Big-Bore Revolvers: For Power, Choose Ruger’s Super Redhawk
A bear of a gun, the Alaskan could handle the most powerful loads, including .454 Casull. Smith & Wesson’s 21-4 .44 Special was too old fashioned for us, but we’d buy the .45 Colt M25.
Ballisticians and defensive pros continue to argue the benefits of speed and shock versus size of wound canal. With a Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan chambered for .45 Colt or .454 Casull, you can have both.
In this article we evaluate three guns that make no excuses for their girth. The Smith & Wesson Model 21-4 is a straightforward, large-frame revolver chambered for .44 Special only. Its .45 Colt brother, the Smith & Wesson Model 25-13, is slightly more modern, adding adjustable sights. The Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan was fit with a longer cylinder, and together with its heavy frame, it is capable of firing .454 Casull as well as .45 Colt ammunition.
Our focus in this test was personal defense from humans and not bears, so we left the Casull rounds at home, but we did test an extra-heavy .45 Colt load from Atlanta Arms and Ammo formulated specifically for Ruger and Thompson Center firearms (). The intention was to split the difference between .454 Casull and more commonly available .45 Colt ammunition. This round featured a 328-grain lead truncated-cone bullet. Our other .45 Colt test rounds were Federal’s 225-grain lead semi-wadcutter hollowpoints, Speer’s 250-grain Gold Dot Hollowpoints, and another Atlanta Arms and Ammo product topped with a 275-grain lead truncated cone.
For our .44 Special rounds we chose 165-grain JHP rounds from Cor-Bon, Winchester’s 200-grain Silvertip HP rounds, and 240-grain Truncated Cone Jacketed ammunition manufactured by Atlanta Arms and Ammo. Test distance was 25 yards from a sandbag rest. We fired single action only to collect hard data, but fired on steel targets double action only to evaluate rapid-fire capability. Limited to six-round capacity, we wanted to know which guns offered the right mix of power, accuracy, and speed. Here’s what we learned:
Smith & Wesson Model 21-4 .44 Special No. 161238, $855
http://www.gun-tests.com/newspics/pdfs/18-4-SW214.pdf
Last year Smith & Wesson started offering a Clint Smith Thunder Ranch commemorative revolver that was a blued-steel N-frame model with 4-inch barrel ($958 MSRP). According to Smith & Wesson, the model 21-4 is the very same revolver without the gold leaf trim or Thunder Ranch logo. Our 21-4 had the same tapered profile barrel, pinned half-moon service front sight and wood grip covering its round-profile grip frame, all for about $100 less than the Thunder Ranch model.
Another feature common to both guns was the rear sight notch in the top strap. This meant that windage adjustment was a factory-only repair, but elevation adjustments were possible by changing the height of the front sight blade.
Elsewhere on the 21-4, the ejector rod was fully shrouded and took part in cylinder/crane lockup by a detent at its tip. The barrel was thin walled for about the final half inch, and the taper we spoke of earlier occurred where it exited the frame. The trigger and the wide-spur hammer were colored with a case-hardened look. The grip was a two-piece wood affair that was cut high behind the trigger guard but left the back strap exposed. The grip was smooth and without finger grooves, but it was relieved at the top to make extra room for ejecting spent shells or inserting a speed loader. In our opinion the model 21-4 is a throwback, a functioning collectible perhaps. The only modern pieces we found were the cylinder latch that was contoured and flat on the bottom side to enhance loading, and the Smith & Wesson internal hammer lock, for which two keys were provided.
If the Smith & Wesson model 21 revolvers are old fashioned, then why are they still being made? We think the answer is because it is simple to use, overbuilt and capable of delivering a wide projectile at a variety of velocities in relative comfort. The N-frame revolver, although not the biggest in the Smith & Wesson catalog, is still a large gun. It has the weight to soak up recoil, and since it’s big in all aspects, you won’t have problems squeezing rounds into the cylinder even if they are crammed six at a time into a speed loader. With the latch slid forward, the heavy cylinder practically swings itself away from the frame and very little aim is necessary to fill each chamber with a fresh round. In terms of concealment, the round butt-frame helps trim the profile enough to minimize printing from underneath a sport coat, and the wood grip, unlike rubber, will not catch on clothing.
