**REVIEW OVERVIEW**
1. DESCRIPTION OF GUN TESTED
2. 454 "ASSETS"
3. .454 CASULL BULLET AND CARTRIDGE INFORMATION
4. 100 - 3005 YARD SHOOTING TESTS
5. SHOOTING OBSERVATIONS
6. LEUPOLD SCOPE OBSERVATIONS
7. 454 SUPER REDHAWK’S NEGLIGIBLE QUIRKS
8. GUN REVIEW PICTURES
A new Ruger .454 Super Redhawk revolver with Leupold Vari-X 2.5-8x32mm EER pistol scope was tested for accuracy at 100, 225 and 300 yards. This handgun cannon was found to be a very accurate and extremely strong hunting pistol.
** RUGER .454 SUPER REDHAWK REVOLVER **
METAL: STAINLESS STEEL
FINISH: MATTE GRAY
ACTION: DA / SA
CAPACITY: 6-SHOT
GRIPS: FULL WRAP-AROUND RUBBER GRIP W/ WOODEN INSERTS
SINGLE ACTION TRIGGER PULL: 5.75 lb.
BARREL LENGTH: 7.5"
SIGHT USED: LEUPOLD 2.5-8x32mm EER SCOPE (MODEL#47196)
SIGHT FINISH: GLOSS BLACK
SIGHT MOUNT: RUGER INTEGRAL SCOPE RINGS
****** DESCRIPTION OF RUGER .454 SUPER REDHAWK TESTED ******
The Ruger .454 Super Redhawk pistol is a double action, 6-shot, stainless steel revolver chambered for the powerful .454 Casull cartridge. It has a matte-gray finish that looks medium gray in color and is fairly non-reflective. A 7.5-inch long barrel fits into the gun’s massive extended frame. Full wrap-around grips w/ wooden inserts fit over the rear frame extension. The open sights consists of an interchangeable red insert ramp front sight and a white outline, fully adjustable, rear sight. Ruger integral scope rings (1" diameter), which come with the gun, allow a scope to be solidly mounted to the gun’s wide top strap. They made installing a Leupold Vari-X 2.5-8x32mm EER pistol scope extremely easy and almost foolproof.
************************** .454 SUPER REDHAWK "ASSETS" **************************
Strength, accuracy, design, machining, corrosion resistance, simplicity, and reliability make the Ruger .454 Super Redhawk a very fine hunting pistol.
**STRENGTH & RELIABILITY: The double solid frame, massive extended frame, and wide top strap make this Super Redhawk an incredibly strong gun. The non-fluted cylinder and crane assembly lock directly into the frame at both the front and rear, which aids accuracy and reliability. Much of the internal parts are contained within a few sub-assemblies that easily install and remove from the frame without the need of a side plate----no detachable side plate helps make the frame incredibly strong. Much of the internal parts making up the sub-assemblies are designed so that it is impossible for any part to come loose or disassemble while the sub-assemblies are installed in the gun frame.
**ACCURACY**
A number of characteristics contribute to the Super Redhawk’s superb accuracy. The machining of parts was very good to excellent. The double solid frame and wide top strap provide much rigidity, and the wide top strap and integral scope mounting system provide for an extremely solid scope mount. Each scope ring clamps onto the scope using four screws instead of two. The cylinder chambers are countersunk and line bored, and both the cylinder and crane lock directly into the frame. The 7.5-inch long barrel screws into the massive extended frame, thus creating an extremely solid and rigid barrel mount. All these characteristics contribute to the gun’s superb accuracy.
**SAFETY**
The safety transfer bar, which is connected directly to the trigger, allows hammer blows to be transmitted to the firing pin only when the trigger is pulled fully to the rear. Therefore, it is safe to have all six chambers loaded, as the gun cannot fire without the trigger being pulled all the way to the rear.
Dry-firing the Super Redhawk revolver won’t damage the firing pin or internal components.
**EASE OF DISASSEMBLY AND CLEANING**
Except for a screwdriver needed to unscrew the handgrip attaching screw, no other tool is needed to disassemble the Super Redhawk. Much of the internal parts are contained within a few sub-assemblies that easily install and remove from the gun frame (picture 9).
The Super Redhawk can't be disassembled with the Leupold 2.5-8x32mm scope installed (the hammer can't be removed).
