I just returned from a gun show where I purchased an excellent condition SRH, 7 1/2 inch barrel. In 454 Casull. This will allow me to shoot 45 colt as well as 454. It has a grey colored finish. Is this something that needs to be taken care of differently? I really like the looks of the grey. Looking for information about this type of finish.

Nope. Same as anything else. Clean, oil, shoot, repeat.

Good score! If you weren't already aware of it, be sure to read up on the precautions of shooting 454 Casull ammo after shooting 45 Colt in the same gun.

X2

I've used a lightly flared .460 case and solvent to clean my .454 cylinder, followed by running a AR15 bore brush on a Bore Snake through it.

You have been given very sound advice. I do hope that you will follow it. I shot 45 ammo in my SRH grey finish also. I did what was told and cleaned that gun very good and did so after each outing I shot it,, no matter what ammo I used. I never had a problem. But also I shot 454 first and then 45 or just shot 45 only during the range session. In shooting the 454 ( still use 454 cases) you can back off full power loads, for extended range shooting. Or you can deep seat the bullets with a reduced powder charge and get the same results.
Congratulations on the find. I hope your gun is as accurate as mine was.

I wasn't too thrilled with the grey finish on mine. Sent it to Ken Kelly at Mag-Na-Port. He bead blasted it to a nice subdued stainless finish plus double magnaporting on each side of barrel, trigger job, jeweled hammer and trigger.
Nice looking gun now and is a pussy cat to shoot.
Since mine is a .454, I only shoot .454 rounds in it. Maybe when I'm older I'll do .45s.
Do what Cherokee does with reduced loads in .454 cases, but NOT with WW296/H110. Full power loads only with them or crazy pressure problems.

Thanks guys, good advise all. wvhitman, Mag-Na-Port work over sounds interesting. I will look into that.

WHETHER OUT OR PRECAUTION AND/OR TO MARKET 45 COLT CYLINDERS, FREEDOM ARMS RECOMMENDS AGAINST SHOOTING 45 COLT IN A 454 CYLINDER, SO ALL OF MY FA 454's HAVE AN XTRA CYLINDER IN 45 COLT, MAKES LIFE SIMPLER, AND, I SUSPECT, ALSO MAKES FOR BETTER ACCURACY FOR THE 45 COLT.

I love the gray finish and wish they still used it, on all of them.

I really like the Target Gray finish. Oddly enough, it was an accidental result of the tumbling process that Ruger was using at the time. It has always met with mixed emotions, but the reason they have cited for no longer offering the finish is that it cannot be reapplied.

I like it as well. Just acquired a 71/2" in .480. Looked for one for quite a while.

Thinking about trying one of the gray finishes in Cerakote.

Craig,

Those grips look great on your SRH. Where did you get them? Have you noticed a difference in felt recoil?

Thanks

Pat

Those are some grips from Thailand I got off Ebay. They look good but are not as comfortable as I hoped and I went back to the original insert type grips.

They do look good. Thanks for the info.

Finally figured out how to post photos. With the help of some folks on the hunting side of this forum. Anyway this is the 454 I purchased with an Ultra-Dot mounted. I just bought a Bushnell 2x6 Elite for it also. I really like the grey finish.

Love the gray finish on my srh 480. Bought it used .. Some scuffing on the bottom of the barrel from the previous owner.Seems pretty durable. The cylinder face is not gray but polished steele. I figured previous owner went after it with a no lead cloth. I just go after all surfaces with hoppys and light coat of rem oil.

Grey finish SRH with scope mounted. After shooting the Ultra-Dot and then the Bushnell scope, I think I'm going to use the scope for awhile. Craig44, I had one of my rifles cerakoted, and have put it to hard use. The finish is really tough. I think you would be pleased.

I like the target grey on my (6 shot, first run 480) SRH. It is a simple matter of a wipe down to clean, and not unattractive at all.

My current SRH is a 9.5" in 480 Ruger. It has a 30mm UltraDot for a sight. I like the Grey finish for hunting. Yours should still have the quick change front sight. I like to change the front sight to Fiber Optic incase I ever need to shoot open sights.
Go with the Hogue "Tamer" grips. The 454 has pretty sharp recoil. Hogue makes a Standard Grip GP100/SRH, as well as the Tamer which has a Smurf Blue Sorbothane insert down the back. The grip may have been changed out already. Take it off and look at the back on the inside. If you see Smurf Blue it has already been changed out.

Bob

Bob, the grips were installed by me and have the insert. They really made a difference. I never thought about the front sight being a quick change unit, interesting. Since I am fairly new to this particular revolver I have been trying different loads and bullets. It does have a fairly sharp recoil. I just really enjoy shooting it. I have an UltraDot for it also, but for now I'm inclined to use the scope.

Bob, what manufacture Fiber Optic did you end up using?