Jack Huntington-modified 45 Colt Redhawk grip

[bcelliott]

Since the Ruger Redhawk is arguably the strongest factory double action big-bore revolver, it is a no-brainer--for those of us who are fascinated with nuclear handloads and smoking factory loads utilizing heavy bullets at maximum velocities--to begin with this platform.  Its long cylinder allows seating bullets out farther than Ruger Blackhawks or Freedom Arms cylinders, and, according to some gunwriters and verified by other shooters, the factory 6-shot Redhawk can handle pressures at or exceeding 50k psi, depending upon the cartridge.  However, especially in the .45 Colt chambering (and to a lesser degree in the .41 and .44 magnums), these hot loads using heavy bullets can quickly take a toll on the shooter's hand due to the shape of the factory wood grips and grip frame.  
I've shot plenty of hot loads in both .41 mag and .45 Colt Redhawks, and the problem is real.  In talking with Jack Huntington about this, he advised me to send him my .45 Colt Redhawk for a grip modification that he said would help to lessen somewhat the recoil feel in this platform.  At the same time, he also similarly modified my .41 mag Redhawk, which subsequently became his!  I was ready to have a .44 mag cylinder rechambered to .45, but Jack measured the factory cylinder and pronounced it one of the tightest dimensionally that he had seen in a .45 Colt from Ruger.  With Jack's trigger and action job that rivals the feel of some of the smoothest N-frame Smiths I have shot, and the addition of a Bowen Rough Country rear sight, this revolver has become my go to all-around working gun if I need to carry something in a serious caliber that I can shoot fast and well.
Jack's grip modification changes both the shape of the frontstrap and backstrap, but is not similar to the Ruger factory round butt Redhawk grip shape.  Using the same motif as his BFR or Blackhawk grip mods, the bottom of the grip tapers down to a smaller diameter, leaving the widest part in the mid-palm area and allowing the pinky to align better with the middle and ring fingers.  This results in a more form-fitting hold on the grip.  It doesn't seem like much of a difference on paper, but the recoil seems substantially less painful and more spread out across the hand, allowing quicker follow up shots, which goes along with the point of carrying a double action revolver for protection from dangerous critters (as well as for hunting).  As far as I know, at this point still, very few Redhawks have had Jack's grip mod done to them (my guns were the 2nd and 3rd), but in my opinion, it is well-worth it.

[x101airborne]

My 44 mag with cast 300 grain coffee cans is painful after about 6 shots. may have to give this a try.

[bradshaw]

“.... the Ruger Redhawk is arguably the strongest factory double action big-bore revolver (surpassed only by the Super Redhawk)....”
----bcelliott

*****

bcelliott.... not sure you meant to say that.

The Super Redhawk is Bill Ruger’s move to:
1) improve the Redhawk trigger, particularly single action letoff, which is designed to malfunction below 3-1/4 lbs.
2) reduce production cost by elimination the Redhawk’s barrel----made from a vendor-supplied drop forging, which Ruger then machines, gun drills, and and cuts rifling via broach. The replacement Super Redhawk uses separate springs for hammer & trigger, and a barrel formed in-house from round stock, which is drilled and hammer forged to form rifling.

The Super Redhawk shares solid frame construction with the Redhawk, along with it's unique crane and cylinder locking system. Strength of Redhawk and Super Redhawk is the same.

Ruger kept the Redhawk in the catalog by popular demand.
David Bradshaw

[bigbrowndog]

Pfft, what do you know, Mr. Bradshaw...........good morning David, hope you’re staying warm in the Great White North.

I can see where folks would come to that conclusion, it does “appear” to be larger and beefier. But it really isn’t.

Trapr

[bula]

Nothing in 45 bore here, but Garrett's heavy 405gr loading intrigues me as to the possibilities, limits of this bore x platform. Had a 44mag RH years ago. A 480 Alaskan resides here now. 

[bcelliott]

Of course you are correct about the equal strengths of the Redhawk and Super Redhawk, Mr. Bradshaw. At the time I wrote that the Super was a bit stronger, I was thinking about the ability of the the Carpenter steel cylinder of the .454 Casull SR to hold more pressure before failure. But I will delete that parenthetical phrase for the sake of correctness. Thanks!

[x101airborne]

Mr. Bradshaw, could you somehow lay out how it is meant to malfunction below 3 1/4 pounds?
I am wanting to learn something new, not be a pain in the tail.