Redhawk?

[Shane]

Which current production Redhawk do you prefer?


.44 magnum or .45 Colt?



Does the .45 Colt version suffer from the under reamed chambers like the .45 Colt Vaqueros and Blackhawks sometimes do?


I'm thinking about getting a Redhawk, I'm just not sure which caliber to go with. This will be a range gun and target shooter, and I'll be using light to moderate loads (if I got the .44 magnum version, that would mean I'd shoot .44 specials exclusively out of it). I don't care for the recoil of HEAVY hunting .44 magnum loads, or even the heavy .45 Colt +P 300 grain plus loads.


Which caliber do you prefer in this gun? And why?


I simply would like something different, as all my revolvers now are in .357 magnum and .22 magnum/.22 LR.

 

[dairycreek]

I would opt for the Redhawk in .44 magnum.

For me it's because of the availability and cost of 44 magnum ammo in my part of the world. I can purchase both 44 magnum and 44 special ammunition that are inexpensive. On the other hand, that does not seem to be true of the 45 LC ammo. If you do not like the "heavy stuff" as you suggest in your post then 44 Special is an excellent choice. Good shooting

 

[Tony Z]

I too would go with the .44 Special/mag. You can use the .44 special for plinking and the .44 magnum for hunting or SD loads.


Tony

 

[Nightcrawler]

Dare to be different. .45 Colt. There are .45 Colt hunting loads that are safe in Rugers that can do anything that .44 Magnum can do with lower peak pressures.

 

[Slow]

I read ( I believe on sixgun.com) an article by John Taffin that the .45 Colt in the Redhawk is very accurate and does not seem to suffer the problems of the Vaqueros and Blackhawks... I would suggest you read the test report/article it was favorable.

 

[RCL]

For a Redhawk that will be used as a range/target gun, I think a 5 1/2" inch gun in either caliber would be a good choice. Availability of .44 Special and .45 Colt ammo is about the same in this area.
My own choice, given the criteria, would be a S&W N frame gun, probably a 4" M629. Lighter and handier in my opinion, fwiw. Nothing against Ruger revolvers, thats mostly what I own. I shoot a lot of heavy loads, and they are stout guns.

 

[Shane]

My own choice, given the criteria, would be a S&W N frame gun, probably a 4" M629.

I love S&W revolvers, but their new stuff does not appeal to me. I don't like the built in lock system, or the MIM parts. If I could find an older 629, sure I'd consider it. But, I won't touch the new S&W revolvers.

 

[WESHOOT2]

I HAVE BOTH (and the other two, too)

If you handload get the 45; if not get the 44.

If you hunt real big stuff that bites get the 45; if not get the 44.

If you want to use it for IPSC get the 44 (better speedloader results; if not get the 45, can use the HKS M-29, but may require more time for cartridge alignment).

If 'target shooting' get either.
If recoil sensitive get either.

 

[Marshall]

In a Redhawk, .44 MAG! A Vaquero on the other hand, I want the .45 Colt

 

[Tom C.]

Redhawk .44 or .45?

I have both. The .44 is 20 yrs old, the .45 is new. The .45 has very nicely finished chambers and cylinder throats .451". Shoots great. The .44 was also very well finished, but is older and not necessicarliy indicitive of current production. Both have 5.5" barrels.

 

[Kahr carrier]

44 Magnum.

 

[Shane]

One other question: are there any "luke warm" (i.e. medium power) .44 magnum factory loads out there. I've shot lots of .44 specials, and they are really weak (low recoil). The one time I shot a .44 magnum was with really hot 300 something grain loads, and needless to say the recoil turned me off. Is there any factory loads that are significantly hotter than .44 Special, but also a couple levels below the very hot .44 magnum loads? Any particular "medium" load out there that can help me practice and eventually work my way up to the hot .44 magnum loads? I don't reload currently, so I do need a factory load if possible.

 

[Shane]

And might ask well ask one other question. I've never used the Pachmyre "Decelerator" grips. Are they worth the money?

 

[larryw]

Do you reload? I like the 44 because its so easy to load whatever power you want. Same probably could be said for the 45 Colt as well, dunno there.

I have the Decelerator grip but found the Hogue wood grips worked better for me. The Decelerator is narrow along the backstrap and while soft, seemed to transmit the recoil from heavy loads onto a smaller area of my hand. The Hogue grips are wider and the recoil is absorbed by my entire hand. I find that easier to handle. For example, I was usually done after 50 rounds of mag loads using the Decelerator. I shot 100 rounds of magnum (240gr XTP pushed by 23.5gr of H110) today and quit only because I didn't bring enough ammo to the range.

I also find that the Decelerator's plastic/rubber is squishy and I didn't get a firm grip. That and it was a bit slippery.

 

[WESHOOT2]

OH

I have Decelerators on all four of my Redhawks; work for me.
(Have a set of Hogues; they didn't.)

Georgia Arms offers the kind of 44 ammo you want.

 

[Tom C.]

Loads for .44 and .45

Standard loads for the .44 are reasonably hot. There is a more limited number of milder factory loads. The .45 has lots of mild factory loads and a limited number of hotter factory loads from specialty vendors. The bottom line is, if you reload, there isn't much difference. If you don't, .44 is easier to get hot loads, .45 is easier to get mild loads. It comes down to personal preferrence. The Redhawk is one of the strongest .44s or .45s made. Get both. Enjoy.

 

[Spoonman]

You couldn't go wrong either way, but I'd say get the .44. My 5 1/2 inch Redhawk (.44) is 20+ years old and a great shooter. I've taken a couple of nice deer with it and uncountable armadillos. It is fun to shoot with .44 specials (minimal recoil) and even more fun to shoot with Federal Hydra-Shoks and Winchester Silvertips. Silvertips are available in .44 special, too.

Remember to smooth the action as soon as you get it. About 500 rounds downrange should do it.

Clif