Redhawk or Blackhawk...help me decide

[nhnef]

I have a Ruger Redhawk in .44mag that I like but the trigger is not something I like at all.  I want to use this as a hunting rig for deer and bear here in New Hampshire.  I'm wondering if I should have the trigger worked?  or would I be better off trading it for a single action revolver with a better trigger.  I've heard the blackhawk comes with a better trigger.

Any help here is appreciated.

[Tom W.]

Have it worked over if you don't like it... But most folk shoot them S/A anyway...

[saddlebum]

I have owned both in .41mag. I would take a Redhawk over a Blackhawk any day. If you buy a Blackhawk with a good trigger right out of the box that doesn't need a little help, you are lucky or something.

I worked on my Redhhawk trigger myself. It wasn't too hard because of the design. I'm not suggesting that you do it, but just have it done. Believe me, you will have to do it on the Blackhawk too.

If you are used to shooting heavy loads in the Red, then you most likely won't appreciate the recoil of a standard grip Black. If you go the single action route, get a Bisley. The grip will make the recoil much more managable AND less painful.
I cannot keep the hammer from chewing the web out of my hand with heavy hunting loads. The first Black I ever bought was/is a 4 5/8" barrel. I decided to run some 300gr hot rod loads through it that I had developed for my Red. I came away from it bloody with a little flap of skin hanging from the web of my hand. In the Red, with a Pachmayr grip on it, I thought it was fun. It leaves a pretty good red mark on my hand, but no blood.
I only shoot 215gr loads to a 1000fps or less in the Black. Not a bad deer load if that is what your after.
Another advantage over the Black is the interchangable front sight on the Red.

That is my experience and my opinion. Yours may vary......................

[1911crazy]

I have owned them both and still do.  I have hammered a super blackhawk 7 1/2'' barrel in 44mag beyond what it was built for and it never had a problem.  I own 3 redhawks in 44mag right now and i notice the 5 1/2'' barrel has a lot more recoil over the 7 1/2'' barrels.  Maybe its me getting older now but i enjoy the 7 1/2'' barrels more lately.  I just picked up a super blackhawk in 44mag with a 10 1/2'' barrel but we haven't shot it yet.

 Now which one?  Its simple for a single action get the blackhawk, for a double action get the redhawk. 
Either one with the pachmayer presentation grips will feel awesome in your hand too. I put the pachmayer rubber grips on all my handguns.

Put some moly on the trigger sear.  It will lessen the trigger pull by up to 50% right away and more as it works into the pores of the metal.  Put some moly on the hammer spring (ball end) were it meets the hammer it wilol reduce some of the friction.  Trust me moly is all you need.  Its like having a trigger job done and it comes in a can for way less $$$.  it lessens the trigger pull and smooths it out too.  www.tsmoly.com    ts-70 moly paste or anti-seeze

[bkraft]

I got both in .41 and much perfer the Red Hawk. The Black Hawk dosent fit my hands. Will proably try and trade it off for another Red Hawk. Get the work done and never look back.

[saddlebum]

Just another quick thought!
If you do decide to get the trigger done, talk to the smith about a trigger stop. I put one on mine and it was well worth the time as it will have lengthy overtravel even with a good hammer and sear.
Best of luck and good hunting!

[S.B.]

Actually, I bought my Redhawk because of it's trigger. Best one I'd ever pulled, Redhawk trigger, that is. I agree have it worked on.
Steve

[coyotejoe]

I haven't owned a Redhawk but did dry fire one belonging to a friend and found the trigger pretty good. With new Blackhawks I just take it for granted that it will need trigger work.

[Catfish]

You could do the trigger job yourself, but if you don`t want to tackle it, take it to a smith and have it done. Eather gun will serve you well, and if you buy a new single action it will also need a trigger job.

[irold]

Have both in 44 Mag .  The Redhawk is a 4" stainless, just got it back from a smith in Texas.  He did an "action job" on it.  It did need it !  Now it rivals any factory DA  on the market , and I have the strength of a Ruger.  My Blackhawk Bisley Hunter was good from the box , It is my primary hunting weapon.  Its all a matter of personal preference. 

regards , irold

BTW....If your thinking of action work on a revolver, PM me.  This gentleman did a very good job, at what I would say a very reasonable price.  ( $148.00 ) He's from the San Antonio area.  I don't think he's a GB sponsor, hence not sure whether to post his business name. I'll gladly endorse his work.

[bighoof]

I have a Ruger Redhawk in .44mag that I like but the trigger is not something I like at all.  I want to use this as a hunting rig for deer and bear here in New Hampshire.  I'm wondering if I should have the trigger worked?  or would I be better off trading it for a single action revolver with a better trigger.  I've heard the blackhawk comes with a better trigger.

Any help here is appreciated.


I just bought a used redhawk in 44mag with a 7 1/2in bl. Trigger was about 5 1/2lbs using my scale. I bought a pack of Wolf reduce power springs on recommendations from a friend. I put in the 13lb spring and my trigger came down to 3 1/2 lbs, and it is crisp.

Less than 10 bucks, no problems putting it in either.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=139298

[LunaticFringeInc]

I have both.  I would use the redhawk and just get a trigger job to smooth up and slightly lighten the tigger.  Id be a lot cheaper than another gun...

[Redhawk1]

I have a Ruger Redhawk in .44mag that I like but the trigger is not something I like at all.  I want to use this as a hunting rig for deer and bear here in New Hampshire.  I'm wondering if I should have the trigger worked?  or would I be better off trading it for a single action revolver with a better trigger.  I've heard the blackhawk comes with a better trigger.

Any help here is appreciated.

Get the trigger job. I have had 3 Redhawks that have had trigger jobs, and they are smooth as can be..  2 by Gary Reeder and one by Powers Customs.  I am also a Blackhawk fan, and own a few of them as well.  I have used both for deer, hogs and black bear..

[shot1]

I had a 7 1/2" Redhawk a number of years ago and wish I would have kept it. I got a Bullseye trigger spring kit (3 spring weights came in it) and used the middle one. It made a delightful trigger out of it. I shot this pistol in Hunter Class Silhouette for two years and deer hunted with it some. Never had a single problem with it. The gold bead front sight and V back sight are great for hunting and Pachmayr grips are a must have for me.

[Old Griz]

I had a Redhawk that was extremely accurate, however, it was punishing to shoot. My middle finger always mashed against the trigger guard. Traded it for another .44 Bisley. I find the SAs are just more fun to shoot.

[keith44]

I have an "old model" Blackhawk in .41 mag, a .44 mag "new model" blackhawk, and a super redhawk in .44 mag.  Of the three the old model has by far the absolute best trigger.  Next is the super redhawk, out of the box it needed some smoothing, but was not bad.  The "new model" blackhawk, well I like to say they new and improved it until it was junk. (kinda like if it ain't broke fix it till it is)

[Lloyd Smale]

just dont go out and buy yourself a spring kit for a redhawk. I can about guarantee that your double action wont reliable ignite primers. A redhawk trigger job is a very fine ballance between pull weight and reliability. Ive yet to see one with under a 3lb trigger that was totaly reliable. I like my triggers around 2lbs but my redhawks run about 4 as thats a low as you can go reliably and that takes some careful stoning of parts to accomplish. Not just a spring kit dropped in. You mightget away with a spring kit in a blackhawk or super redhawk and get a good pull weight but even then you  have to deal with trigger creap which is more detremental to accuracy then pull weight is.

[barber]

  I had WOLF  springs put in all my  Rugers, and they work great