Called Ruger (.45 Colt Redhawk)

[kludge]

I called Ruger yesterday to ask whether .45 Colt +P ammunition from Buffalo Bore and the like were safe in my new 4" Redhawk.

He said something like... "Any US ammunition manufatured to SAAMI specifications is safe to use." He said it again on a slightly rephrased question...

Then I asked, "Even the +P?"

He said, "Yes."

So if there is no SAAMI spec for .45 Colt +P, what was he saying? His answer left me confused. Is he really saying, "If you reload to +P pressure you're SOL"?

What is a safe pressure limit for the .45 Colt Redhawk? 14,000psi? (SAAMI spec for .45 Colt) 20-25,000psi?

Is the metallurgy the same as the 4" Redhawk in .44 Mag?

If +P (with no SAAMI spec)weren't safe I would have expeceted a different answer, like "No. +P ammunition is not safe in the .45 Colt Redhawk." I say that because that's what a human being (as opposed to robot) would say to another human being who was about to go blow himself up with a gun.

 

[campbell]

The Redhawks can take very hot loads. Will take 32,000 PSI all day long.

 

[CypherNinja]

Some calibers have SAAMI spec +P ratings. He may have been confused/uninformed.

If they said SAAMI spec only, and there is no SAAMI spec +P, then loading +P ammo will void your warranty and any responsibility of theirs.

That being said.........

 

[Colt46]

Ruger doesn't like people who handload

I believe anything you handload voids their warranty. Redhawks are certainly strong as any blackhawk ever built.
That said, any commercially manufactured ammo is acceptable with them.
In your six shot cylinders 32,000 seems to be the threshold for the .45 colt. Custom 5-shot cylinders are a different kettle of fish.

 

[19-3Ben]

Ruger doesn't like people who handload
I believe anything you handload voids their warranty.

That's not a Ruger thing. it's a liability thing, and this applies to EVERY company. I've seen the same warnings about not being liable for reloaded ammo from every gun maker.

 

[rcmodel]

If Buffalo Bore ammo were not safe in a Ruger Redhawk or Blackhawk, what gun would they be safe in?
And why are they loading it then?

From thier website:
"These Heavy .45 Colt +P loads are safe in all LARGE FRAME Ruger revolvers.
(includes Blackhawk, Super Blackhawk, all pre-2005 Vaquero, Bisley, Redhawk)

These Heavy .45 Colt +P loads are NOT intended for the New Model Vaquero (small frame).

These loads are also safe in all modern Model 1892 leverguns
as well as all Winchester & Marlin 1894's"


rcmodel

 

[researchdoc]

RC is spot on.
Those are the guns to use.
I would be more worried about the brass not holding up to the pressures vs. the gun. In a handload, need to use consistant brass that should handle the pressures of high end loadings. Or just buy the Buffalo Bore. That stuff is STOUT!

 

[kludge]

Thanks for the responses.

From thier website:
"These Heavy .45 Colt +P loads are safe in all LARGE FRAME Ruger revolvers.
(includes Blackhawk, Super Blackhawk, all pre-2005 Vaquero, Bisley, Redhawk)

Yes I saw that but perhaps I misread it to mean "pre-2005 Vaquero, pre-2005 Bisley, pre-2005 Redhawk". And seeing that is what prompted my call. But a "Bisley, Redhawk, and all pre-2005 Vaquero" reading makes more sense, knowing about the changes in the Vaquero to compete with the "cowboy" guns.

I'm interested in 240-260gr loads in the 1000-1200 fps range out of a 4" barrel, and a pressure limit of 20-25,000psi. I'm not going for .454 Casull type loads, I already have one of those.

 

[Jim March]

The cylinder is just a little bit beefier in the Redhawk than the Blackhawk - and a bit longer in the Redhawk too.

If you look at the Redhawk in 44Magnum, check Garrett Ammo's page. They sell 44Mag+P specifically for the Redhawk and SuperRedHawk that will NOT fit the SuperBlackhawk or other 44Mag Ruger single actions.

This will carry over into 45LC as well. I would not hesitate to use at least moderate amounts of 45LC+P in a Redhawk.

Note that while the Redhawk has more "blowup resistance strength" than any Ruger SA, "action strength" is another matter. I would expect a large-frame Blackhawk to hold up to repeated firing longer (by at least a little) than a Redhawk due to the simpler SA lockwork.

A lot of people don't understand that there's "two kinds of strength". The N-Frame S&Ws in 357 are classic examples of major "blowup resistance strength" yet a delicate lockwork - the lighter K-frame 357s stand up better to rapid firing of light loads and hence weighted-down K-Frames were the thing to have for PPC when you'd think an N-frame would be the ticket.

 

[BlkHawk73]

ANY firearms manufacturer is only going to say to use ammo within SAAMI specs. Giving info to say it'll take loads above those specs is opening up a can of liability.
My train of thought...if one really neeeds to push the cartridge they have, it's time to go with a more powerful chambering.