Ruger Redhawk replacing S&W 25-5 (.45s and family)

[raygixxer89]

Thanks for the kind word! As it turns out, I've got a GP-100. That design is what I believe may be the most solid .357 I've ever known. I got fortunate in it's being a bit of an oddball. half lug barrel, DAO, and fixed sights. Hard to get more rugged and simple than that, me thinks. I mentioned it here:

Thanks for the kind word! As it turns out, I've got a GP-100. That design is what I believe may be the most solid .357 I've ever known. I got fortunate in it's being a bit of an oddball. stainless, half lug barrel, DAO, and fixed sights. Hard to get more rugged and simple than that, me thinks. It was a Canadian Police issue. Many folks like to say RCMP, but I think it was one of the bigger cities. (Although RCMP does somehow seem cooler)

I have been thinking I need one of those blued GP 100 7 shooters too though. They're about as attractive as the DA Rugers are gunna get.

Thanks for the kind word! As it turns out, I've got a GP-100. That design is what I believe may be the most solid .357 I've ever known. I got fortunate in it's being a bit of an oddball. half lug barrel, DAO, and fixed sights. Hard to get more rugged and simple than that, me thinks. I mentioned it here:

Thanks for the kind word! As it turns out, I've got a GP-100. That design is what I believe may be the most solid .357 I've ever known. I got fortunate in it's being a bit of an oddball. stainless, half lug barrel, DAO, and fixed sights. Hard to get more rugged and simple than that, me thinks. It was a Canadian Police issue. Many folks like to say RCMP, but I think it was one of the bigger cities. (Although RCMP does somehow seem cooler)

I have been thinking I need one of those blued GP 100 7 shooters too though. They're about as attractive as the DA Rugers are gunna get.

Thanks for the kind word! As it turns out, I've got a GP-100. That design is what I believe may be the most solid .357 I've ever known. I got fortunate in it's being a bit of an oddball. half lug barrel, DAO, and fixed sights. Hard to get more rugged and simple than that, me thinks. I mentioned it here:

Thanks for the kind word! As it turns out, I've got a GP-100. That design is what I believe may be the most solid .357 I've ever known. I got fortunate in it's being a bit of an oddball. stainless, half lug barrel, DAO, and fixed sights. Hard to get more rugged and simple than that, me thinks. It was a Canadian Police issue. Many folks like to say RCMP, but I think it was one of the bigger cities. (Although RCMP does somehow seem cooler)

I have been thinking I need one of those blued GP 100 7 shooters too though. They're about as attractive as the DA Rugers are gunna get.

I have a French tuen-in SP101 with Trausch grips and it is tight as a vault. I don;t think that it was shot very much.
Oh, a;so have a Manuhrin stainless MR88 but it wasn;t in as good a shape as the SP101.

 

[David Sinko]

The Redhawk won't work with .45 Auto Rim and its thicker rims. It should in theory work with .45 Winchester Magnum, since Starline brass will fit into common moonclips. Given the Redhawk's various ignition shortcomings I always wondered how well it worked with moonclips. Headspacing on the moonclips is never ideal but should work if everything else is set up properly. Much will depend on the quality of the chambers and how much room there is for the cartridges to wiggle.

 

[sousana]

My first tedhawk in 45 colt came to me after I got assigned to the 2nd MarDiv out of Camp Lejeune NC . Found it in a lgs new, expensive, but appealing. Put it on layaway. Since then, I nown have 11. I had 12, but my niece, who graduated Parris Island last November wanted one along with one of my oem Colt ar15a2s. Lol, the redhawk weighs almost as much as my niece.

 

[raygixxer89]

The Redhawk won't work with .45 Auto Rim and its thicker rims. It should in theory work with .45 Winchester Magnum, since Starline brass will fit into common moonclips. Given the Redhawk's various ignition shortcomings I always wondered how well it worked with moonclips. Headspacing on the moonclips is never ideal but should work if everything else is set up properly. Much will depend on the quality of the chambers and how much room there is for the cartridges to wiggle.

