Why is the Ruger Super Redhawk a 6 shot 454 instead of a 5 shot 454 like my BFR? If I remember correctly it has something to do with the material the cylinder is composed of. I think one of the members here had a link to answer that question which explained what material the cylinder is composed of. My hunting partner asked this question because he has a RSR in 454.

I guess because Ruger feels that it is strong enough and 6 shots helps marketing.

IMHO though any high pressure revolver should have an odd number of chambers regardless of material strength. That is because with an even number the bolt notches which is the most likely place of failure are directly above the chambers and with an even number they are between chambers.

I have always understood that when Bill Sr. was alive, he was simply flat-out opposed to building a revolver with other than a 6 shot cylinder. With his passing, a few 5 shot .480's were built, but that was short lived.
So Mike, they're 6 shots because he wanted them to be 6 shots!

mike,

When Ruger was redeveloping the SRH for the 454 C cartridge, they knew they needed a cylinder "stronger" than the 44 Mag capable of handling 54% greater pressures. They experimented with several new alloys and decided to use the Carpenter Custom 465 stainless, developed as a candidate for aerospace components, is a premium-melted, martensitic, age-hardenable alloy capable of about 260 ksi ultimate tensile strength when peak aged. In this condition, it also offers higher notch tensile strength and fracture toughness than other precipitation-hardening stainless grades. It provides, in addition, excellent resistance to stress corrosion cracking.
The frame is made from the same alloy as the 44 Mag. you can refer to the article: http://www.cartech.com/techarticles.aspx?id=1608.

What a mouth full!!!!

Doc

To handle the extreme pressures of the .454 Casull without changing the design of the cylinder, Ruger used a different alloy and heat treatment process to increase its strength.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_Super_Redhawk

Here's a direct link to the article about the steel. http://www.cartech.com/techarticles.aspx?id=1608

I know it works, half the money of my FA's, and nearly as accurate 1 5/16" @ 50 yrds.

I have to agree with you Wildcatter. I have been calling my 44 SRH a poor mans FA for some time. LOL

6 shot 100 yard group

Out of the box,my son and I shot a 2 1/2" group,with 4X tasco scope at 110 yards,bench rest of course,,and that was with the heavy trigger it came with,with the Wolff spring kit I put in it it took it down to 3 pounds.We've been practicing quite a bit over the last several months and the trigger is right at 2pounds 4 ounces to 2 pounds 8 ounces,RCBS premium trigger gauge.One of my better groups(sorry ,didn't take pictures)this was standing shooting off a rest on the hood of my ranger,distance 75 yards,was 3/4 of an inch and that was with the Hornady 250X.T.P. over 33.9 gr. of H110,with C.C.I. 400 primer.These babies can really shoot!My working mans pistol does everything I need it to do(fill the freezer)so I am quite content.