Which bullet for my Ruger Redhawk

[HHI 812]

Just bought a 7-1/2" Ruger Redhawk, for hunting game here in Alaska, and want your advise on a mold. I'm trying to go as light a bullet as I can, for less recoil and better controlability, if emergency multiple shots are needed for bear which are always around. Also want to be able to shoot longer ranges for caribou, sheep and goats. And want plink a lot to keep in shooting shape, so don't want too heavy a bullet to loosen my teeth every time I shoot. I know I'm asking a lot, but want to get one bullet, one load to keep things simple. And what is a good working velocity should I aim for to get adequate  DV for the game I mentioned? Oh yah, it is a Redhawk, so it has the long cylinder. I did also add a 2X scope for my aging eyes. Thanks for your response.
Dennis

[Veral]

  The notion of a plinking load that will kill bears quick enough to save your bacon, and long range goat shooting, is a day dream that will turn into a nightmare if you ever get into a tight.

  However a minimun load which would kill with good quickness on big bear and reach to take goats would be a 280 gr LFN at 1400 fps+ .   The redhawk is heavy, especially with a scopes weight to tame it down, so this much power would not hurt  a man with reasonable strength.

  For this kind of load it is best to use a .45 nose length to confine the powder for better burning, and have at least one cavity in the mold cut for gas check.  These for your serious loads and to clean any leading out of the barrel should the pb leave some.

  For readers who want the optimum power load, get a 320 or 340 gr LFN with .5 nose length and gas checked for use in the long cylinder guns.  (Redhawk, Dan Wesson, anaconda.)  With one of these loaded to 1500 fps, pressures will be mild, and impact will be completely satisfactory performance wise, with rifle like accuracy, if you barrel is a decent one.  (If it isn't decent, lapping with the LBT lap kit will make it a match quality one.)  The 320 can be loaded quite a bit faster of coarse if one wants to really hear the gun snap and the bullets act like a bulldozer when they hit mama earth in the belly.   But they won't kill better with velocities higher than about 1500 fps.

   The idea of one load for an all purpose gun is a good one, which will eliminate the possible mistake of picking the gun up when it's loaded with mouse loads and using it on a moose .

[HHI 812]

Veral,
Would a 280 or 300 LFN GC with a .5 nose work, or is the rear too short? I recall you saying you like the 280? I do want to take advantage of my long Redhawk cylinder, so a .5 nose, so want the lightest that would work accurately. Do I really need high velocities?
Thanks,
Dennis

[srussell]

the deer i shot with my .280wfn at about 1150 had no idea what hit him.not really that slow but easy to shoot  and gets the job done

[HHI 812]

I'm sure the 280 WFN would work on lots of game, especially with its light recoil but I wanted a one bullet, one load I can use up here in Alaska. Not that I am going to hunt big bear, but they are always around. I'm trying to get an all around bullet that would be enough if we ran into a big bear, yet be able to use it on caribou, sheep and goat at longer range. Plus I want practice often at the range as well as long range plinking. As mentioned, I'm asking a lot, and reason I was asking Veral whether a LFN or WFN, which weight and velocity would be the one choice load? Plus somehow i want to take advantage of the .5" nose length, and get closer to rifling. Don't think I need a 1500+ fps load, so what is the minimum velocity I should be loading for, to get adequate punch for big bear or moose and long range?
Thanks,
Dennis

[HHI 812]

Are WFN accurate out to say 200 yards+? How would say a 280 LFN .5 nose do in comparison?

[Hairy Chest]

Are WFN accurate out to say 200 yards+? How would say a 280 LFN .5 nose do in comparison?

Even better. 

[HHI 812]

Hairy Chest,
You have a .5 nose 280 LFN? So it does work?
Thanks,
Dennis

[Hairy Chest]

No.  I meant an LFN would be even better at long range. 

[Veral]

  A 28 gr LFN will handle a .5 nose VERY well, but it is lightest weight I'll make for that nose length.  You have read of what the 240 Keith has done at long ranges.  The 280 LFN started at equal speeds will do more and at longer distences, with better accuracy.  The main objective of a .5 nose, as I stated earlier, is to get maximum power potential, but also to miinimize jump to the rifling., and hit it with a wider first drive band to minimize stripping of the rifling engagement.

  You said that you wanted to shoot it most with light target loads, so I recommended a shorter nose length, to minimize recoil and powder consumption, yet allow more than adaquate power for game out at longer ranges, with superb accuracy.

  With a .5 nose the rounds look a lot more classy, because the bullet and OAL look so much bigger, so it is wonderful for bar talk and story telling.   It will perfrom very well with light target loads also, but should only be useed with very easy to ignight, fast burning powders with light loads.  Use Accurate 9 or similar easy to ignight powder for loads in the 1100 to 1300 fps range, and 296 H110 for loading hotter.  Max speed at standard working pressure using the slower powders and LBT bullet lube, with gas checked bullet, will be something over 1600 fps, maybe 1700 fps.      ---------------   Did I mention that this is a power bullet?