Cosmoline
Member
Well the snow finally melted enough and my scheduled allowed me to get down to the range to test my new .357 Redhawk 5 1/2" stainless. A few observations:
--The platform is exceptionally stable off-hand. I was able to hold steady and get good groups at 20 yards even though I'm badly out of practice. The balance is very good with this barrel length and I felt no fatigue. This is in contrast to some of Ruger's newer items like the SRH Alaskan, which felt like a brick in my hand.
--The trigger needs to be lightened up a notch. The pull is too heavy and that was the main impediment to good DA groups.
--Accuracy was excellent with most loads. It really liked the 158 grain jacketed HP's over 13 grains of Enforcer, which is my standard .357 handload for target use. The Rugers really like Enforcer I've found. Unfortunately I can no longer find Enforcer. Or anything else.
--The standout for heavy rounds was a slightly over-max charge of H110 topped by a 200 grain hardcast slug from Cast Performance. Per the Lee manual that is a notch OVER standard, so that's a .357 +P and not to be used in a standard magnum. I can send you data in PM. Resting the revolver butt on the bench I was able to get a very nice touching group of 5 with one flier at 20 yards. This was far better than Buffalo Bore's 200 grain loads.
--Unfortunately the factory sights do not adjust properly for the 200 grain slugs. With the rear adjusted all the way down they still print about 4" high at 20 yards. So I'm hunting for a solution for that problem. The accuracy is good enough to warrant finer target sights.
--The recoil is not totally tamed by the weight, though it is reduced. You can see from the video that standard 158 grain loads still give a kick. The B Bore kicked twice as hard. It's not like shooting a .357 levergun. .38's may be a breeze out of it but magnums are still magnums.
--The Pachmayr grips it came with are OK but a little wobbly. I will likely revert to my standard factory grips + Tylers on this one.
--For a target revolver, with improved sights and a lighter trigger, it would be on par with a nice S&W or Colt. It would also be a good platform for hunting if you wanted to go after something with the .357. The balance makes it fast in the hand in spite of its weight, so it might make a workable defense revolver. I don't think it's all that much heavier than a Python.
Overall it's a keeper for sure. Ruger sometimes does these odd projects, and this one did NOT catch on at the time from what I can tell. But if you're a handloader who likes tweaking the .357 Mag this is a really awesome revolver. Maybe the best possible choice. Because unlike a Python or nice vintage S&W you need have no fear taking it to the range and shooting it a ton. I've head some parts tend to wear out because of the sheer weight of that cylinder, but parts can be swapped easily on a Ruger. And I think you'd have to work hard--very hard--to wear this thing out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPaINqb7nbk&feature=youtu.be
--The platform is exceptionally stable off-hand. I was able to hold steady and get good groups at 20 yards even though I'm badly out of practice. The balance is very good with this barrel length and I felt no fatigue. This is in contrast to some of Ruger's newer items like the SRH Alaskan, which felt like a brick in my hand.
--The trigger needs to be lightened up a notch. The pull is too heavy and that was the main impediment to good DA groups.
--Accuracy was excellent with most loads. It really liked the 158 grain jacketed HP's over 13 grains of Enforcer, which is my standard .357 handload for target use. The Rugers really like Enforcer I've found. Unfortunately I can no longer find Enforcer. Or anything else.
--The standout for heavy rounds was a slightly over-max charge of H110 topped by a 200 grain hardcast slug from Cast Performance. Per the Lee manual that is a notch OVER standard, so that's a .357 +P and not to be used in a standard magnum. I can send you data in PM. Resting the revolver butt on the bench I was able to get a very nice touching group of 5 with one flier at 20 yards. This was far better than Buffalo Bore's 200 grain loads.
--Unfortunately the factory sights do not adjust properly for the 200 grain slugs. With the rear adjusted all the way down they still print about 4" high at 20 yards. So I'm hunting for a solution for that problem. The accuracy is good enough to warrant finer target sights.
--The recoil is not totally tamed by the weight, though it is reduced. You can see from the video that standard 158 grain loads still give a kick. The B Bore kicked twice as hard. It's not like shooting a .357 levergun. .38's may be a breeze out of it but magnums are still magnums.
--The Pachmayr grips it came with are OK but a little wobbly. I will likely revert to my standard factory grips + Tylers on this one.
--For a target revolver, with improved sights and a lighter trigger, it would be on par with a nice S&W or Colt. It would also be a good platform for hunting if you wanted to go after something with the .357. The balance makes it fast in the hand in spite of its weight, so it might make a workable defense revolver. I don't think it's all that much heavier than a Python.
Overall it's a keeper for sure. Ruger sometimes does these odd projects, and this one did NOT catch on at the time from what I can tell. But if you're a handloader who likes tweaking the .357 Mag this is a really awesome revolver. Maybe the best possible choice. Because unlike a Python or nice vintage S&W you need have no fear taking it to the range and shooting it a ton. I've head some parts tend to wear out because of the sheer weight of that cylinder, but parts can be swapped easily on a Ruger. And I think you'd have to work hard--very hard--to wear this thing out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPaINqb7nbk&feature=youtu.be
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