Blackhawk revolvers

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SabbathWolf

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Similar to the thread about gp-100 barrel lengths....

I purchased a Ruger Blackhawk "Convertible" in 357/38/9mm
It's not here yet so I've not had a chance to even shoot it or comment on the gun itself at all really yet.

When I bought it on-line, I had a choice of getting it with a 4.62" barrel or a 6.50" barrel.
I went with the 6.50" barrel.

I live on 30 acres in the country in Kansas right on the Missouri border almost.
My main purpose for this gun is open carry while working on the property.
Cutting firewood, cutting grass, throwing hay for my 4 horses, horseback riding, mending fences, picnics, hiking around, etc....
Just basic country type stuff.

We have wild dogs, coyotes, bobcats, snakes and various other critters here on a regular basis. Believe it or not, even in this modern day and age, we still have occasional cattle rustlers and horse thieves too! Hard to believe, but it's true.

My intent is to carry it in a shoulder holster of some sort for the most part. But just for nostalgia, I "could" also carry it in some sort of a western cowboy type cartridge belt and hip holster too when horse riding and such.

My question is that I'm thinking of maybe getting a second one as well and have a set of them.
But for the second gun, would you stay with the 6.50" as well so they were identical...or...get the second one in 4.62" just for a little versatility?
I'm interested in all opinions on this as well as your reasons why?
 
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I have a similar story. Bought a Blackhawk 357/9mm with a 6.5" barrell. Feel in love with it. It shoots better than any other centerfire gun I have owned.

So of course I got the fever to get another. I ended up wanting versatility and actually got the Blackhawk 45colt/45acp model with a 4 5/8" barrell. I am very glad I went with the 45 but I must admit I wish I had stuck with the 6.5". I shoot it much better. it has great balance to me.

What ever you do I suggest you shoot it for a while. make sure the 6.5" works for you, then decide. The blackhawks are not going anywhere. When you make your mind up ruger will still be making them
 
TennJed said:
I have a similar story. Bought a Blackhawk 357/9mm with a 6.5" barrel. Feel in love with it. It shoots better than any other centerfire gun I have owned.

So of course I got the fever to get another. I ended up wanting versatility and actually got the Blackhawk 45colt/45acp model with a 4 5/8" barrell. I am very glad I went with the 45 but I must admit I wish I had stuck with the 6.5". I shoot it much better. it has great balance to me.

What ever you do I suggest you shoot it for a while. make sure the 6.5" works for you, then decide. The blackhawks are not going anywhere. When you make your mind up ruger will still be making them
Click to expand...

Well, that's pretty good advice...except...I have no way of knowing which one I'd like better without having both to compare side by side?

I've owned and fired a few 6" revolvers in the past and seem to do better with them than some of the 4" revolvers I've also had.
All of those were double-action guns though...not single-action.

The longer barrels give me a longer sight radius and seem to be more accurate for me. And the "felt" recoil in 357 (subjective I know) seemed to be less. Muzzle flip/rise seemed to be less too. Overall, I've always been more comfy with the longer barrels.

However....none of those guns were as heavy as a Blackhawk either.
That's kinda why I was wondering how manageable the 4.62" BH actually is?
Being somewhat heavier than most double-actions, would it compare more closely to a 4" Smith for example or a 6" Smith (again just as an example?)

Did you lose some accuracy when you went to the 4-5/8" barrel?
I guess since they were also different calibers, my question may be irrelevant anyways.
 
sounds like you answered your own question, if you shoot better with longer barrel guns stick with longer barrel guns
 
Overall, I've always been more comfy with the longer barrels.
Click to expand...
and
if you shoot better with longer barrel guns stick with longer barrel guns
Click to expand...
My super blackhawk .44 mag has a 10 1/2 inch barrel.

View attachment 610180

My shorter .44 mag is a 629 S&W and it has an 8 3/8 barrel.
Makes hitting the target easier but a lot of hardware to swing around.
A little overkill on a snake, but will do the job on all varmints.

View attachment 610181
 
I happen to shoot short barrels better, New Model Blackhawk 4-5/8" .41 Rem mag & an S&W Mtn Gun 4" .41 Rem mag.
For me they group about the same, 2"-3"@ 25 yards, 4"-5" @ 50 yards off hand.
funny, the Smith trigger is noticeably better, but the BH recoils better in my hand. Love em both!!
 
