I recently purchased a used Ruger Redhawk. However, there is some play in the ejector. If you grasp the star, it will "wiggle" slightly from side to side. When trying to slowly eject unspent rounds in the upright position, the rounds will slip through the star, thus having to dig them out from behind it. Any help in telling me which parts might need replacing or repair; or anything that can be done to tighten up the action is greatly appreciated.
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- Thread starter Para82
- Start date
Bob Wright
New member
Not familiar with the Redhawk, but with most DA revolvers, to eject live rounds, simply open the cylinder and turn the muzzle skyward. Live rounds will fall out by gravity. Then punch out the fired cases.
Bob Wright
Bob Wright
I know how to take live rounds out of a revolver. The rim of the brass should not be able to fall through the ejector star and get trapped behind it though. They do this because there is room to manipulate the star from side to side (only very slightly, but enough to allow rounds to slip past it). Could it be from a bent ejector rod? What else might do this?
Bob Wright
New member
I have already told you everything I know about the Redhawk.
Bob Wright
Bob Wright
Deaf Smith
New member
is your Ruger Redhawk in .44, or .45 or what?
What kind of ammo? Who makes the brass?
Different brass as different rim thickness and width.
Tell us more.
Deaf
What kind of ammo? Who makes the brass?
Different brass as different rim thickness and width.
Tell us more.
Deaf
Never owned a Redhawk, but Security Six, K, and N frame Smiths. The ejectors all have play in them. It's a feature. The bigger question is why would you try to eject with the piece facing down? One other thing, the ejector face loosely holds part of the rim, so it would be easy to knock it off. Most ejector rods are not longer than the case.
I've tried all different kinds of brass, all different kinds of ammo. It's not the ammo, it's the gun. I know there is no need to eject rounds in the upright position guys. But regardless, the rounds should not fall through the ejector face in the upright position when the ejector rod is slowly depressed. I've never had this problem with any revolver before this one anyway. It's a .44mag.
I've seen a few different revolvers do this with unfired rounds, in different calibers.
If they slip off immediately, there might be concern. If the star is half way or more out, this is not a surprise.
Unfired rounds are more loose, since the cases are not swollen from firing, and can move enough to get off the star. Larger caliber rounds also often have smaller rims, increasing the likelihood of this effect.
Really, if you are ejecting live rounds with the muzzle down, you are using the system opposite how it was designed. If it does not work correctly, that is no surprise. You just got lucky with the other guns.
If they slip off immediately, there might be concern. If the star is half way or more out, this is not a surprise.
Unfired rounds are more loose, since the cases are not swollen from firing, and can move enough to get off the star. Larger caliber rounds also often have smaller rims, increasing the likelihood of this effect.
Really, if you are ejecting live rounds with the muzzle down, you are using the system opposite how it was designed. If it does not work correctly, that is no surprise. You just got lucky with the other guns.
g.willikers
New member
Some folks recommend a tactical reload for revolvers with the muzzle down, brass up.
It's for reloads with loose rounds, not using a speed loader.
The fired cases stay up and clear of the cylinder, while the unfired rounds fall back down.
Supposedly makes it easy to pick out the empties and replace them with live rounds.
It does work, if the gun is agreeable.
It's for reloads with loose rounds, not using a speed loader.
The fired cases stay up and clear of the cylinder, while the unfired rounds fall back down.
Supposedly makes it easy to pick out the empties and replace them with live rounds.
It does work, if the gun is agreeable.
"Tactical reload", using loose rounds, without a speed loader? Not being any kind of an expert on using a revolver for gun fighting, it has been my assumption that speed loaders were universally used in that context. I suspect that even Jerry Miculek would be slow if using single rounds.Some folks recommend a tactical reload for revolvers with the muzzle down, brass up. It's for reloads with loose rounds, not using a speed loader.
Deaf Smith
New member
"Tactical reload", using loose rounds, without a speed loader? Not being any kind of an expert on using a revolver for gun fighting, it has been my assumption that speed loaders were universally used in that context. I suspect that even Jerry Miculek would be slow if using single rounds.
What they do is say fire two rounds, open the cylinder and slightly push the ejector rod. The fired rounds will stay up while the loaded ones will not. Then pluck the two and with a speed strip or loops, pluck two fresh rounds and reload.
If rushed, they just close the cylinder and use what is left in the gun.
It's a savvy way to reload without speed loaders.
Fire short burst and then reload behind cover. That way you never are caught with a empty revolver.
Deaf
I just don't understand that idea of not using speed loaders...loading singly seems like someone caught with his pants down.What they do is say fire two rounds, open the cylinder and slightly push the ejector rod. The fired rounds will stay up while the loaded ones will not. Then pluck the two and with a speed strip or loops, pluck two fresh rounds and reload.
