Redhawk’s Away
After being on the department for a few years, I started getting interested in bigger guns. Don’t we all? Loving my Ruger Service Six, I was drawn to Ruger’s Redhawk, which was released in 1979. Looking like a beefed-up version of my Service Six and chambered in the .44 Magnum, I thought I had a dandy of an outdoorsman’s revolver. And I did! I went with the stainless 7.5” barrel version. At that time, the Redhawk had yet to be chambered in .45 Colt.
The frame is basically the same as the Service Six — being of solid one-piece design, with no side-plate — but the innards are different. Breaking down is still easy, as well as reassembly, which is good, especially for me.
By now, I was handloading and casting bullets, so ordered the dies and molds necessary to load ammunition for it. I really enjoyed shooting the gun and appreciated the sight radius the 7.5” barrel offered. It made hits much easier than my 4” Service Six at longer distances. Over time, several more Redhawks followed me home in different barrel lengths and chamberings, namely .45 Colt and .41 Magnum. I’ve yet to capture the elusive .357 Magnum Redhawk. But you never know.
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