New Blackhawk

you got a heckuva deal any way you slice it. Provided the Ruger meets all the criteria cited in the sticky post above: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=1430
You ain't gonna wear out a Ruger with standard loads. In fact there's a reason that some hot loads are referred to with a wink as "Ruger Only" loads.

Good choice at a good price.

crooked stripe said:

I picked up a New Blackhawk to go along with my New Vaquero. Is the bh in the same category as the Vaquero as far as standard loads go. The bh is a357 mag and going by the serial # was made around 1973. I found it at a pawn shop covered in dried stained oil with some pitting from rust on the hammer. Looked like it was oiled well and put away and never used. Took a lot of soaking and scrubbing to get the crud off. Gave 250 for it. Taking it out tomorrow to fire it up and see how it shoots.

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I'm not sure what you're asking here, but the old model Vaquero and the Blackhawk are the only ones approved for "Ruger only" loads.

LD

It's a .357, there is no such thing as "Ruger only" loads in that chambering. There is no strength issue whatsoever concerning .357's.

PS, there are also no "Old Model" Vaqueros. "Old Model" is Ruger's official designation for those single actions made up to 1973 with the traditional half cock action and no transfer bar. Vaqueros were introduced in 1992 and are New Models utilizing the "New Model" lockwork.

Vaquero (large frame)
New Vaquero (mid-frame)
Simple.

That Ruger should handle the original 357mag loads with no problem. Much hotter then than now.

As long as it is not compromised anywhere, it will outlast all of us.

If you are new to reloading, be very careful, and go slow. Just because it is built like a tank doesn't mean things can't go wrong.

Or what would be best is just get some of the top end manufactured ammo. Buffalo Bore, Grizzly, Garrets

Blackhawks are killer! I purchased one in 45lc for my brother for doing some engine work on my truck. Shooting the heavy loads from it is alot fo fun.

As CraigC pointed out, the original .357 Magnum Blackhawk was made on what is now called a mid-sized frame. It also did not have a transfer bar safety to prevent an accidental discharge if the revolver was dropped, and hit on the hammer while there was a loaded chamber in front of it.

In 1973 Ruger revised his line of single action revolvers, and included a transfer bar safety to prevent the accidental discharges referred to above. At the same time he discontinued the mid-sized frame, and thereafter made the .357 Magnum version using the same frame and cylinder size that had been developed for the .44 Magnum.

So what you have is a .357 Magnum built on the larger .44 Magnum platform, and you also have the transfer bar safety so you can carry it with the cylinder fully loaded with 6 cartridges. Therefore go forward and not worry about any .357 Magnum ammunition made by any company, or any listed handloaded data, although I suggest you avoid the "Ruger or Thompson Center Only" loads unless you are a very experienced reloader who understands how to evaluate signs of excessive pressure.

Crooked Stripe, if you're like me and wear large to Xlarge glove sizes then likely you're finding that the stock grips are a little small around the bend in the "neck" of the grips. I made up some fatter ones for both my Single Six and Super Blackhawk and love the new feel. With the stockers my fingers wrapped around so far that they were jamming into my palm. With the new fat grips the middle finger wraps around and just barely touches my palm. This gives me a far nicer hold. This better hold along the wider area along the back strap that spreads out the recoil energy to a bigger portion of my hand greatly reduced the "guard bite".

If you do much in the way of wood working of your own it's not a huge deal to make some. Rather fun and rewarding actually. It's a bit fussy getting the edges just right so they match. A good tool for this is a coarse metal file used as a "rasp".

Otherwise I'm not sure where to buy them but I'm sure someone can help you out if you think it'll help you.

Ruger's factory grips are terrible. They're thin where they should be thick, thick where they should be thin and squared off where they should be round. Some folks like them thinner, I like mine a little thicker at the top (aptly described as the "neck" by BCR) with less taper towards the bottom. Beveled bottoms for regular Blackhawk/Colt SAA/Navy grips, flat bottoms for the longer 1860 Army/Bisley grip frames. Either way, nicely rounded at the neck.

That said, I despise oversized rubber grips on a single action. They ruin the fine handling qualities and actually send more of the recoil pulse straight back into the palm.

That said, I despise oversized rubber grips on a single action. They ruin the fine handling qualities and actually send more of the recoil pulse straight back into the palm.

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that and its blasphemy!!! lol

If you don't want to make them your self try http://www.privatescustomgrips.com/
his have the gunfighter profile thats wider at the top that's very popular. plus they're fun to show off.