50th Flattop .357 Blackhawk

[JohnGalt88]

Just acquired a long time lust of mine. Traded a GP100 to get into it and am very happy with my purchase. I've wanted one ever since i leaned how to shoot on a Single Six.

A few years ago i traded the Single Six for a 6.5 inch blackhawk but found it to be too heavy and a shade to big for my tastes. I traded into the GP100 and enjoyed it for a while but began looking for a medium frame Blackhawk after i got to shoot a New Vaquero. The Vaquero was almost the perfect size but i didn't like the traditional sights. That problem was solved when I found out about the 50th Anniversary Flattop, the next step was finding one which eventually happened.

I really think they should make this a regular offering rather than a super special run as it's just Blackhawk sights on a new Vaquero. Not something hard to do by any means. The gun shot well, and i found the trigger to be satisfactory with only a very small amount of creep. The revers pawl is great and makes it much easier to reload. Accuracy was good despite my rather bad form. The only bad part about the gun is the grips which i find to be much too thin. Other than that i really enjoy the gun. Its quite the handful with magnum rounds!

 

[ozarkguy]

I agree totally. I really like mine as well. I even got one of the midframe flattop .44 Special Blackhawks when Ruger made them a regular catalog item. I really don't understand why they don't make the .357 midframe Blackhawk a regular catalog item also. Seems like a natural to me.

 

[BullRunBear]

I'm surprised as well that Ruger doesn't offer the 50th Anniversary size as a regular version. I have the 50th and an original flattop from the first year of manufacture. They make a more comfortable 357 platform than the standard (non-super) Blackhawk. That 4 5/8" barrel makes for very comfortable carry as well.

When I'm in the mood for nuclear-level 357s (very rare these days), I use them in a 357 Redhawk or Contender. My other 357s see a LOT more 38 specials through them.

Jeff

 

[JohnGalt88]

I will say one thing about my 50, i don't think they handle recoil near as well as the large frames with the "Ruger Style" grip as opposed to the "colt like" style the 50's have. The weight of course has a lot to do with that though the thinner grips tend to sting the hand a bit more.

Perhaps though i hold the gun too low and develop a better single action hold since i tend to try and hold it like i do my automatics. A CAS shooter showed me how to hold the gun with a higher hand hold with the thumb on the left cylinder shield. He thumbs the hammer with the his left hand and is quite fast. Seemed quite comfortable after i tired it.