Introducing the one and only prototype Tactical Ruger Super Redhawk.

Specs;
Model- Ruger Super Redhawk
Caliber- 44 Magnum
Barrel Length- 6.5" Bull Barrel
Features- Full Under Lug Picatinny Rail
Purpose- Hog hunting at night, camp defense at night when your not the Apex Predator, and connecting with bad guys that fire from cover.
Holsters- Bianchi 7001 Revolver Size 6, (and possibly Size 5 and 5B- to be tested).

So what do you think? Is it marketable? Should I pitch it to Ruger?

I understand that this is not for everyone. It is not traditional, overly practical, and heavy. That is correct, but it is not pink and it doesn't smell fruity either, Mary. This is for men that eat barb wire and crap nails! So please keep all sissy comments to yourself, or better yet, post them on your flower garden forum.

Just kidding. Let me know what you guys think.

I like it! I'd prefer a 5 or 5.5" barrel personally. If I'm using it for situations I'd be using a light, I don't need the barrel length for velocity/distance and would prefer a little better/lighter handling revolver.

In other words..........put a rail on a Ruger SRH Toklat in .454 Casull and I'd be giddy.

:-)

I agree, and cut the cylinder for 45 ACP with Moon Clips. Winner winner chicken dinner.

As long as the mount holds the light on well enough to tolerate the recoil, it is viable.

Generally I prefer nice clean simple lines to my guns. However, the prospect of night hunting, and/or camping at night in predator territory, makes a compelling reason for weapon mounted lighting.

As Greg said, a key aspect will be whether the arrangement is strong enough to withstand recoil.

Have you considered a shorter rail and something like the Crimson Trace Rail Master or Rail Master Pro http://www.crimsontrace.com/products/type/rail-master-pro Already of a size and weight designed for handguns.

Another factor will be holsters. Does the holster you showed hold the gun with the light fitted or does it have to be removed? This may not be a big issue in the long term as holsters are already being manufactured for light equipped semi-autos.

Thank you all for your input.

The current configuration is designed to be a semi-permanent design. I have worked with 3M to select one of their VHB tapes to hold the rail in place. It was selected based on it's sheer and tensile strengths. The light selected for the weight and temperature specs is this Streamlight- http://www.streamlight.com/en-us/product/product.html?pid=277. It is on the upper end of the weight scale for rail designed lights, so anything smaller should be well supported.

I wasn't sure I would like the rail, and I wanted an option that could, though not easy, be removed without damage to the barrel. If testing goes well, I will review the mounting options, and may have a gunsmith bolt it to the barrel.

The holster pictured fits the revolver with the rail only. At this point, a custom holster would need to made for the light on the gun, or a gym bag might work.

no worst than any other handgun with a picatinny rail. heck i dont like the looks of scopes on handguns so dont go by what i think. i just dont understand hanging all that crap of any gun long or short.

If you hunt at night, it's a necessary evil. I have lights that I clamp on to my barrel sometimes, but again, if you want to kill hogs and other varmints by moonlight, you need to "hang crap" off of your revolver.

For example.



I know it's ungainly, but I would rather be able to hunt effectively at night, than not. BRAS' solution is a lot cleaner.

Does that not affect your POI somewhat, Max?

Tape and glue work great for some things however even keeping something as light at a front sight affixed with glue is prone to failure. Underslung like that you have all the recoil forces working against you.

I would feel alot better about that mount if it were more positively affixed. Maybe something similar to the Weaver no drill mount for the Super Blackhawks or a sort of inverse scope ring. Something that you could pretty much be assured is not going to come off.

The last Performance Center 629 I tested had a rail on the underside meant for mounting a light.

In 94 I was the pointman clearing the Haitian Police Compound and Commandants house. I learned 2 very important things from that event.

1. Rifles suck in tight spaces.
2. I need to find a way to mount a light to the weapon.

That was back before lights became tactical, and any weapons had rails, to my knowledge. Heck, that was before Tactical existed. We still used crook neck flashlights. I think they were about 3 lumen. Junk. Try opening doors, and moving obstacles with both hands full. You will sacrifice something. It is also very un-nerving as you try to determine if that is a bad guy hunched down or just a coat draped over a chair when you don't have a light.

