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Super Blackhawk! thoughts

bigpower491 said:
3 screw, new model......it don't matter. You'll get a fabulous revolver
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For $750 I would doubt that it's a three screw. If you did get a three screw, NEVER, EVER send it to Ruger for the "upgrade" to make it safe with six rounds. I had a nice one I sent in, it came back with the WORST trigger pull and gritty action I've ever experienced. Yeah, I could have put the original parts back in, but foolishly traded it off.
 
bigpower491 said:
Don't rule out a .45.....that'll give ya some blackpowder bliss
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Absolutely, don't pass on one. (Blackhawk in .45 Colt) It can be loaded up quite a bit. Some say it will surpass the .44, some say it will be right on it's heels, I really don't know what the truth is, although it will close enough that any difference, won't make a difference.
 
My Blackhawk convertible in .45 was a trade I made in mid '74 for motorcycle parts. Possibly my favorite handgun. My Super Blackhawk was a spur of the moment thing at a local and long gone LGS whre it had just come in on a trade deal. $450 OTD. My Blackhawk in .30 carbine was a gift from a friend's estate (wish I had him instead!), my Super Single Six convertible three screw unconverted was a FTF purchase close to home $550. The Navy Arms in .45 was a gift that belonged to another deceased friend and was given to me by the recipient. So I only have $1K in the whole pile, but none are going anywhere as long as I am breathing. I'm still looking for the right 38/357-9mm convertible to come along. And it will!!:D
 
Ugly Sauce said:
I could be wrong, but I think the original ballistics were/was a 240 at 1400fps in the 7.5" barrel, but that hurt sales, too much recoil for many people, so the factory ammo was reduced in power closer to 1200fps. Is that not right? Or just "legend"? I do know that 1400fps with a 240 is easily achieved with handloading. As mentioned, my full power load with a 250 went a true 1534fps with no sticking cases or any other signs of stress. Yes, it did recoil. I have some original Winchester .44mag ammo from when it was first produced. I'll run that over the chrono one of these days.
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Originally, it was about 1450fps and that is easily attainable with standard pressure handloads. For some reason, people think 1200fps is a "magnum" load. In reality it's just a .44Spl Keith load in magnum brass, which is going to be even lower than the 26,000psi Keith load. The oversized cylinder allows me to push to +50,000psi and the length allows me to use the lower crimp groove in bullets so-equipped. So I basically load them to 100% density and get a 330gr LFN to original 240gr velocities. Which you can also do in the RH and SRH.


Ugly Sauce said:
Absolutely, don't pass on one. (Blackhawk in .45 Colt) It can be loaded up quite a bit. Some say it will surpass the .44, some say it will be right on it's heels, I really don't know what the truth is, although it will close enough that any difference, won't make a difference.
Click to expand...
The folks who say it exceeds are just reading the nearly 40yr old Linebaugh article, quoting it as gospel and never bothering to test for themselves. The truth is it will nip at its heels but never quite matches its velocity with same weight bullets. The .44 is usually 50-100fps faster. The .45 is a wee bit bigger (meplat is usually only .005-.010" larger) and the .44 is a better penetrator. Net result is a wash.
 
CraigC said:
Originally, it was about 1450fps and that is easily attainable with standard pressure handloads. For some reason, people think 1200fps is a "magnum" load. In reality it's just a .44Spl Keith load in magnum brass, which is going to be even lower than the 26,000psi Keith load. The oversized cylinder allows me to push to +50,000psi and the length allows me to use the lower crimp groove in bullets so-equipped. So I basically load them to 100% density and get a 330gr LFN to original 240gr velocities. Which you can also do in the RH and SRH.


The folks who say it exceeds are just reading the nearly 40yr old Linebaugh article, quoting it as gospel and never bothering to test for themselves. The truth is it will nip at its heels but never quite matches its velocity with same weight bullets. The .44 is usually 50-100fps faster. The .45 is a wee bit bigger (meplat is usually only .005-.010" larger) and the .44 is a better penetrator. Net result is a wash.
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Well I never did understand how the thinner cylinder/chamber walls of the .45Colt could withstand more pressure than the Super Duper BlackHawk cylinder. On original ballistics, again, I was getting 1534fps with a 250, and again-again that was a 'stout", but not crazy load. Primers looked good, case extraction was good.
 
Ugly Sauce said:
Well I never did understand how the thinner cylinder/chamber walls of the .45Colt could withstand more pressure than the Super Duper BlackHawk cylinder. On original ballistics, again, I was getting 1534fps with a 250, and again-again that was a 'stout", but not crazy load. Primers looked good, case extraction was good.
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They don't. That's why it has to run at 80% the pressure, 30,000psi vs 36,000psi, because it's 80% as strong. Somehow people got duped into thinking that the .45 could magically outrun the .44 at 20% less pressure. It closed the gap with more powder but powder capacity doesn't really come into play until they run at the same pressure.
 
Ugly Sauce said:
For $750 I would doubt that it's a three screw. If you did get a three screw, NEVER, EVER send it to Ruger for the "upgrade" to make it safe with six rounds. Yeah, I could have put the original parts back in, but foolishly traded it off.
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^^^^^^^

I have 3 OM 3-screw. They will NEVER go to Ruger. IF you want to carry 6 rounds, get a New Model and carry 6. Don't destroy a classic.


Everybody will say, "but you get the original parts back." And most will lose a part.
 
I did have a red hawk in .44 magnum for awhile, just never have warmed up to Rugers DA revolvers.

Shot a buddies super red hawk in 454 enough to know I’d much prefer an XP-100 or contender so I can have accuracy with my beating. :)
 
Ruger is a really good option if you have an Old Model you just want refurbished to like new. I would just remove the lockwork parts that get replaced in the conversion before sending it off.

My .44 SRH is one of the most accurate revolvers I own. It's done well under an inch for every load I've tried in it.

IMG_0071b.jpg

Most are more like this.

007.jpg
 
Mark_Mark said:
ever tried the Super RedHawk?
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The RedHog is a beautiful pistol. I always stuck to the BlackHog because it weighs less. I also "prefer" single actions to double actions for field and outdoor/wilderness uses. But if one is not overly concerned with a few extra ounces, don't see anything wrong with a RedHawk.
 
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