I somehow acquired a set of dies for .45 Colt and as sometimes happens in this hobby I'm looking for a revolver to feed. I'm not a single action guy, so I'm looking for a more modern revolver in this cartridge. The Redhawk seems to fit the bill. I thought if any group had opinions on the subject, it would be this one. Thank you for your input.
Thoughts on Redhawk in .45 Colt?
- Thread starter atlas366
- Start date
You can't go wrong. Good luck finding one.
k2nd
Single-Sixer
Atlas366, shoot a pm to ACRYLICTNK, I bought 1 of my 45 Redhawks from him. Good guy to deal with, always gives forum members a good deal.
k2nd
k2nd
smith1961
Blackhawk
+1k2nd said:
Mike is the man when it comes to buying a Ruger. You will definitely be glad you got a Redhawk too!
:mrgreen:
Today you have few choices if you want a Red Hawk you get the 45 auto with a 5.5" barrel for ~ $800 and like it. If you get the BlackHawk you have a bunch of choices in 45 Colt for around $400. The modern single actions are much more effective than the double action. They can be safely carried cocked so the first shot will not only be more likely to hit it will be faster.
NikA
Hunter
^^^ I have not idea what the above poster is talking about; may be conflating revolvers with semi-auto pistols. Either Redhawks (a DA/SA design) or Blackhawks (a SA design) can be fired single action. I believe the lock time on Redhawks is probably slightly faster, but the difference will be inconsequential for nearly any shooter.
Don't walk around carrying your revolver cocked. It is not remotely safe, and enough people know that that you will look like a complete idiot.
Don't walk around carrying your revolver cocked. It is not remotely safe, and enough people know that that you will look like a complete idiot.
The 4.2" 45 Colt Redhawk #5027 is readily available. Sports South has 23 of them at closeout prices. This is the 45 Colt only version with the square butt grip. The also have the #5032 4.2" which is cut for moon clips so that 45 ACP can be used. I have one of the 5027 versions which I had cut for 1917 Style moon clips. It will fire 45 Colt, Scholfield, and Starlines's 45 SpeciaL With moon clips one can shoot 45 acp, gap, and 45 Win Mag. I call that pretty versatile. I don't know about carrying a single action cocked and why would one want to. Obviously, he's had no training or experience with good DA revolvers. I'm not aware of a 5.5" Redhawk in 45 caliber, although my owners manual list a 5.5 "barrel in the parts list. Bob!! 8)
To LIL I appologize. Apparently Rugers Web site is off !!again. It only shows the
Redhawk®
Model 05032
45 Auto - Double-Action Revolver
When you do a search for
Double-Action Revolver and 45 Colt"
The versions you mention don't exist-except they do!
Nike "^^^ I have not idea what the above poster is talking about"! That's obvious. Thousands of folks carry Glocks this way, it's either that or work the slide. With the rugers there is no reason not to. They will not fire unless you pull the trigger!
Redhawk®
Model 05032
45 Auto - Double-Action Revolver
When you do a search for
Double-Action Revolver and 45 Colt"
The versions you mention don't exist-except they do!
Nike "^^^ I have not idea what the above poster is talking about"! That's obvious. Thousands of folks carry Glocks this way, it's either that or work the slide. With the rugers there is no reason not to. They will not fire unless you pull the trigger!
The earlier version of the Redhawk has been discontinued, but some are still out there. Are we talking about single versus double action autos, or single action Ruger revolvers such as the Blackhawk versus DA revolvers such as the Redhawk, either in 45 Colt. I'm still confused. I don't know a Glock entered into the discussion on 45 Colt DA revolvers. Bob :?
NikA
Hunter
Glocks and other striker-fired semi autos don't typically have triggers as light or with as short a pull as revolvers in single action. What's more, they have a mechanical lever in the middle of the trigger to prevent AD/ND when the trigger is manipulated by accident. Even then, there are plenty of AD/ND events attributed to striker-fired pistols without safeties. Single action semi-auto pistols have a half-cock notch (think Eastern bloc Tokarevs, etc.) or a safety, or are not designed to be carried (e.g., race guns).
Grobin, you would not be welcome to shoot anywhere near me if you were carrying a cocked revolver. I repeat my assertion that carrying in that manner is not safe, and should not be endorsed by anyone practicing proper gun safety.
Grobin, you would not be welcome to shoot anywhere near me if you were carrying a cocked revolver. I repeat my assertion that carrying in that manner is not safe, and should not be endorsed by anyone practicing proper gun safety.
