Anything a new Redhawk owner should know?

I remember reading about the Redhawk barrels fracturing and going down-range, but believe that they traced it down to a single assembler who thought he knew better than everyone else and used an improper lube, so only his production was subject to the later problems.

The proper way to build them was to install the barrel to specified torque and if it didn't clock just right, you pulled it back off, took a little material off then tried again. The problem assembler wanted to build them faster so he just lubed them with some stuff he brought in from home and if they didn't line up just right...he'd muscle them past the recommended torque to clock properly. This is what stressed the threads which then allowed the improper lube to infiltrate and attack the structure of the metal leading to the failures later on.

It would be disconcerting having a gun in the problem serial range...but many of them are just fine...far as we know.

RecoilRob said:

It would be disconcerting having a gun in the problem serial range...but many of them are just fine...far as we know.

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I carry my Redhawk (serial no. 500299xx) in bear country. It would be a little more than "disconcerting" if the barrel stayed in my holster while the rest of the gun was being pointed at hair having silver tips...

I am confused as to why Ruger would bore their cylinder throats at .432"

The barrel issue was just a few guns back in 1980 due to incorrect lube and torq procedure on one shift. The Internet blew it up to a major problem.
Find some good grips that fit your hand. Do not look for Ruger only loads for .44 magnum as there is no such thing. You will find a moderate load shoot better and hitting the target is the number one consideration so that means shooting many rounds for practice. If you reduce the spring in the gun be sure its still reliable, de-burring of the internals is the better route for a better trigger pull.

I found the Pachmayr Decelerator grips the best shooting for me. Definitely a lifetime revolver.

I really enjoy my new 45 Colt/ACP from mild to wild. I did change the sights to Meprolights .

Varminterror said:

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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This is mine from around 1982. S/N 500-4xxxx. It has just gone to the 'smith to gently ream the firing pin hole which has slightly deformed under hot loads and started sticking the pin. I've always run CCI and Federal primers with no FTF. Pachmyr grips, Millett rear sight. Holster from Uncle Mike's.

Update -
My gunsmith looked at the firing pin issue and deferred to Ruger to remove the (well hidden) retainer pin that holds the pin, spring and cup in place. I got a call today from Ruger and they are declining to fix the pistol, but have offered me a brand new .44 Redhawk at no charge. Any comments as to why this is not a great idea? Here's what my pistol looked like when it shipped:

If they are offering to send you a new Redhawk I don't think it gets any better than that!

Mine - new grips someday. I want something filling, but I have some heartache spending a $100+ on a guess I will like them. Shoots much better than me. A lot of custom work by a fellow in PA. You will have fun!

RPZ said:

If they are offering to send you a new Redhawk I don't think it gets any better than that!

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Update: My new RH arrived last weekend. The barrel top was machined a little bit differently than my '83 model, but still does not have the scope ring mount provisions and I'm very much OK with that. The firing pin assembly is installed and retained with a newer mechanism accessed in front of the transfer bar.

I stripped the pistol down and found very sharp edges from the machining processes pretty much everywhere. This made it quite a chore to reassemble. I then spent about 30-45 minutes with several fine stones gently chamfering all these edges and the smoothness of the reassembly process was hugely improved. It would seem to be a good idea for Ruger to tumble a lot of these parts prior to final assembly and surface buffing, but that would add to the cost a bit, I'm sure.

All in all, I'm very pleased with the way things have turned out. Ruger is a great company!

Barry the Bear said:

I will tell you what you have there is arguably the strongest double action revolver EVER made

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Forgetting about the S&W X Frames?

They're another magnitude stronger (and larger) than even the RedHawk.

Master Blaster said:

The Internet blew it up to a major problem.

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The internet was still wearing diapers long after the Redhawk barrel lubrication issue occurred.

GTS Dean said:

Update -
My gunsmith looked at the firing pin issue and deferred to Ruger to remove the (well hidden) retainer pin that holds the pin, spring and cup in place. I got a call today from Ruger and they are declining to fix the pistol, but have offered me a brand new .44 Redhawk at no charge. Any comments as to why this is not a great idea? Here's what my pistol looked like when it shipped:

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Ruger most likely opted to replace your revolver rather than repair simply because it's a LOT easier for them to replace it with a new rear entry firing pin model instead of go through the hassle of removing and replacing the old front mount pin.

I'll comment, you don't have much of a gunsmith if he balked at replacing the recoil plate in a Ruger. Drive out the pin, replace it with stainless pin stock, replace the recoil plate... It takes time, effort, and energy, but it honestly doesn't take much gear. I've done a few myself (on the order of a dozen or 15), as the same work had to be done to install bowen extended firing pins on the old front-entry Rugers.

