Quinault

Local gun shop has a NIB stainless Redhawk 45 Colt 7 1/2" barrel I been thinking about for a couple weeks. Is there any accuracy or other problems I should know about with this combination?

Don't really care for the grips on it but I can take care of that problem.

WVfishguy

Gun Tests had a negative review on a 4" .45 Colt Redhawk they tested. But that was just one gun, and the issues would be fixed under the factory warranty.

I loved my Redhawk .44 mag with a 5 1/2' barrel. Functioned wonderfully, handled great, best .44 mag I've ever had, why the Hell did I sell that thing?

The Redhawk cylinder locks up front and back, has a massive frame & heavy topstrap. Great, strong guns.

Seems to me a 7 1/2 " will give you a good, long sight radius for increased accuracy. Also, with the long barrel, you should be able to maximize the .45 Colt's capabilities if you reload - in other words, you could work up hunting loads surpassing a 44 mag., safely.

But don't take my word for it - do your own research, be careful, don't blow up your gun.

GhosTT

Quinault,
Don't own a Redhawk, own a Super Redhawk.....that said....

Have followed damn near every reports, and testing on the Redhawk out there.

The gun ROCKS...the trigger set up a tad different.

Has a great history with the 45 Colt, but usually in the smaller barrel length.

The Redhawk in a .45 caliber...rocks.
If you plan to hand load...NEVER SELL/TRADE that gun away!

Yer REdhawk, with the same length barrel....with the right rounds, can hit just as hard...maybe harder.....

mega twin

Does the redhawk .45 have the cylinder throat problems like the blackhawk?

WVfishguy

I've had a .45 Colt Blackhawk for more than a decade, and I've never seen or heard any "cylinder throat problems."

Maybe someone on this forum could explain.

Dr. A

I've got one of the newer 45's. It had cylinder throats that slugged right at .451. Not as bad as my Blackhawks, but since I shoot primarly cast, I reamed them out to .4525.

My gun was sent back to the factory within a couple of weeks for a loose crane/cylinder fit. They promptly sent it back fixed and I've been happily shooting it ever since. I do handload, and feel the gun can be taken farther safely (pressure wise) than the Blackhawk.

My Alaskan and SRH 7.5 in. both had appropriate .452 throats. I was cautiously optimistic this would be different, but obviously the specs are a bit different for a 45 Colt.

Ahab1

I have the .45 Colt Redhawk with the 4" barrel purchased last August. Excellent trigger, fit and finish. I must say, Ruger has really improved their quality recently as this is one of three new Rugers I purchased in the last two years and all have been outstanding.

Smaug

I just bought a used Redhawk (44 Mag) that was built in the early 80s.

The Redhawk trigger design is better in double action, while the Super Redhawk is better for single action.

Mine had a factory defect with the barrel thread lube, which caused the barrel to break off and fly downrange about 5 yards. Ruger fixed it with no questions asked. (but it did take them 9 weeks, and they ignored my request to re-barrel it with a 5-1/2" instead of 7-1/2".

45 Colt is intriguing. Rated pressures are way below what is published for 44 Magnum. I'm sure a lot of this is because the old 45 Colt revolvers can't handle it, but I bet some of it is because the brass is weaker than 44 Magnum brass.

nicholst55

Actually, it's not. This is an urban legend dating back to the old balloon head cases that haven't been manufactured for 75-80 years. The actual problem is that .45 Colt chambers tend to be very sloppy compared to other cartridges.

Consider this - the .454 Casull began life as (very) hot loaded .45 Colts. Would that have been possible with 'weak' cases? Dick Casull learned quickly that if chamber dimensions were held closer to the minimum than the maximum (or beyond), that high pressures were easily obtainable and safe. He lengthened the case to prevent it from accidentally finding its way into an old Colt SAA or other gun not rated for Casull pressures, among other reasons.

Read 'The .45 Colt - Dissolving the Myth' by John Linebaugh for more information.

http://www.customsixguns.com/writing...g_the_myth.htm

meangreenlx50

Both my uncle and I purchased the 5" .45 Colt Redhawks. Both have been shot extensivly and the accuracy from both have been excelent. I have loaded some really hot Hornady 250gr and 300gr XTP. The quality and accuracy of the .45 Redhawk is excellent, we have both turned down sale or trade offers on the guns. I would like to have another as they seem kinda rare.

TomC

I have a 5 1/2" .45 Redhawk. The throats were a little tight at .451". This made seating of Keith type SWC loads difficult. I reamed it to .4525" and that took care of the problem. It shoots very well and I got a pretty good trigger on it.

Lost Sheep

Depends on what you intend to use the gun for?

Sorry, I can't give you any reasons at all to knock the gun (just in case you wanted to bargain your way into having the shop throw in a set of better grips).

There are a lot of myths about the 45 Colt. it has been around since black powder days, so there are lots of guns out there and improvements over the last century and a quarter have made some of the myths true and some have aged out of existence. For instance, the original diameter was .454", but .452 and .451 have become the standard, especially for guns which can chamber and fire the .45 ACP, which is nominally .451". (Note: The stock RH/SRH does not shoot 45 ACP, but some gunsmiths are relieving the ejector star to allow use of 45 ACP ammunition in moon clips while still keeping full functioning with 45 Colt or 454 Casull. I don't know how Ruger feels about these modifications, but I'm guessing .451" throats would be advantageous in these guns.)

These variables make for some interesting issues in the accuracy/durability questions, but not really more complex than any other gun. Just pay attention and, as other postings have hinted, measure your chamber throats, forcing cone and the diameter of the bullets you shoot. More for curiosity than any other reason, I think. My 454 Casull SRH shoots as well as my 44 Mag SRH and 44 Mag RH. I have never measured any of them. I didn't feel the need, since they shoot better than I can hold.

Go, buy the gun, with my blessings. You will not regret it.

Lost Sheep

Remember, only believe half of what you see and one quarter of what you hear. That goes double for what you get from the internet. Even this post. Maybe especially this post.

jjvgnslngr

I have a 7.5 and 5.5 in .45 Colt. They are my favorite revolvers.

grrwy

I've owned and shot several Redhawks in .44, .45, & .41, with both 5.5" and 7.5" barrels. I love these guns. They all shot better then I was able to shoot them. If I have any complaint it is with the weight but if they weren't as beefy as the are they wouldn't be the rugged dependable firearm that they are reputed to be. Being a terminal trader I don't currently own a Redhawk but I truly covet a 4" .45 Colt and hope to trade into one sooner then later.
Greg

Bob C

I have a 4" .45 Redhawk, and it was a little rough at first.

After some firing, tuning and polishing it's great now.