************************* .454 CASULL BULLET & CARTRIDGE ************************
**.454 CASULL CARTRIDGE: PAST AND PRESENT**
The .454 Casull cartridge was developed in 1957 by Dick Casull and Jack Fulmer. In its beginning, the .454 Casull cartridge saw little action, and even after Freedom Arms brought its revolver and the .454 Casull to market in the mid 1980s, there was little demand for revolvers chambered for the .454 Casull cartridge, mainly because of the high cost and fierce recoil of the .454 Casull cartridge. In contrast, today there are .454 handguns available from Freedom Arms, Magnum Research, Ruger, Taurus, and Thompson Center. At the time of this writing, .454 Casull ammo was available from Cor-Bon, Federal, Hornady, and Winchester.
** SAAMI Standard **
Winchester was the first company to submit the .454 Casull for industry standardization with SAAMI, and the proof loads they submitted were loaded to their full potential. The resulting SAAMI Maximum Average Pressure (MAP) standard of 65,000 p.s.i. for the .454 Casull is presently probably the highest for any commercially manufactured revolver cartridge: 44 mag has a 40,000 p.s.i. MAP; 45 Colt has a 14,000 p.s.i. MAP; 475 Linebaugh has a 50,000 p.s.i. MAP. The standard that .454 gun makers must meet is quite high, indeed.
** WHY IS .454 CASULL AMMO SO EXPENSIVE?
Extreme high pressure drives the .454 Casull bullet. The bullet is unsupported as it passes from the cylinder to the barrel forcing cone, and the extreme high pressure driving the bullet will cause it to swell in this unsupported area. As the bullet reaches the top of the barrel forcing cone, it must first be swaged back into shape before it can pass through the barrel bore. During this swaging period, high pressure gas escapes out past the cylinder which can cause erosion of the forcing cone metal. This erosion can eventually cause fissures to form in the forcing cone metal that can grow until the barrel is ruined. The fissures can eventually cause the barrel to split. Another potential problem of extreme pressure is having the bullet core punched out, and if the bullet shell stays in the barrel, barrel damage will result during the next shot.
To prevent barrel damage from occurring, .454 Casull bullets must be extremely strong and hard so that they swell minimally, and therefore, the time required for the bullet to be swaged back into a shape that can pass through the barrel bore is kept to a bare minimum. The bullet having to meet the extreme demands caused by the 65,000 MAP is what makes .454 Casull ammo relatively expensive.
** CASE CHARACTERISTICS **
To prevent the .454 Casull from being used in guns that aren’t designed for Casull’s high pressures, the case length is 1/10th inch longer than the .45 Long Colt case. To add strength to the .454 case, a small rifle primer is used. Using a small rifle primer, instead of a pistol primer, has the advantage of adding case strength due to a smaller primer pocket and the rifle primer having a stronger cup.
** HANDLOADING INFORMATION **
To add strength and prevent cylinder binding, the rifle primer needs to be seated all the way to the bottom of the primer pocket. To help the powder burn correctly and to ensure that the bullets stay in place under heavy recoil, .454 Casull loads must be heavily crimped.
************************ WHAT IS IT LIKE TO SHOOT THE 7.5" BARREL 454 SUPER REDHAWK *************************
When shooting full-power loads through a 7.5" barrel 454 Super Redhawk without a scope installed, the recoil is fierce (the 9.5" barrel 454 Super Redhawk's recoil is less fierce, for whatever the reason.). The instant the trigger is pulled, the gun rams the web of the shooter’s hand (the full-wrap around rubber grips prevented my hand from being bruised, though). If using a loose grip hold, the gun and shooter’s hands hurl towards the shooter’s face (you can rigidly hold the gun to prevent this, but shooting accuracy generally suffers). The body reacts to prevent a face injury by pushing against the gun, which then rises 45 degrees upward from the shooter. As the gun is being forced upward and away, the shooter’s shoulders rise and go backwards. All this happens in a fraction of a second.
The first time out, I shot the Ruger 454 Super Redhawk without a scope installed. After firing a dozen rounds in a relatively short period, my shooting hand started to feel a bit numb and it temporarily lost some of its gripping strength. While using a double-hand grip with the thumb of the non-shooting hand wrapped around the wrist of the shooting hand, my thumb was somewhat minimally sprained from the force and speed of the recoil (a rigid hold would have prevented thumb sprain).
