Any news on the pending Ruger Black Hawk in .44 spl.

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44and45

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I heard that Ruger was eventually going to be making the Black Hawk in .44 special.

Will it be on the old .357 frame size and in 5 shot capacity.

What does a magnum .44 BH sell for.

Jim
 
Why would they make a 44 spl only BH when they make them in 44 mag. I do believe all the blackhawks have the same size frames except the 30 carbine which is longer.
 
They don't make the BH in .44 Magnum. Well, that's not exactly true; you can buy a .44 flattop reissue paired with a .357.

They make the SuperBH in .44 Magnum. The BH does come in .45LC, though, and will handle super-hot loads.
 
Although I've heard the rumors and from a lot of people wanting a Blackhawk in .44 Sp, don't hold your breath.
 
Why would they make a 44 spl only BH when they make them in 44 mag. I do believe all the blackhawks have the same size frames except the 30 carbine which is longer.
Click to expand...

Why? because there's a lot of folks wanting one built on the NM flat top frame. It's a smaller frame than the standard BHs/SBHs use. This size frame isn't compatable with the .44 magnum pressures especially in the handloads many consider "Ruger only" loads. The .44 special however would be perfect in such a medium sized frame.
The .30 carbine model still used the same frame as the other BHs and SBHs. the only longer frame used was for the SRM model which was chambered for the .357 maximum cartridge.

All that being said, I'v not heard any more on this but do know one distributor in particualr is to have a Ruger single action in a "new chambering". While another that contract special runs via Ruger is also looking at another single action special. When I learn more I'll make it known.
 
Why? Relatively small market. Not worth the costs involved to justify the production.
 
The new Vaquero is built on a smaller cylinder frame, and has the smaller XR3 grip frame, the Blackhawks do not. The 50th Anniversary Models, 44 and 357, have the smaller grip frame, and the cylinder frame is full sized on the 44, and smaller on the 357. Regular Blackhawks are still the full sized cylinder frames.
They may release the new Vaquero in 44 Special is a rumor some people (hint !! hint !!) are trying to start.
 
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Might want to double check that Virginian. The 50th Annivarsay .357 Blackhawks are built on a - quoting Ruger's catalog "smaller, original-size Flat Top cylinder frame". It does indeed use the same size cylinder frame and cylinder as the New Vaquero which is not adequate for a 6-shot .44 magnum.
 
Not worth the costs involved to justify the production
Click to expand...

Costs for??? Different chamber to cut, and a BH sight on a NV bbl - that's about it. Seems to be plenty of 'smiths having special pkgs just for this chambering so it can't be too small of a market. I'm thinking it'll be a distributor edition at the least before too long .
 
I want mine in blue. Got way too many handguns in SS.

The .44 Russian is what kept S&W alive during their early period, a big contract from the Rooskies and the Sons of Nippon kept the company afloat.

The .44 Russian was a very accurate round in that early period of cartridge manufacturing, then the .44 special followed that one and the rest is history on up to the .44 magnum.

You would have to be very short sighted if you don't think the .44 special is not in vogue today. Long may it survive.

Jim


Below a couple early .44 special in there some place...
100_0124croppedandtouchedup-textsiz.jpg
 
My apologies, I was intending to refer to the regular Blackhawks, not the 50th Anniversary 357s.
Judging from all the raving, I wonder why Ruger doesn't just go to the flat top frames all the way around, whether they keep the Blackhawks on the 44 sized cylinder frame or switch to the 50th Anniversary 357 size cylinder frame.
I must be the only person alive who actually prefers the XR3-Red gripframe. I'm considering getting the parts to convert my 50th Anniversary 44. I already fitted regular thickness grips and that was a huge improvement to me. I love the black hawk medallions, but I do not like those skinny plastic grips, especially when capping off stiff loads.
 
I would buy a small frame BH in .44 spl right now..

I have a nice OM BH built to .44 spl. by Ben Forkin. It is a great gun. I would like to get it a companion.

I bet Ruger would sell quite a few of those.

Matt
 
How much smaller is the FT frame over the standard frame? I have a 3 screw 357 but haven't looked at the new FT models. I only look at the old models if I am at shows.
 
BlkHwk73 - What it boils down to - I think - is that in the big picture of things, the .44 special is a very limited cartridge. Limited by how many people would buy new guns in that configuration.

Whatever it's history, it's attachment to The Grand Old Man or how many shootists today LOVE it, in the big picture there aren't that many people that will buy guns chambered for it. Remember, the bean counters are running Ruger now.

FWIW you don't NEED a larger frame Ruger for the .44 special. It works absolutely fine in an SAA or replica sized frame. I just bought one. An Uberti Model P Thunderer, which is a pretty accurate copy of the original - as far as replicas go.

But I do agree with you about the distributor edition. There are a couple out there that have their pulse on that smaller part of the overall market where sixgunners are always on the lookout for something special. :D
 
I'd look for a .44 Special new Vaquero before a Blackhawk. A lot of the Cass crowd have Ruger 44 Magnums they have been shooting Specials out of, or Colts or Uberti built clones in 44 Special, and they might be very interested in a tougher Colt sized gun.
 
Years ago Bill Ruger himself said that they would not produce a gun in .44 Spl. This was despite repeated appeals from fellas like Skeeter Skelton, John Taffin and Mike Venturino and after a couple of letter writing campaigns. There might be something new going on, of course, but otherwise I'll wait to be surprised.

Converting the old .357 BHs still seems the way to go if a person wants a .44 Spl. in a light weight easily packable Ruger.

tipoc
 
There are TWO "flattop Rugers" of recent vintage.

The 357 Anniversary Flattop Blackhawk is the same size as the Old Model 357 or the New Vaquero.

The 44 Flattop Blackhawk commemorative is the same size cylinder frame as the "old Vaquero", Super Blackhawk or the like.

Both share the same smaller SAA/XR3 size GRIP frame as the New Vaquero.
 
How difficult is it for handgun makers to do some special lots for us few .44 special revolver lovers of this great old accurate cartridge.

And I don't mean the special edition contract lots to a few select wholesalers, let them come from the factory to the customers to keep the freaken prices down.

After all, if they can spend money to make them over sized hand cannons like .460, 480, and the .500 caliber...they can surely make a few .44 specials for us nostalgia lovers of that caliber.

It don't take a lot of effort to make some barrels and cylinders in .44 special, they've already got the BH small frames. And I prefer the 5-shot cylinders to keep the size down.

Jim
 
There would be no problem doing the 44Spl in the mid-frame (50th Anniversary 357/New Vaquero) as a sixgun. It'll hold six shots of 45LC fr'instance and that's bigger. The Colt SAA (same basic size) was done for years as a 44Spl sixgun.

As a five-shot you could probably run 44Magnum in the mid-frame!
 
A shop in my are has a new 44s ruger single action 43/4" bbl or so with adjustable sights. This is a smaller frame than the SBH and as I recall a 6 shooter not 5. Pretty neat pistol, bluefor450. Probably could get it for 410-425 cash.
 
One of the Ruger bigwigs was interviewed by Michael Bane on his podcast early this month. The topic of the 44SPL in a Ruger single action was specifically mentioned (at the end of the podcast)and it was CLEARLY implied by the ruger exec that one was coming out, although the Ruger exec did not mention whether it would be on the New Vaquero or BH frame. The exec did not specifically say when it was coming out using "we are a publicly traded company" as an excuse for not officially confirming its debut." M. Bane made another brief reference to a couple of new Ruger products that are to be introduced at the NRA convention on this weeks podcast.
 
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