ruger blackhawk or redhawk in 45 colt?

[MCgunner]

I like 4" DA guns, look like what a DA revolver is SUPPOSED to look like. Of course, I grew up when cops all carried 'em, not Redhawks, but 4" revolvers. I had a Security Six that looked a lot like the Redhawk. I always thought those 7-10" revolvers were the oddballs.

 

[MCMXI]

1858rem, I just read your thread in the legal section ... HOLY CRAP!! Here's a comparison of the recoil between the load I'm using in my Redhawk and the load that caused your 1858 cylinder to come apart.

I used the recoil calculator here.

I'm still wondering how the heck a loose primer pocket could do that? Wouldn't the primer try to move FORWARD under recoil i.e. deeper into the primer pocket? Would that set it off?



P.S. Glad to "see" that you're ok after that traumatic experience.

 

[MCMXI]

I like 4" DA guns, look like what a DA revolver is SUPPOSED to look like. Of course, I grew up when cops all carried 'em, not Redhawks, but 4" revolvers. I had a Security Six that looked a lot like the Redhawk. I always thought those 7-10" revolvers were the oddballs.

Finally ... something I agree with!

 

[1858rem]

1858 is that 4" the one you did testing on as far as velocity in your 45 colt rifle compared to pistol?

 

[MCMXI]

Yes it is.

 

[Old Fuff]

I'm still wondering how the heck a loose primer pocket could do that?

As the firing pin impacts and detonates a primer, the powder is ignited. The cylinder is first pushed forward and then slams backward. If a primer is loose in an adjoining chamber it can move out of the pocket, and then be slammed against the recoil shield by the case head. In effect you set off two cartridges at once. Many years ago I was standing next to a friend who was shooting an old Colt S.A.A. with substantial cylinder end-shake. This condition wasn’t uncommon with these six-shooters. He was also using mild reloads in cases that had been loaded countless times, and his revolver blew up exactly like this one.

 

[MCMXI]

Old Fuff, so how loose does a primer pocket need to be in order for that to happen? How do you "measure" primer pocket tightness?

Thanks.

 

[Old Fuff]

Old Fuff, so how loose does a primer pocket need to be in order for that to happen? How do you "measure" primer pocket tightness?

Good question, but I don't have an easy answer. Some handloaders tell by feel, while using a hand tool to seat primers. If you buy some new, unprimed cases and prime them you will soon be able to sense what the resistance should be. After the 3rd or 4th time a case is reprimed you'll usually notice a difference, but a loose (oversized) pocket can crop up any time.

This is a revolver issue, although I have known of an unexpected discharge when a pistol went into battery and the chambered cartridge had a high (and stuck) primer. No damage was done to the gun, but this is one reason you never drop the slide unless the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction.

Fortunately this sort of thing doesn't happen very often, and when it does the blame is placed on a powder overcharge. I can't say for sure that this is what happened in this incident, but all of the clues are in place. If the primer is still in the "second round” look at it with a strong magnifying glass and see if tool marks from the breechface are imprinted in it.

Incidentally, going to a stronger model, such as a Ruger Redhawk – which is as strong as they come – won’t save you if this happens. The pressures involved with still take the top half or side of the cylinder off.

 

[1858rem]

well now i think i know what did it now, there were about 3/8 that seemed...not so tight. i think the loose primer pocket is my most likely cause going by old fluff's reasoning....... i dont see how else my loading could be at fault other than me being too tight to toss a 24 cent primed and prepped piece of brass, cause i had no idea it could destroy a 500 dollar revolver:banghead::banghead::banghead:.



back to this thread i think ill go with the single action blackhawk, i still like the redhawk but too far outta my price range, as are the 454's. i said id shell out 500 bucks mostly since thats about what i had in my 1858 and thought i shouldnt try and go cheap, if i see a blackhawk for 300 bucks like the other guy id jump on it though

 

[Cohibra45]

I've got both (5.5" SS Bisley and 5.5" Redhawk), plus an old model 7.5" convertible, plus an older S&W Mountain gun (with firing pin in hammer)........all in 45 Colt!!!

Looking for a Freedom Arms 83 Premier in 45 Colt with 5.5" barrel......Anyone???

 

[1858rem]

Cohibra45

which do you shoot the most?

 

[Cohibra45]

Probably the S&W, but of the Rugers, I shoot both the Bisley and Redhawk. I seem to favor the Bisley, but my son really likes the Redhawk...go figure!!!

BTW, all seem to go with my Rossi/Puma SS 20" SRC in 45 Colt!!

 

[MCgunner]

Son-in-law's Rossi 92 is in .45 colt. Mine's in .357 magnum. I really like shooting light .38s in my .357, but the .45 Colt is neat, too. I really can't figure out the caliber I like best in the lever guns, but I swing toward the .357 just do to the power with magnums and the .22 like shooting experience with really light .38s loaded with a 105 SWC over 2.3 grains of Bullseye. That thing is fun.

I also have a .357 Blackhawk among other .357s to go with the rifle. One of these days, maybe I'll find a used .45 Colt 92 for the .45 Blackhawk. He's got a Williams receiver sight on his which is REALLY neat.

 

[Cohibra45]

Best thing about my 45 Colt collection is I can load up some warm rounds and not fear shooting them in anything I own. I'm not talking of making any 454 Casull rounds, but 265-320gr bullets going almost 1100-1200fps out of the revolvers do really well out of the Puma also!!!

 

[Blue Brick]

RedHawk

 

[Walkalong]

Ruger web page says:
"** A choice of 4", 5 1/2" or 7 1/2" barrel length."

If they are making the 5.5 & 7 1/2" ones in .45 Colt now, they dang sure aren't for sale.

I sure like my .44 Mag Redhawk. I would like one in .45 Colt as well. I do have a .41 Mag Redhawk.

I think some people think the Rugers can take any load they can come up with. Well, strong as they are, there are sane limits to anything mechanical.

 

[Cohibra45]

I think some people think the Rugers can take any load they can come up with. Well, strong as they are, there are sane limits to anything mechanical.

I agree completely Walkalong.......That is why I have read as much as I can about the 45 Colt and it's loadings. Dick Casull first started experimenting with the 45 Colt back in the 50's I believe....even before that, Elmer Keith really liked the 45 even after his old revolver let go on him. He claimed it was the old balloon head case that was at fault. Whatever it was, he started working with the 44 Special and the 44 Mag was developed after many years of his experimentation in loading up the 44 Special. Same thing with the 454 Casull...the original people that developed it using the 45 Colt wanted to make sure that it wouldn't fit in the cylinder and blow up the gun.

However, the 45 Colt can be safely loaded up a bit for Rugers. If you take the time and read John Linebaugh's article on the 45 Colt (http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm) you will see that using common sense, and watching the cup pressures, the 45 Colt is a very impressive round. That article and those by John Taffin have had me leaning in the 45 direction for basically all my revolvers. I am frugal also in that I like having one caliber to reload for!!!

Take care and good shootin'

Cohibra45 (ol' MasterBrewer in the old days of sixguns.com) http://www.sixguns.com/

 

[1858rem]

i found a real nice 7.5" blackhawk convertable with the acp cylinder but ist priced kinda steep, ill probably get it anyhow......i mean, whats 50 more bucks when you could be having a blast all week with it!