The second time out, which was when the 50, 100 and 225 yard shooting test were performed, I shot the 454 from sandbags resting on a low-to-the-ground mechanical stand while wearing shooting gloves on both hands. I was in a position lying down next to and behind the sandbags/rest, and in this position my wrists and elbows flexed much more during recoil, and the gun’s recoil path was a bit sideward of my body. Both the enhanced flexibility and the gun’s recoil being a bit off to my side made shooting the 454 Super Redhawk fairly comfortable while shooting full-power loads. Also, the weight of the 10.9 oz. scope did tame the recoil a bit, but not much.
The recoil while shooting full-power loads through the Ruger 454 Super Redhawk is fierce, but because this is a superbly accurate hunting pistol----I wouldn’t want it any other way. However, for those who want to do a lot of plinking, or who just don’t desire the fierce recoil, most manufacturers loading the .454 Casull cartridge offer at least one weak .454 load. Also, .45 Long Colt cartridges can be shot through 454 chambered guns, which produces a lot less recoil. However, because the Super Redhawk’s chambers are countersunk and the .45 Long Colt case is 1/10th inch less in length than the .454 case, I don’t plan to shoot any .45 Long Colt ammo through the 454 Super Redhawk, as it might adversely affect the gun’s superb accuracy at some point.
********************* 100 & 300 YARD SHOOTING TESTS **********************
1. CONDITIONS: Barometric Pressure: 31.0 Inch Hg.; Temp.: 50-65 F, Relative Humidity: 70%, 0-1 mph cross winds:
2. HUNTING AMMO USED: (PICTURE: 6)
WINCHESTER 454 260 gr. PARTITION GOLD (SPG454)
WINCHESTER 454 300 gr. JFP SUPER X (X454C22)
The 250 gr. ammo wasn’t used.
3.SIGHT USED: LEUPOLD VARI-X 2.5-8x32mm EER PISTOL SCOPE (model#47196)
4.SIGHT ENHANCEMENT: GLUED A BUBBLE LEVEL TO THE SCOPE’S ELEVATION ADJUSTMENT COVER.
The five target pictures are numbered from T1 to T5. Each target has a low and high resolution picture. For example, target 1 has two pictures with the name T1L (low resolution) and T1H (high resolution). A description of each picture is provided on the last page of this review.
No adjustment was made to the Leupold 2.5-8 power scope during the 100 & 225 yard shooting test. The 454 Super Redhawk wasn’t cleaned during the 100 & 225 yard shooting test. Except for the time it takes to sight in on the target, no rest period was given between shots (average of about 15 seconds between shots fired in a group.
**** 5-SHOT GROUP 100-YARD TARGETS ****
** 100 YARD TARGETS 1 and 2 ( (T1 and T2) **
100-yard targets 1 and 2 (T1 - T2) wee shot from a Protektor mechanical rest and sand bags (picture 8). The rest wasn’t rigidly mounted to prevent movement. Target 1 was shot with Winchester 260 gr. Partition Gold ammo, and target 2 with Winchester 300 gr. JFP Super X ammo. The point of aim was the 1-3/4 inch diameter red center bulls-eye.
Target 1 (T1L - T1H) had a 4-shot group of 1-3/4 inch; the 5-shot group was 6-1/2 inch. The speed of the Winchester Partition Gold ammo ranged from 1813 fps to 1837 fps. 4-out-of-5 shots landed an average of 3.5 inches above the point of aim (red bulls-eye). Obviously, the scope needed to be adjusted, but it wasn’t. Bullet drop at 100 yards for the 260 gr. Partition Gold bullet was probably less than 1 inch.
Target 2 (T2L - T2H) had a 4-shot group of 3-1/8 inch; the 5-shot group was 4-5/8 inch. The speed of the Winchester 300 gr. JFP ammo ranged from1556 to 1651 fps, which is a substantial spread. The group landed an average of 5 inches above the point of aim (red bulls-eye). Bullet drop at 100 yards for the 300 gr. Super X bullet was probably less than 1 inch . Scope parallax error was a significant factor of group spread.
