Blackhawk or GP100?

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My FiL has a GP100 and SBH.

I have two BH's and a SBH.

All of them are nice revolvers. None have given trouble. All have good sights and triggers. (His GP100 might have an unusually nice one for that model.)

All of them would work fine for the job. It's up to the OP which fits his hand better or which he wants more.

Personally, I am more of a BH fan. If we were going to hunt deer with a revolver, I'm guessing my FiL and I would both choose our SBH's.

They're both very good. It's win/win.
 
I don't care for the Blackhawk. The cylinder and frame are all out of proportion to the grip and they handle nothing like a traditional Colt SAA. They only vaguely look like one. I don't like the blue versions with an aluminum grip frame either. The new model Vaquero however is pretty close to being true to the traditional Colt in size and feel. If you can make fixed sights work I might recommend that revolver in a SA.

For the guys who want to load hot the massive cylinders in the Blackhawk and Super Blackhawk in 44 and 45 caliber are a plus. But even then I'd much rather have the Redhawk DA.

The GP-100 is a great revolver though. I find them to be more accurate and more comfortable to shoot.
 
I'd go Blackhawk just to try something different. I've had several DA/SA .357 revolvers, but no SA revolvers. I've been eyeing the Blackhawk for years, it just seems every time I have the money I find something else I'd rather have just a tad more.
 
For iron sights, I'll take an Old Model Blackhawk any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Nothing wrong with the GP's, an older N-frame or 586 in this role either. For optic use, I actually like my options better with the GP and the Weigand full length mount than any of the single actions.

Ropers%20012b.jpg
 
CraigC said:
For iron sights, I'll take an Old Model Blackhawk any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Nothing wrong with the GP's, an older N-frame or 586 in this role either. For optic use, I actually like my options better with the GP and the Weigand full length mount than any of the single actions.

View attachment 910784
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How much do those mounts usually run?
 
357 Terms said:
My Indiana Whitetail 357 is a stainless 6.5in Blackhawk.
Strong enough to take thousands of my hot hunting loads (180grn XTP running close to 1400fps)
Good sights
Good balance
Good trigger
The only thing that may supplant it would be a FA in 357, maybe.
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Care to share what powder you use in those loads? I'd guess Blue Dot but I could be wrong.
 
Sneakshot92 said:
Care to share what powder you use in those loads? I'd guess Blue Dot but I could be wrong.
Click to expand...


14.3grns of VihtaVouri N110 SRP.
(.3grns above max, never had ANY signs of overpressure)
I started with 296/H110 but I was getting all kinds of variation with velocity in cold weather (ball powder can do that) I went with N110 (cylindrical powder) years ago, love it! Best magnum powder (use it in my 44's also) in my opinion.
With hot 357 loads I certainly appreciate the size/heft of the Blackhawk!
 
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357 Terms said:
14.3grns of VihtaVouri N110 SRP.
(.3grns above max, never had ANY signs of overpressure)
I started with 296/H110 but I was getting all kinds of variation with velocity in cold weather (ball powder can do that) I went with N110 (cylindrical powder) years ago, love it! Best magnum powder (use it in my 44's also) in my opinion.
With hot 357 loads I certainly appreciate the size/heft of the Blackhawk!
Click to expand...

N110 isn't the easiest thing to find up my way. If I find some it's coming home with me!
 
Sneakshot92 said:
Hi all. I'm looking at picking up another 357 magnum revolver for short range (under 35 yds) deer hunting to supplant my old 6" M66 Taurus that's getting retired to plinker duty. I like the heft of the Ruger guns for recoil management. Any pros or cons to either would be considered. Thanks in advance!

*My shots at deer are taken in S/A almost exclusively even though I have practiced D/A somewhat frequently.
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I don’t own the Blackhawk, but I have fired one that belonged to a friend of mine. I do own the GP100 so I am probably biased to it, but that would be my recommendation. In SA the trigger is smooth. Firing it in DA the trigger pull is somewhat heavy, but still smooth with a clean break. The recoil on both guns is mitigated by the weight of the guns. I went with the GP100 over the Blackhawk because I liked the option of firing in SA or DA. My GP100 has the 6” barrel. It’s accurate out to 75 yards. I use mine for deer hunting as well.
 
It all comes down to how it feels in your hand IMO. I much prefer the feel of the GP100 to any of the SAA style guns; those just never did it for me.
 
I've shot deer with both. The blackhawk carries better to me. Never going to shoot a deer in double action so gp was a waist in the field. Besides no pioneer or true Cowboys used double actions back in the day.
 
