Ruger Redhawk

I've had my stainless 51/2" Redhawk for several years and I have no intentions of getting rid of it.

Maybe it's just me but I don't care for the looks of the Super Redhawk.
 
How many folks who shoot a .44 mag revolver use the DA feature?
It seems that most people shoot them single action.
For me, the single action sixgun points and handles much better than the DA revolvers.
For those who mostly (or exclusively) shoot their bigger caliber revolvers SA, wouldn't a good ole' SA sixgun be better?
Just curious.
 
I like shooting my SAA design Sauer in 44 Mag, but the Smith 629s offer the opportunity to customize grips. Otherwise I opt for a glove after about two rounds with the SAA gun. Also the cylinder pin jumps loose on every shot. Gotta work on getting a tougher retention spring.
 
G.wilikera, I have thought that over and I hypothesize some like the crane on the cylinder for easier loading. I have a .44 Super Blackhawk myself, but I'd sure like a Redhawk to compliment it.
 
I have a 9.5" Super Redhawk with a Leupold scope. Excellent deer stand revolver.

I have a 5.5" stainless Redhawk in .41 Magnum. Nothing to dislike there either.

And right now Ruger is making a limited number of .41 Magnum Redhawks in the 4.2" barrel length. I would really like one myself.

Gregg
 
How many folks who shoot a .44 mag revolver use the DA feature?
It seems that most people shoot them single action.
Click to expand...

If someone carries a .44 for forest protection, then they may well need it in DA if caught be surprise.

Also, I may be giving IPSC a go with my .44, in which case all shots will be DA, too!
 
It isn't just the "DA feature." Not like a Redhawk is a Blackhawk with a DA trigger added. I own both. I own LOTS of both. For a lot of general hunting and shooting, SA's like Blackhawks and Super Blackhawks are nice. I never shoot my big 9.5" Super Redhawk DA but I still like the feel of it. It isn't something I can objectively quantify but the feel is different. A 5.5" Redhawk feels a lot different from a 5.5" Blackhawk. I enjoy both.

Gregg
 
I like the looks of it better than the same 7.5" barrel on a Super Redhawk.

However, I bought a SuperRedhawk as the Redhawk DA trigger reach was just a hint too far for my medium-to-short-for-size index finger to reach comfortably.

Also, the SRH was more like my GP100, which is a great fit for my hands.

My neighbor has the Redhawk, which he had a gunsmith modify the frame of, to reduce the trigger reach.

It feels noticeably better than the factory Redhawk, but is probably not something that would be able to be covered by a warranty in the future.

I will say I don't care for the Redhawk spring design, as it is more difficult to custom tailor the trigger feel. There is a single coil spring, instead of the SRH with a hammer spring AND a trigger return spring. The SRH is easier for me to get a smooth/crisp/light/safe/reliable ignition from the spring design than the Redhawk.

The best Redhawk I ever saw was around a 5.5" I love the look/feel to it. I just can't feel comfortable with it in my hand, unless I have cocked the hammer already [effectively making it a single-action handgun].

I had a S&W 629, but sold it for the SRH, as I prefer Ruger's for their durability, and I am familiar with the triggers enough to obtain a smooth/crisp/reliable one that makes me happy.
 
I Love my Redhawk, that being said I also use the single action the most. I do use double action but on the range I mostly use single action.
 
jmstr - I like the looks of it better than the same 7.5" barrel on a Super Redhawk.

However, I bought a SuperRedhawk as the Redhawk DA trigger reach was just a hint too far for my medium-to-short-for-size index finger to reach comfortably.

Also, the SRH was more like my GP100, which is a great fit for my hands.

My neighbor has the Redhawk, which he had a gunsmith modify the frame of, to reduce the trigger reach.<snip>
Click to expand...

The trigger reach isn't really too bad as long as you maintain an exposed backstrap in your grip choice. The original rubber grip is my favorite so far, given my smallish hands.
 
I tend to shoot my 7.5" Redhawk in double action nearly all the time. Two reasons... First is that I have grown very accustomed to DA on all my revolvers and mostly because it just seems like I have a FAR more consistent shot to shot grip/hold on the handgun when I don't move either hand between shots to thumb back the hammer.

Second is that my Redhawk is quite odd (IMO) because the DA trigger seems smoother and more predictable while the SA break feels hard, heavy and a bit gritty.

Beyond that, I have simply never cared for the feel of a single action revolver in my hand (at least compared to a DA with a proper set of grips) and while the slow loading of a single action is actually enjoyable to me... the obnoxious slow ejection is very much NOT enjoyable.

I own one single action revolver, a .30 Carbine Blackhawk. It is the perfect oddball niche "goof around" toy and I sure like it enough to keep it. But it visits the range once a year, maybe.
 
I will also make a comment on the grip trigger length of pull.
I have very small hands and as mentioned above if you keep the back strap visible the length of pull is very comfortable. I like the original grips that come with them although on mine I have a pair of stag grips that just make the gun feel out of this world.

 
My second handgun. Went from one extreme to another-.22LR to .44 mag. But I had always wanted one as I still consider them to be the most beautiful .44 mag ever produced, though I now believe the Colt Anaconda gives them a run for the money. Put all kinds of heavy loads through this one, fried two scopes before settling on this indestructible Burris. Don't shoot it all that much anymore, since I'm an auto guy. It's my only revolver and it's doubtful I'll ever sell it, though I had a neighbor wanting to give me $500 for it. The SRH is an improved design, for sure, but it lacks the clean and gorgeous lines of the original.

100_0456.jpg
 
The single-action Blackhawk's or SBH's hammer swings slow and heavy compared to the Redhawk's. The Redhawk's action isn't the envy of all double-action revolver manufacturers, but it can be helped. The S&W M29 probably has the best lock-time of the big revolvers. If I could get one in .45 Colt, I would have.

As it stands, my .45 Colt Redhawk shoots better than I do, SA or DA. I'd say that I shoot it DA about 75 -85% of the time, usually when shooting factory equivalent loads or slightly warmer than factory loads (which is more likely to be in it, if I anticipate the revolver's use for social work and not hunting). When running seriously heavy hunting-type loads (250gr. @ 1150 f/s or more) through it, I tend to shoot single-action. It'd be worth trying those loads in DA, but I suspect my group sizes will suffer.

I didn't realize how really big the Redhawk was, until I compared it to a friend's Model 29. It IS big. I also know that, as long as I don't try to turn my .45 Colt into a .458 Winchester, my RedHawk will stand up to anything I run through it.

I love mine, and won't be turning loose of it anytime soon. I just wish I could find speed-loaders for it.
 
When I have tried the Redhawk, it was with the type of grips that were thinish and left the backstrap exposed.

My problem was that I had to shift my right hand grip to be able to maintain proper trigger control when I shifted from DA to SA mode.

In DA mode I had to 'cock' my hand a little to the right to be able to get enough meat on the center of the trigger to pull it straight back smoothly.

In SA mode my hand was now in an awkward position, and I'd rotate it back.

If I used the SA Mode hand position, i'd be pulling on the right edge of the trigger in DA mode, and this tended to make the shot 'pull' to the right.

In my GP100 and SRH I don't have this issue.

I am actually sad about this, as I like the Redhawk looks better than the SRH, but the SRH fits my hand better.

Of course, so does the SBH.:D
 
Yes indeed, Weaver, not Weigand.

I liked it precisely because it was no drill in design, but they seem to be discontinued and there's no way I'll find one in Europe, I think!!
 
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