Ruger Super Redhawk .44 Mag
Model: 5501
Ruger Super Redhawk .44 Mag
Model: 5501
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
Built around an extended top strap and a bull frame, the Super Redhawk is Ruger's heavy-duty .44 Magnum — engineered to handle a steady diet of full-power loads without the frame fatigue concerns that come up with lighter designs. At 53 oz and 7.5" of barrel, it absorbs .44 Magnum recoil well, and community consensus among owners is that it is the most durable factory .44 Magnum revolver you can buy. The Hogue Tamer Monogrip ships standard, which helps manage recoil on extended shooting sessions.
The integral scope mount cuts are machined directly into the top strap — no drilling, no adapter plates, no modifications required. This is not a drilled-and-tapped aftermarket solution; the mount system is part of the original frame design. Ruger rings seat into those cuts and hold zero reliably, which is why the Super Redhawk became a standard recommendation for hunters who want a scoped .44 Magnum without extra gunsmith work. The S&W 629 Stealth Hunter, by comparison, has no factory scope provision despite being similarly sized.
Ruger introduced the Super Redhawk in 1987, and the integral scope cuts were novel at the time. Before that design, hunters who wanted a scoped revolver had to drill and tap the frame or use rib-mounted solutions. The Super Redhawk made scope mounting a first-class, out-of-box feature on a production revolver — a change that shaped what buyers now expect from any dedicated hunting handgun.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- Bull frame and extended top strap are overbuilt for .44 Magnum — the consensus among long-term owners is that this gun handles a steady diet of hot loads without the wear accumulation that affects lighter frames.
- Integral scope mount cuts are machined into the frame from the factory. No drilling or gunsmith work needed — Ruger rings seat directly and hold zero reliably.
- The Hogue Tamer Monogrip ships as standard equipment. Unlike the stock synthetic grips on most revolvers in this class, the Tamer's gel insert is specifically designed to absorb .44 Magnum recoil pulses at the web of the hand.
- At 13" overall and 53 oz, it is not a carry gun by any definition. Hunters covering long distances on foot carry this on a chest rig or dedicated sling, not a hip holster.
- The transfer bar safety system means the cylinder must be fully loaded with the hammer down for safe carry — the same as all modern Ruger revolvers, but worth understanding if you're coming from S&W's internal lock system.
Category Rankings
How the Ruger Super Redhawk .44 Mag ranks among full-size .44 Magnum handguns.
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Smith & Wesson Model 629 Stealth Hunter .44 Mag
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Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk .44 Mag
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Ruger Redhawk .44 Mag
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Super Redhawk hold up with a steady diet of hot .44 Magnum loads?
Community consensus among long-term owners is that the Super Redhawk is the most durable factory .44 Magnum revolver available. The bull frame and extended top strap handle full-power loads without the top-strap erosion reported on the S&W Model 69 L-frame or the cylinder gap loosening that can develop in heavily-used N-frame revolvers. Multiple forum discussions cite owners with tens of thousands of rounds through Super Redhawks without timing issues. It is not indestructible, but it is the benchmark for .44 Magnum durability in a production revolver.
What scope rings fit the Super Redhawk's integral mount cuts?
The integral cuts use Ruger's proprietary pattern. Ruger makes dedicated rings in 1" and 30mm diameters that seat directly into those cuts — these are the standard recommendation. Leupold also makes Ruger-pattern rings under their Quick Release and standard scope ring lines. Standard Weaver or Picatinny rings do not fit without an adapter. Confirm your rings are specifically listed as "Ruger Super Redhawk" or "Ruger scope cuts" before purchasing.
Can the Super Redhawk fire .44 Special?
Yes, without any modification. .44 Special is a shorter, lower-pressure cartridge that chambers and fires normally in any .44 Magnum cylinder. Many owners use .44 Special for range practice to reduce recoil and cost. The gun's heavy frame makes it even less sensitive to the felt difference than lighter revolvers in this caliber.
