whatnickname
Member
Here’s one that I find thought provoking and one where you see quite a big of controversy on sites like YouTube. Very simply put: Will the Ruger Redhawk in 45 Colt stand up to a steady diet of the high pressure loads the reloading manuals designate for the Ruger Blackhawk and the T/C Contender? Chuck Hawks says “No” but stops short of condemning the Colt Anaconda and Redhawk. Instead he just states that “ Blackhawk and T/C Contender as stated in the reloading manuals mean just that.” Ruger is pretty tight lipped about the question too. I called them and lawyer like, they advise that they do not recommend any reloaded ammo in any of their guns...voids the warranty too. When I asked if the Ruger Redhawk in 45 Colt was not as strong as the Redhawk in 44 magnum they emphatically said: “No”. I asked if the Redhawk in 45 Colt was not as strong as the Blackhawk in the same caliber they again said “no”. While I understand that the 45 Colt case is not as strong as the 44 magnum, I also believe that the inherent strength or weakness of the 45 Colt case is taken into consideration in the reloading manuals. I have tried the heavier Blackhawk loads in my 45 Colt Redhawk with no apparent problems. Chuck Hawks, whom I respect greatly, says that while one or two cylinders full of the heavier loads can probably be fired without any adverse result, a steady diet of them will eventually cause something to break. So with Ruger stating that the Redhawk in 45 Colt is just as strong as the Blackhawk of the same caliber, I see no reason the Redhawk will not give comparable service life. I am not advocating a steady diet of the hot stuff. The darn things kick too hard. I do carry the Redhawk in 45 Colt when I hunt and, on occasion, have used it to finish off a deer or hog when necessary. I hope I can hear from folks that perhaps have shot more heavy loads in the 45 Colt Redhawk than I have and would like to know if anyone has experienced any problems.