Ruger Redhawk 7.5 to 4 or 5 inch

[200swc]

New here.

I have a Redhawk that I want to cut the barrel down to 4 or 5 inch. Has anyone here had this done? If so, how's the accuracy?

Reason: I bought the gun because it was a great deal but 7.5 is a lot of gun. I don't have a problem with recoil (could use 44 spec.) but don't like to carry the extra barrel length.

An suggestions or comments? (pros/cons, gunsmiths preferences, etc.)

Thanks

[tek4260]

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/101_2614.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/101_2645.jpg

Hell just do it at home :)

[200swc]

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/101_2614.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/101_2645.jpg

Hell just do it at home :)

Nice. I like that. Is that a 4inch?

How do like shooting it since the change? Is the accuracy about the same?

Thanks

[Breadman03]

I have a SRH Alaskan. With how it shoots, I'm sure all you are losing is a few feet per second.

[Whitworth]

4-inch for me!

[white eagle]

I am going to bob my srh 7.5"48o Ruger
to 5.75"will let you know what it does to accuracy
I am not a fan of long barrels,However I will have an affection for them
as will be shown in the future

[Whitworth]

I am going to bob my srh 7.5"48o Ruger
to 5.75"will let you know what it does to accuracy
I am not a fan of long barrels,However I will have an affection for them
as will be shown in the future


My 5-inch .500 Linebaugh SRH has proven accurate beyond any of my expectations.

[tek4260]

Never got around to shooting it. I worked up a trade on a brass framed 45 so it went down the road. Honestly I have never been too excited about stainless, but sometimes it's the only way a gun is offered. The only reason I got the Redhawk was because it was cheap. Never fired it before I cut it either. I guess I enjoy tinkering a bit more than shooting :) Well, maybe the same amount...

[Larry Gibson]

Many out there prefer the longer barrel. Suggest you sell it and buy a 4 or 5" barreled one (Idon't know if the are available that way-haven't looked in a while). You might consider buying a shorter barreled one before you sell/trade off the longer barreled one, might find you don't like the shorter barrel that much.........Cut it off and it's a done deal......get the shorter one first , find you don't like it and you can then sell it and go back.......cut off thebarrel and there's no going back.......with that revolver anyway.........

I've three 44 Magnum revolvers; a 4" Colt Anaconda, a 6" Hawes and a Ruger 6 1/2" FTBH. I like all 3 but I most often carry/use the Ruger with the 6 1/2" barrel in a high ride beld holster or a shoulder holster. I do prefer the longer barrel and haven't found the 6 1/2" barreled revolver any more difficult to carry with a proper holster/belt combination than the 4" barreled Anaconda.

Larry Gibson

[9.3X62AL]

I share Larry's view. An Anaconda or Redhawk is a beefy, large revolver regardless of barrel length. I chose a 5.5" 15+ years ago, and haven't looked back. My hunting revolvers generally have 5.5" to 7.5" barrels, I like sight radius while afield and don't use glass sights on handguns. A 4" barrel (to me) denotes social usage with some field capability as needed. 4" might be the most useful barrel length for a "one revolver for all seasons" application. Shorter than 4", yer into counter-hairball venues for the most part. I have 4 revolvers with 5" barrels, and they really work well for me.

Sola mi dos centavos.

[MT Gianni]

I have a 5.5" redhawk and enjoy it. If I found another cheap I would send it off to make a 5" 45 Colt with correct dimensions.

[725]

Could you get another barrel of your chosen length and spin it on the frame? End up with two barrels , one of which could sell.

[200swc]

Having a difficult time finding another barrel (4 or 5 inch).

It might be easier to trade or sell it and then get what I want.

[NickSS]

I owned a red hawk several years ago with a 7.5 inch barrel and never liked it because of the long barrel so ended up selling it. Recently I found one in 44 mag with a 5.5 inch barrel and bought it. To me this made all the difference and I love it. It also shoots as good as I can shoot a hand gun so I am happy with it. I mostly shoot loads that are about 1000 fps with a 200 gr bullet which is enough for my needs.

[200swc]

Has anyone dealt with Accurate Plating?

Their price list states $154 to shorten barrel and replace sight. Of course, I would have to get it re-blued or (brushed chromed - $185) but that's not a bad price.

Might be a keeper then.

[Lloyd Smale]

I once sent a real good shooting 7.5 inch redhawk to dustin linebaugh to cut to 3.5 and round but. I love the looks of the gun but it never shot as well as it did as a 7.5 and its a real tiger with heavy bullet loads.

[200swc]

Here's a photo of the mentioned Ruger Redhawk.

[MT Gianni]

I would spend a day at the range before i made any decision on it.

[200swc]

It makes its way to the range every once in a while. I would probably shoot it more often with a shorter barrel.

Most of my pistol/revolver shooting is 25 yard or less, so the shorter barrel would be adequate.

[singleshot]

To the OP, if you only shoot from 25 yards and you'll shoot more with a shorter barrel, I say go for it. It's been a while since I've seen a shorter barrelled RSRH, however, $100+ seems way steep for a cut, crown and dovetail job. I think last I checked, it was about half that or less around here.

[rintinglen]

Singleshot, I don't know about your neck of the woods, but hereabouts that price is on the cheap side. A simple cut, crown and touch up job runs 80.00--add in the sight dovetail, and you're looking at an hour and a half of shop time at $75.00 an hour, minimum, plus refinishing.

[tek4260]

I would have no hesitation about cutting a blued Redhawk down. Much easier than the stainless ones. Get a front sight from Ruger for the 4" Redhawk and plunge cut the slot in the rib and drill the cross pin. Cut your crown with one of the hand turned tools and gently taper the face of the rib.

[Wayne74]

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/101_2614.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/101_2645.jpg

Hell just do it at home :)
tec4260
What front sight did you use and how is it mounted?
Thank you.
Wayne

[tek4260]

That is a take off Blackhawk sight. I just filed the bottom flat and drilled it for a screw like a Single Six. It is also has a dowel I installed near the front to keep it from rotating since it is a flat sight on a flat rib.

Here is something else to look at, but a bit above my pay grade for table top smithing,

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=140256&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15