[Lone_Gunman]

I am going to be backpacking in the NW Wyoming for about 10 days. I am set to soon. I was going to carry a Ruger Blackhawk 44 mag loaded with Hornady 240g XTP's. Today, I was out making sure I was sighted in for that load, and on about the 10th shot, my front sight flew off the gun, and I am pretty sure is now in orbit. I could not find it. So now I have a problem. I guess I will call Monday to find out how quick they can fix it.

If not, then I am going to carry a S&W 686 Plus 357 mag (the 7 shot model). I guess I would use 180g bonded bullets or hard cast. Is the 686+ OK to shoot Buffalo bore or Cor bon hard cast loads in?

[BlkHawk73]

Why not just have your local gunsmith reinstall a new one?

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree, a Gunsmith can replace the front site in a day.
and I am pretty sure is now in orbit
Now that made me laugh, not that you lost your front site, just the way you wrote it...

[finfanatic]

You worried about Bear?

Any gun is better than no gun for Bear or other predators IMO. A loud noise is "usually" better than wounding a bear anyway (what I have been told ??)

The 686 should hold up to some 357 plus loads. It (L Frame) was designed to handle a steady diet of heavy 357 magnums which were shooting the lighter K frames to pieces.

But you might want to check with Buffalo Bore.

[ArchAngelCD]

But you might want to check with Buffalo Bore.
While Buffalo Bore makes good ammo it's very expensive. Double Tap (http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_27&products_id=151) also makes a heavy hard cast .357 Magnum round. It's good accurate ammo but will cost you almost half the price. (BB 180gr Hard Cast - $27.94/20, DT 180gr Hard Cast $36.95/50.) I've used several of their loads and all performed very well.

[Lone_Gunman]

Why not just have your local gunsmith reinstall a new one?

The area I live in is not replete with gunsmiths with whom I have confidence.

That said, it does look like an easy job. There appears to be a cross pin that is still in place. I could probably drift that out myself and drop in a new front site.

[Old Fuff]

You weren't too clear about which model .44 Magnum Blackhawk you have, and it could make a difference. Most if not all of the blued ones have a front sight blade that's part of the ramp, and the ramp is silver soldered to the barrel. It seldom let's go.

The stainless ones have a ramp that takes a seperate blade that is crosspinned in place. If this is what you have, and the ramp isn't damaged, Ruger might well be able to get the gun back in time if they fully understood the situation.

If a new ramp has to be soldered to the barrel the larger issue is bluing it after the soldering is done. Given the rush, they might save time by installing a new barrel - and if so they would do it on their dime.

[The_Shootist]

If not, then I am going to carry a S&W 686 Plus 357 mag (the 7 shot model). I guess I would use 180g bonded bullets or hard cast. Is the 686+ OK to shoot Buffalo bore or Cor bon hard cast loads in?



I would have every confidence in using heavy .357 mag from BB in my 686+.My right hand will hate me for a week, but at least it wouldn't be chewed off me and end up as some bears snack. :D

[Nugilum]

The area I live in is not replete with gunsmiths with whom I have confidence.

Lone Gunman, you must be in south central Georgia!

It's a good thing you checked out your Blackhawk's reliability. ;)

[Oro]

I am going to be backpacking in the NW Wyoming for about 10 days. I am set to leave in about 3 weeks. I was going to carry a Ruger Blackhawk 44 mag loaded with Hornady 240g XTP's.


Not to be a nudge, but you know the most interesting bits of NW Wyoming, carry is verboten until 2010? I ain't preachin' - just want to make sure you are aware of the law for where you are going (maybe you ain't going there, but just checking...)

[friscolatchi]

An outfitter at Big Sandy told me to that if you use a gun against a bear you can probably take any caliber gun you have. Just save the last bullet for yourself. I would suggest buying xtra large pepper spray instead. http://www.thehighroad.org/images/smilies/smile.gif

[punkndisorderly]

I've heard the service wait times at Ruger have improved, but when I sent my MkIII back last year, it was over 3 months before I saw it again.

