I want a .357 Single Action

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Nightcrawler

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Problem? I don't like the New Model Blackhawk. The old Blackhawk and the SAA fit my hand find. The NM Blackhawk's grip disagrees with me. It seems like it leaves my pinky dangling in the air.

More than that, though, I think the NM Blackhawk is too big for a .357. I handled a 50th Anniversary model Blackhawk today. Much nicer! I wish Ruger would discontinue the the current NM Blackhawk and replace it with the smaller frame. Especially since they're making the smaller frame anyway for the New Vaquero.

I might end up getting a 5.5" New Vaquero. I prefer the 5.5" barrel single action to the 4-5/8ths inch. A 6.5" barrel would be fine too. I would prefer adjustable sights, though.

Either going to have to get a larger frame than I want, or a shorter barrel than I want. Geez...

Unless somebody else out there is making a rugged 5.5-6.5" barreled single action in .357 Magnum, with a transfer bar and adjustable sights...
 
Well, Freedom Arms does, but you would probably complain about the price.

I'd get the Anniversary Blackhawk. I think the 4 5/8" barrel is less of a liability than the fixed sights of the New Vaquero.
 
I'd get the Anniversary Blackhawk. I think the 4 5/8" barrel is less of a liability than the fixed sights of the New Vaquero.
Click to expand...

With the variety of loads the 357 is capable of handling and the level of accuracy possible I would surely want adjustable sights as well. I would gladly give up .875" in barrel length for adjustable sights.

Although I handled the 50th Aniversary 357 also and my pinky seemed like it had no more room than it did with the standard Blackhawk 357 I went with.

The only Ruger single action grip frame which allows all my fingers a secure grip is the larger Super Blackhawk grip frame or the Bisley.

According to Ruger's catalog data the 50th Anniversary 4 5/8" 357 is actually heavier than a blued standard Blackhawk with the same barrel length or even the 6.5" version.
 
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=36061&d=1140748446

Okay, I admit they're not very cowboy lookin', but all you need do is put some grips you like on it. Pachmayr makes a signature grip that increases the size of the grip for larger hands, too, though my hands ain't that large and I shoot my other Blackhawks well.

Don't ask what brand these are, don't know. Picked 'em up used at a gun show. They sure feel good shooting, though. That gun makes .357 very un-magnum where recoil is concerned.
 
I sure like both of mine. Both 2nd Gen Colt's, one New Frontier and one SAA. The NF is as accurate as my Python!:eek:
2ndgennf3579cp.jpg
 
Were I in Nightcrawler's shoes I'd buy one of the old model .357 Blackhawks with a 6 1/2" barrel. If the transfer bar safety was prefered Ruger would set up the revolver for free.

Excluding the "flat top" series these older Blackhawks can often be found in the $250 - $300 ballpark in excellent condition, and they were built on the smaller frame. It's a case of have your cake and eat it too. :)
 
I've owned three.
NM Blackhawk .357/9mm 4-5/8" (gone now)
New Flat Top .357 Anniversary 4-5/8"
Freedom Arms model 97 4.25"
I think the Freedom Arms are actually a good value for the money. Consider what it costs to bring a Blackhawk up to that level, trigger jobs, barrels,cyliders, timing etc... However it did break the cylinder lock spring and is headed to Wyoming for repairs (under a lifetime warrenty).
That said I really dig my new Flat Top. I bought it specifcly for its ruggedness. Coil springs and steel sight. After its fourth trip to the range today, it really started drilling the paper plates at 25 yards with my SWC handloads.
I think the XR3-RED of the NM's is actually better at handling recoil than my Flat Top's XR3 grip, despite the extra weight of the steel XR3.
I curl my pinky under the grip and it gives an index and no slip leverage for reaching and cocking the hammer.
I'm considering swapping to the NM XR3-RED grip frame and hand fitting some panels.
 
I had a 6.5" NM Blackhawk and traded it off. Too heavy. However, I recently shot a 4-5/8" 50th Anniversay Blackhawk Flat Top and fell in love with it. Very well balanced, not too heavy, and had a very slick action for a factory Ruger.
 
I realize this doesn't solve your smaller frame want, but it should solve the dangling pinky issue. Rent a Bisley. IMO, the best grip that Ruger makes (from an ergonomic standpoint).
 
You have three basic choices:

1) Find one of the "50th Anniversary Blackhawks" in 357 - that is an adjustable-sight gun on the New Vaquero frame and grips. But you're limited to the 4.68" barrel.

2) Find a three-screw 357Mag Blackhawk that's old enough to have the smaller grip frame (pre-1962 or so). It will either be already transfer-bar converted or Ruger will do so for free.

3) Upgrade the sights on a New Vaquero, Taurus Gaucho or Beretta Stampede. All three are "basically the same gun" - similar size and ergos as the Colt SAA but with transfer bar. This is what I did with a New Vaq:

vaqhawk.jpg


My gun is now windage-adjustable and I dialed the elevation in at 135gr loads, going back to my local gunsmith twice for minor shaving of the top of the front sight blade based on my test targets. The rear sight channel is hogged out to match. Next step is to send it off for Tritium bulb inserts, one at the front, one at the rear centered and low for a "dot over dot" sight picture (same as a Heinie "Straight 8"). Might do a single bar at the rear instead of dot.
 
