[ArkansasFatboy]

Guys my dad wants a new .44 And is considering one of the above mentioned revolvers. He currently has a taurus .44 its there da built on the s&w style he complaines that the trigger guard mashes his finger when he shoot( he has fat fingers). Anyway I will be loading for the gun and was wondering witch gun could handle the heavier loads and witch one was better for hunting if there is really a difference Any info on accuracy and such would be apprreciated.

[461]

Accuracy is a wash as they are both highly accurate guns. Shootability totally depends on the shooter, some people shoot one well and not the other and vice verse. They are both great guns and can both handle anything a sane person would load but the Super Redhawk is the stronger of the two.

If you're looking at a scope, the Super Redhawk has the built in rings and the Super blackhawk does not. There is a "Hunter" model Super Blackhawk that has the rings though.

Bottom line is they are both great guns, shoot very well and will last a lifetime. The choice is completely a personal decision. I own one of each and have times when one or the other is better but other times when the opposite is true, both guns have a permanent home with me.

[wcwhitey]

Purely a matter of preference, DA vs. SA. I would say they are comparable for strength and accuracy. For my hands the SBH wins the recoil contest by allowing it to roll in my hand. You really cannot go wrong with either, good luck.

[Steve in PA]

I own and hunt with a SRH and love it. I didn't like how the SBH felt in my hands. Other than that, you can't go wrong with either handgun.

[campbell]

IME the Super Reds have good single action pull right out of the box, typically better than the Ruger single actions. Most find the Super Redhawk grips more recoil friendly.

[zxcvbob]

Is the Blackhawk .44 available in a "Bisley" model? I've got a .45LC Bisley and when I load it hot, it is much more comfortable to shoot than a standard Blackhawk grip. Just something else to think about...

Bob

[twodawgs]

Until recently I had both in 7-1/2" versions. I had an opportunity to trade one on a .45 ACP and the Redhawk left the nest. Personal preference as I still have other DA's. (S&W)

[Mat, not doormat]

For me, it's SBH all the way. I've got no use for a DA trigger in the first place, and it seems out of place on a hunting style handgun anyhow. Of course, I'm also a cowboy shooter, so your mileage may vary.

