[Big Bill]

Does anyone know why Ruger discontinued this model? Revolver RH-445

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdResults?function=famid&famid=6&variation=Blued&bct=Yes&type=Revolver

[Cuda]

I would imagine lack of sales may have been one of the reasons.


C

[MIgunguy]

I think it didn't sell well b/c everyone jumped on the stainless steel, integral base for scope rings bandwagon.

[BigBlock]

Generally with Ruger, if it doesn't sell, it disappears. I think more people are going for the 4" stainless Redhawks, leaving the blues to fade away...

[Line Rider]

The last Super Red Hawk I saw used sold for $250.00. :what: The owner of the pawn shop just wanted it out of the store.

[calaverasslim]

You may be right. While I appreciate the fact that Ruger is stronger than S&W and may take more abuse, it is an ugly handgun.

The quality of the Ruger is high and a lot of folks like them.

Having said all that, I have to admit that I buy S&W's. I have 2 "N" frame 45's, 1 in 44 and a bunch in 38 and 357. Just don't want a Ruger.

personal choice, I guess

[madcratebuilder]

With so many stainless RH and SRH around on the used market, there is not much demand for a blued version, particularly at 'new' prices.

[Eightball]

It looks slick, I'll grant that--but from looking at those grips, and then the calibre marking.....I'm not sure I'd fire it!

[john1911]

Not selling well.

[Big Bill]

Thanks everyone! I liked the looks of it and was considering buying one.

[mjkten]

I think the .480 Ruger suffered the same fate. Too bad...

[kmrcstintn]

oddball grip size and shape for a nose heavy gun; the barrel is too long for defensive carry and too short for longer distance hunting applications; the stainless steel version with Hogue Monogrip and 4" barrel fits the defensive carry role while the longer barreled versions are better for hunting purposes

[BCRider]

Well grips are easily changed and other than the new rubber grips that come on S&W most folks change the older ones that look like these anyway.

Also I'm more a fan of blued steel so that plucks at my heart as well.

It also has a rep for being a bigger frame that'll take a lot of punishment. Just the ticket for some hot loads. And at 5.5 inch the barrel looks in scale with the rest of the gun and would be long enough for decent range accuracy while not being so long as to suck up the entire muzzle flash. I can see one of these being a real showoff at the range when loaded the right way. A great gun to put a grin on the shooter's face.

So I'd buy one if the price was right.

I also think that they were outshadowed by the Super version with the even beefier barrel. A gun that'll hold up to the worst the re-loaders can manage.

[earlthegoat2]

Ruger has a tendency to discontinue cool stuff. In their defense though they do make room for other neat stuff. They have discontinued the Service Six, the Security Six, the 22 SP 101, the Stainless Steel Red Label, the Manillicher stocked 10/22 International, and a host of others that have been my favorites. I cant blame them for some and I question others. They are a funny company to deal with on the retail side of things because of their tendency to under produce the good stuff (LCPs, Mini 14s, Mini 30s) and over produce the complete garbage (Hawkeye Rifles, P Series pistols). Side note: I know the P series are solid guns but they are heavy and ergonomically inferior to many.

[moooose102]

It is blue, probably didn't sell well. Most people want stainless. Personally, i think i would rather have blue. If you look (or call) around, you may be able to get a deal on one.

[gripper]

I for one would LOVE a 5.5 inch .357 RH.Years ago I had a brief chance to grab one and i regret missing out on it.Damn good shooter!

[ArmedBear]

Blue is great for range guns.

It looks like crap pretty quickly on a revolver that sees actual use in the outdoors.

Last gun show, I saw some blue Super Blackhawks, and those which had seen use, looked like crap. Stainless ones with the same amount of wear and tear, looked almost like new.

No doubt, Ruger found, like S&W, that revolvers in blue don't sell, if they're guns intended for real serious use. The fact that the prices aren't much different is probably a contributing factor, as well.

I like the look of blue, but a few gouges and I quickly wish I'd bought stainless.

[BlkHawk73]

Generally with Ruger, if it doesn't sell, it disappears.

Why single out Ruger? ANY smart-minded business eliminates dead products. Makes NO sence at all to produce products that don't sell well when that time and material can be used for more desireable products.

