Ruger Redhawk .45 Colt & .45 ACP
Right here. This has my interest. When looking at a new gun, I consider the caliber for monetary reasons. I’m pretty heavily invested in four calibers* and the thought of having to invest in another is a factor. My shelf space is at a premium and the cost of getting into another caliber have dissuaded me from buying some guns. Many a times, I’ve found a good deal on something in .40, and I pass.
* 22LR, 9MM, 5.56, and .45ACP if you must know.
June 15th, 2015 at 7:44 pm
Y’know, that looks kinda interesting. I have no idea how much re-engineering it would take, or if Ruger would be interested in doing it, but if they could hack the trigger to come close to the GP100 Match Champion, it might turn out to be a good option for ICORE. The 4.2 inch barrel is the max allowed on a wheelgun for IDPA, and IPSC pretty much doesn’t care, so….
Might even make a pretty good carry revolver, since it’s chambered for both 45s, one has ammo choices, and because it’s a Ruger, a 255 grain SWC at 1K outclasses my Mountain Gun.
Thanks, Unc.
June 15th, 2015 at 7:46 pm
So it comes with two cylinders? It is impossible to use .45ACP and .45LC on the same cylinder. Look at the difference in rim thickness between .45LC and .45 Auto Rimmed cases. An ACP cylinder would have too much headspace for .45LC.
June 15th, 2015 at 9:25 pm
No, it doesn’t come with 2 cylinders. It comes with one cylinder that can fire 45 Colt without moon clips or 45ACP with moon clips. Kind of like the S&W Governor fires .410 shot shells, 45 Colt, or 45 ACP (with moon clips) all in the same cylinder.
June 15th, 2015 at 9:53 pm
My first thought was that the grips are too small. I have a S&W Model 25 Lew Horton Special in .45 acp, though, I bet the grips are actually about the same size.
.45 acp is fairly stout out of a 3″ barrel in the S&W, or at least I think so.
June 15th, 2015 at 10:14 pm
My apologies for a slight hijack. Like Unc, I am somewhat influenced by monetary considerations. I’m looking for a good .22LR revolver to add to my .22 collection. I shoot a lot of .22 (target rifle, match rifle, basic Marlin and more) and have a good stock of ammo (10K plus).
I want a high quality revolver, double action, swing out cylinder and target sights. My choices appear to be Ruger SP101 (grips are a little small), Smith 617 or Model 17 Masterpiece. I’m really leaning towards the Model 17, even though it’s the most expensive of the lot and may take 2-4 months to get.
Any advice from guys in the know?
Apologies for the hijack. I now return you to the thread in progress……
June 16th, 2015 at 2:12 am
“Might even make a pretty good carry revolver”
Alien, I have a Redhawk with a 4″ barrel in .45 Colt and for concealed carry it’s like packing a anchor. It’s a BIG heavy revolver and, like all of Ruger’s wheelguns, solid (and heavy) as a anvil. After you’ve hefted one you might do like I did and look in the box to see if a Artillery carriage was included. 🙂
Dont get me wrong, it’s a great pistol and I like mine a lot. But IMHO, for open carry the Redhawk is great but no so much for concealed.
I’m not advising anyone not to get one, They’re excellent. I’m just letting y’all know that it’s a big booger.
June 16th, 2015 at 2:37 am
Um, guys this isn’t a new idea. Check out Tenring.com
June 16th, 2015 at 4:52 am
@ Huck – Having owned a Redhawk in 44 magnum, I figured it wasn’t an S&W Airweight. Daily carry now is a G20, no pocket pistol that, and way back when in my revolver days it used to be a 4″ 629. According to Ruger, it’s 44 ounces, about 5 ounces heavier than the 1911 I dragged around for decades. That it’s chambered for 45C and cut for ACP moon clips makes it attractive.
@NM – have a 17, 18 and a 617. Get the 17 because you’ll appreciate it a lot, and later get a 617 because it’s more fun to shoot, and not as valuable long term.
June 16th, 2015 at 7:21 am
Been wanting this very gun to come out for several years now. This revolver can do pretty much anything. Having the moon clips means it will be nice for IDPA and the barrel length and weight is within the IDPA limits. Its defensive abilities can be taken for granted. Also, .45 colt can be loaded very hot in Red and Blackhawks, almost if not equal to .44mag, so it would be quite nice as a bear gun and even short range hunting. For CCW, wait until they do a 2.5inch version, though even then it will not be easy to conceal.
June 16th, 2015 at 10:17 am
My 625 bored out to take .460 Rowland will fire moonclipped .45 ACP/Super, .45 AutoRim and the heavy “bear class” moon-clipped Rowland rounds in the -same- cylinder.
Picked that cartridge for the same “minimize calibers” reasoning, the Rowland even uses the same reloading dies and bullet range.
So, neener-neener?
June 16th, 2015 at 2:34 pm
“Many a times, I’ve found a good deal on something in .40, and I pass.”
You might want to add a 40.
During the last ammo shortage 40 was always in stock at multiple stores.
22lr, 9mm and 45ACP was very hard to find and limited to 2 boxes.
June 16th, 2015 at 5:13 pm
Some gun nut you are.
Not only what Alan said, but … you don’t need a thousand rounds of every caliber.
It’s okay to have a gun as a novelty and only have a little ammo for it.
(I mean, I inherited a Savage 99E in .300 Savage.
I’m not sure I have even a box of ammunition for it, though I think I bought a bag of brass.
I bought a .44 Magnum “because I didn’t have one”, and have only one box of ammo for it.)
June 16th, 2015 at 5:37 pm
The old Bianchi X15 vertical shoulder holster does a reasonable job for concealment, covered by a safari jacket. BTW, my Redhawk has a 7.5″ barrel.
It would probably hide better in a muzzle up rig, but KL Null Holsters model SMZ is not designed for such a heavy gun. http://www.klnullholsters.com/default.htm
June 16th, 2015 at 6:19 pm
Shut up and take my money!!!!!
June 16th, 2015 at 7:09 pm
I focus mostly on my semi-auto rifle rounds,7.62×39 and 7.62×51.