Ruger Redhawk Instructions Manual

							12
FIGURE 3
LOADING THE
REVOLVER.
TO LOAD AND FIRE
Be sure the revolver is pointed in a safe direction and is
never cocked while loading.
1. Press the crane latch and guide cylinder out of frame to the left to its
loading position (See Figure 3).
WARNING – CYLINDER INTERLOCK
➧
When correctly operated, the cylinder
cannot be opened when the hammer is
cocked, and the hammer/trigger
mechanism  is not able to be operated
until the cylinder is locked shut.
However, this safety interlock can be
intentionally defeated if the crane latch is
depressed and the hammer is then
cocked while the cylinder is opened. If
the cylinder is then shut when the
hammer is cocked, the hammer may fall
and the gun may fire.
NEVER CLOSE OR OPEN
THE CYLINDER WHILE
THE HAMMER IS COCKED
2. Insert cartridges and gently close cylinder, making sure it is securely
latched. Do not “flip” the cylinder open or shut. 
						

							13
5.DO NOT HOLD THE REVOLVER BY THE BARREL OR CYLINDER WHEN
FIRING.
CAUTION–DOUBLE ACTION FIRING
3. The revolver is now ready to fire, either “double-action” by pulling the
trigger through its complete arc for each shot, or “single-action” by
cocking the hammer and then pulling the trigger for each shot. The
trigger pull is somewhat shorter and lighter when the revolver is fired
single action, and this is the preferred mode for precise shots or target
shooting.
4.DO NOT TOUCH THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO FIRE.
When firing in the double action
mode, be sure that the trigger is
released completely to its fully
forward position before pulling the
trigger for a subsequent shot. If
the trigger finger is allowed to
interfere with the full recovery of
the trigger (preventing it from
moving through about the last
one-eighth inch of its forward
movement), the trigger cannot be
pulled again for another discharge.
The trigger must be fullyreleased
after each shot is fired. This
characteristic is found in all
modern double-action revolvers
and “double-action only” pistols.
FULLY RELEASE
TRIGGER
BETWEEN SHOTS 
						

							14
TO UNCOCK (DECOCK) THE REVOLVER
If your revolver is cocked, and you wish to let the hammer down to its
forward position (against the frame), proceed as follows: USE EXTREME
CARE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DECOCK THE REVOLVER, AS THE THUMB
SLIPPING DURING THIS PROCESS CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENTAL
DISCHARGE IF THE TRIGGER IS HELD TO THE REAR.
1.Make certain that the revolver is pointed in a safe direction(See Rule 2,
Page 35).
2. Make certain both hands are dry and not impeded in any way – gloves,
bandages, cold, etc.
3. Grasp the revolver (if right handed) so that the thumb and forefinger of
your left hand are firmly holding the frame, forward of the trigger guard.
Thus, your left hand is in full control of the revolver (See Figure 4A, Page
15).
4. Place your right thumb firmly on the hammer spur and, with your thumb
securely in control of the hammer, squeeze the trigger only enough to
permit the hammer to ‘break free’ of the trigger. At that instant,
IMMEDIATELY RELEASE THE TRIGGER and then slowly permit the
hammer, STILL SECURE UNDER YOUR THUMB, to move fully forward to
its resting position against the frame. NOTE: It is imperative that finger
pressure be removed from the trigger just as soon as it is free of the
hammer. Then, properly, the trigger and hammer will move towards their
fully forward rest positions together (See Figure 4B, Page 15).
WARNING – FIRING
When firing the Redhawk revolver, be
sure all persons are a safe distance to the
rear of the shooter. When fired, all
revolvers discharge hot gas and particles
of lead, powder grains, or lubricant
through the clearance gap between the
cylinder and the rear of the barrel at high
speed. This can injure a person who is
standing too close to the revolver.
When firing the Redhawk revolver (or
any revolver), always be certain that
nothing – including your hands – is in
the path of the hot gas and particles
which are discharged from the front and
sides of the cylinder.
When shooting, adequate eye protection
is essential. Shooters and bystanders
must wear shooting glasses. Hearing
protection must also be worn. Exposure
to shooting noise can damage hearing.
HOT GASES EXIT
BARREL/CYLINDER GAP  
						

