RUGER & COMPANY INC Super Redhawk Alaskan Revolvers Ruger 6 Round 454 Casull Super Redhawk Alaskan w/2.5' Barrel & Stainless Finish 2 1/2' Frame-integral barrels, available in.454 Casull and.44 magnum.454 Casull Super Redhawk Alaskans are the most compact revolvers available in these calibers. The Super Redhawk was only available in stainless steel, though a number of finishes have been offered.[3] The standard finish is a brushed finish, which gives a semi-gloss look to the steel.
By the Guns and Shooting Online Staff
Illustration courtesy of Sturn, Ruger &Co.
Back in the days when Colt and Smith & Wesson revolversdominated the U.S. police market, William B. Ruger, co-founder and CEO ofSturm, Ruger & Company and one of the most accomplished gun designers inAmerican history, wanted a piece of the action. His .22 autoloading pistol wasthe best selling gun of its type, as were his single action rimfire (SingleSix) and centerfire (Blackhawk) revolvers.
In 1972, Bill Ruger introduced his 'Six Series' DArevolvers, first the Security Six (fully adjustable sights, square butt) andthen in quick secession the Service Six (fixed sights, square butt) and SpeedSix (fixed sights, round butt). Like his previous SA revolvers, the new DAmodels were built around investment cast 'medium' size frames, usedmusic wire (coil) springs throughout for enhanced reliability and a transferbar to ensure safety against accidental discharge. They were reliable, wellmade and affordable. Aimed straight at the police, military and civilian selfdefense markets, these were six shot, .38 Special and .357 Magnum (later 9x19mmand .38 S&W, swing out cylinder, hand ejector, police service stylerevolvers. Colt and Smith & Wesson were forced to recognize that there wasa serious new player in the service revolver market.
Over 1,500,000 Six Series revolvers had been sold by thetime the line was discontinued in 1988. The replacement for the Six Series wasthe GP100, introduced in 1985 and the subject of this review. If the Six Seriescan be equated to the S&W 'K' frame line, the GP-100 can beequated to the S&W 'L' frame line. It is built on a larger,heavier frame designed specifically for the .357 Magnum cartridge.
Colt's Python, introduced in 1954, had showed the world whatan ideal .357 Magnum DA revolver looked like. The Python was built on a .41caliber frame, not a .38 Special (.35 caliber) frame, for extended use with.357 Magnum cartridges. Medium frame revolvers, such as the S&W K-seriesand Ruger Six Series, developed problems if fed an extensive diet of full power.357 Magnum cartridges. They were strong enough to contain magnum pressures,but wear was accelerated. A Python size revolver was the answer. S&W merelycopied the Python silhouette, full length barrel lug and all, inserting inferiorS&W lock work, but Ruger took the opportunity to further improve his DArevolvers.
The GP100 uses a larger frame than the Six Series andincorporates some major improvements. First is the cylinder locking system,which is latched to the frame at the crane, as well as at the back of theejector rod. Ruger calls this a 'triple lock' cylinder, but it reallyisn't. The purpose of the bolt at the bottom of the cylinder (which Rugeradvertising counts as a cylinder lock) is to prevent cylinder rotation, notkeep the cylinder in the frame. Unlike the cylinder latches, the bolt retracts when the cylinder turns.
Another improvement is a stub (half size) grip frame thatreplaces the conventional grip frame, allowing the attachment of a one-piecegrip of practically any size, shape or style. Grip panels don't attach to the sidesof the GP100's grip frame, as with traditional revolvers. Instead, a one-piecegrip slides over it and is attached by a screw through the bottom of the grip.
Like the Six Series, but unlike Colt and S&W revolvers,music wire springs are used exclusively. The investment cast frame has noremovable side plate; most of the internal parts are attached to the triggerguard assembly, which is removed from the bottom of the frame. The by nowfamiliar Ruger transfer bar ignition system, which makes carrying a revolverwith a fully loaded cylinder absolutely safe until the trigger is intentionallypulled, was retained. To swing out the cylinder, press in on the button mountedin the frame's left recoil shield.
GP100 revolvers are offered in alloy steel with blued finishor in stainless steel with satin finish, with adjustable or fixed sights, withor without full length barrel lugs and with various grip styles. The usual barrellengths are 3', 4.2' and 6', although other barrel lengths havebeen produced as distributor specials. The GP100 was designed as a six shot,357 Magnum (also accepts .38 Special) service revolver and .357 remains themost popular caliber. Recently, a seven shot version in .327 Federal Magnum hasbeen offered. For this review, we requested a .357 Mag./.38 Special GP100 instainless steel with a 4.2' barrel from the good folks at Ruger.
