[WyoSkier]

Hey all, this is my first post, and I need some opinions. I am hunting a lot in Bear country (Grizzly bear, not black...), and am buying a pistol for woods carry/defense, and a .44 mag seems to be my best choice with Buffalo Bore 305 gr. loads.

My dilemma is to get the Redhawk in 5.5" or the Super Redhawk in 7.5". I would like the 5.5" because of the ease to carry in a holster and it being lighter, but some love the longer barrel of the SRH with the huge Buffalo Bore loads.

If I bought a Redhawk in 5.5" I would buy new, but I know someone who would sell me a SRH 7.5" that is roughly 6 years old, shot less than 25 rds. for about $300. I know you all are going to say not to pass up that price, but is the 5.5" really going to be worth my extra expense to buy a new one for ~$750? Thanks!

 

[WyoSkier]

heck i would go with the 7.5" if price matters. i have a leather shoulder rig for mine. im not dirty harry so it hangs all the way to my waist.i never tried quick draw but if grizz is hungry it probably could come out faster than finding a sharp stick. i paid $327 for my blued 7.5" redhawk in 1994. my have prices changed! i used 300NBC cast bullets in it back than for IHMSA.lots of 300 grainers, its a tough gun! i cross wonderfull Wyoming twice a week in a big rig for 6 years now. just love those white outs. good luck with those grizz.man thats alot of cash for a new one

Yeah I'm guessing you're talking about I-80 between Rawlins and Cheyenne, eh? Pretty nasty stuff, I do agree. But yeah they're expensive, but they can justify it by being one of the few revolvers that can handle those loads.

I do prefer a 5 1/2", but that's a heck of a price on a SRH. For that price I could live with the extra 2" of barrel and, yes, that longer barrel will help with the heavy loads.

Yeah I really want the 5.5", but if I can get the 7.5" for that price, I'd be a complete idiot not to jump on it. And I did some research and found some break-away holsters that would eliminate the hassle of the 7.5" draw

 

[WyoSkier]

Super Redhawk for $300? I'd buy that and I'm not even looking for one.

It's probably about 7 years old, but only like 25 rounds fired through it. Would you still? Were they designed back then to handle big loads like they are now? I'm assuming so...? Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[WyoSkier]

I'm a 5.5" bbl guy.
But it's you that's buying & using the gun.

I'm so torn, I don't know what to do. I'll get a chance to shoot the 7.5" in a few weeks, I guess I'll give it a shot and see how it feels.

 

[WyoSkier]

Hard to beat $300 for a SRH. Heck, don't let a deal like that slip through your fingers. If you're not happy with it you can always use it for trading material later on.
I paid $380 for my 5.5 in 1996.

I think that's what I'm gonna do. I'll shoot it and see how it is.