Blackhawk vs. Redhawk - what's the difference?

[BlackBearME]

I've got the revolver bug now, and am looking at getting a .44 Mag. My local shop has several Rugers, both Blackhawks and Redhawks.

My question is, what's the objective difference between the two? And which would you subjectively recommend?

 

[gunman42782]

One is a single action, the other a double action. The single action must be loaded one round at a time and ejected one round at a time, and the hammer must be cocked and the trigger pulled for it to shoot. It also has the old "plow handle" grips that roll in your hand when you shoot it. The Double action can be loaded with speedloaders 6 rounds at a time, and has a swing out cylinder. IT can be fired either by just pulling the trigger or by cocking the hammer and then pulling the trigger. I like them both, but it would depend on what you want the gun for. For self defense, I would go with a double action. For hunting, whichever one you prefer.

 

[BlackBearME]

Thanks. I know the difference between the SA and DA, but I didn't know that that was the difference between the two. I agree on the DA-SD, SA- either. This gun would most likely be a trail gun; I already have a 2" snubbie for SD.

But............which one is which?

 

[Sport45]

The Redhawk and SRH are Double action. The Blackhawk and SBH are single actions. I wouldn't turn any of them down if offered to me.

Other DA Rugers are the GP-100 and SP-101.

 

[BlackBearME]

Ah-ha!

I knew there had to be a big difference between the two - thought it might be DA/SA.

Are there any other differences? Comfort, durability, etc.?

 

[BigBlock]

Both revolvers, as with all ruger products, are over built and super reliable. It's really a matter of personal preference, do you want DA or SA? I think SA's are more comfortable to shoot with high power loads like the 44 mag, but the DA isn't bad either. I just brought home a new SA blackhawk, and it really is a beautiful hunk of steel.

 

[Shawnee]

I would agree with "BigBlock" that the more powerful calibers are more comfortable to shoot in the single-actions like the Blackhawk and Super Blackhawk. The single-action will be a little lighter too. Since you aren't concerned about squeezing every last possible foot-pound of power out of it you could choose a model with the 5.5" barrel and that will be sweetly-balanced and much nicer to carry and handle.

HTH

 

[john1911]

Either will outlast you. If at all possible, you need to shoot both and decide for yourself. I agree that the SA are more comfortable to shoot, but I prefer the DA.

 

[Walkalong]

Redhawks rock, but then again, there is nothing wrong with Blackhawks.

 

[Caipirinha]

I'm curious about the opinion that SA's might be easier to shoot that DA's. I've never shot a big bore single action but it's counter-intuitive to me that they would be more recoil friendly. It just seems to me that you have more to grip with the DA, a higher grip position in relation to the bore, and a little more weight to help with the recoil. What am I missing about the advantages of the SA?

 

[First Shirt]

The major advantage is the SA grip style, which allows it to roll in the hand, absorbing some of the perceived recoil. The DA grip tends to keep the recoil more straight back.

 

[Legionnaire]

What First Shirt said. However, that being said, I find that my hands are too big to shoot a Super Blackhawk comfortably with its original grip. I much prefer the Redhawk's grip, which is long enough for me to get my full hand around. Best advice is to handle them both. I like 'em both, but favor the Redhawk (DA). I also prefer the 5.5" barrel on either.

 

[Jim March]

The Blackhawk is loosely patterned after a Colt SAA of 1873 - "loosely" because it's larger, capable of coping with WAY more power, has adjustable sights, coil springs and a good safety that prevents discharge if dropped (if made after 1973 - older ones can be retrofitted with the safety for free by Ruger and most have been).

SAA-pattern guns have some advantages even today over DA revolvers:

* SA frames are smaller than their equivelent-power DA cousins because the cylinder doesn't swing out - there's a whole mechanism "missing" on the SA that gives them a slimmer profile.

* The "fixed in place" cylinder is also a tougher design and can result in greater accuracy, at least when two guns cost about the same amount. Each time you swing the cylinder closed on a DA you're making a new "alignment" between barrel and cylinder and it can vary by a hair or vary a lot over time or if that DA hinge (called the "crane") is bent.

* Therefore the SA is tougher and lighter than an equivelent-horsepower (bullet energy/caliber) DA.

* Because the SA grip was designed for one-handed shooting on horseback, for MOST people it copes with big power better.

* If you study the Ruger catalog online, you'll see that Ruger will sell you an SA revolver in 44Mag that is significantly lighter than their lightest DA.

* Being tougher, a lot of people like SAs as a woods carry/outdoors/critter defense type of gun.

* IF you're willing to put in the time to really learn the SA, it actually has the fastest first-strike speed (fastest first shot out of the holster) of any handgun type made.

* Finally, in areas where you're likely to encounter "gun unfriendly" people on the trail/forest/etc. an SA will have a less "aggressive" appearance (to most non-gunnies) than a DA or autoloader. It's not a major difference but it is there.

---

One more thing about "Blackhawks": all of the ones made after 1973 (also known as a "two screw" for the doubled cross-pins through the frame between hammer and trigger) are built on the "large frame" capable of handling 44Mag horsepower or above. This includes those built with lesser calibers such as the 357.

There is ONE exception: the 50th Anniversary 357 Flattop made in 2005 and still seen for sale now and again. This gun was built on the same smaller frame as the New Vaquero and cannot be set up as a 44Mag. Build quality on these "mid frames" was exceptionally high though, so if you can do what you need done in 357 horsepower levels, these are really sweet. In terms of size, the mid-frames are very close to Colt SAA 1873 dimensions. My Ruger SA is a New Vaquero in 357 with a sights upgrade and lowered hammer bolted on from a SuperBlackHawk, set up as a "streetfighter CCW SA".

The "Old Vaquero" (really just called "Vaquero" by Ruger) was a fixed-sight gun built on the larger post-'73 "44Magnum class" frame.

 

[Caipirinha]

Interesting, I've always looked past the SA's but I'll have to give them a try.

 

[Lashlarue]

I bought a redhawk when they first came out, 100 rds and I sold it it, it literally bruised the palm of my hand. I have since had an Uberti Buckhorn 44mag, and an old style Vaquero in 44mag, both I could shoot all day long without discomfort.