[Lone_Gunman]

The stainless ones have a ramp that takes a seperate blade that is crosspinned in place. If this is what you have, and the ramp isn't damaged, Ruger might well be able to get the gun back in time if they fully understood the situation.

I have a stainless 4.75" barrel. From looking at the damage, the cross pin is still in place and looks OK. There appears to be a portion of the front sight blade still under the cross pin in the ramp. There does not appear to be damage to the ramp. The ramp is still affixed to the barrel and appears normal.

It looks to me like all I would need to do is drift out the cross pin and put in a new front sight blade, and then reset the pin. I can buy a new front blade from Midway for about $8. That might be the quickest and easiest way to get things going again. Is there more to replacing the blade than what I am thinking???

Not to be a nudge, but you know the most interesting bits of NW Wyoming, carry is verboten until 2010? I ain't preachin' - just want to make sure you are aware of the law for where you are going (maybe you ain't going there, but just checking...)

Yes I am looking forward to 2010... I suspect funeral expenses are considerably less than lawyer fees.

[KenWP]

Why not just not bother carrying a firearm and save weight. You could also carry a rifle or shotgun. I can't think of a situation where I would have much use of a firearm in the summer months.

[Lone_Gunman]

I can't think of a situation where I would have much use of a firearm in the summer months.

I was thinking self defense was a pretty good reason to have a gun... it was kind of the reason they were invented.

I agree with you on the weight issue when backpacking, though.

[Blue .45]

Last month, I sent my P90 to Ruger, because of extraction issues. I was emailed a prepaid shipping label. I got the gun back exactly two weeks from the day that I dropped off at UPS.

Of course, it doesn't take long to replace an extractor.

[nicholst55]

Call Ruger and explain the situation to them. Have them next-day a new front sight blade AND PIN to you. Replace the parts and you're golden.

With Midway, you have to worry about whether they have it in stock - less of an issue with Ruger.

[Old Fuff]

You can probably get a new sight balde and pin from Ruger, but also be sure you have the right pin punch to move the pin that in the ramp. If you don't have the punch, go to www.brownells.com where you can likely get everything - blade, pin and punch - from one source, and have it shipped overnight.

[gb6491]

It looks to me like all I would need to do is drift out the cross pin and put in a new front sight blade, and then reset the pin. I can buy a new front blade from Midway for about $8. That might be the quickest and easiest way to get things going again. Is there more to replacing the blade than what I am thinking???
You will probably need to drill the new front sight blade. I do it by clamping the sight in place on the barrel and carefully drilling half way from each side using the existing sight base holes as a guide. You have to be extra careful not to hog out the sight base holes when doing it this way.
An alternative would be to clamp the sight in place and use the drill just enough to mark the blade, then remove it and finish you drilling off the gun (still doing the half way from each side thing). If everything was square on the pistol and your work, everything should line up correctly when installing the sight. If it's off any, you will have to ream the sight blade holes to fit. Loctite will ensure everything is solid.

Here's some additional info (from a sight install that I did) that might be of help: http://gbrannon.bizhat.com/xs.html

Regards,
Greg

[Lone_Gunman]

The replacement blade does not come with the hole pre-drilled?

[Guillermo]

If you can't get the Ruger fixed in time carry the Smith. It is a good gun and the chances of you needing it for bear or cougar attack is remote.

.357 is more than enough for the North American Primate

[gb6491]

The replacement blade does not come with the hole pre-drilled?
You might give Ruger a call and ask. I did get a P90 front sight from Numrich that was pre-drilled, but it might have been a "take off" part. My experience with aftermarket Ruger sights and S&W OEM replacement sights is that they are not pre-drilled. Looking at a Ruger sight blade on the Midway USA site (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=516494#enlarge), it does not appear to have been drilled.
Regards,
Greg

[saltydog452]

To me, this sounds like a wonderful opportunity to justify the purchase of new big bore thumbbusterbelchfireloudenboomer.

salty

[Lone_Gunman]

Oh, the thought has crossed my mind to look for a Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in 454 Casull...