If you are going for another 357 Blackhawk, I would get the same barrel length and have a 'matched' pair. I have an original flattop Blackhawk and a 50th Anniversary model in 357 and prefer the shorter barrel since it puts more of the weight in the palm of my hand. Strictly personal preference and if you like the longer barrel, stay with it. For open carry the longer barrel won't make much difference.

If going for another caliber, try the 45 Colt Blackhawk. That's my second favorite centerfire cartridge after the 38 special. For some reason, I prefer longer barrels in that caliber. (Also, the 45 Colt won't deafen you as thoroughly as a 357 mag if you have to shoot it without hearing protection.)

You didn't say if you reload but the 38 special/357 mag and 45 Colt are good excuses to get started with it. :evil:

Please let us know your impressions of the new gun and plans for the next one.

Jeff
 
The only difference is in handiness of carry. If the 6 and 1/2 incher carries OK for you then I would get that and have a set. The longer barrel gives better velocity in 357 Magnum.

For pure handiness the 4 and 5/8 inch blued Blackhawk in 45 Colt is hard to beat. Its the lightest and loaded to 900 fps with a 250/260 gr bullet will do 98% of what you might want a handgun to do.
 
I have a 4 5/8 45 colt blackhawk, a 6 1/2 inch 45 colt new vaquero, and a 7 1/2 inch 44 mag super blackhawk. All are a blast to shoot, but if I could only keep one, it would be the short-barreled blackhawk. I live in town and conceal carry a smaller semiautomatic, but if I lived on a ranch or farm and was looking for something to carry around on my property, it would be the blackhawk. After some getting used to the shorter sight radius, I shoot the blackhawk almost as accurately as I do the longer barreled 44 mag. On top of everything else, with a nice set of aftermarket grips, the blackhawk just looks great,
 
If you already have the 6.5, definately pick up the 4 5/8. I recently inherited yet another .45, a 4 5/8 old model Vaquero, and it is probably the most useful and balanced single action I have.
 

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I think that for the purposes you have in mind the 6 1/2" length will be fine. If you were carrying it in a strong-side holster while sitting in a truck (or whatever) you would find the shorter length to be more confortable, but a shoulder holster will address that issue. The .357 Magnum cartridge was designed and developed with longer barrels in mind, and the Blackhawk you bought will give you more performance and sight radius than a shorter one can. Enjoy. ;)
 
Just keep buying Blackhawks in every length and caliber you can find and you'll never go wrong.

It's worked out well for me...
 
try the 4.625" barrel. much better packing around, if on your hip. just as accurate (relatively) as the 6.50" for your purposes. little, if any, velocity loss. less weight. same frame, so grip and feel should be the same.

if you don't like it, sell it and get the 6.50" one. there will always be a buyer of used ruger blackhawks.

murf
 
I like the 5.5" barrel. I have a convertible .45 colt - .45 acp. I have added a super blackhawk hammer, belt mountain base pin, buckeye burl grips and a action job. It loves a 250 grain bullet at 1200 fps.
 

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BullRunBear said:
If you are going for another 357 Blackhawk, I would get the same barrel length and have a 'matched' pair. I have an original flattop Blackhawk and a 50th Anniversary model in 357 and prefer the shorter barrel since it puts more of the weight in the palm of my hand. Strictly personal preference and if you like the longer barrel, stay with it. For open carry the longer barrel won't make much difference.

If going for another caliber, try the 45 Colt Blackhawk. That's my second favorite centerfire cartridge after the 38 special. For some reason, I prefer longer barrels in that caliber. (Also, the 45 Colt won't deafen you as thoroughly as a 357 mag if you have to shoot it without hearing protection.)

You didn't say if you reload but the 38 special/357 mag and 45 Colt are good excuses to get started with it. :evil:

Please let us know your impressions of the new gun and plans for the next one.

Jeff
Click to expand...

Actually, NO.....I do not reload.
At least not at the moment anyways.
Quite frankly, that's the "main" reason I went for the 357/38/9mm version.

Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places or something, (quite possible) but
45LC seems to be REALLY hard to find, and when I did find it, there wasn't very many bullet options..."and"....wow....I simply can't afford the price on a lot of it.
I hate to admit that, but it's pretty true.
I'm afraid if I got the 45LC version, it would just sit around a lot because it would cost "me" way too much in ammo to regularly practice with it.

