The Redhawk has Landed (357) - Page 2

Bayou · May 5, 2016, 09:16 PM

Hi, Sequins -

Thanks for the compliments on the Redhawk and Security Six. Very much appreciated.

You could very well be spot on relative to your comments on the weight of the additional being metal milled out from 357 to 44. I was basically just guessing.

I'll come across a decent scale that measures ounces and then get an accurate
weight of this bird.

Just can't wait to get her to the range, spread her wings, and let her fly!

Thanks again!

Bayou

45_auto · May 6, 2016, 07:18 AM

I ran across a .357 Redhawk a few years ago, couldn't pass it up. Makes hot .357 loads feel like .38 Specials.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sequins

I feel like the bore size change would only be fractions of an ounce but that's just my feeling and very unscientific.

Takes about 30 seconds to figure it out in Excel.

Figuring a bore diameter of .431" on the .44, the volume of the .44 bore that's 7.5 inches long works out to 1.09 cubic inches.

Same calcs on a .357 bore give a bore volume of .75 cubic inches.

Subtract the volume of the .357 bore from the volume of the .44 bore, 1.09 - .75 = .34, means that the .357 has an extra .34 cubic inches of steel in the barrel.

Density of stainless is about .286 pounds/cubic inch, means that the .357 barrel weighs .286 x .34 = .10 pounds = 1.6 ounces more in the barrel.

Cylinder weight difference should be slightly more, we'll leave that as an exercise for the student!

Bayou · May 6, 2016, 01:59 PM

Thanks, 45 -

Nice calculation you made there.

Glad to hear those full-house magnums feel rather small out of the Redkawk.

Do you have the 5.5" or the 7.5" tube?

Just out of curiosity, what muzzle velocity do you tend to reload to? I will stick to middle of the road stuff for target shooting.

Bayou

Model12Win · May 6, 2016, 04:15 PM

Unique and interesting, but even a GP100 is a bit overbuilt for the caliber. There was nothing wrong with the Six series guns in fact, at least for 99.99% of shooters.

The Redhawk in .357? It's just kind of silly. If I'm going to have to lug around all that steel, I'd make it a .44 magnum, especially since it's six shots either way.

Now if Ruger came out with an 8 shot .357 Redhawk...

Bayou · May 6, 2016, 04:29 PM

Hi, Model12Win -

It's beef on the 357 RH that is the center of my attraction to it.

A tank? Yes!

Overbuilt? Yes!

Heavy? Yes!

I love it!

Thanks!

Bayou

Bayou · May 17, 2016, 07:54 PM

Hi, Gang -

Brought the 357 Redhawk to the range over the weekend. This thing makes full house magnums feel tame! Just a pleasure to shoot. I tuned the sights and got that bird flying straight! I was shooting at 25 yards to begin with, but then ran out of 357 mag ammo before I could put the target at 50 yards.

Well, for the next range trip, I'm going to cook up some nice loads using FMJ 158 grain projectiles. They'll be warm loads but within the specs listed in the Hornady manual for Win 296 powder. After warming the bird up on the pistol range, I've decided to bring it over to the rifle side of the range for 75 and 100 yard shots just for the hey of it! I've never shot paper with a pistol at those ranges before, but I think I've got the tool to do just that!

What a great bird, indeed! Pure recreational fun all the way............Couldn't be happier.............

Bayou

45_auto · May 18, 2016, 09:10 PM

Sorry Bayou, just noticed your questions to me a couple of posts up.

I have the 7.5" barrel on my 357hawk, and I tend to stay away from the all-out loads in any caliber.

Don't know or care about the muzzle velocity, I don't own a chronograph. I tend to load about 3/4 of the way up between the "starting" and "do not exceed" loads in the manuals.

If I feel the need for more power than a 357, rather than loading super hot 357 loads I just bump up to the 44, then the 460, then the 500 if necessary!

I notice you're in SE Louisiana, I am also. We'll have to get together and exercise the Redhawks one day!

Quote:

Originally Posted by model12win

The Redhawk in .357? It's just kind of silly. If I'm going to have to lug around all that steel, I'd make it a .44 magnum, especially since it's six shots either way.

