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

[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.