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.

 

[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.