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[Rainman]

I have a 4" 44 Redhawk that has been Mag-Na- Ported. I shot the same full house load through it and a 5.5" New Model Super Blackhawk recently. I have the original factory wood grips on both and the difference was amazing. The Redhawk was a pussycat compared to the painful SBH. I absolutely love the Redhawk and have since traded the SBH.

Consider having it ported if you are concerned with the recoil.

Dan
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"No man in the wrong can stand up against a fellow that’s in the right and keeps on a-comin’”-Texas Ranger Motto

[nugentjeep45]

I don't know who this lady is, but I ran across this clip on youtube while I was searching for the Ruger Redhawk. She may have been shooting light loads but she obvioulsly loves her Redhawk!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3Nn4S_IMGk&feature=related

[GoFullAuto]

[Redhawk4]

My point was that the size difference is not enough to influence your choice if other factors point you towards a 4" Redhawk.

My experience is that with a decent holster, I use Simply Rugged, there is no problem carrying a 4" Redhawk, I can even carry concealed if I choose to. Posts are always made implying that the Redhawk is so big and heavy, compared to a S&W that it is not feasable to carry a Redhawk. With the right holster I don't think you could tell the difference.

Showing pictures of it compared to a SA is not really proving anything relavent to my statement - "Is the Redhawk 4" really significantly larger than any other DA 44 mag?. Although looking at the pictures, again I don't think the Redhawks extra size would make much difference to carrying it, if someone wants to go the DA route.

Everyone can buy what they want and works for them, I just don't think we should be misinforming people about the 4" Redhawk as a carry gun for protection in the back country. I carried mine for many hours on Sunday while out in my Jeep in the Mountains, was still carrying it at home and then carried it, as it was already on my belt, while attending to some matters within city limits for which I would normally have carried another handgun. It was not uncomfortable and I haven't had to go to the ER room as a result .

I bought the Redhawk because I wanted a DA revolver and I also wanted the inherent strength, for reliability and longevity, and to be able to fire/carry some really hot and heavy loads should the need arise. S&W do not produce an equivalent revolver IMO. A few ounces and fractions of an inch, for me, do not outweigh the real benefits.

Why is the Redhawk the unloved bastard child of the Ruger family? whenever a discussion starts it seems everyone is advised to look elsewhere.

[Yosemite Sam]

I would ask: What are you going to use it for? And, do you or are you going to handload?

The .44 Redhawk is a big, heavy gun, and the .44 magnum is a big, heavy caliber. We can kid ourselves all day and be the manly men saying, "That recoil is nothing; You should try a .XYZ!", but the fact of the matter is the big magnum kicks like a mule compared to a .38 or even a .357.

Take a look at my avatar: That's me shooting a 4" Taurus .44 mag with a 185gr slug on top of 31gr of H110. This is pretty close to the commercial UMC 185gr load that you can buy at Wal-Mart. As you can see, it is a handful of fire and brimstone. The WWB 240gr load kicks a lot more, and can hurt your hand. This is before you get into the Buffalo Bore 300gr+ hunting rounds. Remember that even with the Hogue grips, the Redhawk grip has an exposed backstrap which will lovingly kiss your palm with the full force of recoil.

I've been mostly shooting .44 Specials and light .45 Colts recently. I lit off my .44 Redhawk with full-house commercial loads last time and was shocked at the difference. It had been a while since I'd shot those rounds. Also, most of my magnum shooting has been done recently with a SBH Bisley Hunter, which smooths things out some.

If you primarily shoot at paper there's really no reason to pay $35/50 for ammo, as you will with the magnum.

If you reload, all of the above goes out the window, because you can adjust the loads to suit your shooting.

And if you really, really want one, then nothing can (or should!) change your mind. You can always get a shooting glove to lessen any pain.

-- Sam
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This space for rant.

