Ruger Super Redhawk

[blue06van]

Hello
Was curious how far a Ruger Super Redhawk with a 9.5 in barrel in 44mag would be good at, bench fired with factory ammo and hand loads. I was looking at getting one for hog hunting in south Texas area. A buddy said a hand gun is only good for 50 yards max. ? I have a Marlin 1894ss 44mag and keep 3in groups at 200 yards. And by no means would I ever shoot at a critter at that distance. I find it hard to believe that losing 10.5 in of barrel will make that much of a difference.
Please help

 

[xring44]

Your buddy obviously knows little about handguns. The .44 is capable of extreme accuracy. I have shoot many sub 2" groups from the bags with my .44. I can vouch for the effectivness of the .44 on hogs at more moderate ranges, and its a "killer".

 

[JBP]

With decent 240/250 gr. factory ammo (I don't reload) I can get consistent 3" - 4" groups with my 9.5" SRH off a bench using a pistol stand at 100 yards. I currently have a Leupold 2x on it and it's getting tougher to see at that distance so I'm either going to have to invest in a new scope or back off my shooting to 50 yards.

 

[Steve in PA]

Your friend doesn't know his @@@ froma hole in the ground. I've posted this pic before, but here it is again. This is a 5-shot group from the same pistol you are looking at. Shot from a bench at 100yds using 240gr HP-XTP's and H110 with a Bushnell 2-6x scope. The orange circle is 3" in diameter. I would recommend keeping your shots to 100yds or under, as the bullet falls off rather quickly after that.

 

[Majic]

Tell your buddy to walk out 51 yards so you can test his statement.

 

[Buzz]

Put your buddies comments into context a little more. Was he saying that it is good for HUNTING about 50 yards max or from a rest? I would tend to agree that under hunting situations, 50 yards is a reasonable handgun limit for most (but not all) hunters. That doesn't mean the GUN is only capable of that distance, rather the shooter. Shooting from a pistol perch at paper or other targets - it's most certainly capable of turning in some impressive groups a good bit further than that. From a solid rest, I can easily hit milk jugs at 100y using my iron sighted 629. However, if you take my rest away and have me shoot from realistic field positions, I wouldn't take a shot at game over 50y.

 

[blue06van]

50 yards max

[ Put your buddies comments into context a little more. Was he saying that it is good for HUNTING about 50 yards max or from a rest? ]

He still thinks a hand guns max effective range is 50 yards. He states accuracy and drop off will too far out to be any good. He claims? That a SW K frame .357 he had years ago couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn at 50 yards? I am really thinking about this is a BS story.
Thank You all for your reply’s

I showed him this web site and he called me a tin hat freak.

No longer a buddy I will take advice from

 

[cbsbyte]

Your "buddy" has some major issues he needs to address.

 

[Marshall]

Obviously he's just speaking from his own experience and ability, or inability. I have taken much game from twice that distance with a Ruger Redhawk 44 Mag 7 1/2" bbl.

 

[blue06van]

Woot New Ruger Super Redhawk 44

Woot New Ruger Super Redhawk 44 9.5 in. Picked up after work and took buddy.
First let me say I need lots of practice Lots. Started at 25ft sitting at bench after nervousness of new gun and recoil was keeping mainly 1++ patterens, think I need a class. Moved to 50 yard bench groups grew bigger I quess I need glasses also. But, If I used the 4x4 covered with carpet and took my time groups moved in 3++ range. 1/2 box ammo left had to move to 100 yards. Glasses are a must. Range guild came by to talk to us. I guess a new gun box and walmart shopping bag, just checking us out, to be safe. He watched me fire with spoting scope. Asked me if barrel was bent, cause I coundnt hit the papper. So I let him look at it and fire it. Duuh I need glasses. He hit the paper all 6 times.
So Thank You all again..
New Ruger owner.

 

[gazpacho]

Interestingly enough I just picked up a book on handgun hunting.

From HANDGUN HUNTING: How to Travel the World in Pursuit of Wild Game
by Mark Hampton

I consider the .44 Magnum a 75-yard deer cartridge when fired with iron sights. It can be effective at 125 yards if a scope is used, under excellent conditions with someone that knows how to shoot. -- pg 10

I haven't read the whole book yet, but so for he hasn't written anything to make be believe he doesn't know what he's talking about.

 

[Cosmoline]

Was he talking about hog hunting or something else? For hunting as was pointed out 50 yards is not the maximum. For personal defense I'd say 25 yards is the maximum with a short gun, and exposing yourself to try for shots beyond that range when someone is shooting back at you is deeply stupid.

 

[asknight]

I'm comfortable to 50 yards for most any game with my 4 5/8" SBH, and up to 75 on quite a few occasions. Your 7.5" SRH will be comfortable at most any range in which you, the shooter, are comfortable shooting. 100 yards is the range at which many handgun hunters set their zero and expect to perform their duty. The 7.5" SRH is extremely popular with handgun hunters, so my best guess is that your SRH will do satisfactory service at twice your buddy's quoted effective range.

His .357 K frame could conceivably be that inaccurate; if it was broken, maltreated, or exhibited a terribly filthy bore. A bad experience with a clearly bad handgun does not set the standard for which all others are to be judged.

 

[kbheiner7]

I had the 9.5" Super Redhawk and it was more than capable of taking game at 100 yards. I shot maybe a dozen rabbits between 50 and 80 yards with open sights with mine. Throw decent glass up top and it'll probably do tha job out to 150 yards or so.