10 1/2" Ruger Super Blackhawk Accuracy Capability

[Carpman62]

One thing we found very interesting, is that for a 44 magnum revolver, unlike a rifle, the muzzle brake does not increase the noise level, and won't blow your eardrums out in case you forget or don't have time to put ear plugs in before taking a shot.

Recoil wise, I have shot a lot of different 357 magnum revolvers that had a whole lot more recoil than what these 44 magnums do.

 

[Sneakshot92]

Fall hunting special was $500 off regular price, so they cost me $1,000 each, with me providing the guns and scopes.

I cannot remember everything that was done, but here I what I do remember.

The 10 1/2" barrels were cut back just enough to remove the front sight screw hole, the muzzle was threaded and recrowned, then the muzzle brake was threaded on and a sling swivel stud installed into the muzzle brake because of the slightly larger diameter.

The barrel was lead lapped.

The trigger was adjusted to 3.4 pounds.

The barrels forcing cone was Taylor throated.

The gun was drilled and tapped for a scope base.

An oversize cylinder pin was fitted and installed.

The hammer was shimmed for smoother cocking.

All internal parts were honed and polished.

Hogue grips were added, as was a sling swivel stud to help aid in sling,carry out in the field. Properly adjusted, it also makes for an easier support when shooting off hand or sitting at the base of tree when shooting

The rings were installed, and the scope was mounted and sighted in at 100 yards with the white box Winchester 240 gr. Jacketed soft point ammo.

I know there was other work that was done, but this is all we can think of at the moment.

Addendum: just before sending this reply, my wife and daughter just came in with a 130 pound sow that my shot at a laser ranged 286 yards, shooting a Hornady 225 gr. FTX bullet with a muzzle velocity of 1,524 feet per second. The shot was centered in the neck, and they both said that mom must have missed because the hog just stood there. A second round was about to be sent down range when the hog just fell over and collapsed on the spot. Now I've got a hog to go butcher and let hang in the cooler for a week before processing.

Oh, and this is my wife's first hog or even first game animal with one of our custom revolvers, and for whatever reason, even though she had her Contender rifle with her, she just got a hankering to use a scope sighted revolver, and she sure made me proud.

Lucky you... Or is it lucky her?? Either way awesome revolvers and one heck of a nice shot at that range!!

 

[Carpman62]

Sneakshot92,

I think we are BOTH lucky! My wife shoots a lot of rounds through her guns, and she is very proficient with them. But with the shot that she pulled off this morning, I think I'm the lucky one, because I now have someone else to revolver hunt with me.

I'll be in Dallas tomorrow to pick up another 10 1/2" Ruger 44 magnum to send to my gunsmith, and let him build my wife her own gun, and customize it just the way she wants is. She just said that as long as she got a PINK sling for it, to have it built just like mine, and with the Pachmayr finger groove grips because of her small hands. I told her to consider it a done deal, so now we're both happy.

 

[Sneakshot92]

Sneakshot92,

I think we are BOTH lucky! My wife shoots a lot of rounds through her guns, and she is very proficient with them. But with the shot that she pulled off this morning, I think I'm the lucky one, because I now have someone else to revolver hunt with me.

I'll be in Dallas tomorrow to pick up another 10 1/2" Ruger 44 magnum to send to my gunsmith, and let him build my wife her own gun, and customize it just the way she wants is. She just said that as long as she got a PINK sling for it, to have it built just like mine, and with the Pachmayr finger groove grips because of her small hands. I told her to consider it a done deal, so now we're both happy.

Just to satisfy my curiosity who is your gunsmith that does the work for you. He may have earned another customer.

 

[Carpman62]

Dave White, and someone I have used for over 30 years. You can text him at (918) 576-3217 or send him an email at [email protected]

Be sure and tell him that the Texas Carpman from THR sent you, and he would most likely extend his fall hunting discount to you. Just don't mention that I said that part.

 

[Sneakshot92]

Just don't mention that I said that part.

Yeah.. Bad things can happen when someone does that.

 

[Carpman62]

Nothing "bad" is going to happen, but my unspoken point being that it might not be finished for this year's deer season without your name being on the list, or not at least the beginning part.

My wife and 2 of our daughters, picked up a Ruger yesterday and had it overnighted to Dave's shop, so he will get it sometime today, and I'll go ahead and order a scope and have it drop shipped to Dave so he will have everything from me so he can get started on it asap. If everything goes according to plan, my wife should have it back in her hands by October 1st. which will allow time for load development and building a drop table for shooting distance.

 

[Sneakshot92]

Nothing "bad" is going to happen, but my unspoken point being that it might not be finished for this year's deer season without your name being on the list, or not at least the beginning part.

My wife and 2 of our daughters, picked up a Ruger yesterday and had it overnighted to Dave's shop, so he will get it sometime today, and I'll go ahead and order a scope and have it drop shipped to Dave so he will have everything from me so he can get started on it asap. If everything goes according to plan, my wife should have it back in her hands by October 1st. which will allow time for load development and building a drop table for shooting distance.

I meant bad things in that it could upset him enough to not offer such a good deal down the road. I've heard a few stories where some individuals get better deals than others..

 

[Carpman62]

Upset, I seriously doubt that. Dave is one of the best Christian men I have ever met and it shows in the way runs his business, which is why we have been using him all these years. He treats everyone the same. I have a couple of close friends that are not as fortunate as we are, where I can just write a check for what I want, and these guys take 2 years to save up to make monthly payments, and they are treated just as well and with the same respect that I am, and I have to tip my hat to a business man like that.

