charlie9280

First post on Ruger Forum, although active on another brand's forum.

I have several quality autos (9mm, .40, .45) for home defense, CCW, and other carry. They are all good quality weapons.

However, for hiking back country in Colorado I decided that my .45 ACP may not be adequate protection in all situations. After a lot of online research, I have decided that I want a Redhawk .44 magnum in 4-inch barrel, model #5026. From what I have read, this model provides an excellent compromise between power, ruggedness, weight, and price. And, oh yes, it is a really good looking gun (IMHO)!

So, does anyone know why it is not available anywhere? My LGS cannot get one (even on their recent "Ruger Day" event), and all the online sites are "Out of Stock".

41RED

Welcome to the forum charlie. No idea why the 4" is so hard to come by. It took nearly a year before I could lay my hands on one. As it turned out, I settled for the 45 with the 4" barrel and two months later I walk into my LGS and there lays the 44 that I've been looking for. Needless to say, it didn't go back in the case! Nearly everything Ruger is producing in the revolver line is hard to come by. Hang in there, it will show up when you least expect it to.

Here are mine, 45 Colt on the left and 44 Mag on the right. Standard Redhawk grips on the 45 and Altamont grips on the 44.

charlie9280

Thanks for the reply Red. That's what I figured. Since I've been waiting for about two months, I guess I have 10 months to go, right?? (lol).

Yours are truly nice pieces! So what loads do you shoot, and how is the recoil, considering you have (very nice!) wooden grips? The 5026 now comes with rubber Hogue grips if you can get one at all!

gp10024

Gunbroker has one now and then, just have to watch when they pop up.

chanaski

My range/LGS has one in the case I drool over every time I go in.
I've already got the "jelly jar" saving plan started for it.
Man, I want that thing! Bad.

Waveform

Ditto on the Gunbroker.com suggestion. Keep watching the site - right now there are a couple in 45LC and a couple of 5" 44M (lots of Alaskans, 7.5", etc.) Yours will appear somewhere soon if you can't wait for your LGS to come through.

James6591

I like the look of the 5004.

Larry the Liberal

I just checked with Davidson's Gallery of Guns and read that this particular model is on "allocation". Read the link below ... it gives you some guidance on getting in line. Good luck.

What is an Allocated Item?

charlie9280

5004. Hmmm... A few trade offs...

- 2oz heavier - maybe slightly less recoil? Extra weight probably negligable difference on hikes, for me anyway. I'm 6'0", 245 lbs. I think I could handle it. Difference is probably like bringing an extra cell phone or an extra sandwich.
- 1.5" longer overall (1.3" longer barrel). How does extra length affect the draw? I guess that would depend on how it's carried. Once again, not for CHL EDC or HD, but for back country protection. Probably cross draw, chest rig or shoulder rig. No open carry allowed where I go hiking
- Longer sight radius - better accuracy at distance
- Longer barrel - slight increase in muzzle velocity

Definately a good looking piece!

Thanks James! Definately worth considering.

charlie9280

Good to know, but disappointing. Thanks Larry

ExArmy11b

I found my 4" .44 Mag Redhawk used at a gun show and I was all over it like flies on you know what.......I have not seen another "in the wild" since, and that was almost 2 years ago.

My local FFL has a nice blued 7.5" .44 Redhawk for $550 but I'm broke and this is one that I have been looking for........ odds are it will be gone soon.....

Ruger is still catching up, and they are selling more SR-556's, LCP's, LC9's, LCR's, SR9's etc. than 4" Redhawks........so they are focusing production on what is hot right now.

People have the pre-election jitters..........and what gun makers are trying to do is get every darn AR15 they can assemble out the door as fast as possible. My local dealer says they don't even bother to unbox and display the few AR's they get in from Bushmaster and others, they sell in a few hours and people walk in just looking for AR's..........good thing I already have 5 AR's, a Mini-14 and 10,000 rounds of .223

CC type guns like micro-auto's are also hot.............be patient, soon Obama will get voted out, the hysteria will die down and Ruger will make a few wheelguns

Jhooper

Guns America has a brand new one for sale, $800 if you are interested.
GunsAmerica.com

charlie9280

JHooper,
Just ordered it! Thanks a million for the tip!!

Charlie

dblanch57

Just purchased mine last week. My LGS had two of them in stock for $715 + tax. Call Dam Road Gun Shop in Delavan WI and see if they have the other one. 1-262-728-5390

Jhooper

Glad to help you. I bought one about a year ago. They are great guns and you will love it.
For personal protection against large animals, check out the heavy ammo from Buffalo Bore, Grizzley and Cor-Bon. I use both the Cor-Bon 305gr FFPN and the 280gr JSP. Either
will do the job.