The only thing I own that uses moon-clips is a stainless Speed Six in 9mm. Still unfired in the box. I'll take her out to the range.

 

[RebCop]

I used to read Chuck Taylor's articles in various gun rags. The more I read, the more skeptical I became of his writings. I'm not saying that Model 25 will blow up using Ruger 45 Colt loads, but I doubt it would prove to be durable over the long run. The thinnest part of the S&W cylinder is in the stop notch, how long before that thin steel bends to the pressure of hot loads, causing a swelling in the chamber?

I don't know I just know that it worked for him. He was a respected authority and a Ranger from Nam. I'll take his word for it.

 

[BigMuddy]

" My target goal for wilderness carry is 300 grains at 1K FPS from a 4". bbl."

This can be accomplished with "tier 2" loads (23k psi) which the M-25 can handle. In Brian Pearce's Handloader article he had loads slightly higher in velocity using Longshot, Power Pistol, and TCM powder. My only issue with 300 gr. bullets in M-25 is they shoot too high.

Dan

 

[rvolvr]

I can't come to grips with your first sentence...........More powerful than a 44 mag with heavy bullets?.........Show me the ballistics.

Jeff Quinn: gunblast.com, The .45 Colt Bisley: Ruger's Workhorse. May18,
2004

John Linebaugh: Gunnotes - Heavyweight Bullets Part 1
John Linebaugh: The .45 Colt, Dissolving the Myth, Discovering the Potential. sixgunner.com

Ross Seyfried: Shootout! .45 Colt vs. 44 Mag. Guns & Ammo Magazine, Jan 1995

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Jeff Quinn: gunblast.com, The .45 Colt Bisley: Ruger's Workhorse. May18,
2004

John Linebaugh: Gunnotes - Heavyweight Bullets Part 1
John Linebaugh: The .45 Colt, Dissolving the Myth, Discovering the Potential. sixgunner.com

Ross Seyfried: Shootout! .45 Colt vs. 44 Mag. Guns & Ammo Magazine, Jan 1995

Your gun......Your loads..........Just don't blow it up trying to make a 44 mag out of it.

 

[rvolvr]

Your gun......Your loads..........Just don't blow it up trying to make a 44 mag out of it.

No participation in such endeavors was stated or implied.

 

[dogkinkead]

I was introduced to the S&W Model 25-5 as a young lad. Probably 12 years old or so. My Father came home from his night shift with a huge, shiny black revolver that he was thrilled about. a North Georgia Police Department had traded them in, and he picked his up for $200. He tells me the department that traded them in had moved to a 9mm of some configuration. Shortly afterwards some officers had serious issues stopping assailants with them, got riddled with lawsuits for excessive force, and the Officers in the field were pining away for their old .45 Colts. I dunno that I fully believe that story, but it's fun to consider. My Father found that model 25 much to his liking. It delivered alot of power without excessive recoil. He shot it regularly with his buddies that were smitten with the .44 mag. Though we know hot rodding was starting up for the .45 Colt, most common fellas were not partaking of that trend, least of all, my Father. He was always being told how underpowered it was, and the bullets didn't even move fast enough to expand reliably. The oversized cylinder throats weren't even known, or he would have heard plenty about that too. My Father believed there was only one level of dead, and anything that walked, crawled, or slithered in the state of Georgia could be made so with that round. His practical experience shooting deer, wild dogs, and various vermin around the spread proved him out, and gave him confidence in it. Additionally, he acquitted himself quite well with it around his shooting buddies, despite it being such a weak, antiquated old thing. It's hard to tell how much I saw him shoot and carry that thing, but it was enough for me to form quite the association between my Father, and that heavy old revolver.

I was probly....sixteen or so when we started coming to Alaska every chance we got. We were camped out in Talkeetna visiting some friends and doing some fishing when my Father handed it to me to carry. He himself had a 629 that he could just flat out handle better than me. I had been raised in a "Proper" Southern kinda way, and didn't normally get to use or carry a handgun in my youth. When he passed that .45 Colt to me, I felt ten foot tall and bullet proof. I guess my Father's change of thinking really came through some time later when I got a short barrel 870 shotgun with a magazine extension for bear protection.