GP100 Features
Recoil reducing black rubber Hogue Monogrip
Triple locking cylinder (See comments above)
Patented grip frame accommodates a wide range of grips
Easy takedown of integrated subassemblies requires no special tools
Patented Ruger transfer bar ignition system
Heavy, precision rifled barrel
Fully adjustable Patridge type sights
Included hard plastic case
Specifications (as tested)
Catalog number: KGP-141
Model number: 1705
Caliber: .357 Magnum (also .38 Special)
Capacity: 6
Material: Stainless steel; satin finish
Trigger pull: 4.5 lbs. SA, 12.8 lbs. DA
Front sight: Ramp
Rear sight: Fully adjustable
Barrel length: 4.2'
Twist: 1:18.75'
Overall length: 9.7'
Weight: 40 ounces (empty)
2013 MSRP: $759
The actual bullet diameter of both the .38 Special and .357Magnum revolver cartridges is .357' and, because the .357 Magnum is basedon a lengthened .38 Special case, any .357 revolver can also fire all .38Special ammo. Standard velocity .38 Special cartridges make excellent practiceor match ammo for any .357 revolver and .38 Special +P ammo is a viable choicefor personal or home defense encounters anticipated to occur indoors or in dimlight, where the muzzle blast of a full power .357 Magnum cartridge isliterally deafening and the flash is blinding. Outdoors in good light, the fullpower .357 Magnum really comes into its own as the premier self-defense handguncartridge, as it has the highest one shot stop percentage of any handguncaliber. With heavy for caliber bullets, it is one of the few handguncartridges adequate for defense against large predators in the field.
Our new GP100 was supplied in a handy plastic carrying case.Inside were the usual accessories, including a gun lock and an instructionmanual so larded with safety warning interruptions as to be almostunintelligible.
Initial inspection of our test gun revealed that the fit andfinish were generally good. Ruger's satin stainless steel external polish isone of the most attractive. It is not mirror reflective like a Vaquero highpolish or nickel plating, but it's finer than many manufacturers' matte stainlessfinish. The top of the barrel rib is grooved to help break-up reflections. Thefit of the trigger guard assembly to the frame was excellent, with the joinline almost invisible. The fit of the cylinder crane to the frame was onlysatisfactory, with a small gap where the two meet. The slot in the barrel's underlug for the ejector rod is rather crudely cut, both longer and wider thannecessary with a pointless cut-out at the front. The ejector rod itself isperfectly straight, without any visible wobble when the cylinder is spun.
'Read Instruction Manual' is stamped into the leftside of the barrel above '-Ruger-' and 'Newport, NH USA' insmall print. 'Ruger GP100' in much larger letters appears to havebeen laser etched into the right side of the barrel, with '357Magnum' on the under lug below. The serial number is stamped into theright side of the frame below the cylinder, along with the traditional Rugereagle in a circle emblem.
The entire barrel has a rather amorphous shape, with the toprib and full length bottom lug sort of melting into the barrel, rather thanbeing clearly defined. Look at a Colt Python to see how it should be done. Theoval trigger guard, on the other hand, is nicely shaped and adequatelyspacious. The frame's recoil shield complements the lines of the gun. The shapeof the supplied Hogue Monogrip leaves a lot to be desired, functionally andaesthetically. (More on function a bit later.) Aesthetically, its shape is justplain ugly and it detracts from the lines of the revolver. Considering that theGP100's stub grip frame allows a great deal of freedom in grip shape and theearlier Ruger Six Series and Redhawk DA revolvers had much more pleasing gripshapes, the ugly Hogue design chosen for the GP100 is a bit of a mystery, whenit would be so easy to correct.
The barrel is a useful place to add weight for stabilitywhen shooting offhand, particularly with a 4' barrel. Our test revolverhas a full length barrel under lug and a solid top rib. The ramp front sight ispinned to the top rib. The front of the under lug slants back from the muzzleand its body is given a semi-rectangular cross-section, which is much lessattractive to our eyes than the seminal Colt Python's round under lug.Regardless, the GP100 has a solid feel and we know it is an unusually strong DArevolver. At 40 ounces with a 4.2' barrel, the GP100 is obviously not alightweight.
Out of the box the GP100's single action trigger pullmeasured 4.5 pounds with only a little take-up in two perceptible stages. Thedouble action pull measured 12.8 pounds.