For both 100 yard targets, I feel the 5-shot group spread could have been less than 1-1/2 inch had it been shot with precisely loaded handloads from a rigidly mounted shooting rest, and had the gun barrel and chambers been thoroughly cleaned beforehand.
**** 5-SHOT GROUP 225 YARD TARGETS ****
** 225 YARD TARGETS 3 and 4 ( (T3 and T4) **
225 yard targets 3 and 4 (T3 - T4) were shot from a Protektor mechanical rest and sand bags (picture 8); the rest wasn’t rigidly mounted to prevent movement. Target 3 was shot with Winchester 260 gr. Partition Gold ammo, and target 4 with Winchester 300 gr. JFP Super X ammo. Looking at the on-line photographs, the point of aim was the 3-inch diameter, red, stick-on bulls-eye at the top of each photograph.
Target 3 (T3L - T3H) had a 4-shot group of approximately 7 inches, and a 5-shot group of approximately 12 inches. The speed of the Winchester 260 gr. Partition Gold ammo ranged from 1789 fps to 1858 fps. Bullet drop at 225 yards for the 260 gr. Partition Gold bullet was probably around 24-28 inches. Target 4 (T4L - T4H) had a 3-shot group of approximately 15 inches. The 4th and 5th rounds barely missed the left side of the target. The speed of the Winchester 300 gr. JFP Super X ammo ranged from 1520 fps to 1598 fps. Bullet drop at 225 yards for the 300 gr. JFP Super X bullet was probably around 24-28 inches.
At 225 yards, group spread was mainly in elevation. If using a rigidly mounted mechanical shooting rest, shooting precisely loaded handloads, cleaning the barrel and chapbers beforehand, and if scope parallax error had been minimized, I feel the 225 yard 5-shot group spread could have been under 5 inches.
**** 5/6-SHOT GROUP 300 YARD TARGETS ****
** 300 YARD TARGET 5 (T5) **
300 yard target 5 (T5) was shot from a Protektor mechanical rest and sand bags (picture 8); the rest wasn’t rigidly mounted to prevent movement. Winchester 260 gr. Partition Gold ammo was used. The point of aim was the target’s 1-inch diameter red bulls-eye. I minimized scope parallax by exceeding the scope's eye relief and then centering the shrunken image on the glass.
Target 5 (T5L - T5H) had a 2-shot group of approximately 2-1/16 inches, a 3-shot group of 5-7/8 inches, a 4-shot group of 9-7/8 inches, 5-shot group of 10-3/4 inches, and a 6-shot group of 13-1/4 inches. From previous speed measurements, we know the speed of the Winchester 260 gr. Partition Gold ammo ranged from 1789 fps to 1858 fps. Bullet drop at 300 yards for the 260 gr. Partition Gold bullet was probably around 42 inches.
Surprisingly, the elevation spread of the 6-shot 300 yd. group was only 8-1/2 inches, and the windage spread was 12-1/4 inches. If using a rigidly mounted mechanical shooting rest, shooting precisely loaded handloads, and cleaning the barrel and chambers beforehand, I feel the 300-yard 6-shot group spread could have been around 8 inches.
** BULLET SPEED MEASUREMENTS **
All bullets shot for the 100 and 225 yard shooting/accuracy test were measured for speed (feet/second) by an Oheler 35 Proof chronograph with printer (picture 4) at about ten feet from the muzzle. The 35P chronograph uses three detectors, instead of two, which allows the bullet speed to be measured twice.
On the 100 and 225 yard targets is the printout from the 35P chronograph printer. On the first five lines of each printout is the bullet’s Proof Velocity, followed by the Shot Number, and Primary velocity. On target 1 (T1) the first line shows a Proof Velocity of 1840 fps, the bullet number 01, and a Primary Velocity of 1828 fps (1840 - 01 - 1828).
On each of the Oehler printouts below the five bullet number and speed lines are five more lines (‘------’ lines not included). These five lines give the group’s Highest Velocity, Lowest Velocity, Extreme Velocity Spread, Mean or Average Velocity, and Standard Deviation. For target 1 (T1), the Highest Velocity is 1837 fps, the Lowest Velocity is 1813 fps, the Extreme Velocity Spread is 24 fps, the Mean or Average Velocity is 1823 fps, and the Standard Deviation is 9 fps.
