Ruger Match Champion for $649? Dual caliber Redhawk?

[GatorFarmer]

I have been browsing to see what 1911s are available in stock locally. While doing so, I came across a different gun on clearance. Wearing seemingly rather nice wood grips was a 4.25" bbl Ruger Match Champion. The version on clearance had a fixed non outlined Novak style rear sight. One with an adjustable rear sight, not on clearance, was closer to $800.

The one on clearance was now the price of a plain GP100 in the case near it.

I have never owned a GP100 for whatever reason. I recall them being beefy guns meant to compete with the 686.

The Match Champion seems to have a flat sided half lug bbl, deluxe wood grips and a fiber optic front post. I am not sure what other differences there are.

Does anyone have one of these?

Also on clearance was a Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt that said it would also shoot .45acp using moon clips.

I could probably/maybe use one or the other as a durable utility gun. The .45 Colt Ruger DAs will take loads that are in .44 Magnum territory won't they?

 

[dusty3030]

I've shot one ( Match Champion)and they are nice ! I'd buy it in a second for 650.

 

[k22fan]

Brian Pearce has published articles in Handloader Magazine providing .44 magnum Redhawk loads that are too hot for N frames. He does take advantage of the Redhawk's longer cylinder but even without that it is well accepted that the Redhawk's larger cylinder can withstand higher pressure than N frame .44s. Redhawk .44 magnum cylinders have the same part number as Super Redhawk .44 magnum cylinders. They are larger and stronger cylinders than single action Super Blackhawk cylinders. The famous "for Ruger only" .45 Colt loads in reloading manuals were developed for .44 Magnum size Blackhawk cylinders so they are conservative in Redhawks.

 

[ladder13]

I have been browsing to see what 1911s are available in stock locally. While doing so, I came across a different gun on clearance. Wearing seemingly rather nice wood grips was a 4.25" bbl Ruger Match Champion. The version on clearance had a fixed non outlined Novak style rear sight. One with an adjustable rear sight, not on clearance, was closer to $800.

The one on clearance was now the price of a plain GP100 in the case near it.

I have never owned a GP100 for whatever reason. I recall them being beefy guns meant to compete with the 686.

The Match Champion seems to have a flat sided half lug bbl, deluxe wood grips and a fiber optic front post. I am not sure what other differences there are.

Does anyone have one of these?

Also on clearance was a Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt that said it would also shoot .45acp using moon clips.

I could probably/maybe use one or the other as a durable utility gun. The .45 Colt Ruger DAs will take loads that are in .44 Magnum territory won't they?

Was the Redhawk the RB version with wood grips or the SB version with Goodyears?
The RB appears to be in great demand and scarce, the SB version is plentiful last time I looked.
I'm sort of looking for the RB Redhawk myself. They go around 750-800 on Buds and the like.

 

[fdw]

I have a Match Champion that I traded for a couple of years ago. Built like a tank, I've been very pleased with mine.

 

[Lockport Redhawk]

I have been browsing to see what 1911s are available in stock locally. While doing so, I came across a different gun on clearance. Wearing seemingly rather nice wood grips was a 4.25" bbl Ruger Match Champion. The version on clearance had a fixed non outlined Novak style rear sight. One with an adjustable rear sight, not on clearance, was closer to $800.

The one on clearance was now the price of a plain GP100 in the case near it.

I have never owned a GP100 for whatever reason. I recall them being beefy guns meant to compete with the 686.

The Match Champion seems to have a flat sided half lug bbl, deluxe wood grips and a fiber optic front post. I am not sure what other differences there are.

Does anyone have one of these?

Also on clearance was a Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt that said it would also shoot .45acp using moon clips.

I could probably/maybe use one or the other as a durable utility gun. The .45 Colt Ruger DAs will take loads that are in .44 Magnum territory won't they?

I waited 3 weeks to get the Ruger Redhawk Model 5032 I got it for $799 + tax at a LGS.
I've put a few hundred rounds of 45 ACP rounds through it with the moon clips, and several hundred 200 grain and 250 grain hard cast handloads. I've had some light strikes/FTF, when firing DA not SA, that may be attributed to my Winchester primers. bent moonclips or need for a spring job. I'll work this out. This is my first wheel gun and I love it.
I loaded some "Ruger Only" loads of 335 grain Cast Performance bullets with 21 grains of H4227. Shot 6 of those yesterday-they hurt!!!

 

[GatorFarmer]

The Redhawk that I saw had the rubber grips on it.

I wanted to pick up a decent 1911 this year before spring. But I am tempted by that Ruger Match Champion.

 

[ladder13]

The Redhawk that I saw had the rubber grips on it.

I wanted to pick up a decent 1911 this year before spring. But I am tempted by that Ruger Match Champion.

The Redhawk you saw is SB. The SB, Model 5027 is 45LC only from what I understand, the RB, Model 5032 is the convertible Ruger.

I had one of those MC's in my hands this past summer, one of my range members hold and shoot it. The grips looked odd shaped to me but lo and behold the gun fit my hand great, thin fingers, large hands.
It shot great as well, and I had a hard time putting it down.

 

[ScottN]

I picked up a barely used Match Champion last year on a whim. It was my first 357 revolver. It's the fixed sight model. All I can say is that I love it. I added Wolff springs (10 lb hammer and 8 lb trigger) and it is a pleasure to shoot. After the spring changes the DA pull is just over 8lbs and the SA is just under 3lbs. The grips fit my hand perfectly.

 

[growr]

A dear friend of mine had a Ruger MC and then shot my 686....he traded the MC for a 686 as for HIM the 686 shot much better and was quite a bit smoother...

Randy

 

[David Sinko]

I'm hearing that the .45 Colt/ACP Redhawk needs "thinner" moonclips to function with .45 ACP. Why? Couldn't Ruger simply take a Redhawk cylinder and machine it to a depth so that it accepts "common/normal" .45 ACP moonclips? I just checked my .45 Colt Redhawk and a moonclip for my 625 looks like it would fit perfectly with a bit of machining. And if the moonclips are indeed thinner, will moonclipped .45 Colt fit? I believe there are manufacturers who offer moonclips for .45 Colt, as long as the cylinder has been machined. And what about moonclipped .45 Winchester Magnum? Winchester's own brass has a narrow extractor groove which might work with the "thin" Ruger moonclips.

Good luck with the light primer strikes in the Redhawk. The firing pins tend to be notoriously short and fit of the transfer bar is also very important. Even simply accessing the firing pin is a tough job and impossible for most shooters. Better send that one back to Ruger.