Which Revolver Would You Prefer

Which Revolver Would You Prefer?

  • Ruger Redhawk .45 Colt, 4/4.2" Barrel Model 5227

    Votes: 53 54.6%

  • Ruger Super Redhawk 454 Casull Toklat Talo, 5" Barrel Model 5517

    Votes: 20 20.6%

  • S&W 460V, 5" Barrel, SKU 163465

    Votes: 24 24.7%
  • Total voters
    97
  • Poll closed .
L

lamarw

New member
I am giving consideration to my next revolver. I already own a S&W Mountain Gun in .45 Colt. Interested in another revolver capable of handling heavier .45 Colt rounds for field defense and target purposes. I do reload and would only need appropriate dies along with appropriate supplies.
 
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The Ruger Blackhawk is capable of handling very heavy loads in 45 Colt. I have the .45 Colt/.45ACP convertible model. Great shooting single action pistol.
 
I like the standard red hawk gun but the 460 clambering bcc it will take the 460,454,and 45. The red hawk frame won out over the 460 clambering since I honestly would shoot colts usually anyway
 
I think the 460 is interesting.../ but I'd probably opt for a single action if I wanted to shoot heavier loads...like a Freedom Arms in maybe a 6" ( I'm seeing a lot of them used in .454 Casull around lately) / or you could order a new one of course. Freedom arms recommends a separate cyclinder for the
.454 if you want to shoot .45 Colt.

A local shop has an older used one / in a 10" with a scope on it...but the 10" feels real nose heavy to me....
 
I've fired a friend's Freedom Arms .454 Casull exactly 3 times. I put that damned thing down & never touched it again. I used to own a 6" Model 629. With full-power .44 Mag loads, it was too powerful for accurate follow up shots.

Mu advice is to rent big handguns and fired them with full-power loads.

After a long time shooting handguns, I can tell you that the biggest revolver that I can shoot follow-up shots accurately is a .357 Mag. I'd much rather had 6 accurate 180 grain .357 Mag rounds than one accurate round from a much larger gun.
 
you need a "none of the above" in your poll, some of us are just not interested in those specific models & barrel lengths.
:)
 
i plan to buy the 45colt soon, seems to be one of the most versatile rounds to reload for, tons of bullet//weight choices. If i didn't reload, i wouldn't want any of them
 
Since you reload, I'd say any are good.

I own a SRH in 454 with the 7.5" barrel, and I have a 460(Magnum Research BFR 10" barrel).

The SRH is a chore to shoot with fully loaded 454s. It is downright painful. After a cylinder full, I can feel pain in my wrist for a good half hour to an hour afterwards. To quote someone else who I let shoot it, "I was wishing it was over after the 3rd round".

The 460 is more fun to shoot, just because of the platform. The BFR is so heavy(mine's about 5.5 pounds with scope) that it makes the recoil less snappy than the SRH. But it gives you a big push for sure.

Being that the Smith is ported, that should make the 460 fairly tolerable even though it's lighter than my BFR. I'm not sure about that short barrel though. You just won't be getting the true potential of the 460 with that length. A longer barreled 454 will get nearly the same velocity. HOWEVER, the fireball and shockwave that thing will put out will be impressive! (if that is what you like)

Do not be sold on the 460 for the fact that it can shoot 45 Colt, 454 and 460. I did quite a bit of experimenting with the 45 and 454, and accuracy with those ranged from fair at best to dismal. I only shoot 460 brass in mine now, but I often times load them way down. For example, I shoot 255gr lead bullets anywhere from 1,100 -1,500 fps for plinking. For hunting loads, I have 240gr Hornady XTP mags, going a bit over 2,000 fps. So you have a huge range of what you can do using 460 brass, and accuracy doesn't suffer.

So in the end, since you have a 45 Colt and you reload, I say go for the 460! It is a really fun caliber to handload for. Although if it were me, I'd get the XVR with the 8" barrel. Seems like a waste to shoot 460 out of a 5". But that's just me.
 
Red hawk

That frame is pretty much the limit of what can be carried easily. The Super RH is a bit heavy, and the X-frame is just not all that practical.
The red hawk,with the heaviest bullet you can put downrange at 1100-1200 fps, is going to do almost anything needed.
 
A 4" Redhawk in .45 Colt has been on my bucket list ever since I got hooked on ROL .45 Colt. I've been shooting them with my .454 SRH, but it would be nice to have a sidearm to go with it, if you know what I mean.
 
I love my long barrel Ruger Super Red Hawk in .454 Casull.
Shoots fine, no pain even with Full Power loads if done correctly.

My two cents on shooting big magnums is NOT to hold on too tight. Hold the gun just tight enough to keep it from flipping out of your hands. You must allow your wrists and elbows to flex which allows the gun to move up and back to absorb the recoil. It does kill my hands if I try to strong grip the 454.
The technique must be learned over a few rounds but it makes shooting the magnums mush easier once you get it figured out.

Someone mentioned the Freedom Arms gun hurts. I have to agree with them on that! The grip angle on it is terriable and it contributes to the felt recoil in a negative way. The Ruger grip angle is much more forgiving as is the OEM rubber grip that comes on it.
 
Couldn't vote, as the good o' Ruger .45 Colt single action wasn't on the list! I see no need for a .454 either as Ross Seyfried and Linebaugh (and others) have shown down through the years...
 
We buy guns for practical reasons, and just for fun. When it comes to something for fun - we might get something just for the sake of trying out a Big Boomer.

I'll assume that you want this for practical use. For that reason, I would go with the Redhawk. I own the version mentioned in your poll. And it is terrific revolver.
It's heavier/bulkier than your Mountain Gun, but not a problem with a good holster and belt. I carry it when in griz country.
 
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I just ordered the S&W .460 model 460XVR Product: 163465 with the 5" barrel. My LGS does not have one in stock so they are going to order it from S&W for me. They do have one in stock that has a 10 5/8" barrel way to long for me. I am not going to be using this firearm for hunting just for fun shooting. I have read many reviews on the S&W .460V and it get nothing but praise across all calibers that it can shoot.

I am so looking forward to shooting this monster. But that will not happen until the end of the year. Because the last time I had my LGS order a firearm (S&W 986) for me it took them 6 months to get it in.

The .460XVR is available in the following barrel lengths 3 1/2", 5", 10 5/8", 12" and 14" the msrp is from $1,300 - $1,600
 
I like the idea of owning a Casull SRH. Always have since shooting one as part of a range day out (my first ever session shooting something with a rifled barrel). I like the idea of the 460 just because it is seemingly even more bonkers than the 454 and you can shoot all the .45 cal rounds below it.

However in the end I voted RH 4".

I have the same gun on .44 Mag and given the intended purpose, I think it would handle heavier .45 Colts well, if I'm to believe what the TFL pundits on Ruger revolver builds. In addition, when I've carried it in the forest, my Simply Rugged holster makes it bearable, but you still know it's there, but I'd certainly not want to go bigger.... Would a .454/460 address field defence needs that a hot .45 Colt would not?

Again, based on what I've read here, the answer is probably no, IMO.
 
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