[Eaglestroker]

I thought I would share my first two .44's with you fellas. I recently bought this beautiful 3" model 24 S&W in 44 Special. It was my first .44 caliber and after reloading some rounds and shooting it I was hooked. Since then I've been on the hunt for a 44 Magnum. Yesterday I stumbled onto this nice Ruger New Model Blackhawk for not much over 3 bills and couldn't walk away. Wouldn't you know at my next stop I found both a 6" Anaconda and 629-3 for decent prices :banghead: Maybe next time....

Smith:

http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae95/Ssthis07GT/53ebda2c.jpg
http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae95/Ssthis07GT/IMG_1248.jpg
http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae95/Ssthis07GT/IMG_1247.jpg
http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae95/Ssthis07GT/2-9.jpg



Ruger:

http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae95/Ssthis07GT/Ruger_New_Blackhawk_3_Resized.jpg
http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae95/Ssthis07GT/Ruger_New_Blackhawk_2_Resized.jpg
http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae95/Ssthis07GT/Ruger_New_Blackhawk_1_Resized.jpg

[Salmoneye]

I really like that model Super Blackhawk...

4 5/8" with an XRN3-RED grip?

[Eaglestroker]

My guess for the barrel length was 4.5", so 4 5/8" sounds right. Are the grips non stock?

[Salmoneye]

Not the grips, the grip frame...

The Supers normally come through with the longer 'Dragoon' style with the square trigger guard, or the 'Hunter' style with the round trigger guard, but still a larger grip...

Here is the Dragoon (not mine, but I have one like it):

http://www.pbase.com/terry_56/image/119812590.jpg

And here is the Hunter:

http://www.gunblast.com/images/SBHunter/Mvc-002f.jpg

IIRC, your model was a special run for a distributor...

Same grip-frame size as a Blackhawk, but with the pretty unfluted cylinder...

A winning look, and carry size IMNSHO...

ENJOY!

ADDING:

Nope...I was wrong!

It's a standard model now!

KS-458N

http://www.ruger.com/products/newModelSuperBlackhawkStandard/models.html

You do realize I now have to find one... lol

[iLikeOldgunsIlikeNewGuns]

That Smith and Rig are GORGEOUS!!! Be proud :D

nice Ruger too! That barrel length makes for a real balanced appearance. I loved my 7.5" and can't wait to obtain another SBH

[336A]

The XR3 Red grip frame has always been used on the 4 5/8" and 5 1/2" Ruger Super blackhawks. Here is some informative info on Ruger grip frames.

http://www.privatescustomgrips.com/Grip_Frames.html

[calaverasslim]

Ruger SBH revolvers

4.63" barrels come with an unfluted cylinder and round trigger guard

5.5" Barrels comes with a fluted cylinder and a round trigger guard

7.5" comes with an unfluted cylinder and a dragoon style, square trigger guard


Unless they've changed

[Eaglestroker]

Thanks all, got it all figured out now. Just unfamiliar with them.

And thanks 336A - now I'm drooling over custom grips...

[Eb1]

Whoot!!!

I have me a Rossi M720 .44 Special and Ruger .44 New Model Black Hawk 5 1/2". I am right there with you regarding the .44 calibers. I am hooked.

I took the Red Grips off, and replaced them with the Hogue Mono Grip. Just so I could get a better grip, and shoot it more accurately. I can hold 3" to 4" groups with MO Cast 240 grain LSWC and 22.0 grains of IMR 4227.

Congratulations on some nice revolvers.

[Eaglestroker]

Thanks Eb1. I've never cared for rubber grips, they grind on my and catch my clothing when I carry the gun in a holster. A pair of woods that fits your hand right makes a pretty big difference!

[Eb1]

I am right there with you, and I agree 100%.

I carry this gun in the woods through briers and muck. I don't want to spend the money for a nice wood grip the size of the Hogue Mono grip.
Maybe one day I will find me a better hunting revolver that isn't over a foot long. But I doubt it. If I do then I'll put those pretty wood grips on, and shoot a 240 grain LSWC with 7.3 grains of Trail Boss exclusively.
But to ethically kill what I am shooting at with this revolver and full power loads; I have to use those ugly Mono Grips.

I forgot to mention that my BH is stainless also, but has a fluted cylinder. I like your cylinder much better. Very nice.

[iajtywu]

Is that the 3 3/4 Blackhawk?

http://www.lipseys.com/itemdetail.aspx?itemno=RUKS43N&mfg=Ruger&caliber=44+Magnum

[Arizonagunrunner]

Ahhhhhh. The 44 Special is just that. "SPECIAL". I think it and the 357 magnum are the best of the best. I have a Taurus 431 in 3 inch and a Rossi 720 in 3 inch. I love them. The Rossi is my ccw weapon. Love the 44.

[Salmoneye]

The XR3 Red grip frame has always been used on the 4 5/8" and 5 1/2" Ruger Super blackhawks. Here is some informative info on Ruger grip frames.

Yes, but till the last few years (2005 I believe), if you wanted that configuration, you needed to cut your barrel, and replace your grip frame...