As the next couple years went by, I still got to carry that old gun from time to time when we were out doing things in the woods. Eventually, my older brother ended up taking a job in Arizona and needed a gun for protection, and my Father sent him off with that one. He did some tough living down there. It's never been discussed much, but during the year or two he was down there, the 25-5 was stolen.

I went through a ridiculous slew of handguns when I got old enough to carry. I went through the 1911 phase, Glock phase, Sig phase, and Heaven only knows what else. There were weeks when my closet saw more fresh guns than my feet saw fresh socks. I finally settled into revolvers about 2009 or so. It was then that I decided there was a hole in my heart that could only be filled by a S&W .45 Colt. I eventually ended up with a 625-9 Mountain Gun. It is a quality gun that I still use today. Accurate, powerful, reliable, easy to carry, etc. Heck, I regularly carried it for five years. Unfortunately, I found that it did not scratch that itch left by the 25-5. My Father came to miss that gun as well, but he's on a fixed income, and they remained beyond what he could bring himself to pay. He and I both have done without for many years, and had many wistful conversations about that thing.

About a year ago, I finally found one I could afford right here on these forums. It was clean, well kept, seller was honest, price was right. This one had been touched by the hand of Hamilton Bowen, had Weigand front sights, and a slew of extra speed loaders and brass. It shoots really well. I was fortunate enough to have Steelslaver bore me out a proper cylinder for it, but have not seen the need for it yet. It was a dream come true. I remain wildly in love with that revolver, sometimes worrying myself with the level of affinity I could find for an inanimate object. But...there has been something off. I have my bucket list 25-5, but the man who inspired my love for that gun does not.
I have spent months agonizing over the matter, and I'm finally resolved to action. My Father is turning 81 next week. He will be receiving my bucket list 25-5 for his Birthday. Some friends joke that I will get it back one day. I'm not so sure, and I don't expect so. Things happen, and when you give something away, you have to completely let go of it, otherwise I feel that it falls short as a gift in a Karmic kinda way.

As part of me letting go, I resolved to find another .45 Colt. Rather than finding a similar one that would likely always fall short, I went in a bit of a new direction with a Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt/.45 ACP. It's just...a different gun entirely, but not without it's assets. It's amazingly smooth, and well timed. I like that I can basically use it as a garbage disposal for any .45 that rolls off my bench that isn't questionably charged or something similarly dangerous. As much as I've loved the S&W .45 Colts throughout the years, I have kinda burned out on the hot load controversy with them. It'll be nice to run some hot and snotty Buffalo Bore heavies without voices in the back of my head taunting "You'll blow your hand off!" The .45 Colt will always have a home with me, whether it's in my Mountain Gun or the Redhawk. At this point, I just plan to keep the Mountain Gun handy when more bipedal threats are to be considered, and carry the Redhawk when I know I'm going deep into big bear country. I'll be giving the 25-5 away with some middle of the road 255 grain KSWC all arounders that I've loaded up, and a couple boxes of 200 grain Barnes hollow points. I suspect he'll keep it loaded with hollow points around his house or motorhome. If he gives it away to some random stranger, I'll come to peace with that too.
to hear about it. I'll eventually post some pics for fun, but current circumstances won't allow that.

If anyone has their own tales to share about sacrificing beloved guns, or would like to tell me how amazingly awesome the Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt is, I'll be eagerly listening.

I absolutely love my Redhawks. One in 44 mag and two in 45 Colt. When hunting in the national forests the 5 1/2 inch in 45 comes with me.

 

[Yendor357]

This will be the 45 Colt to have. (This is a 44 for comparison)

I'll bet there will be a Gunsmith somewhere reaming it out for 454.

The cylinder is 1.9 inches long.

The Colt factory made a few prototype 454s l know a guy that was loaned one for testing.

I guess if someone was super talented, and had the proper equipment, part of the lug could be removed for a weight savings of a couple ounces.