Back to the original thread's question. One would be hard pressed to find a better 45 Colt DA revolver than the Redhawk. Colt made a few Anacondas in 45 Colt, my LE buddy had one with a 4" barrel, the only one I've ever seen. S&W 25-5's are out there, but they won't take the loads that the Redhawk will handle. I love my S&W's, but sold my last M25 Classic unfired. I failed to mention this in an earlier response. The current 45 Redhawk is the one with the round butt and uses Ruger moon clips for the 45 acp ammo. The Redhawk will handle any sane 45 Colt load. If more power is needed, get a 454, 480 or a rifle. Bob! :mrgreen:
Colonel Daddy
Buckeye
To see such would scare the begeebers out of me!grobin said:
Well this turned in to an interesting discussion. Fortunately, I have a lot of experience with revolvers, both DA & SA. Though primarily DA. I just don't have anything in .45 Colt. I could never carry a revolver cocked, just thinking about makes the hairs on my neck stand up. I already have a .357 revolver & 1892 rifle pair, I really like the concept and the performance of some of my reloads in the rifle have been very impressive. Doing the same thing in .45 sounds like a fun challenge. I really appreciate all the input.
needsmostuff
Blackhawk
atlas366 said:
Bravo to you.
Having a set of dies is as good of reason as any to get a new handgun ,,,, and then a rifle to match of course.
But then again I have bought a revolver to fit some grips I had and having some orphan mags. has had me lookin at pistols I probably don't need.
Carry on Sir.
Carry cocked? Why not?
No reason except knee jerk precautions leftover from a century ago.
Why?
The first shot gets off faster without the excessive trigger pull of a DA! Yes the DA can be carried cocked and avoid the double action-why bother with the double action then?
No reason except knee jerk precautions leftover from a century ago.
Why?
The first shot gets off faster without the excessive trigger pull of a DA! Yes the DA can be carried cocked and avoid the double action-why bother with the double action then?
needsmostuff
Blackhawk
grobin, are you aware everyone on this thread is referring to revolvers while you seem to be referring to 1911 pistols.
Might be the source of the pointy questions.
Might be the source of the pointy questions.
BIgMuddy
Blackhawk
rangerbob said:
I have two 5.5" Redhawk 45's. Fantastic revolvers that can "do it all". Might not be cataloged anymore.
Dan
needsmostuff
I don't own any Ruger pistols or m1911s.
I do own 4 single action Rugers, one double action and a bunch of pistols. You can take a modern design revolver, place the hammer down on a loaded chamber and whack it with a hammer and nothing will happen- you didn't pull the trigger! Now you can shoot yourself, just like Glock owners do. Just get something in the trigger when you put the gun in the holster, lots of Glock owners have done this as the Glock has no safety except the trigger safety! It is equivalent carrying a revolver cocked with a round under the hammer-whether it's a DA or SA. Nothing dangerous here just don't pull the trigger!
I don't own any Ruger pistols or m1911s.
I do own 4 single action Rugers, one double action and a bunch of pistols. You can take a modern design revolver, place the hammer down on a loaded chamber and whack it with a hammer and nothing will happen- you didn't pull the trigger! Now you can shoot yourself, just like Glock owners do. Just get something in the trigger when you put the gun in the holster, lots of Glock owners have done this as the Glock has no safety except the trigger safety! It is equivalent carrying a revolver cocked with a round under the hammer-whether it's a DA or SA. Nothing dangerous here just don't pull the trigger!
NikA
Hunter
It's not the same. You're conflating the drop safety of the transfer bar with trigger safeties.
The sears on striker fired pistols are not truly single action; they are slightly biased so that pulling the trigger must overcome some of the force of the striker spring before the striker is released. This is not the case with revolvers, were single action is just removing the trigger sear from blocking the hammer.
If you drop a modern revolver that is cocked, there is a good chance it will discharge. Try it a couple times with a primed case if you like.
Once again, we've seen that the most important safety is the one between your ears.
The sears on striker fired pistols are not truly single action; they are slightly biased so that pulling the trigger must overcome some of the force of the striker spring before the striker is released. This is not the case with revolvers, were single action is just removing the trigger sear from blocking the hammer.
If you drop a modern revolver that is cocked, there is a good chance it will discharge. Try it a couple times with a primed case if you like.
