Hot ammo in new ruger redhawks

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ungeheur

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Would like to know people's opinions on using hot 357 loads (i.e. buffalo bore) in the new 8-shot redhawk .357 -- and hot 45 colt loads in the new 45colt/45 acp redhawk. Go!
 
You are good to go. Buffalo Bore is safe to use in a Redhawk, or any firearm rated for the caliber they were made, unless they explicitly state otherwise.
 
The Redhawk cylinder and frame is larger in every dimension than the Blackhawk. Brian Pierce has published loads in Handloader Magazine for the 45 Colt Redhawk that approach 50,000 psi. Personally, the Ruger-only loads published for the Blackhawk is all the power I care to shoot in my Redhawk. Pierce's loads are only safe in the Redhawk, or a revolver chambered for 454 Casull. Bottom line, the Redhawk is much stronger than the Blackhawk and any load safe in the latter is safe in the former.

I have read articles about adventurous handloaders loading 358 rifle bullets in 357 Magnum cases with generous amounts of H110 for silhouette shooting in the original six shot 357 Redhawk. I'm sure the eight shot 357 Redhawk could handle them too but with the 2.75" barrel that is currently solely offered what's the point? If they bring out an eight shot 357 Redhawk with a 7.5" barrel you can color me interested. The 357 Redhawk, even as an eight shot, is the strongest 357 revolver extant. It can handle any factory ammo and the hottest published handloads all day, every day.
 
The convertible .45 Redhawk can handle Buff Bore's heaviest .45 Colt loads much better than your hand can.
Denis
 
That being said, I would treat it like any other ammo testing and look for telltale signs of issues. Sticky extraction. Binding. Flattened primers. Erosion on the forcing cone. Lead shaving. Accuracy. Holes in the target. If it passes all the tests then the proof is in the pudding. My experience with Buffalo Bore is very positive. However, any firearm and any series of cartridges should get to know each other a bit under your watchful eye before you have to depend on it.
 
That being said, I would treat it like any other ammo testing and look for telltale signs of issues. Sticky extraction. Binding. Flattened primers. Erosion on the forcing cone. Lead shaving. Accuracy. Holes in the target. If it passes all the tests then the proof is in the pudding. My experience with Buffalo Bore is very positive. However, any firearm and any series of cartridges should get to know each other a bit under your watchful eye before you have to depend on it.
Yes, some unintentional experience with my 5.5", ported Redhawk indicated that you will certainly know where to stop when you cannot remove the cases by any normal method.
 
I may just be typing out of my rear end here...

...but I would be mildly concerned about the thickness of the cylinder walls in a 357 holding eight shots.

I am not at all pretending to have any pertinent knowledge.
 
as far as i know, all 357 mag commercial ammo is loaded within saami pressure specs (there is no "+p" 357 magnum). buffalo bore does not claim to load all their ammo to saami spec, but states on their website if the specific ammo is not intended to be shot in weaker guns. so, the 357 loads from buffalo bore should be ok in your eight shot redhawk.

as stated above, the 45 colt redhawk convertible has been independently tested to 50kpsi.

luck,

murf
 
as far as i know, all 357 mag commercial ammo is loaded within saami pressure specs (there is no "+p" 357 magnum). buffalo bore does not claim to load all their ammo to saami spec, but states on their website if the specific ammo is not intended to be shot in weaker guns. so, the 357 loads from buffalo bore should be ok in your eight shot redhawk.

as stated above, the 45 colt redhawk convertible has been independently tested to 50kpsi.

luck,

murf
With 6 chambers.
 
Having loaded some heavy for caliber loads in both the .44M and the .45Colt, in Redhawks, Blackhawks, and Super Blackhawks, I will say this;

The guns handle it much, much better than the bones and joints in my hand. I used to ride roughstock in college, and the heavy loads through the Rugers found me with a bag of ice on my previously injured right wrist, and dealing with a swollen wrist for a few days. Long story short, the Redhawks can handle some wicked loads.

These days I'd estimate I shoot 95% of my .44s with a mid range load of 10 grains unique and a 240/250 cast SWC. I shoot the top end loads sparingly, normally as a pre-big game season warm up, and a couple practice sessions. Frankly outside of hunting large animals, or defense from large animals, I see no need to go full throttle.
 
Ruger revolvers are probably the most overbuilt there is. That being said, if you make your own hot rounds you better know what you are doing. No gun is totally idiot proof.
Commercial ammo of any kind is not a problem.
 
Yup. I damaged one nice gun with my handloads (I was young and dumb) and have seen plenty of other people do it also.
 
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