Eight-Shot .38s: Ruger Redhawk and Raging Hunter 7-Shot

Seven and eight chambers in a steel wheelgun, shooting mild .38 Special all afternoon. The catch is in the labeling, and it matters.

First, a labeling warning

Before the comparison, a note that could save you a mistake. The retail listings we link for these two revolvers file them under ".38 Special." Look up the manufacturers' model numbers and the picture shifts: the Ruger Redhawk with an eight-shot cylinder and 5.5-inch barrel appears in retail catalogs as ".357 Mag/.38 Spl," and the Taurus Raging Hunter with a 6.75-inch barrel and seven-shot cylinder is listed in sources we found as a .357 Magnum.

That is not a contradiction. A .357 Magnum revolver fires .38 Special as a matter of course, and retailers sometimes list the cartridge you are likely to shoot most. But it means you must read the chambering stamped on the barrel or cylinder of the specific gun and follow the manufacturer's manual. Never rely on a product title.

What these two are

For frame dimensions, weight, sights and grips, use each manufacturer's published specification. The retailer listings do not carry all the details, and configurations vary.

The Ruger Redhawk eight-shot is the more conventional of the pair: a strong, large-frame revolver with a very full cylinder. The Taurus Raging Hunter seven-shot is built in the Raging Hunter style with a long barrel and an optics-friendly design.

Why more chambers

More chambers means fewer reloads. That matters in two places:

• Competition. Revolver divisions in some shooting sports reward a larger cylinder, because fewer reloads means a faster stage. Rules differ by sport and division, and capacity limits and caliber requirements change. Check the current rulebook for your discipline before you buy anything for that purpose. Our competition revolver guide covers the landscape.
• Range sessions. More shots between reloads is simply more shooting. For a high-volume session, it is a pleasure.

The cost is a bigger, heavier cylinder. These are not carry revolvers. They live on a range bag, a bench or a field belt.

No clips required, speedloaders to be checked

Rimless cartridges need moon clips or special extraction. Rimmed ones, like .38 Special and .357 Magnum, do not. That means both of these guns work with ordinary loose ammunition and ordinary reloading habits.

If you want faster reloads, you need a loader that fits. Speedloaders are model-specific. Seven- and eight-shot cylinders have different chamber spacing from the common six-shot ones, so a loader made for a six-shot .357 will not fit. Look for loader makers that list your exact model, and see our speedloader guide for what to check. Do not assume that a loader that fits one eight-shot revolver will fit another.

The Redhawk case

The Redhawk is an old name in the Ruger catalog, and the eight-shot version applies a modern idea to a proven frame. The strengths are familiar Ruger ones: sturdy construction, ample strength for the cartridge and a design that has been in service a long time. The extra round does not bring a new personality; it brings a fuller cylinder.

Pick the Redhawk if:

• You want the extra round in a gun with a reputation for toughness.
• You like Ruger's approach to maintenance and build.
• You plan on lots of .38 Special practice and the occasional magnum.

The Raging Hunter case

The Raging Hunter is a different kind of revolver. It is designed around a long barrel, a ported muzzle and a rail for optics, and it has a brash personality that suits shooters who like the look and the features. The seven-shot version brings those features to a .357 Magnum.

Pick the Raging Hunter if:

• You want a ported, optics-ready revolver that feels like a hunting gun.
• You value a long sight radius and a comfortable shooting platform.
• You accept a larger, heavier gun and the blast that comes with porting.

Practical comparison

Ammunition plan

If you buy either one, you are buying an excuse to shoot a lot of .38 Special. Mild target loads, including wadcutters, are easy to shoot accurately. Our wadcutters explainer and .38 Special range ammo guide cover what works. Keep magnum loads for specific purposes, and clean the chambers regularly to avoid a carbon ring that can make magnum cases hard to seat.

For a broader look at higher-capacity revolvers, including the S&W 686 Plus, see our seven- and eight-shot guide.

Who should buy which

1. Want the most rounds and the sturdiest build: Redhawk.
2. Want ported, optics-ready features: Raging Hunter.
3. Want a carry revolver: neither.
4. Want a competition gun: check your division's rules first, then pick from the guns the discipline favors. Our competition guide lists the options.

Verdict

These two revolvers are the high-capacity end of the steel .38/.357 world. The Redhawk is the toughest-looking way to carry eight chambers; the Raging Hunter is the flashier way to carry seven. Whichever you pick, confirm the chambering on the actual gun and don't trust a product title. Then enjoy the pleasant experience of shooting a lot of mild .38 Special and not reloading very often.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications and publicly available information. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and legality for your own situation.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.