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Thread: Redhawk 45 Colt/ACP

  1. #1
    Banned bigted's Avatar
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    Redhawk 45 Colt/ACP

    Rugers Redhawk in 45 Colt and the 45 Colt/acp revolvers are the info quest today.

    Wondering about the bore diameter/groove diameter of the Redhawks. Also what do the cylinder throat's measure out to?

    Are the straight 45 Colt revolver ... specifically the 4 inch model measure differently then the newer 45 Colt/45 ACP 4.2 inch? Also what measurements difference in the Super Redhawk 2.5 inch 454/45 Colt revolvers.

    My favorite cartridge (45 Colt) has always been a temptation for me. I have a Colt, a Vaquero and a '73' Japanese built Winchester in a 16 inch short carbine. Have had 2 s&w 25's and the Japanese model 92 so chambered as well as Rossi 92 and several Ruger Blackhawk's so chambered.

    I will never rid myself of the current Colt nor the Ruger Vaquero and doubtful if I let the 73 go either.

    My Ruger has .452 cylinder throats and the Colt infantry model is .456 cylinder throat. My little Winchester also has the .456 throat which SHOULD be compatible ammo in the Colt and the 73.

    Always was going to replace the S&W 25 ... but mine had terrible cylinder throat's in .457ish diameter and kinda shy about winding up with another in the same boat. Hence the measurement questions on the nice lookin Redhawks.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master Wheelguns 1961's Avatar
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    You should try a new model 25. The classic series. I picked one up before christmas, and all cylinder throats are .4525. It has a .003 b/c gap, and shoots like a laser. The blueing is beautiful, as are the grips. The only fault that I could find was the forcing cone was a little rough, and of course the hillary hole.
    Due to the price of primers, warning shots will no longer be given!

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    Boolit Buddy
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    My Ruger Redhawk 4 inch 45 is one of the earlier ones before they offered it in 45C/45ACP. The throat were pretty tight, measuring .450 on most and .451 on a couple. The groove diameter is .452. I had the throats opened up to .4525 and firelapped the barrel to get rid of the throat choking. It shoots cast bullets really well. Now.
    Only left handed guns are interesting!

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    Banned bigted's Avatar
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    Gotta say ... reading your "Hllary Hole" nearly got my peice of Christmas bread spread around the room with bits of spittle flying around with it!

    By the by ... what exactly is the "Hillary Hole" ��

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    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by bigted View Post
    ... what exactly is the "Hillary Hole" ��
    The security lock keyhole

  6. #6
    Banned bigted's Avatar
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    Thats great ... must live under a rock ... first time I recall hearing that term��

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    Banned bigted's Avatar
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    Well, I wish I could give you correct info. My Redhawk in 45 Colt,/.45 ACP was a custom job before they offered them from the factory.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    I did not do a lot of load work up on mine I had a terrible time with light strikes with the acp tried some different moon clips and smoothing the action and could not get it reliable . I did like the grip , but not the trigger just personal preference .It shot well with .452 cast in 45 colt at 850 to 900 FPS no leading but did not try any heavy Ruger loads . If I remember correctly .452 took light pressure with a pencil to push through the throats.
    Sorry not much help.

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    smith doesn't make a 45 colt/45acp convertable
    Quote Originally Posted by Wheelguns 1961 View Post
    You should try a new model 25. The classic series. I picked one up before christmas, and all cylinder throats are .4525. It has a .003 b/c gap, and shoots like a laser. The blueing is beautiful, as are the grips. The only fault that I could find was the forcing cone was a little rough, and of course the hillary hole.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Todd N. View Post
    The security lock keyhole
    It operates no differently than the same model that was manufactured earlier without Hillary's hole. The tendency nowdays is to demand top price at gun shows by claiming there is a difference and Hillarys hole isn't any good. Well I've got a 686 with Hillarys hole and its extremely accurate.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Lloyd Smale View Post
    smith doesn't make a 45 colt/45acp convertable
    Actually If memory is correct and I'n not mistaken the 25-5 had a option of both the 45LC cylinder and a 45acp cylinder. I've seen commemorative and collector models that have two cylinders.

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    Quote Originally Posted by contender1 View Post
    Well, I wish I could give you correct info. My Redhawk in 45 Colt,/.45 ACP was a custom job before they offered them from the factory.
    A friend of mine has a Ruger with a 45acp cylinder and in order to get the shells in the cylinder you have to crimp the hell out of them and this unfortunately leads to leading of the barrel.

