Barrel change for my Redhawk ??

[captkatmai]

I'd like to conceal carry my Ruger Redhawk, .44 Mag but the 7 1/2 barrel
is a bit much, and the Alaskans are too expensive.
What's involved in converting it to a 3 inch barrel? Where would I buy that barrel.
( I work in brown bear country and can't carry an exposed weapon.)
Thanks!

 

[GP100man]

captkatmai

The Redhawk is offered in 4"from the factory but what your looking for will have to be from a custom job .

Do a search on smiths here & usually a good 1 is back logged !

almost forgot WELCOME TO RUGER FORUM .COM!!!!!!

 

[batmann]

I would see how a 4" RH suits you before cutting the barrel. I don't know your price range, but I have seen Alaskan's less than 4" RH.

 

[captkatmai]

DON'T THEY UNSCREW?

Batmann;

The Alaskans I've seen are 2 1/2" and $650+. I could sell my Redhawk for
about $450 and put a few hundred with it to get an Alaskan but I'd like to
consider and learn if it's possible to change the barrel to a 3", not cut it.
Do they make a 3" barrel that I could replace my 7 1/2"
barrel with? I'm trying to avoid the auction fees, FFL fees and shipping and
my Redhawk would do the job nicely with a short barrel.

GP100man;

Thanks for the welcome and I'll keep my eye out for a 4" er. Just trying to
avoid all the nickle and dime-ing with fees.

 

[CraigC]

There's no "easy" (or cheap) way to do it. Either your barrel is cut (most economical) or another is procured, fitted and cut to length (least economical). If I already owned a longer Redhawk and wanted three or four inches I'd rather send it to a gunsmith for shortening, tuning and a Weigand interchangeable front sight system than take a $200 hit on a trade for a factory four incher. You can get exactly what you want but you will have to pay for it one way or another.

 

[revhigh]

Not only that, Capt ... the REDHAWK, and the SUPER REDHAWK, which is what the Alaskan is based on, are TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT FRAMES. Are you sure which frame you prefer ? The Redhawk frame is more like a single action frame, and the SRH frame is more like the DA GP100. Be absolutely SURE which frame you prefer before you make a decision. Personally, as Craig said, if you prefer the Redhawk, then your only option for a 3 inch barrel is custom gunsmithing.

I happen to like the grip of the SRH best, but you have to decide for yourself on that. If you're a newbie to Rugers and/or guns in general, do your due diligence to decide which frame you like the best.

REV

 

[batmann]

Price a GOOD gunsmith to cut, crown and replace your front sight. I have never had that done, so it may be cheaper to go that way.
Good luck, and welcome to the forum.

 

[captkatmai]

Thanks guys, for all the advise. I kinda doubt that I could find a good smith
here in Hawaii, seeing that they're so anti gun, and I'll need to have this issue
solved before I get back to Alaska in the spring. Looks like my best option
is to sell the Redhawk and bite the bullet on the Alaskan. Anyone want a
Redhawk? hahah!
Thanks all!

 

[Wrangler John]

Check this site: www.magnaport.com/conv.html These folks offer many different packages for converting the Redhawk and Super Redhawk at reasonable prices. Good work too!

 

[captkatmai]

Thanks John. I'll check into it.