Ruger Redhawk 45LC - will it shoot 45ACP also

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firefiterjohn

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I just found a 2011 Ruger Redhawk 45LC 4.2" barrel revolver with box and all the paperwork. It has the Ruger rubber grips and upgraded green front fiber optic and red rear fiber optic sights. It is a very nice revolver and I just put it on layaway. This one is marked 45LC on the barrel. I know that some of these 4.2" models are marked 45LC / 45 ACP. If this one is NOT marked with 45 ACP will it still be able to shoot them with the Ruger moonclips? I've tried to search about that here but didn't have much luck. So did I find one that is 45LC only? I've got a Redhawk .44 mag 5.5" and really enjoy shootig it so that's why I jumped on this one.
 
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It sounds from your description that it is chambered for 45 Colt only. Check out Ruger's web page and compare the photos of the 45 Colt and 45 Auto-45 Colt Redhawks. (Edited to add: No 45 Colt only Redhawks are shown on the web page just the 45 Auto-45 Colt therefore you can't compare them, my mistake).

I have a 5 1/2 inch barreled Redhawk in 45 Colt and the barrel is marked '45 COLT' mid way between the frame and the muzzle. 45 ACP can NOT be fired in this revolver since the rounds would fall too deep into the chamber for the firing pin to hit the primer. If you try and load 45 Auto with moon clips they sit too high to allow the cylinder to close. I could, however, fire 45 Schofield and probably 455 Mk ll ammo in it (if I could find any).

I also have a 4.2 inch Redhawk that has the rear of the cylinder cut for moon clips (from the factory) that can shoot both 45 ACP (with moon clips) and 45 Colt. The barrel is marked on the right side of the ejector rod housing '45 AUTO-45 COLT'. The moon clips MUST be used as 45 ACP rounds will fall too deep into the chamber for the firing pin to hit the primer.

Enjoy your Redhawk! They are great fun.
 
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Thanks for all the info Timbo23. Since this one is 45LC only, do you think it's worth adding to my collection. I only have one other pistol that fires 45LC; my S&W Governor that I've owned for 13 years. I've never really sought out any other 45LC firearms; handgun or rifle, so I only have a few boxes of 45LC ammo but do have a LOT more 45ACP ammo. So although this one is in very nice condition as a 2011 S/N with the fiber optic sights, box, and paperwork at a price of $725, would it be a good one to add or should I hold off and look for a newer one in 45LC/45ACP someday. Kinda torn since I don't have any other 45LC and would now have to buy more of ANOTHER caliber! I wasn't activily looking for a Redhawk. It just happened to arrive that day at my LGS.

I know I know...if you like it buy it. Since this is only 45LC, would it be more unique or rare as time marches on over the 45LC/45ACP newer versions?

This really isn't a 'Grail Gun' or 'must have' for me so I'm really looking for some good common sense thoughts on this one.

Thanks in advnce....
 
You ask a lot of questions that only you can answer. There is no rush to sell it off unless you really, really need the money. If you do sell it you will make someone else really, really happy.
As PRichardson87 said Ruger is not currently making 45 Colt only Redhawks and if they do so again it will have the two part barrel and pinned front sight. The older models have one piece barrels and a spring loaded removable front sight which I prefer.
And as for not having a lot of 45 Colt ammo on hand, remember reloading is your friend.
 
just a little input, i bought a redhawk 5050 that shoots both and was not happy for several reasons, non function of the gun and poor accuracy when it did fire. got rid of it and bought one of the new redhawk 5045 45 colt (new version of the 5027) and it is really nice , no issues, smooth action and very accurate
 
I have a couple of .45 acp Smith &Wesson target revolvers. They both shoot .45 acp just fine without moon clips. I like shooting .45 auto-rim in these revolvers better than shooting .45 acp.
I had a Redhawk .45 Colt (only) and let it go. I replaced it with a .45 Colt/.45 acp version. Moon clips are necessary to use .45 acp. I wonder if it will work with .45 auto-rim?
I know my Blackhawk .45 Colt/.45 acp convertibles will not chamber .45 auto-rim in the .45 acp cylinder. I need to check whether the .45 auto-rim will chamber in the .45 Colt cylinder.
 
.45 AR will not work in a gun headspaced for .45 LC. Auto Rim has thicker rims. The convertible Redhawks don't function like dedicated .45 ACP revolvers since they cannot headspace off the .45 ACP case mouth with chambers cut deep enough for .45 LC.
 
As I suspected when this post appeared,, there as many differing opinions as there are people.

Some like the ability to fire different ammo in a single gun,, and others do not. Some like moon clips & some do not.

Only the buyer can decide if they like it one way or the other. Each person has their own desires or reasoning as to why they like things one way or the other. THAT'S the deciding point.

But to buy a gun,, and then spend extra money modifying it to where it's like a current production firearm should be seriously studied. Ruger offered the .45 Colt only. Then they offered a different model, which can fire .45 Colt AND .45 acp, using moon clips. Yes,, custom places like TK Customs offer the ability to cut the cylinders of a .45 Colt only to where it can use moon clips and be capable of firing both calibers. Some people were having this done to guns prior to Ruger offering a factory version.

With Ruger dropping the .45 Colt only model in favor of a dual caliber version, would,, in my opinion,, be wasting money and losing a possibly more valuable firearm would be ill advised to modify one. JMHO.
 
Thanks contender for your analysis. I think it's spot on.

IRT flyer898: no the 45 Auto Rim will NOT work in the Redhawk 45 Auto/45 Colt model. It will fit in the cylinder just fine but the rim is too thick to allow the cylinder to close. I tried it just to see.
 
Thank you everyone for all of the great advice! I've decided to keep it on layaway. I went back to the LGS on Friday and looked it over again. It's in such great shape, well balanced and has a great trigger. Yep, gonna add that one to my collection!
 
I have a 45 Colt revolver that I bought a 45 ACP cylinder for. It required some minor fitting, but was a simple process.

I didn't have it for long tho, because the POI was so different from the 45 Colt that it required a sight adjustment when I swapped over.

Not sure that the juice would be worth the squeeze on this one :unsure:
 
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