Anything a new Redhawk owner should know?

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Here are some "before" pics. I did generally clean it up as well as throwing on some stock grips I found. Might regret that when I shoot it, but the Pachmayrs feel huge and chunky in my hand.

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I thought the size difference would be more apparent in the photo, but it doesn't come across really. Redhawk's a big ol' shooting iron.

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I've 3 Redhawk 357,44 and 45 Colt and the only thing that has broken on mine has been the hook that is part of the hammer. This part connects the spring that operates the hammer,trigger etc. I have had the hook break off a few times very easy to replace so you might want to keep a couple in the event that one should break.
 
Very nice! Looks to be in really good shape. I like the look and the feel of the factory wood grips myself.
 
Those original grips are not going to be much fun at all with full tilt 44mag loads. Gonna feel like somebody whacked you in the palm with a broomstick.

My preference is for a grip that covers the back strap or one that is wide enough to spread out the recoil a bit.
Hogues are good, and although the price has jumped up quite a bit lately I really like the Karl Nills grips.
 
Time for "after." I stoned down the raised scrapes and give the whole gun a light rub with metal polish. Didn't go for the mirror finish some guys have gotten but it immediately brightened the gun up. Also lightly sanded and oiled the grips. They were super dry and rough.

Now to find .44 ammo that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

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Very nice!

I've found that reloading helps with locating 44 mag ammo and also allows you to dictate how hard you want your hand, "smacked with a broom handle". LOL!
 
I "had" one in .45Colt w/5.5"bbl.
I pig hunted "once" with it in hip holster. (Think boat ride in at 6:00am, ride out at 6:30pm.)
Now, I think; "crew served revolver".

With 20.0gr of #2400 under a Lee 300gr FNGC I once shot a 6-shot one hole group at 25yds, but I'd cry if I thought I'd have to tote it for 13hrs on my hip again. (I used to carry a Glock M22 w/3 mags on a duty belt plus handcuffs, etc fwiw.. for a "long days patrol"... so I had expectations....).
I now have what "I wanted", a S&W 625 Mountain Gun .45Colt.
My Avatar shows a now "gone" 329PD. TOO LIGHT, THANKYOU!
The 625 is the "keeper". Even with "just" a RCBS 270gr SWC over 9.2gr. LongShot @900+fps, it'll perforate anything I might encounter. Mostly, I carry a Lee 255RFN over enough powder to get ~850fps. It'll also shoot stem to stern through most deer or pigs we encounter. Sufficiently accurate @~2.5"@25yds.

Next season I'll be carrying a S&W 69 with .44spl w/240swc. A K frame grip (L-frame) It fits my hands better and is almost as accurate as the "old Ruger" was.

Not trying to throw "cold water", just mentally preparing you!

Lanyard on the revolver?
I once watched a co-worker "lose"! A S&W Mod65 issue revolver overboard from our Bill Jordan holster after brushing up against the gunnels of our patrol boat, and then reach for a boat registration. Paloop! Never retrieved it. Not long after, we got nice Safariland security holsters and M686's...
 
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I "had" one in .45Colt w/5.5"bbl.
I pig hunted "once" with it in hip holster. (Think boat ride in at 6:00am, ride out at 6:30pm.)
Now, I think; "crew served revolver".

With 20.0gr of #2400 under a Lee 300gr FNGC I once shot a 6-shot one hole group at 25yds, but I'd cry if I thought I'd have to tote it for 13hrs on my hip again. (I used to carry a Glock M22 w/3 mags on a duty belt plus handcuffs, etc fwiw.. for a "long days patrol"... so I had expectations....).
I now have what "I wanted", a S&W 625 Mountain Gun .45Colt.
My Avatar shows a now "gone" 329PD. TOO LIGHT, THANKYOU!
The 625 is the "keeper". Even with "just" a RCBS 270gr SWC over 9.2gr. LongShot @900+fps, it'll perforate anything I might encounter. Mostly, I carry a Lee 255RFN over enough powder to get ~850fps. It'll also shoot stem to stern through most deer or pigs we encounter. Sufficiently accurate @~2.5"@25yds.

