Heavy Loads in a Ruger Single Action?

[John C]

I'm going to do some long range six-gunning in the Nevada desert. I'm loading 125 and 158 grain bullets over max loads of Alliant 300-MP. First indications are that this powder blows away even H110/W296.

I'm concerned that the pounding will cause endshake in my Ruger GP100, so I'm considering picking up a used Ruger Bisley Blackhawk in .357.

My question is, what does a prolonged diet of book maximum loads do to a single action Ruger? Do they develop endshake, like a double action revolver? Or can you just shoot them until the forcing cone cracks or erodes away?

Should I skip shooting these, other than occasionally, in a revolver, and just shoot them in my contender?

Thanks,

-John

 

[BSA1]

Most reloading manuals have a separate section of hot loads intended for use only in Ruger Blackhawk, Super Redhawk and Freedom Arms. These guns are overbuilt and strong enough to take a regular pounding of higher pressure ammunition. I have never seen a one of these guns blow up but I do know of one that had a chamber bulged. However it was in 45 Colt so the cylinder wall is much thinner than the .357.

Stay within published data and work up your reloads with the usual warning about watching for excessive pressure.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Find a 357 Ruger Redhawk. They are made for what you are undertaking. I admire and respect your desire to go beyond H110. I do the same thing also! Have fun but keep safe.



Here is the redhawk (stainless) compared in size to an N framed S&W and a Python. Note the size.



Note how much steel you have around the 357 rounds.



Note the caliber.



I have 2 of them. My 7.5 and my 5.5. They are my beat the tar out of the 357 Magnum guns. I do my load work ups in them and play with them. I actually like the 5.5" better as it is more wore in and has a better trigger. The 7.5 is a better shooter though as the longer barrel helps with the accuracy in shooting.



Finally, if you get bored with how fast you can toll your 158 with a 357 Magnum round. Get a Supermag. One of my Supermags (top) is shown next to the Redhawk and I show a round of 357 Maximum next to the little 357 Magnum below the redhawk. This is your next power level up.

If you get bored with the Supermag, do some searches on the 353.

 

[Drail]

It will take a very long time for endshake to develop in a GP 100. But with any type of revolver what will happen pretty quickly is erosion of the forcing cone if you shoot many 110-125 gr. "max" loads. The lighter bullets will hit the forcing cone faster, harder and allow more hot gas to eat at the forcing cone even if your loads don't come anywhere near generating enough pressure to damage the cylinder. That is not some "internet theory" - I speak from experience with a brand new GP 100. It only took around 400 to 500 rounds of light bullet max loads to eat the cone up using Blue Dot loads straight out of the Speer No. 11 manual. They stopped listing that load in the next book published. I will never use a Speer manual again. Stick with 140 to 158 gr. bullets and you can shoot it for a very long time. Don't worry if you see any flame cutting of the top strap - it will only go so far and then stop. The GP 100 is a fine revolver and will give years of service if you don't abuse it. If you would like to see some graphic photos of abuse to a GP 100 read the Kuhnhausen Ruger DA shop manual. He has seen what hot loads can do to a GP 100 or a Redhawk or a Blackhawk.

 

[CraigC]

It will take a very long time for endshake to develop in a GP 100. But with any type of revolver what will happen pretty quickly is erosion of the forcing cone if you shoot many 110-125 gr. "max" loads.

Yep, you'll be hard pressed to hurt the GP but it will happen quicker with the light bullets at high velocity. Switch to 158-173gr cast bullets and that will pretty much go away for the foreseeable future.

The large frame Bisley Blackhawk and Redhawk are really way too much sixgun for the cartridge. They are built to withstand a lifetime of the .44Mag and beyond and are more than is necessary for the .357.

 

[Pentrite]

This Vaquero is a native Nevadan! Ive had the pleasure of feeding it some pretty hot stuff and its never let me down. Are you by chance a Northern Nevadan?

 

[beag_nut]

If you're going to do long-range shooting with a (any) Ruger revolver, try the 180 grain bullets over any max powder charge. I don't think you'll EVER cause end-shake in a GP in a reasonable number of rounds, before you destroy your hand. I don't think there's anything in the design of a Ruger single action which makes it stronger than a comparable double-action Ruger.

 

[CraigC]

I don't think there's anything in the design of a Ruger single action which makes it stronger than a comparable double-action Ruger.

Single actions are, by design, more robust than their DA counterparts. Here in particular, even the mid-frame Blackhawk's cylinder is larger and stronger than the GP's. The GP just happens to be plenty strong enough for standard loads. It's only going to become an issue with VERY high round counts and higher than standard pressures.

 

[John C]

Thanks, fellas, for the replies. The GP100 is a stout revolver, but I have one back at Ruger right now to correct excessive end shake. While it will take 10x the rounds a K frame Smith will take before developing end shake, it does happen. So I'd like to avoid it, if possible.

I think I will get the Ruger Bisley .357. I think I need an overbuilt revolver for this project. If the forcing cone gives up the ghost, I can at least get it repaired easily.

I wonder about the bad reputation the 125 gr bullet has in the .357, and to what degree that has to do with Speer #11 and Blue Dot. Literally every horror story I've heard about 125 gr bullets involves (now over) book max loads of the powder. Is there something about Blue Dot, or just those old loads? I'm wondering if the powder is abrasive.

I will take measurements and photos of the Blackhawk forcing cone, and let you folks know if there's a problem.

Someday I hope to get a Redhawk in .357. That should cure my end shake woes. The problem is if I blow out the forcing cone, will Ruger fix it?

Finally, the reason I'm interested in the 125 gr bullet is for flatter trajectory. I will also experiment with 158 grainers. 300-MP doesn't appear to give as great of velocity boost over H110 or 2400 in 158 gr versus 125 gr jacketed bullets. I will find out, though.

Thanks,

-John

 

[murf]

pics of a 73' blackhawk. bought it like this. still just as accurate as my 686s. she now gets a steady diet of hot 158 and 180 grain lead (1200 fps for both). i don't run hot 125 grain loads anymore.

murf

 

[murf]

johnc,

while the 125s will have a flatter trajectory, the 158 swc and 180 tc bullets i shoot through my blackhawk are just as, or more, accurate. just aim a little higher at long distances.

murf

 

[Big7]

Yep...

I have yet to feed my GP-100 ANYTHING it can't handle.

Me needs to go big because I have small hands.
.357 is about all I can hold, not because of recoil but grip size.

Won't post my loads, most are way max. The GP will take it.
Trust me.

The best wheel-gun I've ever owned. (DA anyway)

I LOVE my Rugers!