usfan
Member
Well, i went to the range yesterday, to try out some hotter 'ruger only' loads. I shot about 100 rounds of regular 45c, hot 45c, & 45acp. I had ordered a hogue bantam grip, & was using it.
Wow. I like this pistol. The hot loads were hot.. nice kick to them, but not abusive. I don't think i want or need a 45 casull, though! I spent a little more time sighting it in, with regular colt loads, then compared to the others. They were all pretty good. I didn't do a side by side this time with the smith 625, but i found the accuracy was much better than last time out. Maybe the barrel is more 'broken in' after the last cleaning & shooting, or maybe i'm just getting a better feel for it. But subjectively, from my fading memory, it seems as accurate as the smith, which would be reasonable, since they are both 4" barrels.
The range was empty, so i took a few longer shots.. ~ 130 yds, then some at 200+. The 45acp were like artillery shells, & did not shoot flat at all. The factory long colts were not much better. But the hot ruger only loads were pretty flat shooting. At 130 i only had to aim a few inches higher to get on target. It was not moa accuracy, but it hit a 24" circle with 5 of 6 rounds, off a pickup cab rest. I would be very comfortable hunting anything around here to ~ 100yds.
I shot a lot of 45acp both in single & double action, both, weak, & strong hand. It was very capable at normal pistol range.. between 10 & 30 yds it would consistently be on a 10" target.. except weak hand.. i've got to get it in better shape. I had 2 ftf weak hand, which was probably a limp wrist thing, & only in 45acp. I did not shoot the hot 45c loads one handed.
I'm going to change back to the pachmayr gripper, & shoot the same hot loads with it, to see how it compares. I have 3 grips now, for 2 redhawks, so i can experiment.
The last time out i was disappointed with the accuracy, & thought the smith 625 was much better. Now, they are very similar, & i'll have to do a side by side to see if my reloads work better in one or the other.
The hot ruger loads were with 250 gr, fn plated, and 300 gr, fn hitech coated. I tried both 21.1 & 22.6 of 4227, & they both were fine. A lot more kick with the 300 gr, but that is to be expected. I could go a bit higher, but am very happy with either of these. I'll probably use the higher charge for the 250 gr plated ones, & the lower for the heavier bullets.
The bantam hogue grip fits this pistol very well, except for the round butt part. If i decide to go with this grip, i plan to shave off the grip, so it fits the butt better. If i do, i'll post a pic. The pachy gripper is still softer, & has a backstrap covering, but not much. I'll take my time, & shoot a bunch with both, & keep the one i like better.
The 45 acp are like 22s. There is hardly any recoil with this heavy gun, but it is very accurate. This combo really intrigues me. You get the power of a 44 magnum, with the moonclip versatility of 45 acp. BTW, the moonclips are outstanding. They are easy to load & unload with just your fingers, & they are very fast to load & unload from the pistol. I've got moonclips in 4 of my revolvers, now, & don't know how i ever did without them. The ruger ones, especially, are quick & easy. I had to go aftermarket for the smith to get range friendly moonclips.
I'm partial to the 45acp round anyway, & with the ability to go hi power 45 colt magnum loads, AND 45 c cowboy loads, this is almost a 3 in one pistol. It's a keeper. I thought i would like it, & i do.
Wow. I like this pistol. The hot loads were hot.. nice kick to them, but not abusive. I don't think i want or need a 45 casull, though! I spent a little more time sighting it in, with regular colt loads, then compared to the others. They were all pretty good. I didn't do a side by side this time with the smith 625, but i found the accuracy was much better than last time out. Maybe the barrel is more 'broken in' after the last cleaning & shooting, or maybe i'm just getting a better feel for it. But subjectively, from my fading memory, it seems as accurate as the smith, which would be reasonable, since they are both 4" barrels.
The range was empty, so i took a few longer shots.. ~ 130 yds, then some at 200+. The 45acp were like artillery shells, & did not shoot flat at all. The factory long colts were not much better. But the hot ruger only loads were pretty flat shooting. At 130 i only had to aim a few inches higher to get on target. It was not moa accuracy, but it hit a 24" circle with 5 of 6 rounds, off a pickup cab rest. I would be very comfortable hunting anything around here to ~ 100yds.
I shot a lot of 45acp both in single & double action, both, weak, & strong hand. It was very capable at normal pistol range.. between 10 & 30 yds it would consistently be on a 10" target.. except weak hand.. i've got to get it in better shape. I had 2 ftf weak hand, which was probably a limp wrist thing, & only in 45acp. I did not shoot the hot 45c loads one handed.
I'm going to change back to the pachmayr gripper, & shoot the same hot loads with it, to see how it compares. I have 3 grips now, for 2 redhawks, so i can experiment.
The last time out i was disappointed with the accuracy, & thought the smith 625 was much better. Now, they are very similar, & i'll have to do a side by side to see if my reloads work better in one or the other.
The hot ruger loads were with 250 gr, fn plated, and 300 gr, fn hitech coated. I tried both 21.1 & 22.6 of 4227, & they both were fine. A lot more kick with the 300 gr, but that is to be expected. I could go a bit higher, but am very happy with either of these. I'll probably use the higher charge for the 250 gr plated ones, & the lower for the heavier bullets.
The bantam hogue grip fits this pistol very well, except for the round butt part. If i decide to go with this grip, i plan to shave off the grip, so it fits the butt better. If i do, i'll post a pic. The pachy gripper is still softer, & has a backstrap covering, but not much. I'll take my time, & shoot a bunch with both, & keep the one i like better.
The 45 acp are like 22s. There is hardly any recoil with this heavy gun, but it is very accurate. This combo really intrigues me. You get the power of a 44 magnum, with the moonclip versatility of 45 acp. BTW, the moonclips are outstanding. They are easy to load & unload with just your fingers, & they are very fast to load & unload from the pistol. I've got moonclips in 4 of my revolvers, now, & don't know how i ever did without them. The ruger ones, especially, are quick & easy. I had to go aftermarket for the smith to get range friendly moonclips.
I'm partial to the 45acp round anyway, & with the ability to go hi power 45 colt magnum loads, AND 45 c cowboy loads, this is almost a 3 in one pistol. It's a keeper. I thought i would like it, & i do.