I picked up a Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan 454...Awesome.

Felt recoil really isn't that bad at all. I actually didn't think it was much more than a 44 magnum. Definitely has greater delayed effects (I can feel that I shot a gun this morning), but really it was not unmanageable. Who knows, if I see a black bear within 30 yards maybe I'll reach for that first.

Nice. How did it group for you?

I only shot it out back of the office (rural setting) at a target about 15 yards and it was the size of my palm (this was double action after the first shot). I am sure the gun can do better, but I was just happy to be able to manage it and enjoy it.

I'm able to get 2" at 25 yards with mine using single action. The Hogue Tamer goes a long way in helping recoil. I've shot mine three times with the regular Hogue grip without the insert because I was considering getting a set of the Hogue wooden grips that have the same shape. I'll admit it wasn't one of my brightest moments.

On mine on the inside of the frame below the forcing cone there are what look like diagonal tooling marks. My 7.5" SRH doesn't have these, but I've also seen them on a 44mag Alaskan. Does yours have them?

Yes it does have them.

The load was buffalo bore 300 grn JFN...is this sufficient for grizzly defense? It was all they had at the time and I do not handload.

Also there was a small copper pin in a ziplock bag in the gun case. What's this for?

Thanks.

The gun needs a pin to take it down. With the old style grips the pin was hidden inside the grip below the wood panel. That's most likely what the pin you have is for. It's used to easily remove the hammer spring.

Grizzly? Technically the only thing that's going to stop one of those is a CNS hit which is why hard cast ammunition is recommended to insure the best penetration to get through the skull or into the spine. The 335gr Cor-Bon is excellent, though what you have would certainly ruin a bruin's day.

Thanks Recoil! Going to look for the corbon.