Not everyone is interested in maximizing every gun. The nice thing about all that steel is the way it soaks up the recoil. My 12 year old granddaughter loves shooting mildly hot 357's out of the Redhawk, and 45 Colts out of my 460 S&W, although admittedly she has to use a tripod to hold either of them up! Either one is great for blowing up cans. She has no interest in the 44 mag Redhawk even with mild 44 Special loads, claims it "kicks too much".

Deaf Smith · May 18, 2016, 09:46 PM

Bayou,

Bet you can handload that Redhawk .357 WAY UP! I mean back to the true .357s of the 1930s.

Deaf

Bayou · May 19, 2016, 07:33 AM

"I notice you're in SE Louisiana, I am also. We'll have to get together and exercise the Redhawks one day!"

Hi, 45 -

Yep - I'm in the Slidell area and shoot at Honey Island. Maybe one weekend we just could shoot those Redhawks in tandem!

I think I'm going to do like you say - load for the medium level since I'm just shooting paper for fun and not hunting. I use the Hornady manual, which for 158 grain FMJ projectiles, indicates a medium load to be about 14.5 grains of Win 296. This should produce about 1100 FPS. The manual lists a max charge of 16.7 grains of 296 for this weight projectile.

I'm guessing that a medium load of about 1100 FPS should be adequate for paper at 75-100 yards. What do you think about this level of load for paper shooting at these distances?

I know there will be a bit of experimentation involved, but that's what makes it a fun hobby!

All the Best -

Bayou

SansSouci · May 19, 2016, 10:50 AM

Ruder's missing the boat. I wish it'd come out with a Redhawk in .41 Rem Mag.

45_auto · May 19, 2016, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanssouci

Ruder's missing the boat. I wish it'd come out with a Redhawk in .41 Rem Mag.

Kind of like this one (I'm guessing you mean "Ruger"):

http://www.ruger.com/products/redhaw...eets/5031.html

Bayou - That's funny. I'm in Slidell also. I'll PM you.

SansSouci · May 20, 2016, 10:36 AM

45_Auto,

Yeah, kinda like that one.

WVMountaineer · May 24, 2016, 09:54 PM

The only thing I can say is I want it.

Congrats and God Bless

DWFan · May 28, 2016, 08:08 PM

Bayou, you want some interesting loads for your .357 Redhawk? Look here: http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/de...Powder&Source=
By seating the bullets 3.5mm (.137") below the cannelure, you duplicate the .360 Dan Wesson using Magnum brass. The 180gr Hornady XTP has a lower cannelure that will do almost the same thing. You're looking for an overall length of 1.705" to 1.735".

Bayou · May 28, 2016, 08:19 PM

Great info, DWFan!

Thanks so much for sharing...

Bayou

May 5, 2016, 09:16 PM	#26
Bayou Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2016 Location: SE Louisiana Posts: 300	Hi, Sequins - Thanks for the compliments on the Redhawk and Security Six. Very much appreciated. You could very well be spot on relative to your comments on the weight of the additional being metal milled out from 357 to 44. I was basically just guessing. I'll come across a decent scale that measures ounces and then get an accurate weight of this bird. Just can't wait to get her to the range, spread her wings, and let her fly! Thanks again! Bayou __________________ Bayou NRA Life Member "Keep Calm and Reload"

May 6, 2016, 01:59 PM	#28
Bayou Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2016 Location: SE Louisiana Posts: 300	Thanks, 45 - Nice calculation you made there. Glad to hear those full-house magnums feel rather small out of the Redkawk. Do you have the 5.5" or the 7.5" tube? Just out of curiosity, what muzzle velocity do you tend to reload to? I will stick to middle of the road stuff for target shooting. Bayou __________________ Bayou NRA Life Member "Keep Calm and Reload"

May 6, 2016, 04:29 PM	#30
Bayou Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2016 Location: SE Louisiana Posts: 300	Hi, Model12Win - It's beef on the 357 RH that is the center of my attraction to it. A tank? Yes! Overbuilt? Yes! Heavy? Yes! I love it! Thanks! Bayou __________________ Bayou NRA Life Member "Keep Calm and Reload"

