Ruger Blackhawk 45ACP/45 Colt

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exbrit49

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Purchased the Ruger in 2013, Just liked the feel of it when I first picked it up, I'm not a big guy amd hands are on the smaller side., but pretty much only shoot larger handgun calibers. First trip to the range was a real experience and I was stunned with the accuracy.. With the 45 ACP, it will hold 2 inch groups but with the Colt Cylinder it will consistently hold 1 1/2 groups , both at 10 yards offhand.
I shoot a pretty standard load of 8.3Grs of Unique pushing a Z Cast 250Gr cast RNFP. The groupings are very consistent and I know that the one "flyer" is me! I am about ready to set up the rest and see what it can actually do from a rest vs freehand. Whats the best grouping I should expect of a rest with Blackhawk?
 

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as small as you can make it go! all shots touching @ ten yards is no problem with a Blackhawk. have fun with it.

murf
 
I got mine around 2000. At that time the chamber throats were tending to be excessively tight. Accuracy was significantly improved by reaming the throats. You might want to check the throats on your gun.
 
I think that the .45 Colt Blackhawk is a great deal. It's basically the same as a Super Blackhawk .44 magnum, apart from the aluminum grip frame and ejector rod housing, and can be hand loaded to .44 magnum velocities with lower pressures.
And, it costs less.
The best groups that you can expect are whatever your individual specimen can deliver.
15 yard groups really tell you nothing. 25 yards and more is where you find out.
 
Got mine about 35 years ago, a used, blued version with 7.5 inch barrel. It is simply more accurate than I can shoot it. With my elbows braced I often get about two inch groups at 25 yards with either cylinder, sometimes better. I'm a decent SA revolver shooter but that Blackhawk really helps matters (and I'll take all the help I can get). Don't have access to a Ransom Rest to test its accuracy but the results could be 'interesting'. I'm sure I've put more 45acp through it than any of my 45 autos.

BTW, that load of Unique with 250 gr. cast bullets you mentioned is about what I use for my 45 Colt reloads. The gun likes it and it is so comfortable to shoot. I have Ruger single-actions in a bunch of calibers. They never let you down.

Jeff
 
I've got a SS 5.5" Bisley Convertible on it's way.

It's the Blackhawk configuration I've always wanted and Bud's recently got a run of them in. Never seen one for sale. I think it's been about a decade since there's been a run of them made. Really looking forward to putting it through its paces and harvesting some whitetail with it.
 
Howdy

I bought mine brand-spanky new in 1975 for $150. Which was a lot of money back then for a kid in his twenties. Although lots of folks like to use the 45 ACP cylinder for less expensive ammo, mine (the 45 ACP cylinder) has hardly been shot at all in all these years. I even still have the little red bag the extra cylinder came in. I have the box too, but it is not in very good shape anymore. No, the extra cylinder is not for sale.

turnlineBlackhawkSNmodified_zpse91b1bf1.jpg
 
I like mine very much. It is the 7.5" version. It is way more accurate than I am, that's for sure. Mine mostly shoots 45acp, since my FiL reloads that caliber for us and doesn't reload 45colt. It seems equally accurate with either to me.

View media item 1975
 
I'm not big on the convertible Blackhawks but I can understand their popularity. I do have a 22RF/22WMR Single Six and a 357 Mag/9x19 Blackhawk. I do not think I've fired a box of 22 WMR through the Single Six cylinder and the 9x19 cylinder has yet to be installed in the gun.

Having bought the convertible models, I have no desire to get rid of the auxiliary cylinder. They may become useful someday.

That said, I do like the 45 Colt cartridge and have a 7-3/8" and 4-5/8" Blackhawk and enjoy shooting them. A 45 ACP cylinder would be a nice addition to have on hand but I have enough 45 ACP guns, including revolvers, I really do not need the extra cylinder.

Don't take my "negative waves" against the convertible Rugers too seriously. It is a nice option to have for many folks.
 
Love my 45ACP/ 45Colt convertible

ZY6B1G

ZY6B1G
 
I'm not big on the convertible Blackhawks but I can understand their popularity.

Funny you should mention that. Back in 1975 I had no interest in shooting 45 ACP out of a Blackhawk. When I went into Bob Smith's Sporting Goods store in downtown Boston (yes, you used to be able to buy guns in downtown Boston) to buy my Blackhawk, I tried to see if he would sell it to me for less without the 45 ACP cylinder. What a dumb kid I was. He rightly said I could buy it with the extra cylinder or not buy it at all. So I coughed up the $150 and bought it. The 45 ACP cylinder sat unfired for probably 30 years until I finally put a box of ammo through it.

Somewhere I have the auxiliary 22 Mag cylinders for two of my Single Sixes. I bought them used and the cylinders came with them. I don't think I have ever fired a 22 Mag through either of them. Just don't have any use for that cartridge.

But I still say none of my auxiliary cylinders are for sale.
 
I actually plan to get more use out of my ACP cylinder than my 45LC cylinder.

I already have 45ACP dies and brass and for whitetail here in Ohio I can push a 250gr WFN hard enough out of cheap and common ACP brass to do what needs done. I'll eventually work up a whomper stomper load, but I can't think of what, realistically, I'd need it for. Maybe do some big game hunts in the far off future out west, but that's unlikely.

If I already loaded the LC that might be a different story. Maybe if I come across a good deal on a lever gun, but I've already got a nice one in 44mag so it'd have to be a screaming deal.
 
I had one. It was nice but not extraordinary. The idea of convertible seems to be much more appealing in theory than in practice. I'd used mine for about two years before I realized I'd never used the ACP cylinder. What can the ACP do that the 45 Colt can not?
 
The idea of convertible seems to be much more appealing in theory than in practice. I'd used mine for about two years before I realized I'd never used the ACP cylinder. What can the ACP do that the 45 Colt can not?

Again, I went a long time before I shot my 45 ACP cylinder, but I hand load. For those who don't load their own ammunition, 45 ACP is usually more affordable than 45 Colt.
 
I have a 45/45acp and got the extra cylinder because it came with the gun I wanted. I have shot maybe 2 cylinders thru the 45 acp but am glad I have the option.
 
My 357 magnum Blackhawk didn't come with a 9mm cylinder, but I bought one from eBay just for grins. It fits my revolver just fine, though I've heard that's not always the case. The Blackhawk apparently doesn't care what ammo I put in it: it seems to shoot 9mm just as accurately (or inaccurately, in case you've ever seen me shoot) as 38 special or 357 magnum. On the rare occasions when I actually have to pay for storebought ammo, the extra cylinder is nice. Where I live 9mm is MUCH cheaper than 357 or 38 special.

Similarly, 45acp is cheaper than 45colt, and easier to find. Not every store that sells ammo carries 45colt.
 
I had one. It was nice but not extraordinary. The idea of convertible seems to be much more appealing in theory than in practice. I'd used mine for about two years before I realized I'd never used the ACP cylinder. What can the ACP do that the 45 Colt can not?
Shoot much less costly ammunition!! I reload so it makes little difference to me, but for those having to buy factory ammo there is a heck of a price differential!
 
I've got a SS 5.5" Bisley Convertible on it's way.

It's the Blackhawk configuration I've always wanted and Bud's recently got a run of them in. Never seen one for sale. I think it's been about a decade since there's been a run of them made. Really looking forward to putting it through its paces and harvesting some whitetail with it.
Got mine from Bud's, probably the same run, and I absolutely love it! I especially like shooting the 255 grain SWC with Hi Tek coating from Acme in it.
 
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