As usual, we conducted our test shooting at the Izaak Waltonoutdoor range south of Eugene, Oregon. This facility has covered shootingbenches and 25 yard target frames convenient for pistol testing. Chuck Hawks, RockyHays and Jim Fleck, all G&S Onlinestaff members, participated in the shooting. The weather was typical of Aprilin Western Oregon, with partly sunny skies and a high temperature in the 60'sF. The wind was gusting to about 10-15 MPH, but not much of a factor for 25yard pistol shooting with a .357 revolver.
For the shooting part of this review, we used one standardvelocity .38 Special, one .38 Special +P and two .357 Magnum factory loads.These were the Winchester/USA .357 Mag. 110 grain JHP (MV 1295 fps),Remington/UMC .357 Mag. 125 grain JSP (MV 1450 fps), Remington/UMC .38 Spec. +P125 grain SJHP (MV 945 fps) and Winchester/USA .38 Spec. 125 grain JSP (MV 850fps). Due to the ammunition shortage caused by the Obama post reelection gunban effort, to conserve ammo we fired three shot (instead of our usual fiveshot) groups at bullseye targets from a Pistol Perch rest.
25 Yard Shooting Results
Winchester/USA .357 Mag. 110 grain JHP: Smallest group = 1-1/8'; Largest group = 3-1/4'; Mean average group size = 2.33'
Remington/UMC .357 Mag. 125 grain JSP: Smallest group = 1-3/4'; Largest group = 2-3/4'; Mean average group size = 2.29'
Remington/UMC .38 Spec. +P 125 grain JHP: Smallest group = 1-1/2'; Largest group = 2.0'; Mean average group size = 1.83'
Winchester/USA .38 Spec. 125 grain JSP: Smallest group = 1/2'; Largest group = 3-5/8'; Mean average group size = 2.13'
AVERAGE GROUP SIZE FOR ALL LOADS = 2.15'
This time out, Rocky shot the smallest recorded group. Overall,the accuracy was about what we expected from a new, 4' barreled servicerevolver shooting economical factory loads. It is a definite cut above thetypical service autoloader, but not the equal of a target revolver. The GP100'sexcellent, fully adjustable, Patridge type sights made zeroing the gun quickand easy.
Ruger revolvers are renowned for their strength, durabilityand reliability. The GP100 reviewed here was typical, as there were nomalfunctions of any kind during our test shooting.
Our experienced shooters considered the recoil of the GP100 manageablewith full power .357 loads, although the 125 grain Remington magnums did stingour hands, mostly due to the deficiencies of the Hogue Monogrip. Like allmagnum handgun cartridges, the .357 really deserves at least a 6' barrel tomaximize performance and control muzzle blast. Full power .357 loads are not agood choice for inexperienced shooters, who are likely to quickly develop anaccuracy destroying flinch. Fortunately, the GP100 is far more pleasant toshoot with all .38 Special loads, including +P ammo. Hitting with a .38 is farbetter than flinching with a .357, whether practicing at the range or shootingto save your life.
The supplied Hogue Monogrip drew a lot of criticism from ourshooters. Chuck complained that the spacing and angle of the very pronouncedfinger grooves did not match his hand. (Finger grooves only work properly whenthey are custom fitted to an individual hand.) Rocky disliked the grip'spronounced vertical rise at the top rear (where it meets the thumb web of theshooting hand). No one liked the grip's overall shape or its pronounced hump inthe middle of the backstrap. Its shape is too narrow from side to side and toolong from front to back, making for a long reach to the trigger. The lack ofwidth across the back strap amplifies the effect of recoil and the rubber compoundis too hard to help much. The molded stippling, used instead of checkering, succeedsonly in making the grip look like it is covered with tiny warts. In any case, theMonogrip has an ugly shape that does nothing for the GP100's lines. A PachmayrPresentation grip would be a big improvement.
The GP100 is similar in size to a Colt Python or S&W686. It fit nicely in an Uncle Mike's Sidekick Size 2 nylon hip holsteroriginally purchased for a Colt Python revolver with a 4' barrel.
Modifications
We took the liberty of making some simple modifications toour test GP100 after the shooting portion of this review with the idea ofmaking it an ideal home defense handgun. Revolvers are inherently superior homedefense guns, as (unlike autoloading pistols) they can remain fully loaded andready to go for years without deteriorating, because all springs are relaxed.In an emergency, there are no safeties to manipulate or fumble; just grab therevolver and pull the trigger to fire when needed.