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    Boolit Master trapper9260's Avatar
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    Here is a link about the gun that you might like to read and give a better idea on it .https://www.americanrifleman.org/art...colt-revolver/
    Life Member of NRA,NTA,DAV ,ITA. Also member of FTA,CBA

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    yes they did but you couldn't exchange cylinders because the barre was set back in the frame far enough to make up the difference between there lengths. I have both a 45acp and a 45 colt 4 inch 25 in the safe. I don't recall any smith N frame that had two cylinders or even a k or l frame for that matter.
    Quote Originally Posted by 6bg6ga View Post
    Actually If memory is correct and I'n not mistaken the 25-5 had a option of both the 45LC cylinder and a 45acp cylinder. I've seen commemorative and collector models that have two cylinders.

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    Boolit Buddy sonoransixgun's Avatar
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    Can't speak for Redhawk model but can for the .45 Ruger Blackhawk convertible. I love it--both ACP and LC. Both are accurate, fun, and easy to reload. Cylinder throats were small and I did have to ream both cylinders, but that was easy to do (for a dummy like me). If I had the means I wouldn't hesitate to get a Redhawk .45 convertible....

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    I had a ruger Alaskan that I had moon clipped. It would shoot 45acps or 45 colts and 454s. It would do the 454s or 45 colts with or without clips but when you used clips they had to be the thin ones. the 45acps would use a standard smith 25 clip. Problem with the gun is that the point of aim between the 3 of them was so vastly different that it wasn't really practical to shoot without adjusting sights much past 10 yards. It shot 454s great, 45 colts good and 45acps? well about 3-4 inch. Just to much jump to the forcing cone in my opinion and its why the 454s shot hands down better then the other two. For the most part I didn't even bother with load development with 45 colts because I could just load 454s down and get better accuracy. the 45acps were about good for belly gun range and kind of made that a waste of time too. Don't know if it was all because of the bullet jump or because the guns barrel twist was for a 454. Ive had two convertible ruger single actions. A 45 colt 45acp that didn't do exceptionally well with either round and a 44mag that I bought a 4440 cylinder for and it shot real well with both. Guess in my opinion they could shelf the whole idea. If I want to shoot 45acps ill use a M&P or a 1911 that's made to do it. In a 45 colt handgun I can load down to acp ballistics anyway and don't have to be so conserned about reliability because of head space or fart with moon clips. If I want a 45acp revolver ill buy one designed to shoot them without the big bullet jump like my 45acp 4 inch 25. But that's just me and others may have different opinions or uses for it. The real cool thing about that Alaskan was 454s with moon clips. Couldn't dream up a better protection gun for big animals.

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy sonoransixgun's Avatar
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    Just watched Hickok45's video on the .45 Redhawk convertible. Beautiful gun (to me). I didn't realize that you don't change the cylinder (since you do with the SA). He had the thin clips you mention, Lloyd, and they seemed a bit awkward, even for him. And he did mention the point of aim changing, but he was using factory ammo. With your SA, Lloyd, did you have to ream the throats? I've found my SA to be extremely accurate (after reaming and lapping). I love that gun and would never part with it. I load my ACP's for it hot and the point of aim doesn't change (the recoil for both is about the same). I find the ACP's to be surprisingly accurate despite the big bullet jump. But that's just my experience...

  19. #19
    Boolit Master murf205's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lloyd Smale View Post
    yes they did but you couldn't exchange cylinders because the barre was set back in the frame far enough to make up the difference between there lengths. I have both a 45acp and a 45 colt 4 inch 25 in the safe. I don't recall any smith N frame that had two cylinders or even a k or l frame for that matter.
    Yep, they did. You could get a model 48 with an aux cylinder for 22 LR of a model 53 Jet, both K frames, with the same aux cylinder. They were an option and took quite a bit of time to fit to the gun so S&W discontinued offering them as an option. I have never seen an N frame with an aux cylinder either. Today they bring quite a premium with the gun they were fitted to as you can imagine.
    IT AINT what ya shoot--its how ya shoot it. NONE of us are as smart as ALL of us!

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    no throat reaming was necessary. A 452 bullet was a tight squeeze through the throat. Its the single action 45 rugers that had throats to small and for the most part those were in the older ones and the newer ones are pretty much right.
    Quote Originally Posted by sonoransixgun View Post
    Just watched Hickok45's video on the .45 Redhawk convertible. Beautiful gun (to me). I didn't realize that you don't change the cylinder (since you do with the SA). He had the thin clips you mention, Lloyd, and they seemed a bit awkward, even for him. And he did mention the point of aim changing, but he was using factory ammo. With your SA, Lloyd, did you have to ream the throats? I've found my SA to be extremely accurate (after reaming and lapping). I love that gun and would never part with it. I load my ACP's for it hot and the point of aim doesn't change (the recoil for both is about the same). I find the ACP's to be surprisingly accurate despite the big bullet jump. But that's just my experience...

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