Redhawk 45 Colt (KRH 45-4) Opinions

[Chappy]

I'm looking for a DA 45 Colt Revolver that I can shoot hot hand loads (.452 hard Cast Oregon Trail bullets) in.  The above 4" Redhawk looks interesting.  This gun has been impossible to find around here, but an email from Ruger tells me that they are still in production.  Gunblast.com rates this gun highly.  Gun Test magazine gave it a low grade.  Some personal reviews rate the 45 Redhawks highly.  Others say they are inaccurate - (throats too tight?), barrels not screwed on straight, poor crowns, poor triggers, etc.
I have never held a Redhawk (or owned any 45 Colt guns), so am not sure if this is a gun/caliber that is likely to bring pleasure or dissappointment.  What are your opinion of the 45 Colt Redhawks in general and this new 4" specifically?  Thanks for sharing!

Regards, Chappy

[BlkHawk73]

  Why buy a 45 Colt with intentions of hot-rodding loads when you could simply buy a more powerful chambering from the get go? 

[Chappy]

BlkHawk73: You ask a good question.  I have a scoped, 12" PC S&W 460 Mag, so long range, high power is covered.  I also have Kimber 45 ACP pistol and a S&W TR 325 revolver, so big bore general use and "plinking" is covered.  My "needs" are met.  Now my "Wants" are kicking in.  I have never owned a 45 Colt firearm or a Ruger DA handgun, and I find this KRH 45-4 interesting because it's different from anything else I own.
I'm a handloader, so I like the option of a wider range of power levels the Ruger offers - although most of the ammo I would load for this gun would probably be on lighter side.  Also the Redhawk is less expensive (I think - my dealer can't get one at the moment) than the 625 Mountain Gun in 45 Colt my dealer has in his display case (it's a Demo for $750).  If the Redhawk remains unavailable and or I hear more negative than possitive about it, I'll probably buy the 625 MG.
The question remains: What do you Ruger guys think about this gun.  Does a 45 Colt Redhawk appeal to you - why or why not?

Regards, Chappy

[BigMuddy]

I don't have one in 4", but I do have a pair of 5 1/2" Redhawks. One is 45 and the other a 44. They are both great guns. My 45 has had the throats reamed to .453 and it is very accurate with heavy bullets. The 45 Colt is a fantastic cartridge, and in the heavy Ruger guns it can exceed any 44 Mag load with good hand loads.

I don't know if the throats needed to be reamed on this gun, as it was done by a previous owner. I just know it shoots great. I load 310 gr. bullets to around 1100 fps. I have shot both guns with some real bruiser loads, but the double action "hump" really bangs my hand hard. Rubber grips help, but don't look as good.

I had a 4" Redhawk in 44 but I sold it. I wanted a more packable gun, but the short barrel did not really make it much lighter. I can carry my 5 1/2" guns in a cross draw holster just as easily and I shoot them better. The recoil on that 4" gun seemed brutal to me.

[Tom C.]

My .45 Redhawk is a 5 1/2" one. Great gun. Came with .451" throats and wouldn't chamber the long, semi-wadcutter bullets I wanted to try. I reamed it to .4525". Now things chamber, and they shoot very well. It weighs 52 oz. with Pachmayr Presentation grips, so it is a little heavy for carry. Since the 5 1/2" is out of production, you may be happy with the 4".

[leather5to1]

I'm holding out until I can find one with a 7 1/2 barrel.  They use to make them but now all they offer is that 4 inch model. 

[Ak.Hiker]

The Redhawk is one tough handgun. In 45 Colt I am sure it is quite capable of handling some strong handloads. For me they are to heavy and I much prefer the single action 36 oz. 4 5/8 inch blued Blackhawk in 45 Colt. Still tough enough to handle the heavy loads but easier on the hip. One of my favorite loads for the Blackhawk 45 Colt is the 265 grain LBT loaded to about 1200. Heavy enough to carry as a field load but easier on the wrist than the 335 grain loads. 

[twoeagleak]

HELLO TO ALL, my first post.
VERY, interesting, informative, and friendly site you all have here, been lurking for awhile.
Although, an older thread, I'll and my 2 cents.

