SW 610 6.5" vs Ruger SuperRedhawk 6.5"?

cphills · March 25 2020 11:56:50 AM MDT

Hey Guys,
With the relatively new 10mm revolver offerings from Ruger and S&W, I am planning to add a 10mm revolver to my arsenal of 10mm semi autos.
I'll be primarily target shooting and plinking. I am leaning toward the SuperRedhawk because of it's heft and ability to put on a scope. But, I like the Smith with it's classic full lug BBL. Already have experience with both platforms in 44 and 357.

What do you say? Both is not an option, unfortunately ${$default_sad_smiley}$

BEEMER! · March 25 2020 12:12:52 PM MDT

Get the 610, they are a wonderful revolver and just the right size in my opinion for the 10mm.

The Super Redhawk is just about too big for a 44 in my opinion.

sqlbullet · March 25 2020 12:27:40 PM MDT

Both are fine revolvers.

I agree with Beemer that the Super Redhawk is just plain too big. I suppose for target shooting and plinking this is less of an issue, but for 10mm I would favor a smaller platform.

S&W's N-frame is a fine option. You don't mention what barrel length you want, and I am going to guess 6.5" which leaves just the two options you mention.

However, if a shorter barrel is acceptable, don't discount the Ruger GP100 Match Champion. Jack Weigand makes a very affordable no-drill scope base for the GP100 that would give you a scope on a handy 4.2" revolver.

cphills · March 26 2020 08:44:03 AM MDT

Thanks guys! And so it shall be the Smith.

Mike D · March 26 2020 01:33:45 PM MDT

I have a Super Redhawk (in a different caliber) and recently picked up a Smith 610 6.5". I can't imagine why Rugsr elected to use the Super Redhawk for the 10mm.

The Smith is a much nicer gun.

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BEEMER! · March 26 2020 02:01:09 PM MDT

That reminds me of an experience.

When the 454 Ruger Redhawks were announced back in the 90's I wanted one so bad I could taste it. I had me name in everywhere and they were just slow coming out.

I finally got tired of waiting and having read about the Taurus Raging Bulls and their good reviews I ordered one of them and it was a super nice gun.

Finally a Ruger came in and my LGS gave me a call so I bought it too as I liked the Taurus so much. After shooting the Ruger, I found out that the Taurus was a much better gun in my opinion and I sold the Ruger and still have the Taurus.

rognp · March 27 2020 12:22:52 PM MDT

I really, really like S&Ws and have one in 45C as well as a Ruger Redhawk in 45 C. The S&W is certainly more refined and smooth. Buth the Rger is almost as smooth DA +/-, SA the same. What the Ruger does in this instance; the great big holes balance the weight well, better than it could in 41 0r 40. And it gives that assurance that nothing could ever hurt it.
Neither on will be for sale ever.

cphills · March 27 2020 10:05:07 PM MDT

Quote from: BEEMER! on March 26 2020 02:01:09 PM MDT
That reminds me of an experience.

When the 454 Ruger Redhawks were announced back in the 90's I wanted one so bad I could taste it. I had me name in everywhere and they were just slow coming out.

I finally got tired of waiting and having read about the Taurus Raging Bulls and their good reviews I ordered one of them and it was a super nice gun.

Finally a Ruger came in and my LGS gave me a call so I bought it too as I liked the Taurus so much. After shooting the Ruger, I found out that the Taurus was a much better gun in my opinion and I sold the Ruger and still have the Taurus.

I have a friend who has a 454 Casull Redhawk. It's an absolute hand cannon.

BEEMER! · March 28 2020 05:10:00 AM MDT

I found the Ruger 454 to be a hard gun to shoot.

The Raging Bull had much better ergonomics, more comfortable grips that absorbed recoil, was ported, and was more accurate.

The Ruger held six and did not require two hands to open the cylinder. Both are a small advantage in my opinion.

Bimmer · April 03 2020 01:14:07 PM MDT

Quote from: cphills on March 25 2020 11:56:50 AM MDTI am leaning toward the SuperRedhawk because of it's heft and ability to put on a scope.

What do you say?

I have a new S&W 610 with the 6.5" barrel. It's a delight...

I looked at the Rugers, and I know it's superficial, but I thought they were ugly. No deal.

FWIW, the S&W weighs 52oz empty, so it's hardly a lightweight, and it's easy to put a rail in place of the rear sight if you want to mount a scope.

cphills · April 11 2020 03:10:40 PM MDT

That's great, Bimmer!
I'd be curious if you have run full house loads through the 610? Any issues?

When I ran hot loads in my 686 w 3" bbl, I had trouble opening the cylinder. These were 357 handloads and not even close to the top of the load range. I shot the rest of those loads through my lever action carbine and cases had only slight signs of over pressure. This is another reason why I considered the Ruger.

Bimmer · April 15 2020 02:14:59 PM MDT

Honestly, I've only run one cylinder of Underwood's 165gr GoldDots through it. They averaged 1,380fps.

The primers were visibly flattened (Underwood loads 'em hot), but I had no problems with the gun.

The only problem I've had with the 610 is my reloads, which I never bothered to fully re-size to shoot through my Glocks: The revolver's chambers are much tighter, and cartridges wouldn't chamber fully, and then the cylinder wouldn't turn.

cphills · April 17 2020 04:19:14 PM MDT

Thanks Bimmer. Good to know RE the 610 having no issues with the Underwood loads you ran through it.
Interesting that the Glock chamber is so loose that you don't need to resize the cases. Am I reading that correctly?

Bimmer · April 22 2020 11:11:42 AM MDT

Quote from: cphills on April 17 2020 04:19:14 PM MDTInteresting that the Glock chamber is so loose that you don't need to resize the cases. Am I reading that correctly?

Well, I still resize for the Glocks, but nowhere near as much as for the 610 with its tighter chambers.

FWIW, I think some of the issue is that the action of a semi-auto will "jam" a tight-fitting round into the chamber (my reloads didn't quite pass the "plonk" test, but cycled just fine), whereas placing 6 rounds in the cylinder of a revolver with finger pressure requires an easy fit.

BTW, I had the same problems years ago with my reloads in a friend's 1990s-vintage S&W .40 (read that correctly: a pistol manufactured by S&W, chambered in .40 S&W). My "oversized" reloads ran find in my Glocks, but wouldn't chamber in his S&W.

cphills · April 23 2020 01:35:06 PM MDT

Bimmer,
Indeed, I've had similar experience with reloads jamming is some of my semi autos over the years. To avoid this, I screw the resize die all the way to the shell plate (have never had issue damaging the carbide insert). I check all my reloads with cartridge gauge. Even then, the tighter chamber target guns can still have some issues. My latest experience with this issue is with my 9mm Springfield 1911 "loaded" model. ~10% of the reloaded rounds do not pass the plunk test in the Springfield bbl. They will jam when the slide is going into battery. These same cartridges have no problems in my other 9mm pistols (HK and S&W...). I've never had issue with my revolver reloads but i don't yet have a revolver that shoot pistol ammo/using moon clips.