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Post by 45MAN on Dec 29, 2022 12:05:47 GMT -5
MY 1970's MODEL 1955 HAS GOOD THROATS. I HAD 2 1976 125ths FITTED WITH 45 ACP CYLINDERS, SOMETIME AFTER 1976, AND THE THROATS ARE OVERSIZE ON BOTH. MY MORE MODERN SS 625 45 ACP HAS GOOD THROATS, SO I DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER RE 45 ACP THROATS vs 45 COLT THROATS.
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Post by nfanewbie on Dec 29, 2022 12:28:10 GMT -5
For .45 colts double actions where you might shoot heavy loads the redhawk is an exceptional option. I have a factory 4 inch that I put some different grips and sights as the only modifications and it is very much like the Bowen Alpine conversion. Absolutely love it. It handles heavy loads and isn't too uncomfortable to shoot.
botswainmate I have the clone of your .45 colt ruger in .45 win mag. Guessing that is a CCR gun? The trigger on mine is the most amazing I have in a redhawk. For whatever reason that long barreled (my other 3 redhawks are 4 inch barreled guns) ported win mag kicks worse than the others (.44 mag, .45 colt, .50 Special/.500 linebaugh dual cylinder). To be fair though I have not shot the .500 linebaugh cylinder in my redhawk.
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wpeel
.30 Stingray
Posts: 194
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Post by wpeel on Dec 29, 2022 13:21:48 GMT -5
Have an older 25-5 in six inch trim, oversize throats and all. I can achieve pretty fair accuracy by using bullets as cast without sizing. It prefers the 255 KT RCBS mold, which usually drops at .454-.455 cast with straight wheelweights. The loading is moderate, using 6 grains of Alliant Red Dot. I haven't even put it on paper from a rest...but it was accurate enough to win a number of pin shoots, when I did my part.
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Post by parallaxbill on Dec 29, 2022 14:26:20 GMT -5
In my opinion my 4.2" Ruger Redhawk fills the bill with the addition of fine accuracy. It's definitely not as graceful or nice to look at as one of the Smith 45 Colts but I really cannot afford to own both. Plus, I've got several Smiths in other calibers I can look at....as well as shoot.
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Post by boatswainsmate on Dec 29, 2022 14:57:03 GMT -5
For .45 colts double actions where you might shoot heavy loads the redhawk is an exceptional option. I have a factory 4 inch that I put some different grips and sights as the only modifications and it is very much like the Bowen Alpine conversion. Absolutely love it. It handles heavy loads and isn't too uncomfortable to shoot. botswainmate I have the clone of your .45 colt ruger in .45 win mag. Guessing that is a CCR gun? The trigger on mine is the most amazing I have in a redhawk. For whatever reason that long barreled (my other 3 redhawks are 4 inch barreled guns) ported win mag kicks worse than the others (.44 mag, .45 colt, .50 Special/.500 linebaugh dual cylinder). To be fair though I have not shot the .500 linebaugh cylinder in my redhawk. The conversion was done by Clements on a 44 Magnum Redhawk.
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Post by x101airborne on Dec 29, 2022 22:26:45 GMT -5
My Smith 25 has .455 throats so I use 45-70 cast bullets sized down and it works great. Gotta keep the load separate because they wont chamber in my Redhawk. My Redhawk was pretty much perfect out of the box. Killed one deer and a couple hogs with it. None past 30 yards, no complaints. The S&W Governor I have will get me around 6 inches at 25 yards with tailor-made loads using the Smith 25 load listed above. Not great, but... I haven't tried the ACP loads out of my Redhawk so I cannot answer. Mine is the 4.0 inch version. I do like the versatility of the Governor as long as I am not hunting. Killed a number of Collared Eurasian Doves with mine. Never told anyone my pistol was a 410 shotgun. LOL.
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Post by bradshaw on Dec 30, 2022 6:19:24 GMT -5
“.... I do like the versatility of the Governor as long as I am not hunting. Killed a number of Collared Eurasian Doves with mine. Never told anyone my pistol was a 410 shotgun.” ----101airborne
*****
Trey.... Annie Oakley and other exhibition shooters are said to have loaded fine shot to break thrown glass balls with revolver & rifle. The Taurus Judge caught on big time with folks purchasing personal defense. Former Army Advanced Marksmanship Unit rifleman, Jim Smith----worked at Hornady prior to hitching on with Thompson/Center----showed up at an IHMSA championship with clay pigeons and T/C Contenders in .410/.45 Colt. Silhouetters were invited to try their hand at aerial shooting with .410 shot shells. As you know, it’s an eye-opener to get on target, and to follow through without aid of a buttstock; it’s a challenge that doesn’t stop challenging.
