Redhawk Project

[FHBrumb]

Yup. Will do. Be a while, but will do.

The cylinder is imperfect. It will not be a drop in. The internal surface that rides against the yoke is not cut deep enough. The circumference is correct. I will have to use a piloted countersink to remove some material. Likely will go like .002 at a pop. I have a set of shims, in case I dig too deep.

I purchased the cylinder as-is from Hamilton Bowen.

 

[FHBrumb]

Added some black to the medallions for contrast. Came out pretty decent.

 

[303hunter]

Added some black to the medallions for contrast. Came out pretty decent.

View attachment 106256

Those look great!

 

[FHBrumb]

Thanks!

 

[FHBrumb]

Ruger Super Redhawk 454. Cylinder is almost identical. The main differences are stronger steel, and no flutes.

 

[gunpoorboy]

Big deal. I hate it. (Can I have it, really, it's beaaaaaaaautiful)

 

[Onty]

Did not Ruger require the use a tougher cylinder steel when going to a 454C.

Yes indeed! Here is article about steels used on 454 SRH (and I believe 480 also) https://www.carpentertechnology.com/blog/most-powerful-revolvers-get-lift-from-aerospace-alloys

As for pressures, for 45 Colt "Ruger level", Hodgdon goes up to 30 000 PSI. For 454 standard pressure is up to 65 000 PSI, or 50 000 CUP. More than double increase.

If I remembered correctly, John Linebaugh stated that large frame NM BH in 45 Colt fails at about 60 000 PSI. I doubt that 45 Colt Redhawk is so strong that will take considerably more pressure than that.

In other words, the only logical solution to have 454 in standard Redhawk is what OP already did; 454 Cylinder from SRH and install it on Redhawk. However, that is not all. Nominal stainless steel for barrel, even magnum revolvers, is 416R. If you go to article I mentioned, you will find that steel Ruger used for 454 SRH is 15Cr-5Ni. This steel is considerably more resistant to very high pressure and erosion effect generated by 454 ammunition. In other words, even if 454 SRH cylinder is installed on Redhawk, and revolver consistently used to shoot standard pressure 454 loads, especially using double base powders, the barrel could be severely damaged.

"Here is a post from Bob Baker of Freedom Arms:

We have seen numerous barrels damaged by using Lil'Gun. According to customers, some had as few as 30 rounds using Lil Gun through them, some had several hundred. Before we figured out what was happening one customer had sent his gun in for a new barrel. Then 600 rounds later it came back for another new barrel.

A couple years ago we did a test with a M83, .357 Mag. using Hornady 180 gr. bullets. We loaded 50 rds. of three different loads. One was a heavy H-110 load and the other two both used Lil Gun in different quantities.

We fired the H-110 loads first, then cut off the threaded end of the barrel. Rethreaded the barrel and shot one of the Lil Gun loads then rethreaded the barrel and shot the last Lil Gun load.

We found even the light load of Lil Gun caused the gun to get extremely hot. The heavy Lil Gun load had the gun so hot the only place we could touch the gun was on the grips and they were very hot.

Under magnification the surface appeared to have heated to a point of flowing using the Lil Gun loads and the heavy load was worse than the light load. This is probably due to Lil Gun having about 10% more nitro glycerin in it than H-110."

https://www.300blktalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=89276

 

[FHBrumb]

 

[FHBrumb]

For the ACP capable guns. Not my video, but interesting.

 

[FHBrumb]

 

[Arisin' Wind]

View attachment 106906

Nice looking handgun. Real nice!

 

[FHBrumb]

Thank you. I'm pretty jazzed.

 

[Onty]

Several people have voiced concerns about 454 pressures in the 45 Colt Redhawk. Some folks were just awful about it.

Even though this is far from the first time this conversion has been done, some folks think that since it happened before the internet, it never happened.


So to make all the internet Nanny Squad Members happy, I bought this.

You should be the the happiest one ! Perfect revolver, with perfect cylinder, and so strong that you do not have to worry as rest of us mortals, shooting 45 Colt loads, even in large Rugers in this caliber.

Since I am old school, on conservative side, IMHO this load for 454 Casull is the best in not so heavy, short barrel Redhawk:

From https://freedomarms.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/454-Loading-Data.pdf

Frankly, even this starting load at just 17,100 CUP (less than 45 ACP) driving 300 grains bullet at over 1100 fps, should be more than enough even for the largest beasts in Americas and Europe.

 

[FHBrumb]

I like 28.0gr Enforcer. About 100fps slower, but much more efficient and only about 54KPSI.

 

[drycreek]

I really liked that first video. It shows beyond a doubt exactly what I have been wondering. I have been thinking about the Casull, almost bought a used FA, but the guy backed out. I figured that was an omen and just bought another Blackhawk in .45 Colt. Since I don’t hunt anything except whitetails and hogs anymore the .45 Colt with heavy bullets lumbering along at 1,000 to 1,100 fps will kill anything I can hit. Ronnie Wells is working on it now and I can’t wait for THE phone call !

PS: It ain’t gonna look like this !