If rushed, they just close the cylinder and use what is left in the gun.
It's a savvy way to reload without speed loaders.
Fire short burst and then reload behind cover. That way you never are caught with a empty revolver.
A "tactical" reload is different from using a speed-loader in that it allows the shooter to replenish the cylinder without disabling the gun from firing in the quickest possible time. So, if you've fired two rounds and time and circumstance permits, you can replace the two fired cartridges with two live rounds without dumping everything and leaving yourself vulnerable with an empty cylinder for a longer period of time. At least, that's how I understand the rationale for a "tactical" reload, be it a revolver or a semi-auto pistol.
If you're reloading by any method in a gunfight, it's obvious something went wrongI just don't understand that idea of not using speed loaders...loading singly seems like someone caught with his pants down.
You only use a speedloader when all rounds have been fired.
A"tactical reload" is replacing just the fired rounds during a lull in the action
Correct.If they slip off immediately, there might be concern. If the star is half way or more out, this is not a surprise.
It can happen in virtually any revolver design that has an ejector star. It might be less of a problem in a revolver chambered in a very short cartridge, but I've never heard of a revolver design that is immune to having rounds slip under the star if they are ejected slowly with the muzzle pointed anywhere other than upward.The rim of the brass should not be able to fall through the ejector star and get trapped behind it though.
Correct again.Really, if you are ejecting live rounds with the muzzle down, you are using the system opposite how it was designed. If it does not work correctly, that is no surprise. You just got lucky with the other guns.
The proper way to eject rounds is to turn the muzzle up and strike the ejector rod smartly. If it won't work when you do that, there's a problem. If you're doing it some other way and it's not working then the problem is user induced.
Here is a link where you can download the manual.
https://ruger-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/_manuals/redhawk.pdf
From page 14 and 15
3. Push head of ejector rod smartly toward rear of cylinder until it stops. This action will extract cartridges or fired cases. ...
...
NOTE: When ejecting fired cartridge cases, position the revolver at a high angle so the cases will come fully out of the chamber and not slip under the ejector. ...
...
NOTE: When ejecting fired cartridge cases, position the revolver at a high angle so the cases will come fully out of the chamber and not slip under the ejector. ...
"The fired rounds will stay up..."
That is not quite the issue. The problem as described is not that the empties will stay up when the ejector rod is released, it is that rounds "jump" the extractor. When that happens, the round, empty or loaded, ends up in the chamber ahead of the extractor star, jamming up the gun until the ejector rod is held back and the case removed with a fingernail or tool.
That problem is most common with a round that is shorter than the gun was originally made for, like .38 S&W in an S&W M&P, and is chronic with revolvers chambered for the .45 Colt, whose small rim was never intended for use with a star extractor.*
I would suggest two courses, the first being to always hold the revolver pointing upward and strike the ejector rod forcibly. The second would be to call Ruger and see if they will look at the gun and tighten up that ejector.
*The Army Model 1909, aka the New Service made in .45 Colt, gave the same trouble until the Army made its own ammunition with a larger rim.
Jim
That is not quite the issue. The problem as described is not that the empties will stay up when the ejector rod is released, it is that rounds "jump" the extractor. When that happens, the round, empty or loaded, ends up in the chamber ahead of the extractor star, jamming up the gun until the ejector rod is held back and the case removed with a fingernail or tool.
That problem is most common with a round that is shorter than the gun was originally made for, like .38 S&W in an S&W M&P, and is chronic with revolvers chambered for the .45 Colt, whose small rim was never intended for use with a star extractor.*
I would suggest two courses, the first being to always hold the revolver pointing upward and strike the ejector rod forcibly. The second would be to call Ruger and see if they will look at the gun and tighten up that ejector.
*The Army Model 1909, aka the New Service made in .45 Colt, gave the same trouble until the Army made its own ammunition with a larger rim.
Jim
Deaf Smith
New member
I just don't understand that idea of not using speed loaders...loading singly seems like someone caught with his pants down.
As others have said, reload just a few rounds during a 'lull' in the fight.. And DO wait for a lull. But if you have winchestered your revolver, by all means use the speedloader!
Yes this thread is about rims slipping over the extractor, so try this:
1. Polish the chambers. Several companies make chamber polishing tools.
2. Check the rim width, not thickness, against SAAMI specs.
3. Check the star and extractor for damage.
Deaf
No, definitely no.If you're reloading by any method in a gunfight, it's obvious something went wrong
If you are in a gunfight and everything goes as "RIGHT" as possible and you have another magazine or a speedloader and you adversary has STOPPED being an imminent and immediate direct threat
you BETTER be readying yourself for what may happen next. Standing there with an empty or near-empty handgun is ludicrous if you have ammo on your person.