Redhawk or Super Redhawk for 4" conversion?

[Kestrel]

I'm thinking about getting either a Redhawk or a Super Redhawk to have the barrel cut down to 4". (.44 mag)

Just looking at them on the Ruger site, it looks like the Super Redhawk is bulkier than the Redhawk, but the weight is similar.

Is the Super Redhawk bulkier?

Can anyone give me some insight on these two guns? Which would you choose for a 4" cut-down?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[tc300mag1]

I want to get my super redhawk cut done to 4 or 6 inchs the super redhawk is beefy but should help tame recoil done.

 

[Mikul]

I've thought about this. If you're going to cut down a revolver for size, why start with the biggest one available. I have a 5-1/2" Redhawk which has controllable recoil with magnum loads. I doubt that a 4" barrel would be much worse. The standard Redhawk is already more beefy than any S&W or even Dan Wesson. It's already a stout pistol.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Check out this thread. Clements Custom Guns will shorten a Ruger Redhawk for you. If I had the bucks, I'd be all over this in a heartbeat (though I'd take mine in .45 Colt flavor).

If you want a shorty Super Redhawk, you needn't look any further than Wild West Guns.

Check it out:

 

[stans]

If I were to have one cut down to 4 inches, it would be the Redhawk. The purpose of a 4 inch revolver is more likely to be a woods carry gun, so picking the heaviest, biggest frame, then cutting the barrel way back just seems counter productive.

 

[tc300mag1]

Mag-na-port will also do them . Cant find there link but its on there website

 

[Nightcrawler]

Actually, I found the 7.5" Super Redhawk I handled to be a quite handy piece. Big, yes, but not super heavy. They're lighter than you'd think, for being so big. Subjectively, it felt no heavier than my 6" S&W 57 did.

 

[Gordy Wesen]

Magna-Port did a really nice job on a .44 Redhawk for me. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. They cut the barrel to 3.5 inches, magnaported it and did the round butt conversion. Geat work. Great pistol.

 

[Kestrel]

Nightcrawler,

That 4" Redhawk picture is exactly what I have in mind. It looks like a very handy size.

Thanks for the picture. I think that's what I'll do.

Steve

 

[tc300mag1]

Gordy what did mag-na-port hit ya for on that if ya rember

 

[buzz meeks]

I've been thinking about the same project. Anybody know how much a 4 inch Redhawk would weigh? Anybody have one? Is the balance OK?

 

[Preacherman]

For the ne plus ultra of Redhawk conversions, look at Hamilton Bowen's work. His Alpine conversion (see picture below) is a classic.

 

[Porter Rockwell]

Freaking Loony Prices For Cutting Barrels!

Hello,
check your local smithys for better prices!
Anything much over $150.00 to cut/crown and resolder is robbery!
Actual smith time involved is less than an hour!

 

[Kestrel]

I love those Alpine models he does. Just way more money than I want to put into this kind of gun.

Looks great, though.

Steve

 

[Wedge]

Bowen does way more than just cut and recrown the barrel in his Alpine conversion.

 

[dandean316]

If your just looking to shorten the barrel, I'd go with the Redhawk. Plenty of beefy frame there to absorb pretty much anything.

Then again, by the time you'd buy a Ruger and pay for the 4" barrel shortening - couldn't you just get a Smith 629? Not sure as I'm not a Smith guy.

I thought about shortening my Redhawk .41 mag just for something different, but since they are no longer made, I kind of have a tough time with it.

 

[Stainz]

I am biased... I love my SRH (.454)... and I have the perfect pack'in 4" .44M already - a S&W 629MG. Yeah, it really never sees .44M's... it loves .44 Specials, however.

Now to your question... the 7.5" RH actually weighs in at an ounce more than the 7.5" SRH (54 vs 53 oz), according to the Ruger catalog. Also, cutting the SRH appears easier - no lug... and, the scope mounts stay put. Additionally, the SRH has the excellent GP-100's two spring (Hammer and trigger return vs the single RH spring.) lockwork - easier to tune, according to most. Finally, that OEM backstrap enclosing rubber grip with nice wood panels standard on the SRH's is better on the recoil than the big wood (open backstrap) on the RH.

All of that said, and I still drool over the 7.5" RH in .45 Colt at my dealer's... if it had been a 5.5", I'd had it it for years! I just like .45 Colt...

Stainz

 

[jaybar]

You might want to check out Gary Reeder's "Alaskan Survivalist" with a 3" barrel

http://www.reedercustomguns.com/revolvers/alaskan_Survival.htm