Redhawk .44 Mag Barrel Comparison

M

manowar

New member
Although I'm usually a single action guy, recently I went to double action and got a Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt with a 4.2" barrel. I must admit I do like it quite a lot. Although I've got a standard Ruger Bisley (7.5") and a special run Williams/Ruger stainless Bisley with a 5.5" barrel in .45 Colt, my attraction to the Redhawk was its strength to use heavy bullets with beefy loads. Mostly, though, it was probably because I love guns(!)

I've been making up my mind to get another Redhawk in .44 Mag for a couple months, but I can't seem to settle on whether I'd want it with a 4.2" or 5.5" barrel. I know some of you out there are saying "get both!", but right now it's got to be just one.

Does anyone out there have any opinions/experience/thoughts regarding this dilemma?

I'd very much appreciate hearing from you.
 
I have a 4.2" RH in .44Mag.

I recently posted a question asking if longer barrels were inherently more accurate and the general answer was that in mechanical terms, no they were not. IN fact that shorter barrels, although losing velocity to longer ones, seemed likely to deliver better accuracy.

Of course there is the issue of weight taming recoil and longer sight radii, but all that to say that the 4.2" package is actually a very good size, combining weight, portability yet still decent velocity.

Having said that, there also seems to be a general consensus that the 5.5" delivers the best of both worlds in the Redhawk platform.

I still think that, for me, the 4.2" is the best size, but I'd have been happy with the 5.5 and the proportions of it really suit the RH.

In answer to the question, I'd say the 5.5" sounds like a nice option. Squeezes a bit more from the .44 cartridge whilst still being practical.
 
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I have a redhawk 44 in the 5.5" and like it a lot, comparing it to my GP 100 with the 4.2" the longer sight pic seems to help accuracy.
 
My Redhawk is .44 Mag and in 7.5". I wouldn't trade it for any other Redhawk but if were forced to... I would take the monster 9-inch'er.

Considering what I want from a .44 Magnum, bigger bigger bigger is better-- at least for me.
 
My Redhawk is .44 Mag and in 7.5". I wouldn't trade it for any other Redhawk but if were forced to... I would take the monster 9-inch'er.

Considering what I want from a .44 Magnum, bigger bigger bigger is better-- at least for me.
Click to expand...

This is my answer exactly...
 
I can't seem to settle on whether I'd want it with a 4.2" or 5.5" barrel.
Click to expand...
It depends upon what you intend doing with it.
Concealed carry, 4.2 inch. Hunting 5.5 inch...you will want as long of a sight radius as possible. Strictly for range use, any inch...it does not matter. For pleasant and fun shooting, .44 Spl. or light hand loads in either.
 
Thank You , Gentlemen - As stated, I do really love my 4.2" .45 Colt, but something about the 5.5" seems more, well, seemly for the .44 magnum.

Call me nuts if that logic seems nutty, I don't mind. As of this moment, I'm settled on the 5.5". But I know that in a couple months when I have the $$ saved for it my brain will resurrect this same question and I'll be hemming and hawing.

That's why it's good to have this post and thread. I've consulted with the cognoscenti and settled on 5.5" I can just reach back in time and read this thread and breath a sigh of relief and just get the doggone thing!
 
The only time I ever consider going to a shorter barrel length on a handgun is on a gun I'm going to try to carry concealed.
 
Quote:
My Redhawk is .44 Mag and in 7.5". I wouldn't trade it for any other Redhawk but if were forced to... I would take the monster 9-inch'er.

Considering what I want from a .44 Magnum, bigger bigger bigger is better-- at least for me.
Click to expand...

This is my answer exactly...
Click to expand...


x3 !!
 
I own 44's in varying lengths.
Both my RH are 7.5 but one of my SBH is 10in bull barreled and it shoots like a rifle due to the long sight radius.
But for EDC or range use the 5.5 is my favorite.
Has more recoil but slightly down loaded it is more than manageable.
 
Although I don't own a Redhawk, I do own a .44 mag with a 5" bbl and I can tell you that from a pure "pleasantness to shoot" point of view, I certainly wouldn't want a shorter barrel.
 
get the longer one. if at some point in the future you cant get a shorter barrel... you can always have the longer one cut down. its a bit more difficult to add inches.

and I have 7.5 inches.



ruger redhawk hunter model that is.
 
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