can a ruger super redhawk handle hot loads?

Question

I have some custom hand loads that are a bit hotter than the standard 44 mag load. will prolong use of these damage the revolver?

Answer 1

You’re ok. I own the Super Redhawk and I also hand load with 296, that’s the max called for that weight bullet.

But I advise you to NEVER use reloaded ammo you’re not absolutely confident about. What if say that person loaded one a bit over? I have seen 44 magnum revolvers with swollen chambers from hot loads. Yes the Super Redhawk is a tank of a revolver but its not indestructible. Consider this, some hand load the 44 magnum for rifles ONLY that’s way too hot for any revolver. I do this and I clearly mark the box for rifle only. But if some one were to use one of those is say a S&W 29 it could rupture the cylinder.

So only use reloaded ammo from a trusted known source NEVER from a friend of a friend etc.

Here is a video of super hot 44 mag loads;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ikXL_iKnC8

Note how the gun flies out of his hand in one part of the video.

Answer 2

While it is always a bit of a risk to run high pressures in any firearm Ruger double action revolvers (including the super redhawk) are listed by Garrett Cartridges as being one of the few guns that will handle their hottest +P 44 mag loads, the 330-GR SUPER-HARD-CAST GC LONG-HAMMERHEAD AT 1400-FPS.

As to long term use any time you fire any gun you have parts that will experience a bit of wear. In general the hotter loads increase wear on any of the normal wear parts. Two places to watch are the frame around the firing pin (this will develop a "ring" from the case being pushed back into it, not a real problem but accelerated wear may be evidence that your loads are too hot) and the top strap above the gap between the cylinder and barrel (where escaping powder will cause erosion). Excessive wear on the top strap is more common with really hot loads, and was a part of the death of the .357 Maximum. Finally, using hotter loads will make the revolver "shoot loose" sooner than it would otherwise. In a 44mag super redhawk this shouldn't be a problem too soon but may show up with continued use years down the road.



Regarding the mystery loads. Wander into a few larger pawn shops and gun dealers and you will see plenty of guns that have been blown to bits by handloads. It would be a sad thing to do to your gun and even sadder for your hand. I would be pretty apprehensive of a load that someone else has made up special...

Answer 3

The Ruger Super Redhawk is very strong, but there is no such thing as a gun that can't be damaged by loads that are too hot.



Without knowing the details of your load it's impossible to tell you what the load will do to the revolver.



Do you have a reloading manual? If so, check your load against the recommended maximums in it.



Regarding your Additional Details: Shooting handloads you don't know about and that you didn't make yourself is generally accepted to be a very bad idea. Either break them down and use them for components or sell them to someone else for components.

Answer 4

There are no "bad" guns. I wish the Liberal, anti gun activists could get that through their pointy little heads. Whether a 44 magnum is good for you depends on what you intend to use it for and if you can learn to shoot the particular model you buy, well. It's a good hunting round and back up round in bear and Mountain Lion country. As someone said the most powerful 44 mag cartridge is a little to stout for self defense because follow up shots tend to be slow and they also tend to go through house or apartment walls if you miss the bad guy that is trying to kill you. Yes as someone answered, you can fire the 44 special round in the gun but whether the 44 special is an effective self defense cartridge is open to question. They also have 3/4 power 44 mag rounds and that may be a better choice. But if you are not going to use the 44 mag for hunting or back up, why buy one for self defense? I would rather have a Glock model #23 that shoots the 40 S&W cartridge. If you use the Corbon 135 grain semi jacketed Hollow point at 3500 FPS you have a load that is more powerfull than the 357 Magnum which is #1 for self defense, you have less recoil than a 357 and you have 14 shots instead of the 5 or 6 you would get in a revolver. Just as an aside, it's good to get away from the idea of looking at, say, a 9 mm or a 44 mag as a single entity. There are many different styles and weights of bullits for the 9 mm and different types and amounts of gun powder in the case, so that you can have many different kind of cartridges that are all 9 mm. The same is true for the 44 mag but there are much fewer types of cartridges with that. I hope I've said something that has been helpfull to you. Handguns are fun to shoot and may come in handy if a grizzly starts to munch on your head :-)

Answer 5

Depends on how much hotter you think they are. If you think it may exceed reasonable levels, prudence might suggest using a bullet puller and discarding the powder and trying over.