Super Blackhawk to us old-schoolers, means Unfluted Cylinder, Dragoon Grip Frame, and 7.5" or 10.5" barrels...

:D

[batmann]

Pretty nice!!!!! Love them both. You will enjoy many trips to the range with both.

[Deaf Smith]

Looks like you have Lew Horten .44 Spl there!

Like mine. Shoots real real good. 15 yard one ragged hole groups with 'cowboy' loads.

Yes .44s can kind of get under your skin.

Deaf

[Jaymo]

They sure got under Lester Moore's skin. :D
I love .44s, whether it's a .44 Special, .44-40, or .44 Mag revolver or carbine, or a .444 Marlin.
My favorite SD gun is a Charter Arms Bulldog .44 Spl.

I ordered a blue Ruger Blackhawk .44 Spl, 5.5" Tuesday. It's supposed to come in tomorrow.
I can hardly wait. Won't be able to pick it up until Saturday AM.
I need to pick up a couple boxes of range ammo, or dig out some of my reloads.
I plan on going straight from the LGS to the range.

[Eaglestroker]

Thanks all!

@ Deaf Smith, I don't know if it is in fact a Lew Horton or not, I don't know enough about that side of things to be perfectly honest with you. Even with a fairly moderate load my girlfriend shoots that gun better than anything I own. I don't understand it but it must have to do with the weight and balance, even own other N-frames in smaller calibers.

@ Jaymo congrats on your blackhawk! Someone on the S&W forum told me if I was really hot under the collar for a 44 special, I should look at a Flat top in 44 special. After looking at them I might just need a pair of them. Don't see myself doing that anytime soon but - you never know :)

[Jaymo]

Eaglestroker, I was going to get a flattop in .45 Colt. Then I saw the .44 special flattop on the Ruger website. Since I reload .44 special and magnum, I decided to get the .44.
I had been wanting the new 5" barreled Charter Target Bulldog. The flattop changed my mind. Bulldogs are great defense guns, but they are not fun to shoot. I wanted an accurate, durable, reliable .44 special. Either one would do for that purpose.
However, I also wanted it to be fun to shoot, and that leaves out the charter.

I have an EAA Big Bore Bounty Hunter in .45 Colt and love it. I'd like to get a flattop in that caliber, as well as a Cimarron Thunderer.

For now, the Ruger .44 special will do. Plus, it's the perfect platform for shooting the Lee 208 grain double ended wadcutters that I cast.
Then, there's the Lyman Devastator HPs and Lee 310 wide flat points that I cast.

I love my .44 mags, but I wanted something that would shoot .44 specials to their max potential accuracy. Plus, I can load them hot (not .44 mag hot, but still hot enough for deer) and hunt with them.
For the most part, I think I'd be perfectly with those 310 grainers moving at about 900 to 1,000 fps. Those should be fine for deer at 30 yards. Should be great for hogs directly under the tree that they forced me to climb. :)

BTW, that 24 is gorgeous.

[Deaf Smith]

Eagle,

It's a 24-3 right?

Supposedly the 24-3 with no barrel pin was issued as a Lew Horton Special".
5000 were reported as manufactured with 1000 of them shipped with the
special black holster.

LH guns have AEL and AEM serial numbers. BUT maybe not all LH guns were shipped to LH (that is he didn't take the full 5000) and thus ALA numbers have been associated with 3 inch 24-3 .44s.

My gun's SN is NOT a AEL or AEM, and is a ALA serial number gun, yet it is exactly like a LH gun.)

You can find out by emailing them at: questions@lewhorton.com

Deaf

[Jaymo]

The Blackhawk has landed. It came in today. I didn't get off work in time to go get it. I'll have to get it Saturday. Can't find my .44 spl ammo that I loaded. Guess I'll have to buy a box at the range. I NEED to shoot it tomorrow.

[Eaglestroker]

Congrats on your new purchase, be sure to show off!

Deaf thank you for the insight. Mine is an AEL prefix. I will have to shoot them an email.

[Deaf Smith]

Congrats on your new purchase, be sure to show off!

Deaf thank you for the insight. Mine is an AEL prefix. I will have to shoot them an email.
Well if it's a LH... it's WORTH MORE!

Deaf

[Eaglestroker]

Hey Deaf, I don't plan to sell this one. Always good to know what you got though!

-Robert

[calaverasslim]

I have the great pleasure and honor to be friends on this forum with a member named "corner pocket". I introduced corner pocket to the 44 special several years ago. Since then, there has be a great change from auto fan to 44 special fan. He has gotten hooked on the 44 special as others of us have.

yep, me too....

[Eaglestroker]

I got this email today, pleasant surprise!


Dear Robert,
*
This gun serial number AEL106* is in fact a Lew Horton’s. I t was made for us by Smith & Wesson in August of 1984. It is one of about 6000 produced between 1984 1nd 1985.* Hope this helps.
*
Regards,
*
Tara Alano
*

[WC145]

http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae95/Ssthis07GT/2-9.jpg
Love that leather rig. Who made it?

[Eaglestroker]

Love that leather rig. Who made it?

Thanks, I did.