[4v50 Gary]

Marketing. Stainless sales were better. Marketing makes projections for sales and determines what gets produced. Production is then planned for the year. No spot for that model and it's out.

[MCgunner]

It looks slick, I'll grant that--but from looking at those grips, and then the calibre marking.....I'm not sure I'd fire it!

One word....


HOGUE


I don't have too many revolvers that I haven't put the grip of my choice on.

I'm more of a Blackhawk fan, though, than Redhawk, for outdoor uses. Neither is much of a carry gun. This thing would make a fine back packin' in bear country gun, though. Yeah, I'd rather have a stainless version, but like the 5.5" barrel a lot.

[22-rimfire]

As others have mentioned, I suspect the stainless versions outsold the blue steel finish one. I have a 41 mag in blue that I like a lot. I have no problem at all with a blue finish out in the woods, rain or shine. You could almost for sure find one new. Try Gallery of Guns.

[GP100man]

the best grip i`ve found to tame my redhawks is a pachmeyer presintation grip.


GP100man

[huntsman]

Ruger has a tendency to discontinue cool stuff.

the one I missed out on was the KGP-161 half shroud.

[BCRider]

I guess you guys are right about the SS versions. Not only is there only one blued version shown that happens to be discontinued but there's 5 versions of the stainless model in various grips and barrel lengths.

[cinteal]

Big Bill . . . I have one, shoots great. I wouldn't hesitate buying it.

I have never understood the why folks shy aways from 44 mags pertaiing to recoil. The redhawk is heavy, period. Recoil is manageable. I've shot 44 specials and 357s in other guns that had far greater "jolts".

The 44 mag recoil is lumbering, and unless you try to shoot it like a semi-auto (which can be done), you break your wrist, bend your elbow . . . then do it again. It doesn't "hurt", it's not going to come back and hit you in the head or rip skin from your hand. I ain't a big fella and I'd rather shoot 44 mags in Redhawks or N-frames than K/L framed 357s, but none of them have killer recoil.

UNLESS . . . you put a Hogue rubber on it. Properly fitted . . . OK. But most monogrips don't snug up well and tend to pinch skin between the exposed backstrap and grip when flexed in recoil. For rubber, though they don't feel as cushy nor, IMO, look as cool, Pachmyer decelerators have worked best for me. Hogue fancy woods are great, though.

On Stainless guns, they wear as much as blued guns when holstered . . . they just shine where the blue "rubs" off on rust guns. One note . . . you can reblue a blued gun. Refinish a stainless, too, but not as simple.

On the "good as a range gun only" comment . . . BULL! I have taken 2 deer with mine. One at 45, one at just over 50. Yards, that is. With my 7.5 redhawk, I've reached out to 115. Misses . . . none. Off my knees, with the 5.5 redhawk, I shoot 5 & 6 inch groups routinely (ikes, at the range) at 100 yds. Sorry, I don't take Elmer Keith shots with a handgun. Plus, walking in the woods with a white gun . . . well . . . it's white. Blue (black on a ruger) might shine in the sun, but nothing like stainless. Sure stainless resists rusting, but an adequately maintained blue gun, hell they been around without rusting much longer than stainless.

Having said that . . . my 7.5 Redhawk is white.

The trigger is a bit strong but gets better with use. Other than that, the 5.5 Redhawk is a fine revolver.

[WardenWolf]

Some distributors may still offer it in blue. As long as Ruger has the ability to actually do it, they'll offer it as a distributor model option. Case in point, the blued Mark III Hunter with fluted bull barrel and HiViz sights I got. Ruger normally only offers something like that in stainless, but a distributor had ordered it in blue. I dislike stainless handguns. I find the glare distracting. I greatly prefer a darker finish. Getting it blued also saved me around $250. So I got my 22/45 Mark III, loaded with the works, in the finish I wanted, for a lot less money.

[minutemen1776]

I know the P series are solid guns but they are heavy and ergonomically inferior to many.

And to others they are ergonomically superior and don't feel all that heavy! :neener: I know this is the "Revolvers" board, but I just have to take up for the P-series autos. I have owned a lot of different pistols, and I've liked my Ruger P94s as much as anything I've ever shot. I know some don't like them, but they fit my hand well and they're really no heavier than a 1911 or any other metal-framed full-size pistol.