Have him try out the grip on the Blackhawk, though, as if he's getting his hands mashed by a smith type, the dragoon style trigger guard on the SBH may well draw blood. Or it may not. I've met a lot of people who love it, and lot who loathe it.

~~~Mat

[PO2Hammer]

I've gotten better results from Ruger DA's than SA's.

I've been through three BlackHawks that were never satisfactory. I much prefer the standard RedHawk.

Better overall accuracy, recoil controll and triggers.

[george29]

I don't recall where, but I seem to remember reading that the SRH is stronger than the SBH, FWIW.

[Steve in PA]

The SRH has a very beefy frame. You will NOT destroy it.....unless maybe you do something really, really stupid.

Not to say the SRH isn't built like a tank, but the SRH is chambered in rounds from the .44mag on up, while the SBH is only chambered in .44mag.

[Onty]

He currently has a taurus .44 its there da built on the s&w style he complaines that the trigger guard mashes his finger when he shoot( he has fat fingers).


If so, your dad should stay away from any SA revolver with standard grips. What he needs is the grip that has filled area behind trigger guard. In that respect, SRH comes with relatively good factory grips. RH and BH/SBH with factory grips might be a problem.. However, installing one of these will fix it; http://www.hogueinc.com/getgrip/merchant.ihtml?pid=3804&lastcatid=425&step=4 , http://www.hogueinc.com/getgrip/merchant.ihtml?pid=3806&lastcatid=426&step=4 , http://www.hogueinc.com/getgrip/merchant.ihtml?pid=3808&lastcatid=426&step=4 ,
http://www.hogueinc.com/getgrip/merchant.ihtml?pid=3808&lastcatid=426&step=4 , http://www.hogueinc.com/getgrip/merchant.ihtml?pid=3615&lastcatid=408&step=4 ,
http://www.gunblast.com/Super_Blackhawk.htm (IMHO this is probably the best grip for SBH)

I also like Bisley, but again, smashing finger could be a problem. But I think that Herrett (http://www.herrett-stocks.com/index-2.html) could make them with filling the area with trigger guard.

Be aware that for prolonged shooting of heavy recoiling revolvers smooth wooden grips without finger grooves are usually easier on hand than rubber, especially those with finger grooves. Yes, rubber could cushion recoil but could be hard on skin. The best advice is to try few revolvers with different grips to see which one fits the best.

[Shawnee]

Either one is perfectly fine but, if possible, he really should try both to see which one gives him the better recoil control.

My preference is for the SBH but that information and $1.29 will buy you a 20oz Mountain Dew. :D

[Majic]

Why don't your father look for different stocks for the revolver he has before going out and buying a new one. He could also try using shooting gloves.

[george29]

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l15/avisamuel/SBH44.jpg

[Jim March]

The Bisley is available in 44Mag, adjustable sights, 7.5" barrel and blue. As a regular catalog item anyways - we often see special distributor runs such as 5.5" tube stainless.

http://ruger.com/Firearms/FAFamily?type=Revolver&subtype=Single%20Action&famlst=11

BUT - under the SuperBlackHawk line is an oddball: the "Bisley Hunter", stainless, heavier 7.5" barrel with integrated scope ring mounts (and rings included), longer ejector rod - and the complete Bisley hammer/trigger/grip set. This is a really, really good gun.

http://ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdResults?function=famid&famid=15&variation=Satin%20Stainless&bct=Yes&type=Revolver

The SuperBlackHawks with barrels longer than 5.5" normally come with an oversize version of the "plowhandle" grip frame, usually with the "squareback" trigger guard which has a nasty rep as a knucklewhacker and one of the worst ideas Ruger ever belched forth. But the "Hunter" variant with that grip frame has a rounded triggerguard and is worth considering too.

The other way to avoid knucklewack is to go with a SuperBlackHawk and a barrel of 5.5" or less. That gets you the smaller XR3-RED plowhandle grip which can be shot with a "pinkie under" hold, pinkie slung under the bottom edge of the grip frame. You bring the barrel back down out of recoil by contracting the pinkie. It works great, and in most hands avoids the knucklewhack issue.

Grips that fill in behind the triggerguard are available in wood or rubber. Wood will still roll in the hand some, which is the recoil-control system I prefer.

My take: I have a New Vaquero in 357 and I can shoot the nastiest 357s possible (800ft/lbs energy) in that gun one-handed with no problems. I use a pinkie-under grip, smooth grip panels and a SuperBlackHawk hammer to that thumb reach isn't too crazy despite gripping the gun lower via the pinkie-under hold. With this system I don't need a grip that fills in behind the triggerguard - I dodge knucklewhacking by the lower hold, hence the lower-slung hammer.

[Steve in PA]

Took this picture today while out hunting. It's a 9 1/2" Ruger SRH in .44 Magnum wearing a Bushnell 2-6x scope. This year I added the Hogue Tamer Grip which really feels nice in my hand.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/Steve_in_PA/Guns/100_6330.jpg

[Dain Bramage]

Hey Jim, I'm surprised to see the Bisley Hunter still on the website. I thought Ruger was discontinuing them because they were sans safety lock.

I really like the reverse index feature. Does anyone know if Ruger is planning to reengineer the Bisleys in the near future? Or are they doomed to ignominy with the Bird's Heads?

[azredhawk44]

The RH and SRH have a slightly longer cylinder as noted by the folks at Buffalo Bore ammunition, and can shoot the really heavy 330+ grain ammo they sell. The SBH cannot hold this same ammunition.

That being said, I've never shot a single round of 330gr ammo out of either of my redhawks. I've shot a few 300gr loads, but I've learned I don't care for them. I do all my shooting with 240 grain plated or LSWC bullets that I handload. When I want peak accuracy (hunting/hiking/critter defense) I will load some Beartooth Bullets 250gr gas-checked custom loads that shoot really well, but I don't plink with them. I don't push hard, either... only about 1200fps or so.

Were I to choose between the two, I'd go with the SRH over the SBH. The backstrap-to-trigger distance is less, and the grip slips less. I'd put a Hogue hardwood monogrip on it though and lose the GP-style rubber grip.