New 44 Mag Ruger Super Red Hawk owner needs help.

[HappyHunter]

Just bought it tonight...It is beautiful!

I plan to punch holes in paper and develope a deer load for next season.

I need everything:

Dies
Brass
Primers
Bullets for paper punching (need lead for my gun club)
Bullets for hunting (I am thinking jacketed hollow point)
Powder
Holster (for hunting)

I was thinking about 200 grain bullets for both target and hunting (deer hunting).  I value any opinion.

Thanks for any help

[Lloyd Smale]

stick with a 250+ grain cast bullet for everything you cant go wrong. Billys bullets are excellent.

[southern utah]

I have a Bianchi shoulder holster for 7 1/2 ruger with scope for $35. plus shipping if interested

[BCB]

HappyHunter,

My SRH has sure been a good shooter with most everything, but the heavier bullets do seem to shoot better than the less than 240 grainers.

H-110, 296, AA#9, WC-820 and 2400 are good powders for heavy duty loads—most any bullet weights of 240 grains or more.  Unique and Green Dot (my favorite for the RCBS 44-250-K cast bullet) are both good for light target/plinking loads and cast bullets.

I have taken a couple of deer with the Hornady 240 XTP bullet…Mushrooms great and the deer didn’t go anywhere.  H-110 was the powder used.

I now mostly shoot cast bullets—RCBS 44-240-SWC, RCBS 44-250-K, and the Lyman 429650.  With the exception of the 44-250-K, these are gascheck-style bullets.  I do believe I would start with a gascheck-style bullet at first to help eliminate the leading problem that can occur with cast bullets.  Many companies sell the bevel base cast bullets, but I have had major leading problems with them…This can be very discouraging to the beginner!

I use CCI-350 primers.  No sense in using different primers for different powders and complicating the issue.  I have used Remington, Winchester, Federal, Starline, and PMC brass—all with good results.

I would certainly purchase a carbide die set.  I use RCBS.  Carbide eliminates the lubing process.  If you look in some of the catalogs, you may find bulk packaged jacketed bullets for the 44.  This might be a good start to get a good price on bullets and get “into the groove” of reloading for the 44 Magnum.  Some you can load heavy, some you can load light.  Experiment—then get into the cast bullets.  Good-luck…BCB

[Zeus]

The mainspring is the one that you have to be careful with and not let fly around the room.  I always use my leatherman or needle nose pliers to push down the top, remove the pin and and then let it up slowly.  Wear glasses or something just in case it flys apart.  Pay attention to how plate on the top of the spring is situated according to the bottom.  It will only go in the gun one way and if you put it on their backwards, you will have to take it apart again and swith it back over.  I did that also.  The others are easy to change but the first time that I tried to put them in my old SRH, it was almost impossible to knock that pin loose in the grip that holds the trigger guard in place.  It will move eventually though.  When I did my old 480, it moved very easily so you may not have any problems.  Be careful to not use a mainspring that is too light.  I did that and had some misfires.  I switched back to a slightly heavier mainspring and never had the problem again.  My brother shoots that gun now and he still hasn't had it happen again.  I'm sure that these have been as clear as mud.  The springs helped but I polished out the hammer and trigger connections which really helped the trigger pull.  It was very crisp after that.

[BCB]

inluvwithsara,

I purchased the combo-pac a few years ago from Wolff.  I installed the lightest trigger spring and the lightest hammer spring to start.  With single action, I had misfires…not many but enough to make me change the hammer spring to the middle weight.  I don’t remember what it was at the time, but this bit of advice might help with your spring changing chores.  Although the hammer spring is not all that hard to change—the trigger spring is the tricky one.  Don’t remember how I did it but I am all thumbs, so I am sure you can get it done also.  This inexpensive spring package made my SRH into a completely different handgun.  I also have changed the springs in my Ruger Security-Six with the same very good results. Good-luck…BCB

[Bullseye]

I changed the springs in my SRH with the Wolf kit this summer.  It is very easy to do.  After figuring it out the first time (just follow the disassembly procedure in the instruction manual as it will get you where you need to go) you can do it in about 10 minutes the next time.

I went with the lightest trigger spring and the lightest hammer spring originally.  I had misfires with this setup and then went back to the factory hammer spring and the lightest trigger spring in the kit.  I found that in single action (the only way I shoot mine) the trigger spring made the big difference in trigger pull with the hammer springs making a difference of only a few ounces.  With the factory hammer spring I had a trigger pull of 3lbs 8oz which is good for me.  Using the lightest hammer spring got the pull down to 3 lbs.  I will give up the 8 oz. for reliable ignition.  My trigger was already crisp.

