JUst bought a NIB 5.5" Redhawk

[wow6599]

Like the title says, I just bought a Redhawk tonight from Bud's and it got me to thinking about current Ruger revolvers.

I have had a couple GP100's and a 3" SP101 (miss that one). It's my understanding that Ruger may have retooled for Redhawks and SRHs.

My question is this - are they still the same quality that Ruger revolvers have always been known for, or have they started MIM'ing them like they did with the SP101.

I haven't seen a 5.5" in years, so I bought it without looking at it......how is the "new" RH and SRH.

 

[Bezoar]

the only thing ive heard is that they might be putting more effort into making consistent throats.

 

[Manny]

I just recently bought a new 4.2" Redhawk and it is very well made, as is the GP100 I got not too long ago. They both seem to be a cut above to me.

I looked for a long time for a 4.2" SP100 though, as all those I was seeing had some very poor areas where they weren't finished properly. Finally found a good one, but it took quite awhile.

 

[Bernie Lomax]

"MIMing?"

 

[wow6599]

"MIMing?"

Metal injection molding. I'm not wanting a debate about MIM parts (trigger and hammer), because if they're done properly, they can be better than the cast parts Ruger has used for years - but I didn't like the looks of the trigger and hammer on a newer SP101 I looked at.

 

[RealGun]

"MIMing?"

Making up your own verbs is the culture these days.

 

[wow6599]

Making up your own verbs is the culture these days.

Well, it seems to make sense (to me) because in a sentence it sounds better than just MIM, i.e. casting, forging, etc..



If I made up a new verb, then I guess I finally invented something!

I pick up the Ruger tomorrow, so I guess I'll know then if Ruger has started MIM their trigger and hammers on Redhawks.

 

[Walkalong]

Made perfect sense to me. Give the guy a break.

I haven't seen a new Redhawk, so I can't say. Good question.

 

[CLP]

I got this exact same revolver for muh birthday. Gotta great wife. Can't speak to what they were like before but the fit and finish are very good imo. Haven't shot it yet but I've been casting 240gr SWC's and that Lyman devastator HP too. Need time off!

 

[wow6599]

I haven't seen a new Redhawk, so I can't say.

I'll post tomorrow what I see - with pics and range report soon follow.

More importantly, I'm curios to see the endshake / cylinder gap......finger crossed for something around .003"

 

[Sock Puppet]

It's tomorrow. We're waiting!

 

[wow6599]

Well, I brought it home. The test fired brass in the box has 10/09/14 on it, so I'd say it's new! The fit and finish is better than any GP100, SP101 or RH/SRH I've seen in years.....maybe I got lucky, or this is the new standard - either way I couldn't be happier.

As far as MIM goes, not on this Redhawk. The tigger is heavy, but smooth and consistent. I had a trigger job lined with my 'smith before I even got it, so next week we'll see what magic he can do to it.

It locks up like a vault, with no endshake. I'm trying to find my feeler gauges in my basement (adding a shower, things are disorganized) so I can measure the cylinder gap, but it'll be minimal.

I'm going to need some reloading components for it asap, because at $0.90 + a pop, factory stuff ain't coming home very often.

Ill post some pics after while....

 

[wow6599]

Deleted

 

[RealGun]

I'm going to need some reloading components for it asap, because at $0.90 + a pop, factory stuff ain't coming home very often.

I have done well with the coated bullets from Missouri Bullet. They are BR18, 240 gr Keith style SWC.

 

[ku4hx]

My older Redhawk and my somewhat newer Super Redhawk both do very well with Lyman's 429215 sized to .430". Likewise for Berry's, Ranier's and X-treme's plated bullets, The 200 grain X-treme seem to work a little better for me.

Be aware, these are strong well built guns but I found out the hard way too many fullhouse loads of 2400 will erode your forcing cone. The fix is easy with the proper tool, but the erosion from higher end loads with certain high flame temperature powders will eventually eat away at it.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I think Ruger will stay away from MIM for a little longer yet. Ruger is a company that has its flaws but putting out a product that has components of consumer misconception is not one of them.

Even so, if Ruger did the MIM in house, I would trust it to be top quality MIM.

As it is, it appears this Ruger has no MIM and is a pretty fine looking revolver to boot.

 

[RealGun]

My older Redhawk and my somewhat newer Super Redhawk both do very well with Lyman's 429215 sized to .430". Likewise for Berry's, Ranier's and X-treme's plated bullets, The 200 grain X-treme seem to work a little better for me.

Be aware, these are strong well built guns but I found out the hard way too many fullhouse loads of 2400 will erode your forcing cone. The fix is easy with the proper tool, but the erosion from higher end loads with certain high flame temperature powders will eventually eat away at it.

I think of 200 gr as a 44 Special bullet. It is supposedly the lighter, higher velocity bullets with hot loads that cause problems with forcing cones. I am sticking with 240 gr and higher for my magnums. I don't use plated in reloading, but do have some moderate load rounds from LAX Ammo with 240 plated. I would be skeptical of plating performance in a serious 44 Magnum load. Seems to do well at killing paper targets and dirt banks behind.