May 17, 2016, 07:54 PM	#31
Bayou Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2016 Location: SE Louisiana Posts: 300	Hi, Gang - Brought the 357 Redhawk to the range over the weekend. This thing makes full house magnums feel tame! Just a pleasure to shoot. I tuned the sights and got that bird flying straight! I was shooting at 25 yards to begin with, but then ran out of 357 mag ammo before I could put the target at 50 yards. Well, for the next range trip, I'm going to cook up some nice loads using FMJ 158 grain projectiles. They'll be warm loads but within the specs listed in the Hornady manual for Win 296 powder. After warming the bird up on the pistol range, I've decided to bring it over to the rifle side of the range for 75 and 100 yard shots just for the hey of it! I've never shot paper with a pistol at those ranges before, but I think I've got the tool to do just that! What a great bird, indeed! Pure recreational fun all the way............Couldn't be happier............. Bayou __________________ Bayou NRA Life Member "Keep Calm and Reload"

May 18, 2016, 09:46 PM	#33
Deaf Smith Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2000 Location: Texican! Posts: 4,453	Bayou, Bet you can handload that Redhawk .357 WAY UP! I mean back to the true .357s of the 1930s. Deaf __________________ “To you who call yourselves ‘men of peace,’ I say, you are not safe without men of action by your side” Thucydides

May 6, 2016, 04:15 PM	#29
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	Unique and interesting, but even a GP100 is a bit overbuilt for the caliber. There was nothing wrong with the Six series guns in fact, at least for 99.99% of shooters. The Redhawk in .357? It's just kind of silly. If I'm going to have to lug around all that steel, I'd make it a .44 magnum, especially since it's six shots either way. Now if Ruger came out with an 8 shot .357 Redhawk...

May 19, 2016, 07:33 AM	#34
Bayou Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2016 Location: SE Louisiana Posts: 300	"I notice you're in SE Louisiana, I am also. We'll have to get together and exercise the Redhawks one day!" Hi, 45 - Yep - I'm in the Slidell area and shoot at Honey Island. Maybe one weekend we just could shoot those Redhawks in tandem! I think I'm going to do like you say - load for the medium level since I'm just shooting paper for fun and not hunting. I use the Hornady manual, which for 158 grain FMJ projectiles, indicates a medium load to be about 14.5 grains of Win 296. This should produce about 1100 FPS. The manual lists a max charge of 16.7 grains of 296 for this weight projectile. I'm guessing that a medium load of about 1100 FPS should be adequate for paper at 75-100 yards. What do you think about this level of load for paper shooting at these distances? I know there will be a bit of experimentation involved, but that's what makes it a fun hobby! All the Best - Bayou __________________ Bayou NRA Life Member "Keep Calm and Reload"

May 19, 2016, 10:50 AM	#35
SansSouci Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2013 Location: Heart of Reagan Country Posts: 479	Ruder's missing the boat. I wish it'd come out with a Redhawk in .41 Rem Mag.

May 20, 2016, 10:36 AM	#37
SansSouci Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2013 Location: Heart of Reagan Country Posts: 479	45_Auto, Yeah, kinda like that one.

May 24, 2016, 09:54 PM	#38
WVMountaineer Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2015 Posts: 330	The only thing I can say is I want it. Congrats and God Bless

May 28, 2016, 08:08 PM	#39
DWFan Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2008 Posts: 305	Bayou, you want some interesting loads for your .357 Redhawk? Look here: http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/de...Powder&Source= By seating the bullets 3.5mm (.137") below the cannelure, you duplicate the .360 Dan Wesson using Magnum brass. The 180gr Hornady XTP has a lower cannelure that will do almost the same thing. You're looking for an overall length of 1.705" to 1.735".

May 28, 2016, 08:19 PM	#40
Bayou Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2016 Location: SE Louisiana Posts: 300	Great info, DWFan! Thanks so much for sharing... Bayou __________________ Bayou NRA Life Member "Keep Calm and Reload"