I have the Redhawk, 4 inch barrel, stainless; it is an excellent revolver.  I have reloaded 255 grain SMW bullets, .452 diameter, with 6 grains of green dot, and up to 23.8 grains of IMR 4227.  Shot best with 21.5 grains of 4227; 2 inch groups shot two handed.  Have done a lot of shotshell reloading, but relatively new to pistol reloading.  Want to try some 300-335 grain bullets; curious as to what the recoil will be then.  The recoil with hotter loads, using the 255 grain SWC bullets in this revolver is very manageble, probably because of the heavier weight, and rubber grips.  I believe the heavier weight not only helps to control the recoil, but also allows for a more steady hold/aim.  The .45 colt is a little more weight than the .44 mag.I bought this 4 inch barrel revolver for packing when in the woods.  Although i have not as yet slugged the barrel, did check the cylinder throats with digital micrometer; got .4515 to .4520 on all.  Have shot nothing but lead bullets, with little to no leading.  I was impressed by the smooth trigger, both in double action, and single action, and the easy pull.  I had previously owned a .45 colt 7 1/2 inch Blackhawk.  With hotter loads in the Blackhawk, i did not like the way the gun recoiled; the recoil of the Redhawk is just so much better; seems less/easier to control  with hotter loads  My son bought a taurus 1911, in 45 acp; after shooting my .45 colt redhawk, he now wants one.  I highly reccomend the 4 inch Redhawk.  I paid $632 in January, and would buy another for my son right now if i had the money.
HAPPY SHOOTING...........   

[Chappy]

twoeagleak: Welcome to the forum and thanks for an informative reply to my orginal post.  I had kind of put this getting this gun on "the back burner" but now you have rekindled my interest (one of the risks of hanging around here).  My dealer says that his distributer told him that none of these revolvers are available anywhere.  A couple weeks ago, I emailed Ruger and they told me they are still in production but in high demand and to keep asking my dealer to try and get one. 
Besides the current high demand for handguns in general, I suspect Ruger is also putting much more of their production capability into making LCPs and LCRs than they are in making Redhawks.  (I'm part of that problem also - I recently bought a LCP and love it.)

Regards, Chappy

[dpe.ahoy]

I have one of the 5 1/2" Redhawks in the 45 colt and like it almost as much as my Blackhawk.  I replaced the grips on both with rubber ones, not as pretty but more I find I'm more accurate with the rubber.  More consistant grip on the gun.  I carry both in a shoulder holster and the weight is no problem.  Most of my loads are pretty heavy duty, 300-315 gr bullets with full charges of H-110 or now mostly LilGun.  I had to open the throats on the Blackhawk, haven't do so on the Redhawk, but may later.  Get it, if you don't like it you will have no problem selling it.  DP

[twoeagleak]

hey Chappy,

thanks for the welcome, haven't been on here for awhile.

as to finding the redhawk; check here, http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/SearchResults.asp
better hurry though, looked at 11 pm, alaska time last night, was 16 hours left.  kinda steep in price though.

here's another, http://www.gunsamerica.com/993095499/Guns/Pistols/Ruger-Double-Action-Revolver/Redhawk-Type/RUGER_NEW_MODEL_REDHAWK_45COLT_4_STAINLESS_NEW_KRH_45_.htm
better price on this one

when i was on gunbroker a few days ago, there were 4 listed, now only one.

everybody needs more guns; go get um.
HAPPY SHOOTING...........

[jpuke]

I picked up a 45 Colt 4" Redhawk about 3 months ago.  I shoot an RCBS bullet (45-270-SAA) in it almost exclusively and routinely get 3" groups @ 25 yards.  A longer barrel might tighten those groups up a bit but I like the 4".  I would have preferred the 5 1/2" but when I started looking they were already out of production.  I used the gun in a match last month and took second (1st place guy has taken first in this and other similar events 12 times in the last  two years so I don't feel that bad) using my reloads.  Everyone tells me that the trigger isn't as smooth as it would be on an S&W but I've never had the cash for one so I wouldn't know.  I'm going to work up a deer load for this fall but other than that I enjoy shooting cast bullets around 800 fps.  Great gun.

[teddy12b]

This has been an interesting read.  I’m glad to hear all the positive remarks about the 4” redhawks.  I’m in the group of guys that was looking for a 5 ½” redhawk for a long time and never found one.  Now I’m pretty much forced into the 4” redhawk and I don’t think that’s entirely a bad thing.  I’ve read the reviews on gunblast & gun tests and I think the one that gun tests got was just a bad apple.  They seem to get a lot of the bad apples for some reason.  I plan on buying one in 44mag because I already reload for that caliber and have ammo for it.  I also think it’ll be nice to have a rifle & revolver in the same caliber.  

Having held a couple of the 4” redhawks they fit my hand great, but I still hope that Hogue will make a tamer grip for the redhawk some day.