Finally, my most recent Ruger purchase is the Redhawk 4.2 inch barrel chambered in 45 acp and 45 colt. Sadly, it has gone back to the factory for an 'adjustment'. After searching for 6 months, I finally found one. First time out I took a combination of ammo...put 150 rounds of acp loads through it with total reliability and great accuracy. Different story when I tried to run the 45 colt rounds...cylinder hung 2/6 with standard pressure Winchester loads and 1/6 with Federal loads. Oddly enuf, the cylinder rotated just fine with +p Corbon Hunter loads from 2 different lots.
Upon inspection I found a 'ridge' on the recoil shield just ahead of the firing pin hole. Don't know that this is the cause, so I did not want to tackle it myself for fear I would void the warranty. Spoke to Heather (great gal) in customer service and the very next day UPS picked up my Redhawk for a return trip to the factory. That was 9 days ago and 2 snow storms later...hoping to hear from them soon and get it back. Picture of the recoil shield, below.
Positive notes, beautiful fit and finish, great DA trigger that stacks nicely before breaking, and a heavy but very crisp SA pull. I shoot more .45 acp than anything else, so this is a nice companion gun for my SR1911. In addition, we have really big black bears here in eastern NC (500 to 800 pounds) and the 335 grain hard cast +p 45 colt loads will give me some comfort in the woods. The textured grips are the nicest I have ever seen on any factory gun. Will follow up when I get it back.