							15
Practice this important gun handling skill with an unloaded revolver until
you have developed the proper control and ‘touch’ to decock your revolver
safely. The key to safe decocking is having the weight of the revolver
controlled with one hand, while the thumb and forefinger of the ‘shooting
hand’ control the hammer and trigger. Improperly restraining the trigger
during this procedure may result in the hammer not resting fully against the
frame. If this should occur, carefully repeat the procedure for decocking,
steps 1–4 again.
UNCOCKING THE REVOLVER
FIGURE 4
A.  With the thumb controlling the hammer
as shown (1), squeeze trigger to permit
hammer to ‘break free’ (2).
TO UNLOAD OR EJECT CARTRIDGE CASES
KEEP THE REVOLVER POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION!
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO UNLOAD WHEN THE HAMMER IS COCKED.
1. Uncock the revolver (See pp. 10 - 11).
2. Press crane latch. Guide cylinder out left of frame as for loading. The
revolver now cannot be fired.
3. Push head of ejector rod smartly toward rear of cylinder until it stops.
This action will extract cartridges or fired cases. Do not eject live
cartridges onto any surface where a primer might strike a solid object
and discharge the cartridge.
4.Check to be sure all chambers are empty.
B.  When hammer is free, IMMEDIATELY
release trigger (3). Then lower hammer
slowly to its resting position completely
down against frame (4).
2
14
3
AB 
						

							Always unload a firearm before
cleaning, lubrication, disassembly
or assembly.
Never remove or install a loaded
cylinder – it can fire if dropped or
struck.
16 NOTE: When ejecting fired cartridge cases, position the revolver at a
high angle so the cases will come fully out of the chambers and not slip
under the ejector. This high angle positioning is not necessary when
ejecting unfired cartridges.
4
1
3
2
CORRECT UNLOADING SEQUENCE
WARNING – DISASSEMBLY
4
1
3
2
UNLOAD BEFORE CLEANING 
						

							17
DISASSEMBLY
Read instructions before disassembling a gun.
1.BE CERTAIN THE REVOLVER IS UNLOADED BEFORE DISASSEMBLY.
2. Using a properly fitting screwdriver,
remove grip screw and lift grip panels
from frame.
3. Cock the hammer. Insert disassembly
pin about one half its length into the
hole at the rear of the mainspring strut.
(The disassembly pin is carried in the
hole in the grip panel locator). Lacking a
disassembly pin, any similar instrument
will serve (See Figure 5).
4. With thumb on hammer spur,
squeeze trigger allowing hammer
to go fully forward. Remove the
hammer pivot assembly. With the
gun muzzle pointing down, slowly
lift the hammer upward and out of
the frame (See Figure 7, p. 18). It
may be necessary to move the
mainspring lever forward in order
to cause the hammer link hook to
detach from the mainspring lever
(See Figure 6 a.). If careful
manipulation of the hammer and
trigger does not disengage the
hook, disengage it with the tip of a jeweler’s screwdriver or similar device
when the hook is in a near-off position.
5. Push the lever pivot pin out with a small punch or nail and remove the
mainspring lever from the frame with mainspring and strut intact.
Removal can best be accomplished by twisting the lever slightly as the
assembly is drawn from the frame toward the rear (See Figure 6 b.).
CAUTION: Do not remove disassembly pin at this point! Doing so will
permit the mainspring to fly off its strut with great force and may cause
injury. The pin is to be removed only after the assembly is correctly
installed in the revolver during reassembly.
Figure 5
b.
a.
Figure 6 
						

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6. Pull trigger guard latch to the rear (using mainspring lever) and
simultaneously pull trigger guard assembly, intact, out from bottom of
frame (See Figure 8).
7. Open cylinder and pull cylinder and crane assembly out of frame to the
front.
8. Further disassembly is not essential for normal cleaning purposes. Any
further disassembly should only be undertaken by factory service
personnel.
SPECIAL DISASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
REVOLVERS NUMBERED BELOW 500-09367
The information below applies only to those revolvers in which the Hammer
Link (KH06900) is assembled to the hammer with the link hook pointing
downward, as illustrated in Figure 10 below.
If your revolver has a hammer link with the hook-opening pointing
downwar
d, follow the Disassembly instructions only through the first
sentence of numbered paragraph 4 on page 17 At that stage of disassembly
(with the hammer forward) proceed as follows:
1. Unlatch the hook of the hammer link from the top end of the mainspring
lever  (See Figure 9 a., below). 
2. With the trigger pulled, remove the hammer pivot assembly and hammer
(See Figure 10). At this stage of disassembly, return to the Disassembly
instructions on page 13 and pick up with numbered paragraph 5.
b.
a.
Figure 9Figure 10
Figure 7Figure 8 
						

