Feedback on Ruger SR Alaskan Variant - The Toklat by Talo

[Grey-Goose]

Hi Gentlemen,
Was really stoked to find this forum and come to read all the excellent content regularly, however I rarely post as I seem to muddle my way through by trial and error bearing what I have gathered here to guide me.
But I just picked up a Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan variant made by Talo called the Toklat in .454 Casull and it is just far enough outside my comfort range I thought I would get feedback from you guys.
It's a beast, fairly heavy, but balances very well, and is not the hand numbing canon like experience to shoot as one might think, it is definitely a handful, and not super quick to reacquire a sight picture with, but for what it is I am really enjoying it, and plan to hump it around on back country trips.
So my question to those of you who have had experience with this guy is what is your experience with it, how has it preformed, durability, what loads you may have found that work better than others, any modifications such as sights or grip that worked for you, you know the drill. ;-)
Thanks in advance for your feedback!

 

[muleman]

I have the Toklat and a Magnum Research 7.5" BFR both in .454 Casull. The BFR is more pleasant to shoot but the shorter/lighter Toklat is the defence gun that gets put in the chest harness. If I were to offer any advice, it is to work up to full power loads. Even shoot a lot of heavy 45 Colt loads.

Some times the bark is worse than the bite. What I mean by that is that the muzzle blast is actually worse than the recoil itself. Case in point, I work as an RSO a few times a month and we have guys bring in 7.5" .223 AR15 SBRs. I hate the muzzle blast of these little SBRs but the recoil isn't noticeably worse than a 16" AR15.

If all else fails, a heavy 45 Colt (Ruger load) make fine self-defence loads from your Toklat. If you roll your own do your research on the proper bullets. Well placed shots win every time over a flinch induced miss.

To specifically answer your questions, both guns are reliable and bone stock. I would like to replace the grip on the BFR but you don't care about that... I chose HSM Bear Load 325 gr WFN Gas Check loads as my defence loads and short of having to shoot a bear or moose, I have been happy with them. When I run out of the couple hundred HSM loads I have left, I will most likely use a Beartooth Bullet as the foundation for my new defence load.

Practice, Practice, Practice.

 

[husky390]

Neat gun. I have the Alaskan in .454 and as muleman suggested, work your way up. One thing I've noticed is that I have to sight mine in for the load I want to use. This gun seems much more sensitive to bullet weights than any of my .44's.