** SHOOTING OBSERVATIONS **
The Ruger 454 Super Redhawk is an extremely accurate .454 chambered 6-shot hunting revolver. As previously stated, I feel that the 5/6-shot group spread could easily have been reduced quite a bit had a rigidly mounted shooting rest and precise handloads been used, had the barrel and chamber been cleaned before each 5/6-shot group, and had scope parallax error been minimized (it was minimized while shooting the 300 yard target). Waiting 1 minute between shots might reduce group size a bit more, but probably not much.
The Ruger integral scope mounting system held tight during the entire test. The Leupold Vari-X 2.5-8x32mm scope adjustments (power, windage and elevation) weren’t changed until the 300 yard testing, (pictures of the scope’s reticle adjusters before the shooting test, after shooting target 2, and after shooting target 4 are available to view on-line (pictures 1E, 1W, 2E, 2W, 3E, 3W).
While shooting at 300 yards, it became evident that the 454 Super Redhawk shoots much tighter groups if it is cleaned before each group. To get the 300-yard 6-shot group all on a single 14x18 inch target, I minimized scope parallax error by exceeding the scope’s eye relief range, and then centered the shrunken image on the glass.
** LEUPOLD VARI-X 2.5-8X32 EER PISTOL SCOPE**
Except for that I would prefer a matte black finish, instead of a gloss black or satin finish, I liked everything about the Leupold variable power pistol scope. The one thing I really appreciated was the thinness of the cross-hairs making up the center portion of the duplex reticle. At 225 yards while on the 8X power setting, I had no problem with sighting in on (and within) the 3-inch diameter red bulls-eye. Updates about how the scope continues to perform will be included in this review after more shooting.
Leupold lists optimum eye relief for both high and low magnification as being 15 inches: I measured the eye relief range while on 8x power to be from 12-17 inches, and 11.5 to 22 inches while on the 2.5x power.
** 454 SUPER REDHAWK’S 4 NEGLIGIBLE QUIRKS **
1. Although the accuracy is superb while dirty, the .454 Super Redhawk will shoot even better when clean (this is normal for most every gun).
2. The rear Ruger integral scope ring screws all the way shut without completely clamping down securely on the scope, almost but not quite. The 1" diameter scope measured .9999 inch, so the problem is with the rear scope mounting ring. Ruger sent me another set of rings, and the rear ring had the same problem. However, with the shooting accuracy verified in the shooting test----I would say that this is a negligible problem. (although I haven't checked, I'm sure Ruger has fixed the quirk a long time ago).
3. To disassemble the gun, the scope must be removed before the hammer can be removed. This isn’t a problem, but it is a hassle, at least for those us who like to mount a scope only once to a gun. To be fair, the 2.5-8x scope is an extra long pistol scope, thus the Super Redhawk would probably disassemble with a shorter fixed power scope installed.
4. The Ruger integral scope mount is almost foolproof-----almost. The clamp hardware that holds the ring base to the gun's top-strap can be minimally misaligned, causing damage to the top-strap and clamp when tightening the clamp hardware----this is very hard to do, but it can be accomplished----thus the scope mount isn't completely foolproof..
T1
(T1L - T1H) 100 yard target shot with Winchester 260 gr. Partition Gold
(SPG454) ammo. 
T1 CHRONOGRAPH: 
T2
(T2L - T2H) 100 yard target shot with Winchester 300 gr. Super X (X454C22)
ammo. 
T2 CHRONOGRAPH: 
T3
(T3L - T3H): 225 yard target shot with Winchester 260 gr. Partition Gold
(SPG454) ammo. 
T3 CHRONOGRAPH: 
T4
(T4L - T4H): 225 yard target shot with Winchester 300 gr. Super X
(X454C22) ammo. 
T4 CHRONOGRAPH: 
T5
(T5L - T5H): 300 yard 6-shot target shot with Winchester 260 gr.
Partition Gold (SPG454) ammo.
