i am looking to buy my first hunting handgun...any suggestions? any reviews of the ruger redhawk? which caliber would be best for bear?? thx

I have used a 44 mag Redhawlk for 10+ years now.
It is probely one of the strongest 44 mag revolvers ( with the Super Blackhawlk,Super Redhawlk and Freedom Arms ).
The rings ( get it with scope ring ,you can never do it as well ,even if you never plan on scoping it)can be removed and reinstalled with little lose of zero.
If you don't reload the 44 mag is the way to go IMO ,because of the number of good hunting loads.( and very few ,in 45 colt loads ).
If you reload the 45 colt can be loaded to equile or slightly surpass the 44 mag with top loads..


IMO buy the Stainless 7 1/2" Redhawlk with rings in 44 mag and enjoy.

Johnch

I also like Rugers for the price. Rugers are not the smoothest gun out there but they are tough. I like having a good scope mounting system already on the gun from the factory. I'd prefer to stay away from gunsmiths if I can.

My current big hunting handgun is a Super Redhawk in .454 with a 9.5" barrel. I like a little longer barrel as it helps reduce muzzle lift and gives a little more power to whatever round you choose. However, make sure it's fitting to you. Some people find my gun clunky.

For black bear I would start at 44 mag but be sure to check out the 480 Ruger. It's a lot of power close in without much more recoil. 454 is a good deal more recoil in my opinion, but it is what I chose. I guess that means I think it is the best for me.

You should be able to find at least one good factory hunting load for any of the three I listed. 44 mag will be the cheapest. I think all would do better with heavy bullets for bear. Reloading for straight walled pistols is pretty easy if you go that route.

Oh, and of course, I always make mine stainless

Good luck to you.

Best Caliber for Bear---
338 Win Mag or bigger in any rifle.

But if you must then follow the lead of the previous two good replys. Guns and Ammo June 2005 has a good write up on High Weight 44 Mag loads.

No complaints at all on the Redhawk and it's usually handier than the SRH. I do wish the 5-1/2 inch came with the factory scope mount cuts though. I recommend you also consider the New Model Blackhawk Hunter KS-47NHB http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=862&return=Y It has everything Ruger's DA revolvers do except a quick recharge, but if you have not made meat with your first six shots you haven't practiced enough. It has the factory scope cuts, the interchangeable sight blades and best of all it has the Bisley grip shape that is more comfortable with heavy loads. The same gun is made in 41 magnum and 45 Colt but the 44 magnum is as good cartridge to start with as any. One other possible choice is the T/C Contender. I haven't shot the G2 yet, but the original came with a fine trigger, excellent sights, and more accuracy than I can use in the field. With a Contender you can pratice with a 22 rimfire barrel year round then install the hunting barrel when the season rolls around. Good hunting!

thx very much to all appreciate the advice

Another vote for .454 and here is why. On my recent hog hunt, I saw a guy shoot a 210lb boar 3 times with a hotloaded 44mag, leg-spine-chest. True the shots were not in the best placement but when I nailed my 265lb boar, it took two steps then fell over. Recoil on mine feels like a 44 mag, not too bad at all. With the prices 454s are at, there is no need now to buy a 44 unless you like the extra round or dont like the price of 454 ammo at $20 for 20.

Oops, forgot one more thing. Of all of my friends shots with the 44mag, the only one that went all the way through was the leg shot. My round went through the whole torso including shoulder bone.

quote:

I saw a guy shoot a 210lb boar 3 times with a hotloaded 44mag, leg-spine-chest.

Interesting. What sort of load was the fella using, did any of the slugs stop in the pig, and how long did it take the hog to fall down?

quote:

I nailed my 265lb boar, it took two steps then fell over. Recoil on mine feels like a 44 mag

What load did you use, did the slug exit, and which law of physics are you breaking to make a 454 kick only as much as a 44 magnum? Good hunting!

Last weekend I finished a long and detailed look into a handgun heavy enough to hunt with, and to kill brown bear with as a last resort. I strongly considered the 454, but am more concerned with hitting hard enough and accurate than missing with a cannon I can't shoot well. My choice was the .44 mag. Garrett 330 gr. hard cast bullets at 1400 fps are said to penetrate a big bear nearly end to end, but there are only a handful of revolvers suitable for this +P load. I chose the Dan Wesson because of it's reputation for accuracy in sillouete shooting, interchangable barrels, and reputation for extreme strength and longevity using heavy loads. Mine has a 6" barrel and weighs about 3.5 lbs. Recoil with full-house 240 gr bullets is easily managable, and several 5-shot groups at 25 yards, from the bench, have been under 1.5" usually with 3 or 4 bullets cutting into the same hole. The way I shoot with a handgun, this is impressive to me. This is proving to be the most accurate and manageable big bore revolver I have ever owned.

I will also throw in with the 44 mag. I went with a S&W 629 classic 6.5 ported. Muzzle flash does not seem to be a problem even at dawn/ dusk. Worked well enough on a small muley - 20 yard trot and dropped dead with a off shoulder/ heart lung shot at about 35 yards.

I have to go also with the 454.I have had several 44 Mags and the difference in recoil from Garretts +P loads in a 44-Mag and my ported Raging Bull is almost nill.The 454 gives more of a push back in my opinion than the 44-Mag.Recoil is a by product of power and when the 44-Mag is loaded as heavy as Garretts loads are,You are getting into the recoil area of a ported 454 Casull and ofcourse you can shoot 45 Long Colts in it for reduced but deadly loads.

Good luck on your choice....Jayco

The way this Dan Wesson shoots and handles recoil, I wouldn't hesitate to have it in 454... if it was offered. What is available is the 445 mag, a long cased 44mag, and I may have one of these next.

This one:
http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=866&return=Y

You can mount a scope or not.

A .45 Colt in a Ruger can be loaded to 30,000 psi allowing you to drive a 300 grain bullet at 1100-1200 fps easy.

A .44 Magnum at an operating pressure of 40,000 psi or so has a biting muzzle blast. A .454 Casull at an opeating pressure of 60,000 psi is plain nasty. A .45 colt at 30,000 is going to have noticeably less muzzle blast than either of those.

Those Bisley style grips are the main selling point. They really, really tame recoil and IMHO are the best thing to happen to hard kicking revolvers since revolvers were invented.

Take a big bullet at 1200 fps in a cartridge that generates less blast in a revolver that handles recoil superbly and comes with a built in scope mounting system - there you have it - a wonderful, Simon pure hunting revolver. Could be that's why they named it "Hunter".

And no, I don't get any commissions when people buy one, but I should.

gentleman jack, the only reason for poor performance with the .44 is the wrong bullet! I bet he was using 240 gr. softnose stuff. I find these lacking even on deer. The best is an LBT style hard cast. The bullets you were using were made tough for the .454 so they did what they were supposed to. There is nothing wrong with the .41, .44, .45 and up as long as the proper bullets are used.