Of the three main "transfer bar SAAs" (Ruger New Vaq, Taurus Gaucho, Beretta Stampede) the Ruger has the most potential for modifications/upgrades.

Mine already wears a Ruger SuperBlackhawk hammer and a Bisley can be made to fit. Belt Mountain is making base pins. Qualite is making bird's head grips, bullseye head ejector rods and the like. Ruger's various other grip frames such as the Bisley can be fitted to a New Vaq. Power Custom's hammer/trigger sets work as does their free-spin pawl (or you can modify a stocker to free-spin).

The Gaucho, well, if you like it how it is, fine, otherwise...

The Beretta *might* be able to take the "Lightning style" grip frame used on some Ubertis (see the Cimmarron Arms website) or the Stampede Marshall model. Which is a nice grip frame so long as you're into milder loads; full-house 357Mag power levels would probably be brutal...
 
Ruger 50th Anniversary Model .357 Magnum Flattop

Hey Folk's-

I just bought a NIB Ruger 50th Anniversary Blackhawk, with box-lock-
and doc's for $372 OTD. After handling this 4-5/8" barrel weapon, it
didn't take long for me too fall in love with it. I love adjustable sights
on my "working guns"; and this one will be no different. Mainly it will
be used as a "field gun", as I have other DA .357's for those social
encounters.:cool: :D
 
Ala Dan , that is a great buy! I think I would buy one at that price today! I have two 357 Blackhawks - a 4 5/8" convertable and 6 1/2". But the all-steel 50th Anniversary Model would be a great addition!
 
I have both a "Sheriff's Model" Vaquero, and a 50th Year Blackhawk. I like the 50th year a little better, because of the adjustable sights.

I did notice that the cylinder is a little shorter on the 50th Year BH than the Vaquero...So the BH is not that much longer overall than the Vaquero, despite having the 4-5/8" vs the 3-3/4" barrel of the Vaquero.

Just for grins, I placed the BH cylinder in the frame of the Vaquero...HOLY COW...Cylinder/barrel gap had to be at least 1/4" :eek: :what:

Wonder what the velocity loss would be....:confused: :confused: :confused:
 
Rugged?

If you're willing to forego the transfer bar (and get a much nicer feeling action in return), I'd say a Uberti Millenium with Wolff Springs. Total price under $300 new, plenty rugged since it's a .45 with smaller holes drilled in it, and priced damn near disposable.

Depends if you want a trail gun or a "looker."
 
Foghornl: the "Old Vaquero" is one of the Rugers built on a "44Magnum class frame". The "New Vaquero" and the 50th Anniversary 357 are built on a new mid-size frame very similar to the Colt SAA and are NOT capable of the same power levels as the Old Vaq, all other Blackhawks from 1973 forward and the SuperBlackhawks.

Hence the cylinder difference.
 
BTW another option would be to get aftermarket grip frames and put them on a Blackhawk. CAS competitors use them to customize old Vaqueros to use Colt-sized grips.

This gives you the overbuilt Blackhawk that can handle any .357 load out there, with classic SAA grips. Seems like the best of both worlds, but it'll cost you.
 
I always thought the Blackhawk's grip was too small, in any model.

The Super Blackhawk fits my hand fine, but even the 'old' model (BlackhawkNewVaquero) was smallish for heavy calibers.

The quick solution is a new pair of grips.
 
Att: Mr. Jim March My Friend-

Jim, thanks for the insight on the 50th anniversary Ruger Blackhawk,
as I did not know that bit of info. For that matter, I don't shoot any
HOT (or high pressure) loads; but that advice is good too know. I
appreciate you sharing that tad bit of info with the good folks here
at THR.:)
 
Have a 6.5" 3screw, and two 4 5/8convertables. Just to be different, I prefer the feel of standard Blackhawk grips. For really hot .45 LC, the Bisley handles recoil beter, but doesn't point as naturaly. The SBH slams my knuckle. The 3 screw 6.5 balances the best(also have same in .41), but the 4 5/8 NM is plenty good. My latest (aka world's ugliest revolver) is extremely accurate, shooting 7/8" at 25 yd with first random handload. (Speer 125 jsp, 18.2 H4227. Because that was only bullet in stock at local excuse for sporting goods store). Also the NM will handle a full size Keith SWC in magnum cases.
 
Ala Dan: to make things more confoosing, the 50th Anniversary 44Mag is (of course) built on the larger frame but they also stuck the new smaller grip frame (Colt SAA sized) on it, same as the 357 50th Anniversary Blackhawk and the New Vaqueros.

But wait! It gets worse!

The New Vaquero in 45LC is now the ONE Ruger 45LC that cannot take "Ruger ONLY!" loads, as it's on a smaller frame. A good case can be made that that gun should never have shipped; Ruger should have used the 44Spl as the big-bore caliber on the New Vaq "SAA near-clone" frame, not the 45LC, as it will cause confusion that could lead to gun damage or even a kboom.

The New Vaq is basically Colt SAA size...what happens if you put a Buffalo Bore 325gr @ 1,300fps monster load in an SAA? Baaaaaad things, that's what.

My New Vaq is in 357Mag for several reasons - ammo compatibility with my snubby is one, ammo costs another, but not having an "unsafe combination" is another.

I think somebody will blow a New Vaq in 45LC up with ammo labeled "Ruger ONLY!" and sue. And sadly, they might win.
 
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