**OTHER PICTURES**
1E (1EL - 1EH):
Elevation Reticle Adjustment before shooting at Target #1 
1W (1WL - 1WH):Windage
Reticle Adjustment before shooting at Target #1 
2E (2EL - 2EH):
Unchanged Elevation Reticle Adjustment after shooting at Target #2 
2W (2WL - 2WH):
Unchanged Windage Reticle Adjustment after shooting at Target #2 
3E (3EL - 3EH):
Unchanged Elevation Reticle Adjustment after shooting at Target #4 
3W (3WL - 3WH):
Unchanged Windage Reticle Adjustment after shooting at Target #4 
4 (4L - 4H):
OEHLER 35P Chronograph
5 (5L -5H):
PROTEKTOR shooting rest with sandbags. 
6 (6L - 6H):
454 CASULL AMMO
7 (7L - 7H):
EXIT WOUND ON 110 lb. 1ST YEAR BUCK (Winchester Partition Gold #SPG454)
8 (8L - 8H):
PROTEKTOR SHOOTING REST AND 454 SUPER REDHAWK WITH SCOPE
9 (9L - 9H):
DISASSEMBLED 454 SUPER REDHAWK
10 (10L - 10H):
LEUPOLD VARI-X 2.5-8x32mm PISTOL SCOPE
11 (11L - 11H):
LEUPOLD SCOPE W/ INTEGRAL RUGER SCOPE RINGS
12 (12L - 12H):
GUN’S TOP-STRAP SCOPE-RING MOUNTING GROOVES (TOP VIEW)
13 (13L - 13H):
EXTENDED FRAME AND TOP-STRAP’S SCOPE RING MOUNTING GROOVE (SIDE VIEW)
14 (14L - 14H):
TOP VIEW OF GUN - 1
15 (15L - 15H):
TOP VIEW OF GUN - 2
16 (16L - 16H):
FRONT OF CYLINDER
17 (17L - 17H):
SIDE OF CYLINDER AND CRANE
18 (18L - 18H):
SIDE OF CYLINDER AND CRANE
19 (19L - 19H):
FRONT OF CYLINDER
20 (20L - 20H):
REAR OF CYLINDER WITH EJECTOR EXTENDED
21 (21L - 21H): SIDE OF CYLINDER
WITH EJECTOR EXTENDED
22 (22L - 22H):
FRONT OF CYLINDER
23 (23L - 23H):
SIDE OF CYLINDER
24 (24L - 24H):
SIDE OF CYLINDER
***************** 1-25-01 WEAR MEASUREMENTS PICTURES ******************
M1 (M1L -M1H):
#KE-16A HAMMER PIVOT: .1859
M2 (M2L - M2H):
#KE-16A HAMMER PIVOT (flange): .0461, .0462
M3 (M3L -M3H):
#KH01700 TRANSFER BAR end width: .2997, .2998
M4 (M4L - M4H):
#KH01700 TRANSFER BAR pivot diameter: Vertical: .1672, .1671, .1672, .1673;
Horizontal: .1663, .1662, .1664, .1660, .1662
M5 (M5L - M5H):
#KH01700 TRANSFER BAR pivot width: .2002
M6 (M6L - M6H):
#KH00700 PAWL end width (narrow): .0915, .0916
M7 (M7L - M7H):
#KT01500 STRUT "pin" end wide width: .1806
M8 (M8L - M8H):
#KT01500 STRUT "pin" end narrow width: .0748
M9 NOT YET POSTED**** #KT01500 STRUT hammer end narrow width: .0749 **M9 (M9L - M9H)**
M10 (M10L - M10H): #KT01500 STRUT hammer end wide width: .1856, .1857
M11 (M11L - M11H):
#KT01500 STRUT length (caliper) 2.3832, 2.3835
M12 (M12L - M12H):
#KH00800A CRANE DIA.: .3424
M13 (M13L - M13H):
#KH00800A CRANE TIP DIA.: .3424
M14 (M14L - M14H):
#KH00800A CRANE LOCK PT DIA. (CALIPER): .154
#KH04504 CYLINDER LATCH narrow width: .0916
#KH04504 CYLINDER LATCH wide width: .2193
References
Instruction Manual For Ruger Super Redhawk Double-action revolver (KY 11/98 (R 9)). Available from Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc., Southport, Connecticut 06490 U.S.A.
Towsley, Bryce M. (2000, October) The .454 Casull: Bigger & Better. American Rifleman. pp. 59, 60, 79
Law that forbid ownership of arms disarm only those who are neither inclined, nor determined to commit crimes. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants. They serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man. --Thomas Jefferson