Taurus Gaucho or Ruger Blackhawk

[ArmedBear]

Okay new question Blackhawk .45 or Super Blackhawk .44mag

Depends on what you want.

It's true that .45 Colt can be loaded really hot, up to and surpassing WWB .44 Magnum loads.

However, whatever hot load you can name for a .45LC, you can find a hotter one in .44 Magnum. It you buy .44 Magnum brass, it's all designed for high pressures. The rim is easier to handle in a press since it's larger than .45LC, and the same size cylinder has more steel around the slightly-smaller .44 case -- that's why Elmer Keith abandoned the .45LC and shifted to the .44 S&W Special as the basis for a new magnum round.

I have a BH and SBH, and I prefer the Super Blackhawk hammer and trigger. I also like the Dragoon grip frame on the SBH, though some people here like Old Fuff have me intrigued by the Bisley grip frame.

All told, I'd get, and I did get, the .44, but I doubt anyone has ever cried about purchasing a .45 Blackhawk either.

I like my .357 Blackhawk. The gun and the round seem very well matched.

Also of note: I got both the stainless .44 SBH and the blue .357 BH pretty cheap, used, in great condition (I think I have $600 total in both guns). Those two guns, in those calilbers, are relatively easy to find used without paying too much.

 

[Matt-J2]

Not mentioned yet, is the Blackhawk has adjustable sights, vs the fixed on the Gaucho.

I reckon you've already moved on, but it's good to point out to anyone else potentially reading this.

I've owned a normal Blackhawk(.30 carbine) and now have a Super Blackhawk Hunter in .44. I'm looking to buy more Blackhawks in the future. Also, a New Vaquero or two and a Single Six. I'd call that a ringing endorsement for what I think of Ruger products.

I'd go to your local dealer and handle a few. There is a difference between the BH and SBH, and each barrel length balances differently as well.

 

[ArmedBear]

WRT fixed sights: note that large bore, heavy rounds tend to shift POI pretty dramatically with different loads -- something I found out the hard way a week or two ago. Old Fuff delivered a good explanation of why.

I have a fixed sight Uberti SAA clone, and it's a neat little trail gun in .357. It shoots to POA with standard .357 loads, and it's a bit off with .38 Specials. This is a 4 5/8" .357; a longer-barreled .44 or .45 has a much more dramatic POI deviation.

There are three reasons I'd get fixed sights on a .4X revolver:

1. CAS, CFD, etc. that requires a 19th-Century design for competition.

2. A trail or backup gun for hiking or hunting, where close-range use is all that's anticipated.

3. A historic/replica firearm to be enjoyed as such. Work up a load that shoots where the sights point, and just use that.

 

[Redhawk1]

Blackhawk.....

 

[foghornl]

One word:

Blackhawk.

 

[Long_Range_Mauser]

Okay so Im getting a blackhawk. Not sure on caliber cause he has BH .45 For 350 or SBH .44 for 390

 

[ArmedBear]

SBH

Are these blue or stainless? Blue guns are all-steel if Super Blackhawk, but Aluminum grip frames if Blackhawk.

What are the barrel lengths?

SBH has a nicer hammer and trigger, and larger grips on 7 1/2" and 10 1/2" guns.

 

[Big Bill]

No Brainer .... RUGER!

 

[Redhawk1]

If you reload either will do, but I would lean to the 45 Colt.

 

[C-grunt]

I like my SBH a lot. I chose the .44 over the .45 Colt just because its A) easier to find, and B) its usually a bit cheaper too.

If you reload then either will do. I dont have my setup for basically anything except .308 right now (and I dont even own one anymore) so until then Im using factory ammo.

 

[Virginian]

Don't overlook the Stainless Vaqueros in 45 Colt, just to further cloud the issue. Gorgeous, and the old ones are as strong as a Blackhawk, and the new ones are the size of the Gaucho - but are a Ruger !

 

[Glockman17366]

There's also the New Vaquero Montado which looks pretty sweet. These are stainless steel with a 3½" barrel. I'm pretty sure they're only availible in .45 Colt.
I haven't handled one of these yet, but from the pictures I've seen, the Montado will look outstanding with Bird's Head Grips.

 

[ArmedBear]

Gorgeous, and the old ones are as strong as a Blackhawk

Which does crap of a lot of good, if you want to shoot hot loads in it, unless you want to do some very difficult sight changing. And then you're stuck with that POI.

Fixed sight single action revolvers look cool, are required for cowboy competition, and slide in and out of a holster well.

But they are not the versatile guns that adjustable-sight single-action revolvers are. Just looked at the little Elmer Keith museum in Cabela's here yesterday. Lots of neat guns.

One thing you'll note about the guns of probably the greatest revolver tinkerer since Sam Colt: they have adjustable sights. Even the Colts. One of the neat guns was one he custom ordered from Colt for his son in .44 Special. One of the custom features? Nice adjustable sights.

 

[tinygnat219]

Blackhawk. There's a reason Taurus discontinued the Gaucho: they are junk.