I just bought a GP100 6'' blued version and will be taking it to the field this season. I have shot a super blackhawk in .44 mag. and thought it was really nice. Both will do the job as long as you do yours and stay within your ethical kill range. I reload my own and will be working up a good hunting load that I will practice with a lot to get proficient with. I might get that scope mount mentioned earlier, looks nice.
 
usmc0811 said:
I just bought a GP100 6'' blued version and will be taking it to the field this season. I have shot a super blackhawk in .44 mag. and thought it was really nice. Both will do the job as long as you do yours and stay within your ethical kill range. I reload my own and will be working up a good hunting load that I will practice with a lot to get proficient with. I might get that scope mount mentioned earlier, looks nice.
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I've decided on the stainless 6.5 inch Blackhawk. Just need to work another week to make sure i've got the cash in case I end up paying full MSRP, which I'm willing to knowing the amount of use it WILL see over the next 40 or so years.. :)
 
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Based on the OP's requirement of shots at 35yrds or less on deer I'd have no issues with going with a barrel length of at least 4 inches as a starting point as shown in 2 of the 3 guns below. When I hunted deer my personal priority was always to humanely kill vs getting a kill. As such, I can't envision were I would need the double action option. So for me, the 50th anniversary BH would get the nod over the GP 100 if I was ONLY using it as a close range deer gun. That's a personal preference only and not a slight on the GP100 as it's a great platform. I included the Dan Wesson only to point out that, for the money of either a BH or GP100, the OP might want to look around for a used DW. They do, although somewhat infrequently show up in that price range on the secondary market with just a single barrel. If you're not looking for a DEDICATED deer handgun both the DW and GP100 would provide a little more flexibility for other applications.

Opps, posted a pic meant for another thread. Correct one added now...

Ouc2ECz.jpg
 

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Frulk said:
Based on the OP's requirement of shots at 35yrds or less on deer I'd have no issues with going with a barrel length of at least 4 inches as a starting point as shown in 2 of the 3 guns below. When I hunted deer my personal priority was always to humanely kill vs getting a kill. As such, I can't envision were I would need the double action option. So for me, the 50th anniversary BH would get the nod over the GP 100 if I was ONLY using it as a close range deer gun. That's a personal preference only and not a slight on the GP100 as it's a great platform. I included the Dan Wesson only to point out that, for the money of either a BH or GP100, the OP might want to look around for a used DW. They do, although somewhat infrequently show up in that price range on the secondary market with just a single barrel. If you're not looking for a DEDICATED deer handgun both the DW and GP100 would provide a little more flexibility for other applications.

Opps, posted a pic meant for another thread. Correct one added now...

View attachment 917750
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Where I hunt there's a small clearing beside an old logging trail. 6 deer trails come together in front of me and a long gun is rarely needed although I do carry one as well.
 
The original-pattern GP100 factory grip is absolute perfection, for my hands, so I am biased toward the GP100, for that reason. If, however, I planned to cock the hammer, anyway, well, I would rather do it with the larger spur of the Super Blackhawk, Bisley, or Blackhawk, in that order of preference. Deer season Is usually during cold weather, and my thumbs get numb rather quickly.

If I could weld stainless steel, I just might graft a bigger spur onto a GP100 hammer. ;) (I have not welded since high school, in the Seventies.)
 
Electricmo said:
I've shot deer with both. The blackhawk carries better to me. Never going to shoot a deer in double action so gp was a waist in the field. Besides no pioneer or true Cowboys used double actions back in the day.
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Every deer, any every other critter I have shot with a revolver have all been double action. I am not sure I could tell you the last time I thumbed the hammer back on a double action revolver. Shooting unsupported I shoot double action better than single action. I am not in the majority on this for sure but I am not alone either. Double action is the way to go IMHO.
 
I had both a GP100 and BH .357. The GP is gone, the BH is still with me. It is in comparison to the GP, perfection. Cylinder throats mic out at .357. It shoots my home cast bullets without leading, something I could never get the GP to do, but it had other problems. It is very accurate. Now I like SAs, and the adjustable sights on the BH are a real benefit to me over, say, a Vaquero. If you prefer SAs then the BH will tickle your fancy just fine.

Caveat: I am in the market for a DA .357. I am even contemplating taking a chance on a GP. But if another BH in .357 showed up on my radar, I would not hesitate to get it.
 
Thomas Traddles said:
I had both a GP100 and BH .357. The GP is gone, the BH is still with me. It is in comparison to the GP, perfection. Cylinder throats mic out at .357. It shoots my home cast bullets without leading, something I could never get the GP to do, but it had other problems. It is very accurate. Now I like SAs, and the adjustable sights on the BH are a real benefit to me over, say, a Vaquero. If you prefer SAs then the BH will tickle your fancy just fine.

Caveat: I am in the market for a DA .357. I am even contemplating taking a chance on a GP. But if another BH in .357 showed up on my radar, I would not hesitate to get it.
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OP here. I'm in the market for a DA 357 as well but I already know what I want for that, a 4.2" SP101. However i'm not going to have my lgs order one up for me. I'll just pick one up new or used if I find one in store. I'm not big on the buy online and do a transfer through FFL thing.
 
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