I love my Redhawk and have been shooting it regularly since 1985. I have had no problems at all in and now my son is starting to shoot it.

Here is a picture from that I have posted before, but it's from 1987(?) and taken in Montana after we were drying out from a rain storm:

Here is my son shooting the same Redhawk this year:


They are great revolvers; I hope you enjoy it!

gotboostvr said:

Forgetting about the S&W X Frames?

They're another magnitude stronger (and larger) than even the RedHawk.

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Your right, I should have put strongest, practical DA revolvers.

I bought and tried all the factory sight options. Still the black ramp front and Clark square notch rear is my favorite setup.

The Redhawk is my single favorite handgun closely followed by the 1911. I started out with circa 1983 built 7.5" then acquired a 5.5" Redhawk around 1985 I liked it so much I sold the 7.5" and bought a blue 5.5" around 1986 which I later sold. All new, all in 44 Magnum. All responded to DA trigger work and are accurate.

The 5.5" Redhawk I still have shoots into an inch at 25 yards and I have a rested target of 3/4" at 50 yards. It loves Remington and Hornady bullets. I have well over 25,000 rounds through that revolver, at least half being full power loads. Broke two hammer hooks, fatigued two factory trigger springs, broke one transfer bar, fit a Bowen firing pin, been through a billion grips for it. I do keep spare parts. Uncle Mike's grips with the hump just above center on the backstrap has been ground away to make it fit my hand. I did action work to it. I replaced the front crane locking pawl with an oversized one after it about 5000 rounds to correct barely percepible crane movement and tuned the cylinder alignment.

I have shot PPC, Hunter's Pistol Silhouette and bowling pins with it. I have bled on it. I shot gallery round ball to 240 grain fire breathers at over 1425 fps. I do know it doesn't misfire single action with any credible ammo. It WILL misfire double action with a hammer spring less than stock force. My two favorite loads are 240 grainers, a cast SWC at 1050 fps and Rem SJHP at 1275-1300 fps.

highlander 5 said:

...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.

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Anyone else have this problem?

I know the hook you're speaking of and wondered what the circumstances were that it broke, and if it broke at the same place each time. Did it ever break while shooting? How did it manifest itself?


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hammer hook...First broke while shooting, the second I did a field strip to clean and found the hook fractured

Same as above. The hook is a 1 min fix push out the retaining pin new hook replace pin. In the 30 years of owning Redhawks I replaaced the hook 3 times at best.

highlander 5 said:

Same as above. The hook is a 1 min fix push out the retaining pin new hook replace pin. In the 30 years of owning Redhawks I replaaced the hook 3 times at best.

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To me that's outrageous. You should be able to shoot it all your life.

I realize it can be easily replaced, but except for a spring change, you should never have to take your Ruger apart. Ruger should reinforce that part ago that it doesn't fail. Did it fail while you were shooting? Cocking the gun?

I have shot Security-Sixes for years and have never had to change any part except the springs (and two springs have always been better than one in my book). I'd just like to know why it fails. You can't use the gun without it, and it seems to be an awfully weak link in an awfully robust gun.

Magnumite said:

hammer hook... First broke while shooting, the second I did a field strip to clean and found the hook fractured.

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Amazing. So in your experience, shooting the gun is what causes the stress. That it was fractured indicates it must be incremental stress.

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The hammer hook is not that thick and where it broke on mine was the area just before the hook. That area is thin width wise to allow room to place the hook on the spring assembly. I should note that I have 3 Redhawks 357,44 and 45 Colt. The 357 is at least 30 years old broke 1,hook on that one the 44 is my 2nd oldest at 25 years old,and I broke 2 on that one. My opinion on the hook breaking is this it's a part to a somewhat complicated mechanism an as such is likely to break at some point,there is no such thing as an indestructible part like any machine a part will fail at some point. The early S&W 44 mags had design flaws that took time to appear but they did,cylinders skipping under recoil,internal lock work having to be rebuilt after heavy use but AFAIK no one complained about the problem they just sent the pistols back and got them repaired.

highlander 5 said:

The early S&W 44 mags had design flaws that took time to appear but they did,cylinders skipping under recoil,internal lock work having to be rebuilt after heavy use but AFAIK no one complained about the problem they just sent the pistols back and got them repaired.

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In fairness, they did more than just send the revolvers back for repair - they started buying Rugers. There's a reason Ruger earned its reputation for building strong revolvers, largely because those of us who've shot a Smith loose have struggled to ever do the same to a Ruger.