.357 Ruger Redhawk

[NuclearMeltdown]

Saw one of these beasts with wooden grips and a 7.5" barrel today in a shop around here for $549. The cylinder walls were the thickest I've ever seen. What was the point of such an overbuilt revolver, or were they made just as a curiosity?

 

[ArmedBear]

That's odd.

Was it a .357 Maximum, maybe?

Of course, there are some very hot .357 Magnum loads that could benefit from it...

Didn't know there ever was a Redhawk in .357.

 

[Shortdog22]

With 6 1/2 inch Blackhawk you can load to shoot flames out the end of the barrel a foot, no joke with no damage. There is no telling what you can do with a Redhawk.

 

[OFT]

I think that they made the 357 Redhawk with a 5 1/2" barrel also. Definately got enough meat there.

 

[OFT]

Delete.

 

[Blueduck]

I think they were made in 357 just because the magnum "trio" of the time was 357, 41, and 44, so thats what Ruger chambered them for. Of course as time went on sales showed most shoppers did consider it overbuilt and over heavy for the 357 and that chambering option was dropped due to poor sales.

Still a neat combo, and sought after by reloaders with a little mischevious nature Maybe even a better use is a shooter who can't take much recoil due to wrist or elbow problems. With that weight I'd bet Double Tap or Buffalo Bores hottest 357 loads kick like a 6 inch 686 shooting light 38 wadcutters.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Check that it isn't for .357 Maximum. I think they only made those for 1 year or something. Might be collectible if it is.

 

[highlander 5]

I have a Redhawk in 357 mag and have put some loads that are quite stiff. over built is an overstatement. same frame cylinder and barrel was used for the entire Redhawk line. Too bad they don't make 'em like that anymore

 

[19-3Ben]

Didn't know there ever was a Redhawk in .357.

Yup. there was. A couple months back there was a guy who posted pics here of his. The .357 chambers in the cylinder looked almost like the chambers for .22lr in a k frame. The thing makes the Smith N frames look way underbuilt.

I want one....really really badly.

 

[slick6]

Following are some pictures of my trio of .357 Redhawks. Two are the 5-1/2" barrel length and one is with the 7-1/2" barrel length.


Here is a picture of a Ruger .357 Police Service-Six compared to one of my 5-1/2" Redhawk .357's! Although the Redhawk is in the background, just compare how much more meat there is on the cylinder around the cylinder holes, compared to the Police Service-Six .357!:

Here is a picture of the opened cylinder on one of my .357 Redhawks:

Here is a picture comparing the opened cylinder from my Smith & Wesson Model 27 compared to the Redhawk .357's opened cylinder. Notice how much more massive the Redhawk cylinder is!

 

[papajohn]

slick6, I'm glad you were able to post those, most folks don't remember the 357 version, or think it was only made in 357 Max.....which it was never chambered in. I shot one back in '82, the first Redhawk I ever saw, and it wasn't much fun to wear on a belt holster, but it was a joy to shoot!

In '87 I picked up a pair of 7.5" Redhawks, one in 41 Magnum, the other in 44. Even then, then 357 version was hard to find, they only made it for a year or two. I'd love to find one, but I have a feeling the price has gone up since '82..............

PJ

 

[Walkalong]

Prices are definitely up. Still looking for a good deal. I would like one to go with my .41 & .44.

 

[foghornl]

Got to fondle a previuosly owned .357 Redhawk recently at local gunshop....

Made my .357 Vaquero (2003 vintage on the .44Mag frame) feel like an old Mattel "Shootin' Shell Fanner 50"

 

[Moonclip]

I knew a guy that had the .357, I have the ,41mag. Only stronger .357 handgun I could maybe think of would be a Freedom Arms.

 

[rxraptor02]

there is a .357 redhawk on gun broker right now....

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Redhawks were never chambered for .357 Maximum. That was a variation of the Blackhawk with an elongated frame and cylinder, made for only a short time.

 

[timothy75]

Maybe their chambered for 353 casull and dont know it? Just kidding/ not funny.

 

[Bush Pilot]

My local dealer USED to carry Redhawks in .357 all the time, never wanted one until they were discontinued. If that isn't the story of my life.

 

[Catherine]

Pretty pictures of your guns! Thank you.

Catherine

 

[cottonmouth]

.357 Rh

Here's my 5-1/2 inch RH in .357. They do handle the hot magnums well due to the extra weight and a 148 grain wadcutter is like shooting a .22 LR.

J.B.

 

[rainman500_0]

Had One

I had a 357 Redhawk back in the 80s, wish i had it back. Still have a few rounds left for it that would blow my L framed S&W

 

[Ben Shepherd]

I have a couple of 'em. They are the heaviest redhawks ever built. Both good and bad there.

The good?
Hot handrolled stuff, cor-bon, and buffalo bore all feel like a touch more than current 38+p. Good gun to use when intoducing a novice/new shooter to the world of magnum handguns.

The bad?

All day carry requires, um, dedication in both gear and mindset. Did I mention they're heavy?

 

[DWFan]

My best friend had one back in 80's. When I'd brag about my Dan Wesson M40 Maximum SuperMag, he'd remind me that he had .357 Magnum handloads that were just as powerful. He decided that wasn't enough and rechambered it for the .357-44 Bain & Davis. The gun managed to disappear shortly after he passed away. Hands down the best Ruger I have ever shot.

 

[borntwice]

I used to have a Blackhawk in .357 mag., many years ago. Great "woods gun", but heavier than h*ll, and not comfortable to carry for long. I carried it anyway though, due to living in Grizzly bear country at the time. It was a difficult gun to shoot, probably mainly due to my lack of handgun training, at the time. I am now remedying the training situation, and have recently completed a Defensive Handgun 1 course.