Urgent: Where to find ILS on Ruger Blackhawk SA If Present?

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PolymathPioneer

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I am looking at a Ruger Blackhawk, short barrel, stainless in 44 mag as bear medicine of last resort backup for elk season if my M-70 375 H&H rifle fails after taking an elk and a bear shows up. Revolver does not appear to have an internal locking system but I need to be certain since I will not use a revolver so equipped. I have read that prior to 2002 they do not exist on the Rugers, but don't know this for a fact and don't know how long this revolver has been on the shelf (tomorrow I will ask). I know where they are located on S&W and Taurus double action revolvers but not on the Ruger single or double action revolvers. I have had Ruger single actions long ago before the internal locking systems. I carry UDAP bear spray and have used it before successfully on a charging black bear but it is nasty and gets all over everything in the process of use, including me, the harvested elk and want the additional backup. So the specific question is: Where do I look on the Ruger single action Blackhawk to determine if it has an internal locking system. I am going in tomorrow to purchase this revolver so information on where to look ASAP is much appreciated.
 
I think the only Blackhawks that have an internal lock are the new small frame/flat top models. None have been chambered in .44 Magnum.

In the unlikely event that it does have a lock, you will find it in the grip frame, at the base of the mainspring. You'll have to remove the stocks to see.

For more information on whatever model you plan to buy, go to the Ruger website (www.ruger.com) and download a copy of the owner's manual in .PDF format.
 
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On the Rugers, the lock is directly under the mainspring, inside the grips. To get to it, you have to remove the grips. The caveat is not all the new Rugers have the internal lock, I just pulled the grips off my 2009 Super Redhawk and 2010 Super Blackhawk and neither one has the internal lock. The only way to know for sure before you take the plunge is to ask the seller's permission to remove the grips.

This site has a picture of the lock in the grip frame.
 
Carry bear spray, ON YOUR BELT

Oh and bother to learn about bears, hell read here, it's been and done beaten to death enough, we even have a member that got mauled by a grizzly...

Point is, MINDSET - KNOWLEDGE Skillset - actually learn AND practice the KNOWLEDGE, then worry about equipment, cause most bear attacks are the FIRST - LACK OF KNOWLEDGE not a lack of guns
 
Carry bear spray, ON YOUR BELT

Oh and bother to learn about bears, hell read here, it's been and done beaten to death enough, we even have a member that got mauled by a grizzly...

Point is, MINDSET - KNOWLEDGE Skillset - actually learn AND practice the KNOWLEDGE, then worry about equipment, cause most bear attacks are the FIRST - LACK OF KNOWLEDGE not a lack of guns
Good advice and as you suggest I do carry the UDAP bear spray on my belt (a 50 oz can).
 
On the Rugers, the lock is directly under the mainspring, inside the grips. To get to it, you have to remove the grips. The caveat is not all the new Rugers have the internal lock, I just pulled the grips off my 2009 Super Redhawk and 2010 Super Blackhawk and neither one has the internal lock. The only way to know for sure before you take the plunge is to ask the seller's permission to remove the grips.

This site has a picture of the lock in the grip frame.
No wonder I couldn't find the ILS. I am sure that is where it is since the gun is new. Thanks for the information!

Postscript: I called Ruger customer service in NH this morning after reading your post and the gentleman told me all new super blackhawks have the ILS. However, he also told me that the Super Redhawks (like the Alaskan) do not.
 
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As far as I know, the Stainless Blackhawks don't have the lock yet.. My Blue .45 Colt BH has the lock.

I've not heard even ONE report of these locks malfunctioning.
 
More Info: Its A Super Blackhawk

I am fairly certain after information provided by THR members that it has the ILS hidden in the grip. I called Ruger and they said if it is a new model super blackhawk it has it. However I was also told by Ruger customer support that the Alaskan does not (apparently a short barreled Red Hawk). I have read positive reviews on the Alaskan and will look at it tomorrow. Thanks to THR members, (especially the post by AgentV3), for providing the information quickly!
 
If you want a short barrel AND stainless get a Vaquero in 44 mag, you don't need adjustable sights on a short barreled gun. Factory V's came in 4&5/8", 5.5" and 7.5" barrels. I'm sure there may be a 'sherrif's model' or two lurking around as well.
 
If you want a short barrel AND stainless get a Vaquero in 44 mag, you don't need adjustable sights on a short barreled gun. Factory V's came in 4&5/8", 5.5" and 7.5" barrels. I'm sure there may be a 'sherrif's model' or two lurking around as well.
Very good idea, I agree this is for emergency backup at close range.
 
I think the only Blackhawks that have an internal lock are the new small frame/flat top models. None have been chambered in .44 Magnum.
Wrong again.

All New Vaqueros have the lock. All New Model flat-tops have the lock, including the .44Mag version. All blued Blackhawks have the lock, denoted by the black plastic grips. All blued Single Sixes have the lock, denoted by black plastic grips. None of the stainless Blackhawks or Single Sixes have the lock. Except the stainless .44Spl flat-top. All Blackhawk and Single Six internal lock models have an "L" in the catalog number. The Ruger site tells all.

No Super Blackhawks have the lock.
 
Carry bear spray, ON YOUR BELT

Oh and bother to learn about bears, hell read here, it's been and done beaten to death enough, we even have a member that got mauled by a grizzly...

Point is, MINDSET - KNOWLEDGE Skillset - actually learn AND practice the KNOWLEDGE, then worry about equipment, cause most bear attacks are the FIRST - LACK OF KNOWLEDGE not a lack of guns


But what happens when I encounter a bear that dropped out of school and didn't learn the rules about attacking humans? Documented attacks on;

August 24, 2011, July 25, 2011, July 6, 2011, June 2011, August 19, 2010, July 28, 2010, June 17, 2010.

While not common I would put odds on the bear winning in a attack so I, for one, would find a gun comforting.

Remember, Murphy was a optimist. :D
 
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

As far as I know, there have been no documented lock failures on Ruger SA's.

If you don't take the grips off & lock it?
It will stay unlocked.

rc
 
The Ruger lock is nothing like that on S&W's, and I don't see how it could ever fail accidentally in any way. But I am sure that when the word gets out that Ruger has such a thing we will be subjected to all kinds of ranting and raving from the anti-lock folks.

Jim
 
Word should be pretty well "out". They've been on the market for 6yrs. Zero reports of malfunction far as I can tell.
 
^Yep, the only thing I recall being posted on a forum, was someone that took the lock apart and couldn't get a piece back in.
 
PolymathPioneer said:
Postscript: I called Ruger customer service in NH this morning after reading your post and the gentleman told me all new super blackhawks have the ILS. However, he also told me that the Super Redhawks (like the Alaskan) do not.
vs
Wrong again. The Ruger site tells all. No Super Blackhawks have the lock.
...So which is it?
 
Bobson said:
....So which is it?

Bobson, as odd as it may sound, probably CraigC is correct. As much as I love Ruger firearms, I've learned by direct experience that calling and asking them something on the phone is not a guarantee that what your told will be correct. The folks on the phone don't always have all the details right.

I've personally had them twice give me incorrect information on the phone.
 
Calling Ruger is only marginally better than calling a local gun shop. At least the counter monkey at the gunshop 'might' have one on hand.

No Super Blackhawks have the lock.
 
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