At the range we were reminded why the N-frame .44 Special revolver was back by popular demand. Firing single action only, all three of our test ammunitions grouped five shots inside of 2.5 inches. The most accurate was the Winchester Silvertip HP rounds, with a best overall group of 1.1 inches and an average of 1.9 inches. The supplied sights were adequate for benchrest shooting, but were otherwise difficult to pick up. Another aspect was the difference in velocity and power between our three test loads. The Silvertips were very mild, producing only about 223 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. The Atlanta Arms jacketed rounds were stronger, but average muzzle energy of 289 foot-pounds was still not evidence of a powerful defense round. Some might say that a big bullet need not move swiftly to be effective. For those who disagree with this theory, the Cor-bon 165-grain hollow points should satisfy their need for speed. Flying at an average velocity of 1219 fps, they produced 545 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. Felt or perceived recoil was, of course, heavier than the other loads, but in our estimation less violent than .357 Magnum.
Overall, what we liked best about this gun was that it offered something for everybody in the way of loads and the shooting experience they provided. But we thought there was room for improvement, and the suggestions for which were nearly unanimous among those who shot the gun. First, the 165-grain Cor-Bon ammunition was a must for carry, even if the Winchester Silvertip HP rounds provided laser-type accuracy. The most important change would be to a narrower front sight that was quicker to the eye through the rear notch. The grips look good and carry with a clean profile but a rubber grip such as a Hogue or Pachmayr design would make the gun much easier to shoot. Our model 21-4 had a smooth double-action trigger, but we would have its resistance lowered from 13 pounds. Last, because it is a foolproof modification that adds pleasure as well as precision to any revolver, we would have the chamber holes chamfered and carry extra rounds in a speed loader from HKS or Safariland. That is, unless you plan on keeping the 21-4 as a collectible — which may be the sole appeal of this gun for many shooters.
A bear of a gun, the Alaskan could handle the most powerful loads, including .454 Casull. Smith & Wesson’s 21-4 .44 Special was too old fashioned for us, but we’d buy the .45 Colt M25.
Ballisticians and defensive pros continue to argue the benefits of speed and shock versus size of wound canal. With a Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan chambered for .45 Colt or .454 Casull, you can have both.
In this article we evaluate three guns that make no excuses for their girth. The Smith & Wesson Model 21-4 is a straightforward, large-frame revolver chambered for .44 Special only. Its .45 Colt brother, the Smith & Wesson Model 25-13, is slightly more modern, adding adjustable sights. The Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan was fit with a longer cylinder, and together with its heavy frame, it is capable of firing .454 Casull as well as .45 Colt ammunition.
Our focus in this test was personal defense from humans and not bears, so we left the Casull rounds at home, but we did test an extra-heavy .45 Colt load from Atlanta Arms and Ammo formulated specifically for Ruger and Thompson Center firearms (). The intention was to split the difference between .454 Casull and more commonly available .45 Colt ammunition. This round featured a 328-grain lead truncated-cone bullet. Our other .45 Colt test rounds were Federal’s 225-grain lead semi-wadcutter hollowpoints, Speer’s 250-grain Gold Dot Hollowpoints, and another Atlanta Arms and Ammo product topped with a 275-grain lead truncated cone.
For our .44 Special rounds we chose 165-grain JHP rounds from Cor-Bon, Winchester’s 200-grain Silvertip HP rounds, and 240-grain Truncated Cone Jacketed ammunition manufactured by Atlanta Arms and Ammo. Test distance was 25 yards from a sandbag rest. We fired single action only to collect hard data, but fired on steel targets double action only to evaluate rapid-fire capability. Limited to six-round capacity, we wanted to know which guns offered the right mix of power, accuracy, and speed. Here’s what we learned:
Smith & Wesson Model 21-4 .44 Special No. 161238, $855
http://www.gun-tests.com/newspics/pdfs/18-4-SW214.pdf
Last year Smith & Wesson started offering a Clint Smith Thunder Ranch commemorative revolver that was a blued-steel N-frame model with 4-inch barrel ($958 MSRP). According to Smith & Wesson, the model 21-4 is the very same revolver without the gold leaf trim or Thunder Ranch logo. Our 21-4 had the same tapered profile barrel, pinned half-moon service front sight and wood grip covering its round-profile grip frame, all for about $100 less than the Thunder Ranch model.
