| Ruger Super Redhawk: Alaskan is a short barrelled, big bore revolver. The firearm is distinguished by its 2 1/2" barrel, brushed stainless finish, and oversize Hogue Tamer grip designed to help reduce recoil. The Alaskan is offered in .454 Casull/.45 Colt, .480 Ruger, and most recently, .44 Magnum/.44 Special. The .480 Ruger version was originally a 6 shot revolver like the .454, but was discontinued in 2007. It was reintroduced in 2008 with a 5 shot cylinder. The .44 Magnum features a fluted cylinder while the .454 and .480 versions are unfluted. The revolver is intended for use as a self-defense option against large, potentially dangerous animals such as grizzly bear, cougar, and wild boar. Some critics feel the Alaskan's barrel is too short for such a large caliber revolver, while others believe its relatively compact size, coupled with big game stopping power, makes it a practical "pack gun" for hiking, fishing, or hunting trips in the wilderness. The large magnum cartridges do suffer ballistically from the short barrel, but still produce considerably more energy than is typically available from a compact firearm. |