I'm sure this has been done a lot: Cut down 454 brass to 45 Colt length for a little extra strength. Bears beware!

 

[steelslaver]

I used to read Chuck Taylor's articles in various gun rags. The more I read, the more skeptical I became of his writings. I'm not saying that Model 25 will blow up using Ruger 45 Colt loads, but I doubt it would prove to be durable over the long run. The thinnest part of the S&W cylinder is in the stop notch, how long before that thin steel bends to the pressure of hot loads, causing a swelling in the chamber?

That is not how steel works. It will only happen if you exceed the yield strength and if you do that it will happen the first time. Different than something that flexes. Flexing causes work hardening which causes brittleness which will cause failure. Interestingly the Ruger cylinders are the same diameter as S&W N frame cylinders. Their only advantage is that the stop notch is partially offset from the chamber's center. Also a small thin spot in a cylinder wall is supported by the material surrounding it. IF you made the notch the length of the chamber it would be WAY weaker and fail.

I am not saying this because I support firing top of the line Linbaugh loads in model 25s. But stepping loads up to where 255-260gr slugs are leaving the barrel at 1100fps isn't a problem for model 25s. I have been doing that for years.

I also don't see any need for more than that. If a 255gr slug traveling at 1000-1100fps doesn't do it, I highly doubt another 50grs or 150fps is going to. Plus, it doesn't mater much trajectory wise past 100 yds. Even a 240gr 44mag leaving the barrel at 1400fps becomes a rainbow trajectory wise once you go past 100yds and if you don't know the range and your loads trajectory that extra speed isn't going to help much. If you think it is 150 yards and it is actually 175 your going to be way low. Even if your sighted 2" high at 100 yds, you will be over 15" low at 200yrds

 

[steelslaver]

PS, I make my own 45 colt cylinders by starting out with 44 mag cylinders, Then reaming them to have .452 throats and fairly tight chambers. It isn't because I think 44 mag cylinders are better material, but because I want better chambers and throats. I have also used a couple 629 frames, but one again not because I thought they were better, I just came across deals on them and could buy them and a 45 barrel cheaper than a 45 colt, ream the cylinder the way I wanted it and have a better gun than most of the earlier factory 45 colts

 

[cowboy94916]

I shot a Ruger Redhawk in 45colt/45 acp when they first came out at a dealer demonstration my dealer and I attended when they first came out. It was an awesome peice. I really lusted for one but another friend convinced me that I already hiad both clibers in Smith revolvers and I could only shoot them one at a time. I really really liked that Ruger and still think of it now and then.

 

[raygixxer89]

I shot a Ruger Redhawk in 45colt/45 acp when they first came out at a dealer demonstration my dealer and I attended when they first came out. It was an awesome peice. I really lusted for one but another friend convinced me that I already hiad both clibers in Smith revolvers and I could only shoot them one at a time. I really really liked that Ruger and still think of it now and then.

I really enjoy shooting my 44mag Redhawk.

 

[larstusor]

No love here for Freedom Arms single action revolvers that can be had in .45 Colt or .454 Casull and which will handle any reasonable load, from mild to hot, in a easy to carry package?

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

I was fortunate enough to own an 83 in .454 Casull and a 97 in .45 Colt and .45 ACP. I am not in a hurry to own another. They certainly do meet claims for accuracy, strength, and precision fitment. My obervation was the the fitment was a little too good.

At one point in time my young teenage son had an old Webley Mk5 that had been converted to .45 ACP. I went to a lot of trouble to load up a slew of rounds that would fit it. I seem to recall a very light charge of Unique pushing a .454 250 grain KSWC. I'm not sure if that old Webley was really that awfully inaccurate, or just hard to shoot well, but it was very minute of human silhouette in accuracy.

My son and I made a range trip, and I wanted to keep things simple. So, I just stuffed the .45 ACP into my 97 and took him to the range hoping he wouldn't be too discouraged by the fine handling and accuracy of my FA compared to his beat down old Webley. So, I squared off on my target and started shooting. The gun was infallably accurate. I can't take that away from it, but I got 3-4 cylinders through it before the gun ceased to load and function due to fouling. I hadn't brought a cleaning kit, etc. So...I sat on the side line and laughed at myself as my son plowed through my ammo supply with his clearly inferior old Webley.