I have reviewed quite a few of Smith and Wesson revolvers with rails to incorporate lights / lasers. The 327 TRR8 being the most prominent, as it was purpose built for SWAT point men while using their shield. Clint Smith also collaborated with Smith and Wesson for the 325 Thunder Ranch model.

Smith and Wesson isn't afraid to try new things and I feel Ruger should give it a try also, and not worry about being in the shadow of Smith and Wesson.

Thanks again all for your suggestions.

I like it and as was stated, if you're gonna shoot critters after dark, you need "crap" hanging off your gun. I've got a 10/22 that some folks think is ridiculous but it is a midnight marauder killing machine! Its usefulness in that role is immeasurable.

Not a bad idea, at all. S&W sells a Thunder Ranch version (oops edit: did not see your post identifying the S&W) of that concept, in 45 acp. I looked long and hard at it, before deciding on my 625 PC. With the scope mount cuts on the top, and a rail on the bottom, you would certainly have a very versatile revolver.

Craig

Ok im in the minority. shouldn't have used the word crap sorry. i do mean that. didnt mean to upset anyone. picatinny rails set off an knee jurk reaction in me. always have ( leggo for adults )reinforced by the "Operators" that i work with. thinking that tactical ninja suet high tec gear makes up for knowledge and hard work. ops im at it again. even my wife calls me a crotchety old man.

i haven't found a rifle with a scope that handles as well as it did with out. scopes have its uses but that dont mean i have to like um.

After reading these posts, I went and looked up the S&W 327 TRR8 you guys were referring to. My stars and bars!!! I dont question its value in the field it was designed for, but if there has been an uglier, more awkward looking production revolver produced in the last few years, I havent seen it! I love revolvers, and I like combat pistols set up for ...combat. But that S&W looks to me like the bastard child of two seperate species that should have never had a drink together! Its probably very effective, its also very, very ugly.

BRASFO311, your unit, in my opinion, has logical application. I agree with the others on feeling better with a more solid mount. Also, I would wonder about the possibility of a rail that is both shorter and stainless, to match the revolver itself.

One could, for me at least, that a lot of the Performance Center offerings accurately fit this description! From an aesthetics standpoint that is.

Agreed, Max

There seem to be a lot of long and short guns in the last few years that have me scratching my head and saying. Who in the hell and what were they thinking,or taking .May just be the old dinasour kicking in but a lot of these things are BUTT UGGGLY!

It's all good guys, and I appreciate everyone's point of view. I don't believe any one is offended, I'm not, but this is exactly why I threw it out there as a prototype, and to gather everyone's opinion. Thank you.

Ugly as they may be, railed revolvers are functionally good looking to me. Goes back to, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder I guess.

Thanks again guys.

Functionally good looking,I like that term.Beauty and function don't always go hand in hand. If it fulfills a need and has a purpose then it has its own functional beauty.Clearing rooms at night or for things that go bump ,oink or growl at night. A bright focused beam of light strapped under a barrel ,[with a big hole in it] would be a comforting thing.

Here is a link to the video. Sorry, It ain't Hollywood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_wmt8gKzrE

lets not talk ugly. im the guy that holds his rear sight on with a bent finishing nail.

Very well said!

Haha!

I take function over form any day of the week.

I consider it safe. I don't do it in random places where I don't know the area or who is around. Besides, you light your target up like a Christmas tree before you commit to a shot. When I hunt hogs in North Carolina, we hunt exclusively at night.

I use night vision, thermal imagers, and IR lasers. No lights. Pig hunting around these parts in agricultural fields is almost exclusively nocturnal. These aren't game farm piggies.

Turn on a light and they are GONE!

:-)

These aren't game farm animals either. I use a green light and it doesn't spook them in the least. All our hogs ( where I hunt them) in Virginia and North Carolina are nocturnal as well. Also ag areas.

I've not tried the green light thing. Very curious as to how they would react. Sounds like it doesn't bother them. That's cool.

I've used both red and green lights on private land here. Green seems to work better.

I started using red light in the Marines and still use it today moving in and out of hunting areas, so as not to spook the critters. Not tried the green light yet.

Max, in your experience, is the green light brighter than the red lights and provide better definition?

Also, where have you found hogs in Virginia? I was just talking to a guy about going to Florida for hogs, but staying in Virginia would mean more trips?