Redhawk ??

[deanodog]

I am looking at a redhawk 4 inch in 45LC. I would appreciate any input on these guns. I have not made up my mind entirely. Any help? Thanks

 

[Iron Mike Golf]

What do you intend to use it for?

I have a RH in .44 Mag and would love one in .45 Colt.

 

[deanodog]

What do you intend to use it for?

I have a RH in .44 Mag and would love one in .45 Colt.

Informal paper punching. I do not hunt and I have always had single action rugers.

 

[robertkirksey]

I have two .45 Redhawks, one 7 1/2" NIB and one 5 1/2" that I shoot.I love mine and would not trade either for two .44s. Of course I am a .45 (not Long) Colt fan.

 

[freakindawgen]

They are a little hard to find normally,I got mine early on,simply love it. .45 Colt isn't real cheap for plinking but reloading will offset that.

 

[vtmactech]

I have the 4" 45 Colt Redhawk. Very enjoyable revolver. I typically plink with mild handloads and it is a joy to shoot. I have not shot any magnum level load out of it but bought it because I could do so safely if I felt the need.

 

[gunman42782]

I have one, and love it. Changed the grips to Uncle Mikes grips and that made a world of difference in how it felt, and how well I shot it.

 

[WESHOOT2]

I had a 5.5". It had perfect throats, superb accuracy, and a decent DA trigger.
I mounted a Millett orange-ramp front blade and Pachmayr Decelerators.
I used it for ammo development, USPSA Revolver Division, and rare wear.
Nice gun.

During a simplfication I sold it; I kept my 44. The 45 was more than I'd ever need.

 

[stantheman86]

I have the .44 Magnum flavor. I don't reload, and the advantage for me is that today I walked into a sporting goods store that hardly has any ammo and the guy behind the counter found 2 boxes of CCI .44 Magnum with about an inch of dust on the boxes. 8)

My .44 now wears Pachmayr Presentations, I am saving the nicely redone woods in the pic for a future RH purchase, hopefully a 5.5" blue of whatever caliber I can find, hopefully a .44.

I would love a 4" .45 LC, for the sole purpose of having it cut for moons so I can shoot .45 ACP through it.

I hear that some guys load .45 LC to near .454 Casull energy, but then again the same can be done for .44 Magnum taken to "Ruger only" specs in the load books.

 

[WESHOOT2]

One small point: While the 44 version can be heavily loaded, with effective bullet weights up to 340g, the 45 Colt version can acheive similar velocities with bullets that are .022" larger in diameter and up to 20g heavier.

 

[stantheman86]

I don't know but I just got back from putting 100 rounds through my .44 4" and it was a blast 8)

 

[41manor44]

If I ever run across one at the same time I have money in my pocket it's going home with me. I have Redhawks in 41 and 44 but all long barrels. 4" would be a good size for woods walking or paper punching. GO FOR IT!! I have just recently found the 45 to be as much fun as the 44. If it's in good shape and doesn't run a month's pay check....do it!

 

[Laserbait]

I have the 4" 44 Mag version, and have probably 10K rounds through it now. Mostly heavy loads (225 SWC-GC with 25.5 grains of Lil'gun) and it works like a charm and very accurate. I can't recommend them highly enough!

I'll be getting a .45 Colt version as soon as I see one at my LGS.

 

[chris_]

One small point: While the 44 version can be heavily loaded, with effective bullet weights up to 340g, the 45 Colt version can acheive similar velocities with bullets that are .022" larger in diameter and up to 20g heavier.

I would be very interested to see the data on that. Every thing I see on paper says that is not the case. I reload a lot of hot big bore stuff and do so commercially as well so I am no stranger to going way above and beyond but comparing apples to apples, I just don't see it.

 

[freakindawgen]

One small point: While the 44 version can be heavily loaded, with effective bullet weights up to 340g, the 45 Colt version can acheive similar velocities with bullets that are .022" larger in diameter and up to 20g heavier.

I would be very interested to see the data on that. Every thing I see on paper says that is not the case. I reload a lot of hot big bore stuff and do so commercially as well so I am no stranger to going way above and beyond but comparing apples to apples, I just don't see it.

this what your looking for?

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_151_25/ai_70380694/

http://www.sixguns.com/range/45redhawk.htm

http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=5

http://www.chuckhawks.com/high-pressure45.htm

 

[chris_]

One small point: While the 44 version can be heavily loaded, with effective bullet weights up to 340g, the 45 Colt version can acheive similar velocities with bullets that are .022" larger in diameter and up to 20g heavier.

I would be very interested to see the data on that. Every thing I see on paper says that is not the case. I reload a lot of hot big bore stuff and do so commercially as well so I am no stranger to going way above and beyond but comparing apples to apples, I just don't see it.

this what your looking for?

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_151_25/ai_70380694/

http://www.sixguns.com/range/45redhawk.htm

http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=5

http://www.chuckhawks.com/high-pressure45.htm

Yes! Thanks for those.

However, everything I see there can be duplicated in a .44. The only reason I bring this up is because there are many that feel that the 45C surpasses the 44. I think it does so only in diameter.

 

[freakindawgen]

Yup,looks fairly even except the size of the bullit. I love the .44 mag but sized up for the .45Colt. All my current revolvers ar in .45.

 

[stantheman86]

I don't think any 2-legged or 4-legged animal will know the difference with a similiarly loaded .44 Mag vs. .45 LC. Does the approx. .01 make that much of a difference 8)

For those of us who don't handload, the growing popularity of CAS and SASS shooting keeps .45 LC available at most larger gun shops and sporting goods stores.

 

[freakindawgen]

.44 mag is closer to a .41 mag in size than it is a .45

 

[WESHOOT2]

Please, when considering bullet diameter, also consider rifle cartridges diameters and the minute diameter and performance differences amongst them.

The 45 Colt surpasses the 44 Magnum in both bullet diameter and demonstrated performance.



I used to manufacture a bit of big-bore handgun ammo meself....

 

[chris_]

Please, when considering bullet diameter, also consider rifle cartridges diameters and the minute diameter and performance differences amongst them.

The 45 Colt surpasses the 44 Magnum in both bullet diameter and demonstrated performance.



I used to manufacture a bit of big-bore handgun ammo meself....

Again, I am asking because I don't know. Its always good to talk shop with knowledgeable folks with similar interests.

 

[WESHOOT2]

I personally am not certain what mechanism makes the .451" bullet so much more effective than similar weights in .429", but I cannot dispute consistently demonstrated historical performance.
Its effectiveness crosses the line to people, too.

I found the 335g Cast Performance WLNGC to be optimum for the 45 Colt ammo I developed specifically for brown bear defense and hunting.
Velocities ranged from 1200fps up past 1400fps (exception: certain 5-shot custom guns).

That said, IMO there is no finer 44 Magnum 'bear' choice than Garrett's 340g ammo.

 

[chris_]

I personally am not certain what mechanism makes the .451" bullet so much more effective than similar weights in .429", but I cannot dispute consistently demonstrated historical performance.
Its effectiveness crosses the line to people, too.

I found the 335g Cast Performance WLNGC to be optimum for the 45 Colt ammo I developed specifically for brown bear defense and hunting.
Velocities ranged from 1200fps up past 1400fps (exception: certain 5-shot custom guns).

That said, IMO there is no finer 44 Magnum 'bear' choice than Garrett's 340g ammo.

Cool. Thanks for the info.