On another occasion, I was out caribou hunting, and I was carrying my 83 in .454 Casull. I literally slept on the ground the previous night with my gun beside me. A few hours into the hunt I saw a nice bull and came up to shoot it. I could not cock the gun. The 'bou looked at me rather curiously as I cursed my revolver, seemed to figuratively shrug his shoulders and wandered into the brush as I cursed a blue streak at my revolver. Turned out a tiny, tiny pebble had gotten into the cylinder and window and bound it up. I've replicated the issue with Blackhawks and Smiths and could not make them fail. Due to the tight tolerances of that FA, it just could not tolerate any grit. Maybe there's other Alaskan hunters that are smarter than me, less careless than me, etc. but I just can't tolerate that in my revolvers.

Additionally, there is a comparison to be made in the management of a single action revolver Vs. a double action revolver during a tense encounter, but I'll save that for later. I've probly thrown out enough hot take opinions for now.

The funny thing is that when I first got my Freedom Arms I had come across some forum where some fella beligerently said how Freedom Arms had too tight a tolerances, were not reliable, and his Magnum Research revolvers were better on any day, and he'd out shoot anyone who thought otherwise. I dunno how good of a shooter the fella is, but he sadly turned out to be absolutely correct regarding the Freedom Arms and the Magnum Research. But, anyone who disagrees with me? I probly can't outshoot 'em. But I can buy them lunch and discuss the matter.

 

[Rust E. Badge]

DeKalb County, Georgia police department issued the S&W 25-5 years ago and replaced it with the Beretta 92 series.

Yes they did. As a young police officer in 1985, at Marietta, Ga PD, I saw DeKalb Co. officers training on the Cobb Co. PD range with large revolvers. We were carrying the 686. I walked over to see what they were shooting and sure enough, it was the Model 25-5 in .45 Colt. I thought then and I think now, "That's a man's gun". Wish I could have laid my hands on one of the DeKalb Co 25's. Many of their officers were unhappy about swapping for the Beretta and who can blame them.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

You guys are thinking wrong about carrying the Ruger Redhawk. Check out the tanker style or Kenai Chest style holsters. The weight is distributed over your shoulder and around the middle of your chest. Here is an example:
Larry

Ready to Ship Kenai Chest Holsters | GunfightersINC

Get your hands on the Kenai Chest Holster now, ready to ship! Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and sportsmen, the Kenai offers comfort and convenience for all-day wear.

gunfightersinc.com

I was all for it till I saw it was plastic.............I WILL NEVER stick a revolver in a plastic holster...........EVER!!!!

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

That is not how steel works. It will only happen if you exceed the yield strength and if you do that it will happen the first time. Different than something that flexes. Flexing causes work hardening which causes brittleness which will cause failure. Interestingly the Ruger cylinders are the same diameter as S&W N frame cylinders. Their only advantage is that the stop notch is partially offset from the chamber's center. Also a small thin spot in a cylinder wall is supported by the material surrounding it. IF you made the notch the length of the chamber it would be WAY weaker and fail.

I am not saying this because I support firing top of the line Linbaugh loads in model 25s. But stepping loads up to where 255-260gr slugs are leaving the barrel at 1100fps isn't a problem for model 25s. I have been doing that for years.

I also don't see any need for more than that. If a 255gr slug traveling at 1000-1100fps doesn't do it, I highly doubt another 50grs or 150fps is going to. Plus, it doesn't mater much trajectory wise past 100 yds. Even a 240gr 44mag leaving the barrel at 1400fps becomes a rainbow trajectory wise once you go past 100yds and if you don't know the range and your loads trajectory that extra speed isn't going to help much. If you think it is 150 yards and it is actually 175 your going to be way low. Even if your sighted 2" high at 100 yds, you will be over 15" low at 200yrds

I give this thread an.....AMEN.