 

[Varminterror]

A typical Ruger should be expected to deliver 2-4moa with a properly selected load. Better than that is gravy, worse deserves a trip back to Ruger.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

A typical Ruger should be expected to deliver 2-4moa with a properly selected load. Better than that is gravy, worse deserves a trip back to Ruger.

at what range just asking

 

[Varminterror]

at what range just asking

MOA is a measurement of dispersion not of displacement. Range, then, is largely irrelevant until you get far enough that sighting, velocity variability, and shooter confidence outweigh mechanical accuracy influences. Most folks simply don’t use sighting solutions which allow them to sustain the revolver’s raw potential past 100-150. But given appropriate loads, sights, and supports, sustaining a 44mag to 150-200, even farther isn’t out of reach.

@xphunter has held sub-moa with a highly modified Ruger out past 500 yards, using factory ammo.

 

[leadhead2]

I shot handgun silhouette for 22 years and have shot the silhouette big bore
chickens at 200 meters. (219 yards) I could hit 6 out of 10 pretty regular.
I had 8 different SBH in .44 mag over the years. Problem with Rugers was,
the sights were not repeatable. Switched to a Freedom Arms .357 and the
problem was solved. There were a lot of 40x40 scores shot with the .44 SBH.
Denny

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

MOA is a measurement of dispersion not of displacement. Range, then, is largely irrelevant until you get far enough that sighting, velocity variability, and shooter confidence outweigh mechanical accuracy influences. Most folks simply don’t use sighting solutions which allow them to sustain the revolver’s raw potential past 100-150. But given appropriate loads, sights, and supports, sustaining a 44mag to 150-200, even farther isn’t out of reach.

@xphunter has held sub-moa with a highly modified Ruger out past 500 yards, using factory ammo.

I have seen Ernie's pistols i would not call them a ruger LOL
I guess what i was thinking open sights at 50 yards off bags 2"/4"

 

[Varminterror]

I have seen Ernie's pistols i would not call them a ruger LOL
I guess what i was thinking open sights at 50 yards off bags 2"/4"

I can’t see for crap any more, so small target, or even small group shooting with iron sights at 50 yard iron sight shooting isn’t a “thing” for me. I shoot 10” and 12” gongs at 50 yards with my carry pistols, but any group shooting I do has a more refined aiming point; dot or reticle.

2”-4” at 50yrds is 4-8moa. Twice as big as what a Ruger should be capable.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I can’t see for **** any more, so small target, or even small group shooting with iron sights at 50 yard iron sight shooting isn’t a “thing” for me. I shoot 10” and 12” gongs at 50 yards with my carry pistols, but any group shooting I do has a more refined aiming point; dot or reticle.

2”-4” at 50yrds is 4-8moa. Twice as big as what a Ruger should be capable.

I'm right there with you with crappy eyes I stick to shooting steel targets gongs too 3" 6" at 50 yards and 8" and 10" at 100 yards but to be honest i shoot my 10" 44 magnum Contender more now days when I was shooting my SBH a lot I was hitting the 10" gong 4 out of 6 times

 

[murf]

the sights were not repeatable.

any fix for that particular problem?

murf

 

[.38 Special]

any fix for that particular problem?

murf

Bowen Rough Country sights are exceptionally high quality and also give an improved sight picture. They are offered in a stock "drop-in" version and also one which requires fitting. The only real downside is that they often are out of stock.

 

[.38 Special]

With regard to stock revolver accuracy, my long-time observation is that one inch per 10 yards is kind of a minimum standard, while one inch per 25 yards is about all that can be reasonably expected. (And I am talking about what the gun is capable of, rather than the shooter).

There are guns that will do better than that, and of course guns that will do worse, but as an average, I think it holds up pretty well. And of course, custom guns can be had that will close in on MOA, for the rare man who can hold for it. Sadly, though, I think a fellow expecting to receive a two-to-four MOA revolver from Ruger on demand is liable to be disappointed.

 

[xphunter]

I have seen Ernie's pistols i would not call them a ruger LOL
I guess what i was thinking open sights at 50 yards off bags 2"/4"

Ruger GP-100....Yes, it had a Leupold pistol scope on it.
I am not Quigley

 

[xphunter]

Customized/Franken-Ruger GP-100.
Javelina at 130ish yards. Has a Burris 2.5-7 pistol scope on it now.

 

[xphunter]

What kind of accuracy should a 10 1/2" SBH be capable of? Should it shoot 3" groups at 50 yards? Dinner plates at 100 yards? I'm not expecting to be a sharpshooter all of a sudden since I bought this long barrel. Just wondering what other guys have had for results. I'm going to shoot open sights.

A good reference for me is should you be able to hit stationary clay pigeons at 50yds?

I wouldn’t be concerned about what other people are capable of doing or what their pistols can do, just see what you can do with your set up, and that will allow you to determine what you’re able to do at different distances, on different size targets.
I primarily use some kind of optic myself (as you can see in my earlier post on this thread), but I will be shooting a iron sighted 44 Magnum more after the first of the year for a shoot.

 

[JDeere]

Which caliber? 44 mag gets to be a handful when loaded strong from a long barrel. The guns mechanical potential simply cannot be achieved with a human holding it, and stronger loads means more recoil and more likely to flinch. Also, depending upon how you hold the gun the grip shape can be a huge factor. I had a SBH44 7.5” and it could shoot, but the way I held it was painful and it quickly led to a flinch that destroyed accurate shooting potential. A Bisley grip may be more fitting than traditional plow handles.

I have the 7.5 Bisley Hunter and to me the bisley grips help a lot. Recoil pushes back and does not roll up as with the plow handle. Mine groups well at 50 yds off the rest. I do okay without a rest but it depends on the day. I had to work hard to eliminate anticipating recoil and pushing down. Took the scope off as I shoot way better with open sights.