Black Hawk .45 Pros and Cons Question

[MRCapps]

MRCapps, good luck on checking with Williams for what you want. Since you plan on reloading "eventually", I doubt you would regret starting out with a convertible since that is going to have a beneficial affect on shooting right away for really a nominal extra cost for the acp cylinder. If you don't use .45 acp a great deal at a later date, you won't be out much and depending on how much you shoot before getting into reloading, you will probably be money ahead. Seems like a no-lose situation to me. Around here Walmart has 100 round valu-paks of .45 acp ball for around 33-34 dollars and they shoot pretty good. Compared to 75-80 dollars minimum for a 100 rounds of factory 45 Colt around here, it won't take you long to save the cost of that extra cylinder.

BTW, a 5 1/2 inch Bisley Convertible from Williams was going for somewhere under $600 before (I think I paid around $570 for mine). I don't know that they still have them or if the price has gone up but if they do it shouldn't cost you anywhere near $900

Thanks for the info! On Ruger's website it talks highly about the BH and then under the Bisley it just says, "good for target practice". ??

Also, if I could find one of the SBH .45 **, would they be any worth it or are they realy no difference?

Thanks again

 

[Gary A]

would they be any worth it or are they realy no difference?

That's hard to answer for me. Personally, I prefer the regular Blackhawk grip over the Bisley grip and also prefer the alloy gripframe and its lesser weight and different balance over the Bisley with its all-steel gripframe. That is largely due, I'm sure, to the less than thunderous power levels I shoot. For me, personally, the blued Blackhawk with the regular XR3-RED grip and the lighter frame is just about perfect. Many people feel that for heavier loads the Bisley is better and some people prefer the heavier weight, particularly to dampen heavier loads. Still, the 5 1/2 inch Bisley-gripped convertible is a fine, fine, even awesome handgun. While not at the top of my list, it ranks pretty high.

 

[MRCapps]

I see, the BH grip kind of triangles out where the Bisley grip is more of a straight down design. The local shop out here has a BH .45 that I am going to look at this weekend. Want to get a feel for it before I order mine. Too bad they wont let me shoot it! At least I will get to see how it feels in my hand and all before hand. Probably will order mine off of cheaperthandirt.com when it comes time for it. Thanks

 

[CraigC]

The only gun marked "Super Blackhawk" and chambered in .45Colt is the Hunter model. All others are simply Blackhawks. Which doesn't mean much because they're all of the same frame size, except for the new .357 and .44Spl mid-frames.

 

[Floppy_D]

I've got the 4 1/2" in 45 Colt. I love it. It's tied as my favorite handgun to shoot. I've no want or use for the conversion cylinder, as I reload for mine. The 45 Colt is a dream to reload for; you can load some real hammers, or make the gentlest of powderpuff loads. Plus, big components are easier for fat fingers to handle.

 

[D Rudd]

I've got four Ruger .45 convertibles with 7.5" barrels two Old Models and two New Models. Have 8 other Ruger .45's Blackhawks and Vaquero's barrels from 3.75 to 7.5. I bet I haven't shot 50 rounds of .45acp through the convertibles. I can reload .45Colt plinkers for the same price as the .45acp and don't have to change cylinders.
Yes I like Ruger .45Colt revolvers. Couple of lever guns in the same caliber also.

Dana

 

[RidgwayCO]

Here's mine:

Pros: Shoots everything from heavy .45 Colt loads to creampuff .45 Auto loads. The stainless is easy to maintain. The bisley grip frame works best for me.

Cons: None so far!

 

[stevehenry1]

i haveboth the .45 convertible and the .357/9mm convertible. I think they are GREAT. i have had excellent results for both. if you don't reload, or don't like to, they are a godsend. 9mm and .45acp are the two cheapest centerfire handgun rounds you can buy. There is a very wide availablity of loads and bullet styles. AND if you are worried about using handloads for self defense ( like possible legal problems) the problems are solved. and i have found that the .45acp shoots very consistently--even the Wolf. it is also very nice to be able to grab ammo at WallyWorld if needed. and .45 colt here at Dick's is going for $50 !! it is nice to have options.

 

[BCRider]

It seems like we're seeing a trend here. Those that reload don't care for a second cylinder that allows cheaper and lighter factory plinking loads because they can make their own. Those that don't reload find a lot of utility out of the secondary cylinders.

You should shop around for prices on factory .45Colt ammo. You can buy cowboy action loads pretty easily in most bigger centers but full power stuff isn't as easy to come by and when you do it is pricey.... Well, so's the cowboy stuff but it's not as bad as full power stuff.. So I would suggest that reloading is all but mandatory to get your most fun and value out of one of these guns and not break the bank in both money and time hunting for and buying a wide range of various ammo loads.

 

[Gary A]

There is little doubt about the value of reloading, but for those who do not wish to reload or are thinking about reloading but have not yet taken the plunge, the 45 acp cylinder is a good option because they can shoot the gun with much enjoyment for very little more than the cost of buying .38 special ammo and certainly a bit less than buying .357 ammo. I'm talking range ammo here, 230 ball, and ball .38 and JSP .357. The little bit extra they pay for an extra cylinder will be paid for easily by the time they set up and begin to reload. The worst that can happen is that one day down the road they have an extra cylinder in the box that is seldom used. Options are always nice.

It's just another example of "I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it".

 

[Armored farmer]

My whitetail gun is a match to Arkasas Paul's 7.5" Blackhawk..right down to the grips.
I have only the bare minimum of reloading equipment: Lee single stage/Lee dies/Lee dippers/and a cheap electronic scale..<$100 for all. I am able to turn out some very satisfying reloads from plinkers to hunting loads.

 

[CraigC]

Even if you do handload, I think the ACP cylinder has some utility. With loads in the 700-900fps range, it will be much more efficient than the big .45Colt case, using much less powder to get the job done. Loading and unloading will also be much quicker, as the long Colt case tends to not fully eject. There are plenty of good cast bullets available for the ACP for lots of economical shooting. I can dig it!

 

[zxcvbob]

I reload, but I'd still kind of like having a 2nd cylinder because .45 ACP's shoot really nice in a big revolver. And I could load them with heavy SWC's that would probably jam in a semiauto.

But I don't want the conversion cylinder bad enough to pay $75 to $100 it for and then probably have to pay to get it fitted. If it comes with the gun, it's worth having and paying a little extra for, IMHO

 

[MRCapps]

Well where I am looking, to buy the convertible is only about $50 more.

Any advice on where to go to get started on reloading? Never even seen it done so I have no clue where to start. I have a 243, will be buying this .45 and soon after a Marlin 444 (probably) so reloading is going to be very beneficial. I just dont know ANYTHING about it.....

 

[rcmodel]

Suggest you visit the Reloading forum right here on THR.

Then read the Stickys at the top of the page on getting started.

rc

 

[BlindJustice]

Great thread. I have wanted a std. Blackhawk in .45 Colt
to go with my 1894 20" Bbl. in .45 Colt. & reading some of the comments I think the 4 5/8" would be handy. The convertible 'feature' of a .45 ACP Cylinder appeals to me since I also have & shoot a 1911 full size in .45 ACP and a S&W 625 5" Bbl .45 ACP w/moon clips & .45 Auto RIm.

Randall
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