Any really hot load will wear down a revolver, but the Ruger redhawks are overbuilt. If you think whoever loaded them followed the recipe for the load pretty close, it should be fine.

Answer 6

Yes and no.



I am a long, long, time Redhawk owner.



Keep in mind - the Redhawks have been around since what - the late 1970's?? This means we got plenty of 40 year old 44mag Ruger stainless Redhawks kicking around that are probably not gonna handle too much more, Captain!



Back then - S&W did an ad campaign showing a Redhawk made into a sandwich - staying that thicker wasn't always better.



If you are gonna push a big bore pistol - a new new Redhawk is a great choice. But - keep in mind the gun is going to eventually pay the price. A steady diet of hot loads means one day the cylinder isn't going to move very fluid, or, one cylinder is going to shave lead. This gun will eiether become a safe queen, a practice gun, an expensive repair, or a gun you have to cut up with a torch.



I only used super hot loads in my 44Mag when I was shooting Pistol Silhouette on the Rams at 200 yards and for bear protection. I sold those 44's when I left Kodiak - and re-invested in the much more powerful 480 Ruger in the Stainless Redhawk. Upside to the 480 - you don't have to load it hot - because you don't wanna load it hot - because it is gonna hurt your hand too much!



Bottom line. In my experince - a box or two of hot loads a year isn't going to bother a Redhawk in 44Mag. If you find you really need more power than the 44mag - then you need to be looking at the 480, the 475, 454, 460 or 500. You need the right tool for the right job. The 480 in standard load is 290% more powerful than a 44mag. The other 4 are over the top more powerful than that. I do not own them because I can't hit nuttn' on the second shot - too big. With the 480 I can get all six into the target black at 50 yards rapid fire. (much better to hit with a less powerful gun - then to miss with the perfect gun)



I am on the road and don't have my reloading notes. My favorite all power load was with H110 powder - not only did you get power - you got more noise and tons of flash! We used to touch a few of these off at our indoor range and scare the be-jesus out of the other shooters for a laugh. Standing on the firing line, with the partitions between you and the other shooters - you could feel the whoosh of air go past your head when it went off - not much unlike the push of air when a subway train comes into station. Email me - I will send the load for this when I get home next weekend. I am in Spokane for the week.



Hope this helps.

Answer 7

Don't expose yourself to unneeded danger. If HOT LOADS were Ok for the gun they would be sold by ammunition manufacturers. If the loads work successfully in your gun, it will put excessive wear and could damage the gun or even blow it up. He who loaded the ammo for you may have thought it was OK, but in fact may be too hot for any gun. Reloading manuals have testing and technical knowledge that have tested maximum loads. For instance, what if the reload casesing has been fired 25 times, do you think it would hold up to a full standard load, muchless a hot load? Be safe and trust someone who has done the proper research.

Answer 8

Looking at the Hogdon/Winchester site that appears to be a safe load for a 200 grain bullet.



H110 is also my favorite for full power loads. The max load is printed on the can. It is LOUD. At an indoor range I have caused all the other shooters to stop shooting and come out of their lanes by firing off six rounds from my Super Blackhawk.

Answer 9

As far as I know the super redhawk was made specifically for hotter loads/handloads that the orginal redhawk couldnt handle(i think it was the higher pressures).

I dont own one nor have ever fired one. Ive just read many gunmags and they all write about the redhawks here and there.

Check out some gun magazines websites alot of them post their articles for free.

Answer 10

Ruger revolvers are built like tanks. However, I would NOT recommend you use a double charged load under any conditions. It will take the abuse ANY factory load under heavy use without ill effects.

Answer 11

Hotloads