Author Topic: Super Redhawk, 454 Casull, cyl throats  (Read 1103 times)

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Offline Ken Rummer

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Super Redhawk, 454 Casull, cyl throats
« on: September 03, 2007, 02:58:31 AM »
My new Redhawk has cylinder throats at .4555 to .4560 and the barrel bore slugs .452.  I used your slugs and also a Starret taper gage to make the measurement and both methods agree.

Can I expect a problem if I shoot .456 hard cast through this .452 barrel?  Damage to frame?  Heavy leading?  Lousy accuracy?

I am currently getting 4" groups at 25 yds from a rest using midrange loads with a .454 dia 300gr WFNGC from Montana Bullet Works.  I think a hunting hand gun should shoot a little better than this.

I have written Ruger asking if they have a proper sized cylinder (.452) but have not received a response yet.  However since a good machine shop won't make this .004 error by accident I suspect they are cutting the throats oversize on purpose to reduce pressures in the cylinder.  Could this be a possibility?  I think this would be bad for Ruger's business in the long run.

Offline TommyD

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Re: Super Redhawk, 454 Casull, cyl throats
« Reply #1 on: September 06, 2007, 12:37:12 AM »
You should definitely expect better accuracy than what you are getting.

I haven't slugged my Super RedHawk, but using Veral's 320 gr LFNGC (.454 diam) I can keep 4/5 in the 3 inch black at 75 yards using a 2x scope. Not rifle accuracy, but not bad for a big clunky revolver out of the box. The two loads I use are AA No. 9 for 900 fps and Lil'Gun for 1150 fps. Accuracy is good in both.

I have found it does better with heavier bullets. In the 255 grain range, the accuracy is unsatisfactory. Once I use bullets of 300 gr or more, accuracy improves dramatically.

Tom

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Offline Veral

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Re: Super Redhawk, 454 Casull, cyl throats
« Reply #2 on: September 09, 2007, 06:20:03 AM »
  When I started LBT 27 years ago, all revolvers from all makers had tolerances as bad and worse than yours.  Don't expect Ruger or any other manufacturer to come running with a new cylinder, or barrel or whatever because of poor tolerances.

  Small cast bullets if fired with enough pressure to make them work at all (prevent leading) are going to swell to fit the chamber/throats of your revolver, so fitting them to the right size to start with certainly isn't going to increase pressure at all. 

  Fit bullets to the throats, make them at least 20 bhn, be sure your barrel measurement isn't just at the forcing cone, with the barrel larger at the muzzle, and it will perform perfectly.  If the barrel is constricted at the barrel attachment threads, or rough at all, fire lapping  it using the LBT lap kit will be mandatory to obtain optimum accuracy.

  When set up properly, using LBT bullets of 280 gr plus if you choose the WFN profile, or 300 plus if the LFN profile, expect groups close to an inch at 25 yards, with about any powder charge you wish to shoot.  Tuning the powder charge a bit will bring it down tighter, IF YOU ARE REAL GOOD, and an inch at 100 yards WITH THE GUN YOU HAVE is not out of the question.  When you get the gun/ bullet set up right, it will teach you how to shoot a revolver, because you'll quickly learn that the bullets are hitting where the sights were when you pulled it off, and learn to correct your own errors.  Buckshot groups like you are now getting will never teach you anything.

  I strongly suspect that you have a rough barrel, tight throat problem as described above.  The Montana bullets you have are close enough to the right size that it should should under 2 inches at 25 yards with about any stout load,  if the barrel were right.
Veral Smith