Got My Redhawk to Work!

[Mikul]

I've been shooting my .44 Redhawk for a while with the stock 4,000lb spring. I tried using lighter springs from Wolff about a year ago, but I was getting frequent misfires. A friend suggested switching from the Winchester primers I was using to Federal. I tried this out with the 12lb spring and went through 100 rounds with no reliability problems. The 12lb spring was giving me 50% failure with Winchester primers.

I learned an interesting thing during the testing phase. I range 50 cases loaded only with primers through the gun before heading to the range. By just using primers, all of them backed out of their case and would jam the gun up. It seems that the primers only stay in by the force of a loaded cartrige jamming them against the frame.

 

[SASS#23149]

Never,ever try CCI'S in that gun.They are made more NOT to fire than to fire,IMHO.Walmart here only has CCI's,so I pickup extras of win. or federals when I 'm in town.Never had a problem with Federals,occasional misfires with Winchesters.Think I'll hold out for Federals from now on.
You are correct...the primers 're-seat' after firing in a revo.

 

[Kamicosmos]

See, I did the exact opposite. I changed the springs in my Redhawk and SP101 to work specifically with the CCI Primers. I figure, since they are the hardest primers, I will not have any problems at all with the Winchester or Federal, or any other primers.

I think all it took was the next spring in the line too, so not like I have a heavy trigger now either.

 

[41 Redhawk]

Here is an interesting read from Bowen Classic Arms. They do a good bit of work on the Redhawk. http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/gunnotes.html#Firing Pins and Reliable Ignition

 

[groessebaer]

The Bowen extended firing pin does improve firing pin protrusion. I am aware of a Redhawk a person had fitted the pin to increasing firing pin protrusion from 0.043" to 0.055". The headspace was about 0.062"-0.063" not too far from the minimum. The gun had been tuned by a noted gunsmith and was then fitted with a 12 pound Wolff mainspring. In DOUBLE ACTION the gun only worked reliably with Federal primed ammo and CorBon. Winchester primed ammo in double action was about 50-60% and we never tried CCI . With the 14 pound mainspring the Winchester worked about 98% in double action. With the 12 pound mainspring the double action measured around 8.75 pounds. With the 14 pound mainspring it went to about 10.5 pounds. Bowen's tuned Redhawks usually run between 10.5 - 11 pounds double action per his catalog. Clements states his run about 10-11 pounds DA normally. Although Ruger seems to have firing pin protrusion problems it seems the heavy action on the Redhawk to work with all types of primers must be due to the design using the single spring and/or other inefficiencies in the action design. I have never figured why the Super Redhawk design has not been adopted to the Redhawk as the action probably could be far lighter in double action. Ruger could standardize on parts and the buyer would not need to get the frame protrusion of the SRH.

 

[41 Redhawk]

I have never figured why the Super Redhawk design has not been adopted to the Redhawk as the action probably could be far lighter in double action.

Absolutely that would best the best of both worlds. It would function wonderfully and not be so ugly

How about a 5 shot GP100 in 41 and/or 44 as well? It certainly would be strong enough for that.

 

[groessebaer]

I believe Bowen in his book "Custom Revolvers" had a picture somewhere where they did take a SRH and mill off the frame extension. Elsewhere he mentioned fitting Redhawk barrels to the SRH to improve the cosmetics. As you note the Redhawk with the SRH innards would be the best of both worlds.

I would also like to see a GP series in .44 Special or .45 Colt. I think it might need to be modified somewhere in the frame width and cylinder window to handle the Colt but if Taurus can do this so should Ruger. I would think it would give them a bigger market for the basic frame size. Also, they should have a 7 shot .357 version of the GP.

 

[denfoote]

And here, I thought your employer had a "bring your gun to work" day!!!

 

[happy old sailor]

GP in .41 mag??? will you take a check? dont know why, i love .41s. most ppl consider the .41 to be an anemic .44. not so. think of it as a big .357 and act accordingly.

 

[41 Redhawk]

I believe Bowen in his book "Custom Revolvers" had a picture somewhere where they did take a SRH and mill off the frame extension. Elsewhere he mentioned fitting Redhawk barrels to the SRH to improve the cosmetics.

If you can find such a picture, I would like to see. Another guy and I have looked for it on Bowen's web site and can not find it.

Happy,

Yep, I like a 41 too. A 5 shot L frame would be spiffy as well!

 

[groessebaer]

I borrowed the book and do not have it now. As I recall the picture was of a snubby they made out of a SRH. They filled in the scope ring cuts with weld and put a Redhawk barrel on it that was cut way back. The picture is not on the website. It would have been nice to see the gun with a 5.5" bbl. off of a Redhawk.