[Yosemite Sam]

RE: Redhawk4
I recently started carrying a S&W 624 3" .44 Special N-frame in a Simply Rugged on a Rafter-S belt. This has confirmed to me that indeed, a good holster and belt make all the difference. The Redhawk is a good 10oz heavier than the S&W, if memory serves (RH is 47oz - ~3lbs), which is a good bit of steel to be strapping on.

It would not be my first choice for carrying around town (I don't need a .44 mag for SD, first off), but if I were hiking in bear country I'd take it. That doesn't make the RH a bad gun.

I think one reason people think less of it is its single spring firing mechanism, which makes a super-light SA pull nearly impossible. OTOH, mine has been slicked up and has a reduced power mainspring, and its DA pull is lighter than my lightest S&W.

BTW, I too would rather own a Redhawk than a 629, or a 44SS4, for that matter. And I do now.

-- Sam
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This space for rant.

[Redhawk4]

It depends which Smith 4" model you're talking about but the difference in weight is about 5-6 ounces. 629 4" 41.5 ounces, RH 4" 47 ounces. Not much in the scheme of things.

Maybe it's just me but I really can't see any problem with the Redhawk single action trigger pull, it works as well as my S&W. The DA pull is better on my RH than my Smith, I'm more interested in that personally, because for defensive situations, DA is what I' going to be using and I can get good groups when shooting fast. I think the trigger issue is more of a problem for those who want a "custom trigger" but I don't like too much of a hair trigger. I think because my hands are so big that what is a heavy trigger pull to some, is a light trigger to me.

[GoFullAuto]

To Redhawk4:

just to be sure, I am a RH fan too, and I am seriosuly considering swapping my current 5,5-inch for the new 4-incher, the only issue being dear old money.

I like the RH for the same reasons you outlined: its modern layout, its very smooth DA, and top of all its strength and consequent ability to handle super heavy ammo (or sloppy handloaders, like myself ) with no issue at all

I was just saying: the Smith is a different concept, with different priorities, which I immediately felt in my hand. Not only the number of ounces, it's a mix of size, weight and ergonomics that made me wish I had BOTH guns, for different "tastes".
I cannot really refer to "purposes" (I'm not allowed to carry down here), but, for one thing, I felt it could be funny to play with the Smith, midrange loads, in a small IDPA stage, for instance. My small hands get a bit stretched out by the RH, reducing control on the gun in rapid fire... I felt it might be not so with the 29.

This said, I'd be buying a 4-inch RH NOW... and an M629 4-inch later, as soon as the Euros bundled up again.

Ah, one last line about felt recoil (again, my personal feelings). The first magnum rounds I ever fired were in 1983, I was 14.

Well, I don't exactly remember the moment of my first full blast .357.
But the moment of my first .44 mag, I remember like it was yesterday
It felt like firing BOMBS from my hands. I was blown off completely, and 3rd round was a dramatic FLINCH ( ).

Just my two Euro - cents

By
GfA
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[GhosT]

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=68583

I am an old Ruger whore that NEVER owned a REDHAWK.....
But my history might help.

Own both a GP100...and a SUPER REDHAWK..kinda fits yer gun in the middle.
Feel free to blow my advice off...but....
Kinda a historian on the gun ya mentioned.

REDHAWK VS SUPER REDHAWK.

Had you suggested .480 or .454 woulda opened a new can of worms.
But , JMHO...in the "lower" 48 states... the .44 magnum rules.

Known countless REDHAWK OWNERS thrilled with them.

Harry, don't fear the recoil...........And you don't have to handload...lol
Of course...the lightest practice loads....44 specials.
But there are also light weight .44 magnum loads too.


The standard .44 magnum load is 240 grains...
compared to yer .357 ....158 grains...might seem alot,but it really isn't.

The REDHAWK weighs more than yer GP100.Weight absorbs recoil.

Ohh, not gonna lie, the 44 does have a harder kick....
But not anything to sweat!
Find a friend that owns one, or a gunshop/range that can rent one.
You won't find the round scary..and will appreciate the REDHAWK design