Once again, we've seen that the most important safety is the one between your ears.
True the mechanism is different. With the Glock there is a block that keeps the striker from contacting the fireingpin. With the Ruigers the trigger moves a transfer bar into position so the hammer strikes it and it strikes the firing pin. The results are the same-the gun will not fire unless the trigger is pulled. You can test this yourself. Striker fired pistols may be SA, DA only or DA/SA.
I don't know what you mean by biased. If I have my SIG 938 with a load in the chamber it's cocked and ready to fire. Some pistols have a (IMHO) dangerous decocker that would require additional fiddling about.
I don't know what you mean by biased. If I have my SIG 938 with a load in the chamber it's cocked and ready to fire. Some pistols have a (IMHO) dangerous decocker that would require additional fiddling about.
NikA
Hunter
A striker fired handgun is one that does not have a hammer, and instead uses a spring-loaded firing pin to pop the primer. They occupy a space somewhat between SA and DA: the firing pin is not quite fully cocked, and requires some force from the trigger to bring it to full cock and release it. This is what I'm calling bias: the system has a mechanical tendency resisting the release of the trigger.
True SA guns have very little if any tendency resisting the sear release; usually, it's all in the geometry of the contact and gunsmiths work very hard to have as little precise, positive contact as possible. It is not considered safe or wise to carry a gun in this way without some sort of external safety, as it takes very little error to have a serious accident.
I don't know if you carry your 938 with the safety off. I don't think it's good practice, and I believe many other here would agree with me. I mostly object to you giving this sort of advice in a public forum, where it could be read and followed by people apparently less expert than yourself. It certainly wouldn't be safe to carry this way if anything could end up near manipulating the trigger, as may happen out in the real world. Feel free to do whatever works for you; please avoid teaching others your interpretation of safe gun handling that flies in the face of hundreds of years of conventional wisdom and design.
True SA guns have very little if any tendency resisting the sear release; usually, it's all in the geometry of the contact and gunsmiths work very hard to have as little precise, positive contact as possible. It is not considered safe or wise to carry a gun in this way without some sort of external safety, as it takes very little error to have a serious accident.
I don't know if you carry your 938 with the safety off. I don't think it's good practice, and I believe many other here would agree with me. I mostly object to you giving this sort of advice in a public forum, where it could be read and followed by people apparently less expert than yourself. It certainly wouldn't be safe to carry this way if anything could end up near manipulating the trigger, as may happen out in the real world. Feel free to do whatever works for you; please avoid teaching others your interpretation of safe gun handling that flies in the face of hundreds of years of conventional wisdom and design.
smith1961
Blackhawk
grobin said:
Grobin,
Regarding modern revolvers you are 100% correct in your assertions, strictly technically and mechanically.
In the context of safety and the human variable, (The practicum) "carrying" a revolver cocked in single action is ill-advised.
Well I pretty much have to agree. But there are 10s or 100s of thousands who do the equivalent with pistols. Certainly not perfect. With a proper holster and due diligence not horrid though. You must evaluate your situation-speed of access vice safety.
needsmostuff
Blackhawk
I hope I'm misinterpreting this but just in case I am misreading something I'll check.
Are you in fact saying it is perfectly safe to holster and carry a loaded and cocked single or double action revolver ?
As long as we get the right to disagree, if that is what you have been saying I WILL disagree ,,,strongly.
Personally I can't think of a more unsafe gun handling practice for you and every one else around you. On the same level as Russian roulette ,because it's just a matter of time until something goes wrong.
Seriously, you need to call Ruger and run that transfer bar theory by them.
The transfer bar was developed to keep the firing pin off the primer so 6 rounds could chambered ,,,,,, with the hammer down. Period.
It has not and never will be viewed a cocked gun safety but it might save you if a cocked gun is dropped.
Are you in fact saying it is perfectly safe to holster and carry a loaded and cocked single or double action revolver ?
As long as we get the right to disagree, if that is what you have been saying I WILL disagree ,,,strongly.
Personally I can't think of a more unsafe gun handling practice for you and every one else around you. On the same level as Russian roulette ,because it's just a matter of time until something goes wrong.
Seriously, you need to call Ruger and run that transfer bar theory by them.
The transfer bar was developed to keep the firing pin off the primer so 6 rounds could chambered ,,,,,, with the hammer down. Period.
It has not and never will be viewed a cocked gun safety but it might save you if a cocked gun is dropped.
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