There are times I would have shot barn rats with your S&W Governor or a Taurus Judge loaded with .410 shot, which I passed on with the handgun in hand. David Bradshaw
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Post by bigbore5 on Dec 30, 2022 6:59:58 GMT -5
I've got a nice 5-1/2" stainless 45 barrel for a Redhawk. Soon as I find a donor 44, I plan to build a tight chamber 45 Colt.
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StanleyWhite
.30 Stingray
Former Marine and still working for the man.
Posts: 152
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Post by StanleyWhite on Dec 30, 2022 7:12:45 GMT -5
My favorite 45 Colt is my Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan.
I assess the Super Redhawk (GP100 / SP101 too) to be superior to Smith and Wesson in that I can do lighter springs / shims / file the hammer step at home which results in an amazing trigger pull.
All the above being said, I have a S&W 25-5 and a 25 Classic too, more for aesthetics / I wanted one when I was a kid reasons.
The Super Redhawk and S&W 25-5 are all oversized, but they shoot just fine with factory ammo.
I guess nobody told them that they should be less accurate due to being oversized.
-Stan
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Post by ldmay375 on Dec 30, 2022 14:42:13 GMT -5
I like the stainless 4"ish Redhawk size for outdoor packing / companion revolver. I have these in 44 mag & 45 Colt. I have not yet got around to shooting them. They seem sized right to me. I have a stainless 5.5" Redhawk 45 Colt. I prefer the 4" types for packing around. The 4" type Redhawks are a pleasing to my eye. The Alaskan Super Redhawk models not so much so. I have an Alaskan in 480 Ruger. So I have quite a few 45 Colts, a couple Contender Barrels, a Lever Action rifle, & several single actions... Today I looked at the Clemment's Converted HD posted in the links section, & it occurred to me I don't have a double action... what is out there in current guns, that might be reasonably added to my group??? I did a quick Gun Broker search... not sure how the Judges / Governors "actually" shoot 45 Colt ammo... I'm liking the S&W model 25 variants... not sure if stainless was an option there??? but saw a couple nice blued 6" revolvers... maybe I should have kept my Alaskan in 454 as a dedicated 45 Colt gun, but thinking I'd prefer 4 - 6" barrel on this one
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Post by tentcamper on Jan 1, 2023 14:11:13 GMT -5
The 4" Redhawk is quite a gun. Mine came with moonclips for 45acp as well but those gives me very poor reliability so I only shoot 45 Colt in this gun. Built like a tank but not as beefy as the SRH ALaskan. Balances nicely and soaks up recoil well from hotter ammo.
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Post by taffin on Jan 1, 2023 14:18:50 GMT -5
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Post by sixshot on Jan 1, 2023 14:55:58 GMT -5
bigbore5 nailed it. If you want a really accurate 45 in the Redhawk locate a 45 barrel & buy a 44 Redhawk or cylinder. I have a 45 Colt Mountain Gun that is a fine shooter, I've shown it before. I had it cut for moon clips & shoot handloaded 45 ACP's most times on steel & varmints.
Dick
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rgp
.30 Stingray
Posts: 243
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Post by rgp on Jan 1, 2023 17:23:44 GMT -5
Looked at a Ruger Redhawk 5050 & noticed it shoots both the 45 Colt, & 45 auto with moon clips... frame cylinder gap looks much tighter than most moon clip guns... is this picture deceiving, or are they doing something different www.ruger.com/products/redhawk/specSheets/5050.htmlRemember though the 5050 Redhawk variant has the shrouded barrel. I've got a #5027 in .45 Colt that I got a year or two ago though, it still has the one piece barrel. They occasionally appear as new old stock on gunbroker and so my NOS one was actually cheaper than the retail price was at the time.
I really like it too.
Having said that, I'd also go for a S&W 25 or 625 if I found a nice one, especially a 625 Mountain Gun.
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Post by oddshooter on Jan 1, 2023 20:38:23 GMT -5
I have only had one revolver that ate my lunch; the S&W 25-5 8 3/8" in 45 Colt. Although I loved the gun, I couldn't get it to shoot even large groups.
My cylinder exits were gigantic, .456+ and varied. I tried maybe 20 different bullets, each with different powders and weights. The smaller diameters shot terrible, 8"+ at 25 yards benchrested. The larger diameter bullets worked better 6" groups, but were a PITA trying to stop the SWAGING down of the bullet diameter when seating in the brass case. I wound up trying multiple stems/diameters for the "M" seating die. Large diameter stems were taken from other calibers over customized. That "M" seater die makes a little nest for the bullet.
I'm sure I made 60 or 70 different loads trying to make that sucker get at least a couple of inches group at 25yards.
I never did find the right combo after a year of trying. I took all the typical measurements; pin gauged the cylinders, slugged the barrel, checked alignment. Cleaned and recleaned. Checked with my buddies shooting it. I couldn't believe I gave up; but I just couldn't figure what was next.
So mine is a cautionary tale of woe. The SW 25-5 is questionable.
Prescut
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