303 hunter
Member
Picked up this Redhawk 45 Colt/45 ACP convertible a few days ago. Been looking for this particular model for awhile, and a good friend found it for me. It’s a brute of a revolver, and a hoot with the Ruger only 45 Colt loads.
Ruger Redhawk 45 convertible
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Picked up this Redhawk 45 Colt/45 ACP convertible a few days ago. Been looking for this particular model for awhile, and a good friend found it for me. It’s a brute of a revolver, and a hoot with the Ruger only 45 Colt loads.
Riomouse911
Member
Nice!
When you get a chance to shoot it with the .45C and .45 ACP cylinders let us know how it does for you
.
Stay safe.
When you get a chance to shoot it with the .45C and .45 ACP cylinders let us know how it does for you
. Stay safe.
OP
OP
303 hunter
Member
I actually shot 45 ACP first; it uses full moon clips. It doesn’t seem quite as accurate with the ACP, I’m guessing from longer bullet jump. The trigger has good double action pull, but single action is kinda stiff. It has a single spring for both the trigger and hammer, so tuning is going to be a new experienceNice!
When you get a chance to shoot it with the .45C and .45 ACP cylinders let us know how it does for you
Stay safe.
Riomouse911
Member
I’ve read/heard that the shorter rounds with a long chamber-forcing cone jump are often less accurate for the reason you stated. I don’t have any centerfire switch-cylinder guns, so I can’t say with any experience or authority what may cause that.
My Redhawk is an older .41 that had some light DA strike issues so I sent it back to New Hampshire several months back and it’s good to go now. It’s trigger pull in both DA and SA are good, but not great. The gun out shoots me, so I’m fine as it is.
Yours may settle in after some “use polishing” of the new action parts. If not, they’re easy to work on and Wolff makes all sorts of springs to let you tune it as you want.
Again, you made a really nice purchase, congrats!
Stay safe.
My Redhawk is an older .41 that had some light DA strike issues so I sent it back to New Hampshire several months back and it’s good to go now. It’s trigger pull in both DA and SA are good, but not great. The gun out shoots me, so I’m fine as it is.
Yours may settle in after some “use polishing” of the new action parts. If not, they’re easy to work on and Wolff makes all sorts of springs to let you tune it as you want.
Again, you made a really nice purchase, congrats!
Stay safe.
Obturation
Member
That's the best redhawk! I'm jealous , need to find one of these eventually.if it were me, I'd skip the 45 acp all together. It's a cool feature being able to fire different cartridges but 45 colt does everything better. Plus fiddling with moon clips isn't my idea of fun.
Hope you share an accuracy report when you get settled in with your fine new revolver.
Others try but just can't equal the strength good looks of a ruger
Hope you share an accuracy report when you get settled in with your fine new revolver.
Others try but just can't equal the strength good looks of a ruger
OP
OP
303 hunter
Member
I’ve got a gunsmith worked new model 45 Colt Blackhawk that has a super crisp 1 1/2 pound trigger pull. Don’t want my Redhawk that light, but would like it lighter than it is. I’ll likely polish the contact points and live with it.I’ve read/heard that the shorter rounds with a long chamber-forcing cone jump are often less accurate for the reason you stated. I don’t have any centerfire switch-cylinder guns, so I can’t say with any experience or authority what may cause that.
My Redhawk is an older .41 that had some light DA strike issues so I sent it back to New Hampshire several months back and it’s good to go now. It’s trigger pull in both DA and SA are good, but not great. The gun out shoots me, so I’m fine as it is.
Yours may settle in after some “use polishing” of the new action parts. If not, they’re easy to work on and Wolff makes all sorts of springs to let you tune it as you want.
Again, you made a really nice purchase, congrats!
Stay safe.
Sistema1927
Member
I have the same revolver. My two gripes? If doesn't use the same front sight arrangement as other Redhawks, and the moon clips are so thin and not interchangeable with my S&W ones (as well as being horribly expensive for a little bit of sheet metal).
I shoot mine almost exclusively with .45 Colt, but do like the ability to use .45 ACP in these days of ammo uncertainty.
I shoot mine almost exclusively with .45 Colt, but do like the ability to use .45 ACP in these days of ammo uncertainty.
Barry the Bear
Member
I have had two. Extremely versatile revolvers no doubt mine was more accurate with auto loads but the Colt was no slouch either
OP
OP
303 hunter
Member
The 4” barrel was my draw to this revolver; perfect size for wearing while I deer hunt, and more than enough for bear or hogs. The ACP option is nice, but 45 Colt is a game changer!
Since you have experience with both the Redhawk and S&W, which would you go with as a woods defense gun in .45 Colt? I mean if you could only choose one, and it had to be .45. I'm going to post a slightly longer version of this as a general post, too, but since you mentioned having both, I figured I'd ask here, too.
I want to be able to shoot up to lesser +P rounds (Buffalo Bore tells me their 300gr/ 1200fps is safe out of the S&W). I have experience with Rugers, owned a couple, and shoot em when I go to a range with a rental counter. I like the fact they'll handle heavier rounds than I can and I love the look of a Redhawk. I have no direct experience with S&W, but have always heard they're the best shooting large-scale production revolvers out there.
Can conversion cylinders to .45ACP be acquired separate from the gun for either the Ruger or Smith? I may not be able to snag one with both when I have the money, or it may be too expensive at the time. This is far and away the most expensive firearm I've ever bought, either way (unless I stumble across an absolutely ridiculous deal).
Thanks!
TTv2
Member
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- Mar 31, 2016
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While the .45 ACP will never be as accurate as .45 Colt will be in these types of guns, it's not like it's only capable of a shotgun pattern like accuracy. With the right ammo (roll crimped and a .452 bullet) the .45 ACP can shoot quite well from the Redhawk.
Of course most people aren't going to want to load their own ammo and instead rely on cheap factory stuff that shoots an unspectacular group.
OP
OP
303 hunter
Member
I load almost all my ammo, and the ACP was 185 grain loads for my Kimber 1911. Don’t plan on loading for 45 ACP accuracy for the Redhawk because I got it for the 45 Colt. In fact, I may never shoot 45 auto through it again. 45 Colt is a lot more fun!
OP
OP
303 hunter
Member
My Redhawk uses full moon clips for the 45 ACP, and I don’t plan on using them very often. My 45 Colt hunting load uses a 225 FTX at 1400 FPS. It’s quite a handful from my Blackhawk, but manageable from my Redhawk. I’ve got some coated 250’s on the way, and will report my results.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
Awe Jees... Two threads about .45 Redhawks...
Temptation and enabling = THR
Congratulations!
Temptation and enabling = THR
Congratulations!
Sistema1927
Member
My S&W is a Model 22-4, .45 ACP only. For "woods defense" as you describe it, I use either the Redhawk or a Ruger Blackhawk, both using "Ruger only" loads of my own manufacture. If I could only choose one .45 handgun, it would be a Blackhawk, hands down. The Redhawk is nice, but the trigger can't compare.
The Redhawk in question doesn't need a conversion cylinder to shoot both .45 Colt and .45 ACP. You load .45 Colt rounds directly, and use the moon clips for the .45 ACP.
There are some who have added additional cylinders to various S&W .45 guns to shoot both calibers, but they are few and far between
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