Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Ruger Redhawk reviews please

Lott: What brass were you using? I had the same issue with a 6 shot 480 Ruger cylinder with Hornady brass. Using the same load in Starline brass the cases drop from the cylinder by gravity alone.

When I looked, 7.5" 44mag: SRH = 53oz RH = 54oz

Hornady. It wasn't really a problem as I saw it, as it gave me a solid pressure indication that slightly sticky was equivalent to factory pressures and just back off a touch. I was content with 400 gr @ 1200 fps and 1" 50 yd groups.

I backordered 480 brass from Starline last year, but still no word on when they'll produce any.

I currently have a Red Hawk, in 41 Rem Mag, for handgun hunting. It has a 7-1/2" barrel and I had a very good smith do a complete action job on it. Very smooth, accurate, handgun that isn't difficult to use. Over the years, I've had quite a few different hunting handguns. T/C Contender Super 14" in 44 Rem Mag, a 28, 29's, 629's, 57's, 657's, SRH's and RH's. Accuracy, for me, has been about the same for all of them, acceptable hunting accuracy with me being the weakest link. Reliability? Have honestly never had an issue with any of them. I was particularly attached to a SRH, in 44 Rem Mag, with a 9-1/2" barrel and used it a lot. Still have the 4" 28, that thing makes me look good! Lol! No matter what I put in it, it shoots right where I point it, from 125's to 180's! The RH 41 Rem Mag and the 28 357 Mag are what I still have and use and don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

We have a Redhawk in 41 mag and a SRH in 10mm. Both are great shooting guns that I don't see me ever selling. These are example targets shot at 25 yards.

Have an older stainless 5.5" Redhawk in .45 Colt. Loaded it up with 300g at 1600fps, cases dropped right out - no sticking.

Strong gun, strong recoil with stiff loads. Maintains timing and easy to do basic smithing.

250g lead with 9g Unique is a nice load.I have an Alaskan chest holster-easy to draw, doesn't make you walk with a lean.

Have 5" Redhawlks in .357, .41, and .44. 4" in .45LC. Havea 629 Mountain Gun .44, 57 .41 Mag, 25 .45LC. My 2 favorites of the bunch are the Redhawk .41 and the Model 25 .45LC. All of the shooter better than me. The .357 Redhawk is a perfect "first magnum" for new shooters to play with as the weight makes it a cupcake even with full house loads. All have taken Pa and or NY Whitetails.

Given the same barrel length or a little bit shorter (6inch S&W vs. 5.5inch Ruger) would the Ruger fit into the same holster made for a S&W M29/629?

It depends on how form fitting the holster is, and how much give there is in the material. If it is some softer material then some will. I know that I have holsters for 4" Redhawks and 4" Model 29s from Milt Sparks, where the leather is very hard, and the Redhawk will not fit in the Model 29 holster. However the Model 29 will fit in the Redhawk. So it just depends.

Thank you, Mackay. I have a 1930 Austin from the EPS company made for S&W N-frame. I wonder if it would fit a Ruger Redhawk