Hope this helps.  One note, my trigger was about 4.5 lbs before I started which seems light for a Ruger so your results may vary.

[Gregory]

Just bought it tonight...It is beautiful!

I plan to punch holes in paper and develope a deer load for next season.

I need everything:

Dies
Brass
Primers
Bullets for paper punching (need lead for my gun club)
Bullets for hunting (I am thinking jacketed hollow point)
Powder
Holster (for hunting)

I was thinking about 200 grain bullets for both target and hunting (deer hunting).  I value any opinion.

Thanks for any help

Back to the original post:

I've used 180 and 200 gr JHP bullets to harvest a couple of deer and they worked just fine.  I have a mould for the Lyman 429421 SWC bullet and use them for plinking, & practice.  On two different Contender barrels I've gotten better groups with the jacketed bullets.  In my Redhawk the cast bullets are fine.  Try both in your gun and see what it likes best.   What works for someone else's gun may not neccesarily be the best for your gun.  You need to experiment.  Good luck.  I use W231 in 44 Spec. cases, Unique for medium loads in Mag cases, and IMR4227 or 2400 for heavier loads. The 44 Mag is a fine choice.
Greg

[Billyboy]

I've killed 2 with my Redhawk.  200gr XTP with lots of H110 works great.  240gr should also work well.  Use whichever gives the best accuracy.  Good Luck!

[¬Rebel¬]

...scouring thru the backposts for ruger ring lapping tips and saw the holster offer.

Aint looked over any Bianchi stuff in so long I don't even know what they sell anymore. Utah, is that a used leather rig (which in that case I want it), or just a good deal on a nylon one?


Reb

(old lurker, new member, & avid big bore fan)

[Spencer]

go to www.pistolpackaging.com and check out their bandido shoulder rig.  I love it.

[WARPhEAGLE]

I got my .44 SRH last summer, and this is what I have settled on...
I got a Lee turret (progressive) style reloader w/ carbide dies. Works great and I love it. I have bought a few boxes of ammo of which I save and reload the brass, but I have also bought a two or three hundred empty brass to reload, misc. brands. I order most of my stuff from Midway shooting supply, they are great for reloading. Be on the look out for things like primers and powder to by locally because you may get hit with a bid hazmat fee if you order them through the mail. As for bullets, I use Hornandy XTP 240 gr JHPs, I have found them to group very well in my gun. I was determined that I was going to be an "iron sight" shooter, but when I gave in and tried a scope, I wished I had done it sooner. I bought a Simmons 2X fixed, and I now plan to hunt with it this coming year as my groups have improved greatly. The load I shoot mostly is 17.1 gr of 2400, a load on the light side for many but it shoots great in my gun and I am getting very comfortable with it. Good Luck!

[DoubleA]

Not trying to revive a dead post or anything, but I too am new to handgun hunting, and also bought a SRH in 44mag, 7 1/2.  Still haven't taken it to the range (weather and shift work), but have cleaned it twice, dry fired it a bit, and have 3 boxes of winchester USA 240 hunting ammo for break in.  

I am really comfortable with both the single and double pull weights, and the weight of the gun.

I will be reloading in a few months, after I spent my CHRISTmas certificate at Cabelas (components), and purchase a press, but for now I'm doing all the "research" I can on this site (VERY EXCELLENT SITE) and others.

Looking for a holster as well, thinking of a nylon scoped to get me started , and a scope as well probably a bushnell 3200.  

THANKS TO ALL YOU VETERANS, for all the great info and experience.  I hope to someday pass on what you all do, and keep the new handgun hunting folks 'comming up right'

[bart sims]

stick with a 250+ grain cast bullet for everything you cant go wrong. Billys bullets are excellent.

Listen to Lloyd. I like hard cast from 240- 300gr. My SRH loved the 300 gr. hardcast from Bull-x but they are no longer in business I understand.

Bart in Ga.

[PAhunter]

I had a .44 ruger redhawk with an Uncle Mike's Shoulder holster.  Liked the gun hated the holster.  Hard to get into and adjust.  I never did get used to it for a day long hunt.

Now I have a .454. Super Redhawk with an Uncle Mike's bandolier holster.  I like them both very much.  I don't even know the gun is there most of the time.  Only concern I have is with the noise a nylon holster makes when it rubs against a branch, or you try to be quiet when drawing the gun.  I am seriously considering a leather holster from pistol packaging.  Supposed to be quiet and very comfortable.