Another feature common to both guns was the rear sight notch in the top strap. This meant that windage adjustment was a factory-only repair, but elevation adjustments were possible by changing the height of the front sight blade.
Elsewhere on the 21-4, the ejector rod was fully shrouded and took part in cylinder/crane lockup by a detent at its tip. The barrel was thin walled for about the final half inch, and the taper we spoke of earlier occurred where it exited the frame. The trigger and the wide-spur hammer were colored with a case-hardened look. The grip was a two-piece wood affair that was cut high behind the trigger guard but left the back strap exposed. The grip was smooth and without finger grooves, but it was relieved at the top to make extra room for ejecting spent shells or inserting a speed loader. In our opinion the model 21-4 is a throwback, a functioning collectible perhaps. The only modern pieces we found were the cylinder latch that was contoured and flat on the bottom side to enhance loading, and the Smith & Wesson internal hammer lock, for which two keys were provided.
If the Smith & Wesson model 21 revolvers are old fashioned, then why are they still being made? We think the answer is because it is simple to use, overbuilt and capable of delivering a wide projectile at a variety of velocities in relative comfort. The N-frame revolver, although not the biggest in the Smith & Wesson catalog, is still a large gun. It has the weight to soak up recoil, and since it’s big in all aspects, you won’t have problems squeezing rounds into the cylinder even if they are crammed six at a time into a speed loader. With the latch slid forward, the heavy cylinder practically swings itself away from the frame and very little aim is necessary to fill each chamber with a fresh round. In terms of concealment, the round butt-frame helps trim the profile enough to minimize printing from underneath a sport coat, and the wood grip, unlike rubber, will not catch on clothing.
At the range we were reminded why the N-frame .44 Special revolver was back by popular demand. Firing single action only, all three of our test ammunitions grouped five shots inside of 2.5 inches. The most accurate was the Winchester Silvertip HP rounds, with a best overall group of 1.1 inches and an average of 1.9 inches. The supplied sights were adequate for benchrest shooting, but were otherwise difficult to pick up. Another aspect was the difference in velocity and power between our three test loads. The Silvertips were very mild, producing only about 223 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. The Atlanta Arms jacketed rounds were stronger, but average muzzle energy of 289 foot-pounds was still not evidence of a powerful defense round. Some might say that a big bullet need not move swiftly to be effective. For those who disagree with this theory, the Cor-bon 165-grain hollow points should satisfy their need for speed. Flying at an average velocity of 1219 fps, they produced 545 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. Felt or perceived recoil was, of course, heavier than the other loads, but in our estimation less violent than .357 Magnum.
Overall, what we liked best about this gun was that it offered something for everybody in the way of loads and the shooting experience they provided. But we thought there was room for improvement, and the suggestions for which were nearly unanimous among those who shot the gun. First, the 165-grain Cor-Bon ammunition was a must for carry, even if the Winchester Silvertip HP rounds provided laser-type accuracy. The most important change would be to a narrower front sight that was quicker to the eye through the rear notch. The grips look good and carry with a clean profile but a rubber grip such as a Hogue or Pachmayr design would make the gun much easier to shoot. Our model 21-4 had a smooth double-action trigger, but we would have its resistance lowered from 13 pounds. Last, because it is a foolproof modification that adds pleasure as well as precision to any revolver, we would have the chamber holes chamfered and carry extra rounds in a speed loader from HKS or Safariland. That is, unless you plan on keeping the 21-4 as a collectible — which may be the sole appeal of this gun for many shooters.
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