Next season I'll be carrying a S&W 69 with .44spl w/240swc. A K frame grip (L-frame) It fits my hands better and is almost as accurate as the "old Ruger" was.

Not trying to throw "cold water", just mentally preparing you!

Lanyard on the revolver?
I once watched a co-worker "lose"! A S&W Mod65 issue revolver overboard from our Bill Jordan holster after brushing up against the gunnels of our patrol boat, and then reach for a boat registration. Paloop! Never retrieved it. Not long after, we got nice Safariland security holsters and M686's...
My 5.5" 45 Colt rides fine in a cross draw.

The 625 Mountain gun is not that different, just a shorter barrel. The RH has a cylinder 3/32 bigger in dia. but is not really a bigger gun overall. The RH in a comparable barrel length is 7 oz. heavier (17%).
 
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It looks good after some TLC!

Regarding your sights, put them up on Ebay as GBVR (the original item number) and titled "Redhawk express sights", and people will buy them from you. Personally, I like them on my Redhawk and may buy them or trade the regular sights I took off my Redhawk for them.

I have the lightest set of Wolff springs in mine and did an internal polishing job on mine, and haven't had a light strike yet in several hundred rounds with CCI primers, known to be hard. With diligence and a careful hand the trigger can be made very nice.
 
Ammo's been ordered, bought a factory seconds Ruger holster, and tried a few different grip combos out. Don't really like how any of them feel but the Pachmayers are least objectionable. Also found a set of traditional sights for a few bucks.

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I prefer the the Pachmayer presentation grips. I dislike the the gripper and the Hogue mono grip.
 
The Hogue grip is hard and narrow with a weird palm swell, and it places the hand so low on the grip it's uncomfortable for me to reach the trigger. And I have long fingers.
 
Got it today. I'm surprised--the gun looks much better in person. Usually it's the other way around. It's not even worn--just looks like the previous owner kept it in a bag with his keys or something. Lots of fine hairline scratches that'll come out in 30 seconds with some polish. Pics to follow. Also, what a cannon. This thing is huge.

LGS was really nice. Looking in their junk boxes while they were doing the transfer and I found an NOS of Pachmayrs like the ones on the gun. Asked the guy if they were for a Ruger, he said "let's find out" and swapped them out for the age-hardened grips the gun came with. Told me to keep them as long as I told my friends about the shop.
It is a big revolver but that weight combined with the longer barrel will help soak up that energy produced by the .44 magnum even with heavy bullets. With light loads and .44 specials it will be a pussy cat to shoot.
 
The Hogue grip is hard and narrow with a weird palm swell, and it places the hand so low on the grip it's uncomfortable for me to reach the trigger. And I have long fingers.

The monogrip is such, but the Hogue Bantam for the Redhawk is a surprisingly nice grip. I much prefer it over the Pachmayrs. The Hogue Monogrip for the Redhawk is an absolute swing-and-a-miss.
 
More than a few times, I've heard reports of barrels falling off of some early Redhawk revolvers; had something to do with improper sealant/torquing of the shank threads. I've never been able to determine the serial number range these reportedly defective Redhawks fall in and, if the reports are true, I'd like to know if my early Redhawk might be one of them.
 
More than a few times, I've heard reports of barrels falling off of some early Redhawk revolvers; had something to do with improper sealant/torquing of the shank threads. I've never been able to determine the serial number range these reportedly defective Redhawks fall in and, if the reports are true, I'd like to know if my early Redhawk might be one of them.

The Redhawk was introduced in '79, and hit commercial production in '80. The SRH was developed in response to an issue with improper lubricant choice for the barrel installation, weakening/microfracturing the barrel tenon during installation, and was released in '87. By the time the SRH was released, the issue was identified and resolved, so the SRH really shouldn't have ever been released. So... If I were to hazard a range, you'd be looking at 501-30000 to 501-80000, signifying the years of '85 and '86.

I have a couple of Redhawks from 83, two from 84, and one from 85, which I've shot regularly with full "Ruger only" level loads for several years. I personally wouldn't hesitate to purchase any Redhawk from this range.
 
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