The test I use when selecting a pistol is to:

Grip the pistol. bring it up to the target. align the sights. Close your eyes and lower the weapon to waist level.

With your eyes closed bring the weapon back to a shooting position. Open your eyes. The sights should be aligned and , depending on your muscle memory be on target.

If the pistol does not remain aligned then try several others in the same model. (Despite modern manufacturing techniques grips vary between individual weapons) If you can't find one that aligns in that model, go to a different brand.
 
SRH is overkill--wrt heavy/ dutiness--for a hd/sd set up IMO. Get something along the lines of a Charter.Arms Bulldog or Rossi, or pricier S&W - both in .44 Special and call it a day. SRH = target and hunting only in my view. However, no question it'll certainly work -- Yes, in SD role, it will last forever.
 
For those of you who are skeptical of the strength differences between the different 45 Colt revolvers on the market, here are some articles for you to read:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/high-pressure45.htm

http://www.sixguns.com/range/454_super_redhawk.htm

http://www.realguns.com/archives/119.htm

http://archives.gunsandammo.com/content/highperformance-45-colt-loads

The bottom line with all these articles is that the Colt SAA and clones are put in a category together with the S&W Mod. 25 to fire ammunition not above 14000 psi. All Ruger 45 Colt revolvers other than the new small frame Vaqueros (a Colt SAA clone) are safe with up to 32000 psi loads.

That sounds stronger to me. If it doesn't to you, then proceed at your own risk.
 
WheelGunRealGun:

Why don't you find a nice Smith & Wesson model 625 in 45 auto rim. With moon clips it shoots .45 acp. With mine and 200 grain Hornady XTP bullets I took out a large wild boar.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery Sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
Clifford, I think you mean to say "Model 625 in .45 ACP". This will fire the .45 Auto Rim just fine. But you will never find one marked for the .45 Auto Rim. And I fully agree with your recommendation.

The S&W design is 100 years old
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Actually, it isn't. The lockwork inside the S&W wheelguns has evolved over the years. If you are familiar with the modern ones, or even those since oh, the early 1950s, and then you operate a Model 1917 or a real Triple Lock .44, you will see that. The old ones needed the hammer to be pulled back much farther to reach full cock, for example.

However, the "tried and true" concept is valid in that post.

Bart Noir
 
Where has it been tested?
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Ruger SRH:
It was first tested at the battle of the Little Big Horn. Custer had
one in .45 LC. An Indian has it now. Another test was at the Little
Bohemia shootout with the FBI. John 'Three Fingered Jack' Hamilton
had one, again in .45LC. Ma Barker was the last person known to
have that gun. That's all the tests that I know about, but be very
careful about what you read on the internet. :D
 
Ditto on the 625 as a house gun, either in .45ACP or .45AR. If you like big guns this is the good medicine. Load with good 230 gr. JHPs. Far more practical, useful, and handier than a SRH, IMO. You will never wear out a 625 shooting .45s either.
 
For me the Ruger Double actions do not work. The sights are low and left when I draw and bring up to the target.
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This isn't the gun. Focus upon trigger control. Grant Cunningham has some good pointers on trigger control in his book The Gun Digest Book of the Revolver.

Both guns are good. I like both guns.
 
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