Redhawk vs Super Redhawk—which one for woods carry and hunting?

Question

I'm looking at revolvers for a reliable woods gun and potential truck backup when I'm on public land. Main question: Is the Super Redhawk's extra capacity worth the size penalty, or does the standard Redhawk sit better for actual fieldwork?

Context—I'm not worried about rapid reloads in the field. I want something that handles cold, doesn't snag on pack straps, and shoots true past 25 yards. The 45 ACP/.45 LC cross-compatibility is appealing for logistics.

How much bigger is the Super really, and have you noticed a real difference in how it carries or handles in rough country? Any regrets either way?

Hank Miller · Accepted Answer

Dave's not wrong about the timing or the reliability—the standard Redhawk absolutely has earned its reputation, and I'm not here to argue against proven iron. But I'd push back on one thing: the Super isn't dead weight in the field, and the capacity difference matters more than he's saying it does.

Here's my honest take. You said you're not worried about rapid reloads, and that's true—you won't be doing tactical anything. But hunting in rough country means things go sideways in ways you don't plan for. A miss. A wounded animal that moves. A second shot that saves you an hour of tracking. With the standard gun you get five. The Super gives you six. That one extra round in a revolver—not a semi-auto with a mag change—costs you what, actually? A half pound? The barrel's longer, sure, but if you're running it in a shoulder holster or pack, you're not noticing an extra inch the way you notice fumbling a speed loader.

The snag thing is fair. Gear catches everything. But a well-designed holster or pack carry smooths that out, and it's not like the Super is unwieldy. Ruger didn't build it to be difficult.

Five rounds is plenty if the shot counts. You're right. But six is more insurance for the same fundamental gun, and in the woods, when you're alone, insurance against your own error isn't stupid. Get whichever one you can shoot better. That matters more than specs. But don't discount the Super just because it's slightly heavier. It earns its weight in the field.

Dave Kowalski · Answer

Standard Redhawk. The Super is heavier, longer, and adds nothing you actually need in the field.

Here's the thing—the regular Redhawk's timing is proven. Thousands of field hours. Cylinder locks up tight, double-action is smooth, and the .45 LC shoots flat enough past 25 yards that distance isn't your limiting factor anyway. The 6-shot capacity sounds nice until you're fumbling Moon clips in the cold with gloved hands. You're not doing tactical reloads in bear country. You're hunting.

The Super adds ~½ pound and an inch of barrel you don't need. In a pack, on a sling, wedged against gear—that extra bulk matters more than you'd think. It'll snag. It always does.

Five rounds of .45 LC is plenty if your first shot counts. And it will, because the gun's reliable and you'll shoot it enough to trust it. Get the standard, spend the money saved on good ammunition and trigger time. The Redhawk's track record isn't an accident.

Gus Henley · Answer

I took a .44 Mag Super Redhawk into the Bitterroot back in '09 with an old pointer—best bird dog I ever owned. We were after grouse and the occasional elk calf, and halfway through the second day, we stumbled onto a sow about sixty yards out with cubs. Didn't want trouble. Backed out slow, dog at heel. But here's the thing—I wasn't nervous about whether I had enough rounds. I was nervous about whether my hands would work when they needed to.

That half pound and extra inch? Doesn't matter in the woods. What matters is you're carrying something that points steady, cycles like it's got a promise on it, and won't let you down when the season turns cold and your fingers don't bend right anymore. The Super's a revolver, not a target gun. It's built to work.

Dave's not wrong about the standard gun—solid choice, no argument there. But if you're in true bear country or anywhere you might need a follow-up without fumbling moons in the cold, the Super stops being a luxury real quick. You said hunting and woods carry. For hunting alone in rough country, I'd take six rounds of honest .45 LC over five every time. That extra cylinder position is insurance, and insurance out there ain't extravagant—it's sense.

Get whichever feels right in your hand. But don't shy away from the Super just because it weighs a bit more. A pound on your back for eight hours is nothing. Wishing you had one more round when you need it is everything.