As for impressions of the new gun....sure thing.
I'd be more than happy to post an "honest" review of both the good "AND" bad of it. It should be here probably around mid-week next week since this is the week-end now.

I HATE reviews by gun owners who only post glowing magnificent reports on their guns simply because they spent their hard earned money and don't want to admit to the public (or themselves sometimes) that the gun may have some negative qualities too. So I won't do that.
 
brianr23 said:
I like the 5.5" barrel. I have a convertible .45 colt - .45 acp. I have added a super blackhawk hammer, belt mountain base pin, buckeye burl grips and a action job. It loves a 250 grain bullet at 1200 fps.
Click to expand...

Is the Belt Mountain pin the one you have to remove a screw from to swap out cylinders?
It seems really secure, but also maybe a slight hassle too in a hurry?
What is your impression of it overall?
 
fatcpa said:
I have a 4 5/8 45 colt blackhawk, a 6 1/2 inch 45 colt new vaquero, and a 7 1/2 inch 44 mag super blackhawk. All are a blast to shoot, but if I could only keep one, it would be the short-barreled blackhawk. I live in town and conceal carry a smaller semiautomatic, but if I lived on a ranch or farm and was looking for something to carry around on my property, it would be the blackhawk. After some getting used to the shorter sight radius, I shoot the blackhawk almost as accurately as I do the longer barreled 44 mag. On top of everything else, with a nice set of aftermarket grips, the blackhawk just looks great,
Click to expand...


Ahhh yes. Grips.
I've been Google searching that too as well as various holster options.
My God man!
I've never been so confused in my life.....lol.....:eek:
:D

It seems the Blackhawk has about 20-bizillion different types of grip frames.
Plus some have internal locks and other don't.
Some are steel and some are aluminum...etc....
Some grips fit multiple guns...others don't.
What a nightmare!
lol....

What I 'do" know is that on the Ruger website, they have a set of rosewood grips that I kinda like OK, and they are not very expensive.

Item Number: 19880
http://shopruger.com/Single-Action-Rosewood-Spanish-Dymond-Grips/productinfo/19880/

The only thing is...I'd prefer a set of grips that does "NOT" have the Ruger "logo" on them.
According to Ruger, these grips are made by Altamont.

When I go to the Altamont website, I found the same "looking" grips without the logo. (just what I wanted.)
However...when they start to describe what it fits and doesn't, I get confused as hell!.....lol....:D
Other websites say stuff like this fits this Blackhawk but not that Blackhawk and stuff like that.
Anyways...what do you think of these grips?
Is Altamont an OK company?

http://altamontco.com/experimental/products/pistol/ruger/#Ruger_blackhawk.php
 
But for the second gun, would you stay with the 6.50" as well so they were identical...or...get the second one in 4.62" just for a little versatility?
Click to expand...

I went with the two different barrel lengths.
357times2.gif

Although I did eventually get another 6 1/2" , but it was a stainless steel 1976 "Liberty". The above 4 5/8" is also the covertable with the 9mm cylinder.

Did you lose some accuracy when you went to the 4-5/8" barrel?
Click to expand...

I was usually able to shoot the 6 1/2" slightly better most of the time , probably more due to the longer sight radius. Really , the difference for most shooters is not significant.

I was wondering how manageable the 4.62" BH actually is?

would it compare more closely to a 4" Smith for example or a 6" Smith (again just as an example?)
Click to expand...

In regards to recoil with magnum loads if the 6 1/2" is not a problem the 4 5/8" should not be either. I was wondering the same thing to before firing my 4 5/8". I'd say the 4 5/8" BH is more like shooting something my 6" 686 than one of my 4" Smiths.
 
LTR shooter said:
I went with the two different barrel lengths.
357times2.gif

Although I did eventually get another 6 1/2" , but it was a stainless steel 1976 "Liberty". The above 4 5/8" is also the covertable with the 9mm cylinder.



I was usually able to shoot the 6 1/2" slightly better most of the time , probably more due to the longer sight radius. Really , the difference for most shooters is not significant.



In regards to recoil with magnum loads if the 6 1/2" is not a problem the 4 5/8" should not be either. I was wondering the same thing to before firing my 4 5/8". I'd say the 4 5/8" BH is more like shooting something my 6" 686 than one of my 4" Smiths.
Click to expand...


Geez...

I feel myself being kicked by the envy monster!
 
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