We replaced the stock Hogue Monogrip with a Crimson TraceLasergrip #LG-344. (A review of the LG-344 can be found on the Handgun Information page.) This square butt, black rubber grip incorporates a red laserthat projects an aiming dot just under the cylinder, along the lower right sideof the barrel. The grip has much more restrained finger grooves than the stockMonogrip, allowing more flexibility in shooting hand grip and a better feel.
The laser aiming point is adjustable in windage and elevation by meansof tiny screws in the top and side of the diode housing via the supplied hexwrench. A single CR123 lithium battery provides approximately20 hours of continuous laser life, amounting to about a year of normal service.
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The laser activation button is located at the front of the grip below the trigger guard, where the middle finger of the shooting hand naturally falls. It is a momentary switch, meaning that the laser is only on when the activating button is held in. This takes little finger pressure and, essentially, the laser is on any time the revolver is gripped normally. There is also a very small master on/off switch recessed into the bottom of the grip. This master switch allows the laser to be deactivated, useful for conserving battery life when shooting in normal daylight conditions.
Crimson Trace uses the maximum laser output allowed by law,a class 3R (5mw peak, 620-670nm) visible laser diode. At night or in very dimlight, the laser dot is visible for hundreds of yards. In daylight, the redlaser dot is visible at 15-25 feet. In my home at night, with all the roomlights on, the red dot is very bright at the maximum distance available,approximately 50 feet. The laser beam itself is invisible, so an armed opponentto the side cannot see it to pinpoint your location in the dark.
Crimson Trace recommends zeroing the laser at 50 feet. Atany distance from the muzzle to 50 feet the point of impact is within 1.25'of the point of aim (on our GP100) and the laser dot is ½' in diameter. The Lasergripdoes not interfere with holstering the revolver and a special holster is notnecessary to accommodate a Lasergrip equipped GP100. Crimson Trace Lasergripsare made in the USA and come with a three year materials and workmanshipwarranty. The 2013 MSRP for the LG-344 is $299 direct from Crimson Trace(www.crimsontrace.com).
Next, we replaced the stock sights with XS Sight Systems BigDot Tritium front and Express white line rear sights. This is feasible becausethe GP100's front sight blade is retained in its slot in the barrel rib by apin that allows removal. The XS Express rear sight blade simply replaces thestock Patridge sight blade. The Tritium front bead glows in the dark, allowinga quick 'flash' front sight acquisition for close range defense. TheGP100 is one of the few revolvers for which tritium night sights are available.In daylight, the correct express sight picture is with the front bead centeredon the middle of the rear sight's shallow 'V.' The bullet shouldimpact at the top of the front bead at the chosen distance, which in our casewas 25 yards. The 2013 MSRP for the Big Dot Tritium Express set is $90, directfrom XS Sight Systems (www.xssights.com).
From a bench rest at 25 yards, the Express rear and Big Dotfront sights are less precise than the very good Patridge sights supplied withthe GP100. However, in a dark house late at night the XS Big Dot tritium frontsight is much more visible than the stock black ramp; The Express sights areaccurate enough to stop a threat at indoor ranges. So is the Crimson traceLasergrip. With both on the same revolver, the shooter has a choice of dimlight aiming systems viable to 50 feet or more.
Finally, a Wolff Shooter's Pak (2013 MSRP $10.50) reducedstrength spring kit was ordered for our GP100 to replace the stock hammer andtrigger return springs. We used the Wolff nine pound hammer spring and eightpound trigger return springs (the lightest weights supplied) in our test gun.This noticeably lightened the hammer draw and both the DA and SA trigger pullswithout degrading ignition reliability. The SA pull was reduced to 3.5 pounds.Wolff Gunsprings can be ordered direct online at www.gunsprings.com
We are pleased with our drop-in modifications. We think theresult is, as we hoped, an ideal home defense handgun.
New Model Blackhawk Serial Numbers
Conclusion
Ruger Redhawk Serial Number Location Lookup
Because we dislike the indoor muzzle blast of .357 Magnum cartridges and their blinding flash at night, we choose to use .38 Special +P cartridges for home defense. For the GP100, we chose the Federal Premium Personal Defense 129 grain Hydra-Shok JHP load.
Serial Number
The .357 Magnum Ruger GP100 is a good choice for urban orsuburban home defense. It also has potential for protection in the field whenloaded with full power .357 Magnum loads using heavy for caliber (158-180 grain)bullets. Overall, the GP100 is probably the best mass produced .38 /.357 DA servicerevolver on the market today.
Ruger Redhawk Date Of Manufacture
Note: A review of the Ruger GP100 in .327 Federal Magnum caliber can be found on the Product Reviews page.