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NOTE: For improved performance the Hammer Link shouldbe assembled to
the hammer with the hook-opening positioned upward (towards the
hammer).
A gun owner can readily change the hammer link to the ‘pointing upward’
position. Use proper size punch to drive out the hammer cross pin. Remove
the hammer link and reposition it. Then, carefully hammer in the cross pin
so that it is flushwith both sides of the hammer. The pin must not protrude
from either side!
For those who would prefer the link to be repositioned by the factory, send
the hammer onlyvia Insured Mail to the Newport, New Hampshire Service
Department. Attach a tag to the hammer showing your name and address
and the words “Please reverse link”.
REASSEMBLY
AGAIN, BE CERTAIN REVOLVER IS UNLOADED!
Before starting reassembly, be certain that all components and the inside of
the frame are thoroughly clean. In particular the tongue on the front of the
trigger guard and its mating recess in the frame must be completely clean.
1. Replace cylinder and crane assembly in frame and close cylinder.
2. Hook front of trigger guard into recess in frame (See Figure 11). Align
pawl in its recess in the frame and be sure transfer bar is in correct
position in rear of firing pin (See Figure 12). Using mainspring lever,
withdraw trigger guard latch and swing trigger guard into position in
frame. Then allow latch to re-engage. If solid resistance is felt when
swinging trigger guard into frame, or if trigger guard will not lock into
position, re-check position of pawl and transfer-bar (See Figure 12).
NOTE:At this point in reassembly trigger should function to rotate and
lock the cylinder. Pull the trigger a few times, returning it to its forward
position by hand, to check proper functioning, as always with the r
evolver
pointed in a safe direction.
Figure 11Figure 12 
						

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3. With the trigger forward, replace
mainspring lever with mainspring
and strut into frame. Be sure that
the front end of the mainspring
strut is properly positioned on the
trigger link at the rear of the
trigger (positioning can be seen by
looking down through hammer
slot). Then replace lever pivot pin
(See Figure 13).
4. With trigger in rearward position, and gun
muzzle pointing upward, slowly insert hammer into frame, paying close
attention to the position of the hook on the hammer link. The mainspring
lever should be forward to allow space for the hook to engage the pin in
the mainspring lever. If the hook does not engage the pin, use a jeweler’s
screwdriver or similar tool to accomplish the connection.
5. Squeeze trigger and lower the
hammer into position. (See
Figure 14. It shows the hook
correctly engaged.) Align the
hammer hole with the hole in the
frame and insert the hammer
pivot.
6. Cock the hammer and remove
disassembly pin from rear end of
mainspring strut. Replace
disassembly pin into hole in grip panel
locator. Uncock the revolver.
7. Replace grip panels and grip screw.
8. Open and close cylinder. Function the trigger and hammer single action
and double action to be certain that all parts are working properly.
CARE AND CLEANING
ALWAYS BE CERTAIN THE REVOLVER IS UNLOADED BEFORE CLEANING.
The internal mechanism of the Redhawk revolver can be lubricated without
disassembly. A few drops of light oil recommended as suitable for firearms,
applied periodically about the various frame openings, will work its way into
the mechanism parts. The exterior of the revolver and the bore and
chambers should be thoroughly cleaned and then wiped with an oily cloth if
the gun is to be stored. Do not apply excess lubrication.
Figure 14
Figure 13 
						

							Firing a revolver with oil, grease, or any
other material even partially obstructing
the bore may result in damage to the
revolver and serious injury to the shooter
and those nearby.
Do not spray or apply lubricants directly on
ammunition. If the powder charge of a
cartridge is affected by the lubricant, it may
not be ignited, but the energy from the
primer may be sufficient to push the bullet
into the bore where it may become lodged.
Firing a subsequent bullet into the
obstructed bore may damage the revolver
and cause serious injury or death to the
shooter and those nearby. Use lubricants
properly. You are responsible for the proper
care and maintenance of your firearms.
IMPROPER LUBRICATION
DESTROYS GUNS
21
If lead bullet loads are fired extensively, lead build-up may cause cylinder
binding. Lubricate the cylinder crane gap with Break-Free®CLP or some
other lubrication which meets mil. spec. Mil-1-63460 to prevent this
condition.
To clean the revolver after firing, swing the cylinder out and clean the barrel
from the muzzle by running a cleaning rod with a solvent coated patch
through the bore several times. A bronze wire brush (of correct size for gun
caliber) attached to the cleaning rod should then be pushed the full length
of the bore several times. Again swab the bore with a solvent coated patch.
Then wipe the rod clean and, using a dry patch, swab the bore until it is
clean. Examine the bore to be sure that no fouling remains. Repeat the
above procedure for each of the six chambers.
Chambers must be thoroughly scrubbed to remove build-up of bullet metal
and firing residue. A dirty chamber can prevent full seating of a cartridge,
which in turn causes the cylinder to bind. DO NOT APPLY EXCESSIVE OIL
TO UNDERSIDE OF EJECTOR – AREA SHOULD BE WIPED DRY WITH
OILY CLOTH. Also, the underside of the ejector (‘star’) and the area of the
cylinder where the ejector seats, must be clean. Dirt can prevent the ejector
from fully seating. That condition can cause hard closing of the cylinder and
interfere with proper cylinder rotation.
WARNING – LUBRICATION