[goodtime]

Buffalo bore's website and product box states that their hot 357 180 grain ammo can safely be shot "in any all steel revolver."

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=100

[Waldo Pepper]

Not much heavier then most Ruger big bore HG's is a Marlin 45-70 (short barrel one) or maybe the 1894P 16.25" barrel like I have. They are not very much the CCW, but the 45-70 will drop about anything in NA if shot is placed correctly.

All kidding aside either get another hand gun or carry one of the above if you can not fix the gun yourself.

[tcsnake]

I own a 686P 6" with full underlug, and I would take that over a .44 magnum anyday with some wicked handloads.

[Reid73]

I was thinking self defense was a pretty good reason to have a gun
Self defence against what? Thought you were going hiking in Wyoming, not transporting gold bullion in Detroit! ;)

[Waldo Pepper]

I own a 686P 6" with full underlug, and I would take that over a .44 magnum anyday with some wicked handloads.
I guess you are saying the 44 magnum is too much for you with either recoil or weight. I hope you are not saying a hot loaded 357 is better then a 44 magnum, if so you know very little about guns. Or am I reading the post completely wrong?

[wnycollector]

It's good accurate ammo but will cost you almost half the price. (BB 180gr Hard Cast - $27.94/20, DT 180gr Hard Cast $36.95/50.) I've used several of their loads and all performed very well.


+1 Thats DT the load I carry when hiking.

[sw282]

I practice safe sex and safe living. I ALWAYS carry protection

[Bush Pilot]

If you're going to use it for self defense then it's probably going to be very close quarters. Can't you just sight down the barrel in the event of an encounter? If if meant going without a firearm I wouldn't give it a second thought.

[Dravur]

I just got back from a camping trip to Idaho. I had a gun on me the whole time. As to the self defense thing...


If you have to ask why you would need protection in the back country....well, that's just crazy talk. Ask Kari Swenson if there aren't two legged ne'er do wells in the back country. I am fairly certain that the Grizzly dude wishes he had been packing heat rather than dousing himself and his girlfriend in BBQ sauce and honey and hanging out with bears.

There are dangers in the woods that a gun can help out with. No doubt about it.

Heck, even a rabid raccoon could need some of those .44 bullets.

Remember, if you need a gun in the back country, chances are you will REALLY need it and it is best to have it with you than to become bear poo.

[Reid73]

You've watched Deliverance too many times.

[easyrider6042004@yahoo.ca]

Do you need sights to shoot a bear at 20 ft or less?

[DBR]

Actually if the bear does get the gun away from you, you might be glad it doesn't have a front sight. :)

[batmann]

I'll jump in here, as I usually stay away from what sidearm is best in bear country because I don't live in Bear country, but your thinking of an Ruger SRH Alaskan is (if you can find one) a very good option. Since you all ready have some .44M loads, why not go with an Alaskan in .44M? With the proper holster, they are a nice gun to carry and shoot and are easier to get in play if you need it in a hurry. When hiking in IN, I load mine with DT 250 gr SWC, not for Bear's, but wild dogs are a problem here and ,of course, you sometimes run into the backwoods Bubba meth guy ,who when he isn't blowing himself up, doesn't like you around.

[1858]

Oh, the thought has crossed my mind to look for a Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in 454 Casull...

Or maybe a Redhawk in .45 Colt?

http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=5027&return=Y

I know where you can buy a used or NIB Redhawk KRH-45-4 if you're interested. They're fairly hard to find as are the Alaskans (another revolver on my list). I should have bought one last month when I had the chance but I waited too long.

Damn ... I guess the OP is already out in the woods ... oh well, maybe next time.

:)

[Doug Barclay]

If your concern is brown or black bears they are a minimal threat. Grizzlies are another matter. They can match a quarter horse at short distances and we've had people in Glacier Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness who had precious little time to squeeze off a killing shot. Use bear spray. Very effective and you don't have to be on target as with a firearm...Plus the griz is a magnificent animal and I hate to see too many of them killed when it's not necessary. In recent years we've lost too many to trains and vehicles.