BorderShift Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 Hey all, new to forum. Have been a shooter since I was a kid. Started reloading when I was 14. got bit by the revolver bug again bought a tarus 77 and realized it was not going to hold up to the volume of shooting I had in mind (7k+ in the past 4 months). 2 months ago bought a ruger redhawk 8 shot 357. Had seriously considered a smith 929 or a 627 but was concerned about getting a lemon with Smith's QC being what it is and gun shop not able to get a 627 v comp. have been lurking on forum for a few weeks and have not really seen much talk on the redhawk. Figured I would "stir the pot" as it were. have put 1k or so rounds through mine so far. And at least twice that dry fire. Have also installed wolf spring kit. So far I have been pretty happy with it. Next up is getting hammer bobbed and changer cylinder. Hoping to be ready to start shooting icore and uspsa at local club when spring hits ... And not look like a dummy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcfoto Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 Hi and welcome. Interesting choice on the Ruger. Not ready to call it a lemon yet, but my month-old 627 is at the gunsmith mostly for an action job but also because I can’t get any brass/ moon clips combo that will easily load. He’s chalking it up to the sad state of modern manufacturing. Says he doesn’t see any of these issues in the Classic Revolvers he works on. Since Ruger is now a major sponsor of ICORE and they’ve put together a top-talent shooter team, it’ll be interesting if the can give SW some much needed competition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorderShift Posted November 3, 2018 Author Share Posted November 3, 2018 (edited) That was my thought. So far I have been experimenting with starline 38 long Colts and short colts. The moon clips ruger sends are decent. The cheap stamped clips are just that. But so far the main thing slowing me down is a lack of chamfer. Spring kit has da pull around 8.5 lbs. Just ordered hearthco moons from to customs. Was curious about the open package he is offering for the ruger. Though I think I want to shoot in limited. Edited November 3, 2018 by BorderShift Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimmie Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 I have 2 627's. The first one I bought when I first started shooting revolver and it was manufactured around 2010. It was in great condition but, being new to revolvers and not knowing that it should have one, it was about a year before someone pointed out to me that it was missing the ball detent in the yoke! No hole, no nothing! It took 2 trips back to the factory to get that straightened out. Recently I decided I wanted a backup so I started looking for an old, lightly shot 627. Found one and this one was built in 2009. It doesn't even have turn marks on the cylinder. Previous owner claimed he only put about 50 rounds through it. My rationale was the older ones came out when the q.c. was better. I may be wrong about that but this gun is beautiful. Both guns had only factory chamfer. The first gun, the moon clipped rounds fell right in. The second gun, not even close. I sent both cylinders out to be chamfered and it's like night and day. I started out shooting .38sp because that's what I had dies for. I'm kinda used to the longer rounds now and with the chamfer and at my level of shooting, it's not worth it to me to invest in all I'd need to invest in to go to .38 short or long colt. I use revolver supply moon clips at .025 and the only brass that fits properly is Federal. Star line falls out. Anyway, welcome. The knowledge here in these forums is incredible and everyone is very welcoming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorderShift Posted November 5, 2018 Author Share Posted November 5, 2018 Well tk just shipped my moon clips. Guess I will email him about work I want done and get an idea of turnaround time when I get around to it. Btw a safariland 002 holster for an N frame works decently on the redhawks. Think it was for a 627. Only other thing I need to get rolling is a moon clip rack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcfoto Posted November 5, 2018 Share Posted November 5, 2018 4 minutes ago, BorderShift said: Only other thing I need to get rolling is a moon clip rack. I just got one of these: http://www.speed-e-rack.com/ Haven't gotten it into competition yet but is well built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorderShift Posted November 5, 2018 Author Share Posted November 5, 2018 Thinking i might go with the one from north mountain or get a moon clip server. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcfoto Posted November 5, 2018 Share Posted November 5, 2018 11 minutes ago, BorderShift said: Thinking i might go with the one from north mountain or get a moon clip server. Yep. Most folks I shoot with do the North Mountain or a home made variant. Thought hard about the server but seems more technical than needs to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perttime Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 Holsters sized for S&W seem to fit Rugers well. I have a few different L-size holsters for my GP100 - and they fit perfectly. I suspect S&W has ruled competitive revolver shooting because of the good triggers out of the box. Then the aftermarket parts supply has developed too. My GP100 is totally stock and the trigger is pretty OK after about 10,000 rounds and whatever dry firing I've done. Recently, I got to handle a GP100 that had seen some work by a competent 'smith: cut for moonclips and polished trigger surfaces. That trigger was nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorderShift Posted November 7, 2018 Author Share Posted November 7, 2018 Something else I have been thinking about is if the grip frame from a super redhawk or gp100 could be swamped for the standard redhawk grip frame. That seems to be the biggest drawback. A single spring to run hammer and trigger return. Why ruger, why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolguy Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 (edited) A good Ruger revo guy can make a Ruger action pretty liveable, but it will never be like a good Smith action. Still, some Rugers are a viable competition gun. Edited November 7, 2018 by Toolguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwx40x40 Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 Still be interesting to see what Olhasso can do with one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskan454 Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 Long story short, Redhawks are going to be 8# guns with a single spring design. The GP/SRH actions can run at 6# no problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radny97 Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 Now that Ruger is an ICORE sponsor and appears to be poised to make a serious push in the competition circuit, I’ll be interested if they make any efforts to redesign some things. If the Redhawk internal design could be revamped, it would be awesome. It’s hard for me to imagine the Redhawk displacing the 627 without making that trigger substantially better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskan454 Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 Hamilton Bowen has been doing GP conversions for a long time now. He blends the GP/SRH action with the Redhawk platform. Makes for a serious packing pistol in a variety of flavors. I'd opt for the 6x480 variety myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perttime Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 GP100 Match Champion in 10mm, with moonclips looks interesting for those who can live with a 6-shooter. I hear using it with .40S&W brass requires different spec moonclips for best functionality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorderShift Posted November 8, 2018 Author Share Posted November 8, 2018 Hey glad to see some life in this topic. 12 hours ago, radny97 said: Now that Ruger is an ICORE sponsor and appears to be poised to make a serious push in the competition circuit, I’ll be interested if they make any efforts to redesign some things. If the Redhawk internal design could be revamped, it would be awesome. It’s hard for me to imagine the Redhawk displacing the 627 without making that trigger substantially better. Yes please. Ruger needs to make this happen. got my moon clips from TK yesterday. Very happy. Though I'm not shure why you would need a moon clip loading tool. My 38 shorts snapped in by hand no problem. I could see if they were tight so as not to bend the clip. I have to say I am surprised no one else has even seen anyone using a redhawk 357. Guess I'll just keep marching to my own beat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gooldylocks Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 One of my buddies and I were discussing this, and now that Ruger has their fancy new custom shop and strong shooting team it will be interesting to see if they make a Custom Shop/Match version of the 8 shooter. I frankly wouldn't be surprised if that is coming down the pipe. Also a true 5" SR9 with a nice set of milled in target sights (ala XDm) and a trigger job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWP Posted November 8, 2018 Share Posted November 8, 2018 A prototype of what you guys are asking for already exists from Ruger. It was shot at the IRC and USPSA nationals. Somewhere in the 7-8lb trigger weight I believe. Most likely a production version months out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorderShift Posted November 8, 2018 Author Share Posted November 8, 2018 My 8 shot 357 redhawk is right at 8.5 lbs with a spring kit. Just think the da pull could be made lighter with separate hammer and return springs. And wider range of grip options with a grip stud instead of a square butt grip frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radny97 Posted November 9, 2018 Share Posted November 9, 2018 6 hours ago, MWP said: A prototype of what you guys are asking for already exists from Ruger. It was shot at the IRC and USPSA nationals. Somewhere in the 7-8lb trigger weight I believe. Most likely a production version months out. This is very exciting news. I was at the IRC but had to shoot the first two days with the range officers because i couldn’t be there for the main two days. I’m so sorry i missed seeing this gun. I’ll be one of the first in line to try it when they roll it out. Thanks for the heads up. And MWP, congrats on the IRC win! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perttime Posted November 9, 2018 Share Posted November 9, 2018 How does a Redhawk compare with GP100 in feel? Grips can be fixed but the weight distribution and barrel line must be different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorderShift Posted November 9, 2018 Author Share Posted November 9, 2018 Just from my perspective. It is a tank of a pistol, the vast majority of the weight is in the cylinder. I think it is decently balanced, ruger is using a tensioned barrel with outer shroud so not much weight out at the end. One thing I really like is da pull there is a distinct "notch" when the cylinder locks up just before the hammer breaks. I feel like this really helps with the longer shots. Have compared to a stock 929 at local gun shop, best way I can describe is the ruger da pull feels "sluggish" not necessarily heavier. Just my 2 cents but with out a tuned smith to compare to hard to give a real comparison. Have not made up my mind on grips yet, I gravitate towards a switch hand reload being left handed and right eye dominate and shooting right hand. Looking at a set of houge nylons to carve up and see if I can do better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWP Posted November 9, 2018 Share Posted November 9, 2018 14 hours ago, radny97 said: This is very exciting news. I was at the IRC but had to shoot the first two days with the range officers because i couldn’t be there for the main two days. I’m so sorry i missed seeing this gun. I’ll be one of the first in line to try it when they roll it out. Thanks for the heads up. And MWP, congrats on the IRC win! Hey thanks, I appreciate that. As for the gun itself, I bet Dave Olhasso will let anyone check it out if you catch him at a match with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radny97 Posted November 9, 2018 Share Posted November 9, 2018 Thanks for the tip!!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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