Medium-framed Blackhawk questions

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westernrover

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Want to pick up a Blackhawk in .357. I'm looking for Blued finish with a medium frame, but which one?

I understand the first 3-screw, flat top Blackhawks had medium-sized frames, the smaller "XR-3" grip frames, Micro-brand, steel, adjustable sights, and an action similar to Colts but with coil springs. The antique shop has one of these, but I want to carry it and it seems like the transfer bar is safer. I have a 3 screw Single Six, but I don't carry it so I never had to concern myself with whether the first "click" was enough to keep the hammer off the firing pin or that I should have an empty chamber.

I understand there's the 2005 "50th" Flattop model, which was also continued since as a Lipsey's special. I've read that was a .44 Special, but it seems to have come along in .357 at some point, with the medium-sized frame, smaller, steel "XR-3" grip frame and flat-top with an adjustable sight. Is that adjustable sight steel, similar to the Micro sights from the early flat tops?

Then there's the standard Blackhawk which since 1962 came with the larger, aluminum "XR-3 Red" grip frame and 'winged' top. I understand the adjustable sights are aluminum as well as the grip frame. But what's the history of the .357's frame size since 1973? Weren't the .357's made with the large frame at some point? When did they stop being offered in the large frame? Or are the current "standard" Blackhawks with winged sights in .357 still on the large frame?

I know this has been asked and answered a few times, but the answers I found with the search function were either unclear or proved to be mistaken.

I'm certain I want the medium-frame since I'm also certain about the .357 chambering and I see no point in the "super" Blackhawk frame for that cartridge. I doubt I want an early flat top or winged 3-screw for regular carry. So that leaves the Lipsey's flat-top, or a Vaquero unless the regular Blackhawks have gone to the medium frame.
 
Flattops and vaqueros are the only ones with meduim frames currently produced.

https://www.ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkConvertible/models.html

I don't see the flattop in .357 available by itself. Only as the convertible right now. Scroll down to the bottom of the page . Models 5244,5245,5246, and 5247 are all flattops.

As far as frame sizes I'm pretty sure if it's a Blackhawk with the standard rear sight and the hump that protects the sight than it's a large frame. Flattops and vaqueros are the only meduim frames aside from pre 73's and the 50th anniversary iIIRC.
 
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I got a pair of 50th Anniversary Blackhawks for my wife. They have the medium frame, and the steel XR-3 grip.
 
westernrover

I'm certain I want the medium-frame since I'm also certain about the .357 chambering and I see no point in the "super" Blackhawk frame for that cartridge. I doubt I want an early flat top or winged 3-screw for regular carry. So that leaves the Lipsey's flat-top, or a Vaquero unless the regular Blackhawks have gone to the medium frame.
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Sounds like the Ruger Blackhawk Flattop .357 from Lipsey's (Model RUNVB-34X), or else the 50th Anniversary Model Blackhawk would give you what you want in a .357 single action revolver.

For myself I have an older 3 screw Blackhawk in .357 that I found at a gun show some years back.

vwUx8gt.jpg
 
Until the 50th Anniversary Model and its cousin the New Vaquero, all of the New Model .357 Blackhawks were built on the large cylinder frame. The blued guns have aluminum grip frames and ejector housings.

I really prefer the medium framed Ruger’s. I have a pair of New Vaqueros and a .44 Special Bisley Blackhawk Flattop.
 
For me, the Old Model and preferably the flat-tops with the XR3 grip frame or an eared model retrofitted with the XR3 is the perfect .357 sixgun. I bought one of the 50th anniversary guns and found that it was just too heavy. I originally bought it for conversion to .44Spl so when the factory .44 guns came out, I traded it away. The OM's are heavy enough at 40oz for the 4 5/8" model. The all steel 50th was just too much at 44oz. That's large frame .44Mag weight, 1oz shy of my 4 5/8" Bisley .44Mag.

IMG_0095b.jpg
 
I understand the difference in the action between the old models (all the 3-screw versions) and the 50th version (and later Lipsey's flat-top versions), but what's the difference in the weight? The early XR-3 grip frames were aluminum, some of them marked "Alcoa," and the 50th and Lipsey's XR-3's are steel. Does that make a 4 ounce difference? Ruger's website specifies the 4.62" .357 (5244) at 36 ounces. I think that's a mistake. Lipsey's specs the 5244 at 44 oz. They also disagree on the weight of the standard 4.62" .357 Blackhawk 0306. Ruger specs 42 oz. Lipsey's 40 oz.

I could buy the 3-screw flattop and send it to Ruger to have it converted to the transfer-bar action. Collectors would cringe, but if they don't like it, they could buy it before me. I've been carrying a 3-screw lately and there are two things that bother me about it. First, the hammer's drop or hit safety. The second is the need to regularly (half) cock the hammer and pull the trigger just to clear, check or load the cylinder. Doing that day in and out, my thumb's going to slip someday. I suppose I could just keep it loaded, put it in the safe loaded instead of cocking and pulling the trigger to let down the hammer every day at home, and load 5. I love the action on my 3 screw, but the transfer bar just makes sense for regular carry.
 
I don't know whose weight figure is correct. I know a .357 on a .44/45 frame is going to be heavy because of the smaller holes in barrel and cylinder. Good looking steel grip frame and ejector rod housing just make it worse.

I do not understand your worries about manipulation. Half cock, open gate, load one, skip one, load four, full cock, ease hammer down. So what if you slip, it's over the empty. To check loaded status, look for case rims showing. I seldom have occasion to unload anything but empties.
True, if you feel you need all six loaded, you need a transfer bar.
I have not heard anything good about the trigger pull resulting from the transfer bar conversion.
 
I gave you accurate weights.

I've been using traditional single action revolvers for 32yrs and I've never had a slip. Loading five rounds is just second nature. The guns are equally safe, as long as you know how to operate it. The conversion action is terrible but it's your gun to convert or not. Personally, I think the Old Model action is better in every way compared to New Models and I have dozens of each.
 
I have a 50th 357 blackhawk. Don't plan on carrying it. Don't even have a holster. It sure is a sweet gun to shoot on the range though. Very accurate with my cast bullets. Shoots all weights of xtps well. I just need to replace those hideous plastic grips with some nice wood.
 
Caplock

I just need to replace those hideous plastic grips with some nice wood.
Click to expand...

First thing I did with my new Ruger Blackhawk Flattop .44 Special was to replace those awful plastic grips with a pair of Rosewood grips from Ruger until I could get a pair made of American Holly by Private's Custom Grips.

4qJNUJO.jpg
 
Echoing CraigC’s comments, I do not have any older Blackhawks without a transfer bar and I do somewhat prefer the size of the smaller frame of the Flattop/Vaquero but I also find them heavier than feels right to me and I find the balance of the large framed .357 with its aluminum grip frame to be better and, if memory serves, it is really no heavier than the flattop in spite of its larger size. My favorite is the large-framed, aluminum-gripped blued Blackhawk in .45 caliber with a 4 5/8 inch barrel. Heaven. My feelings are entirely subjective.
 
This website has been so educational to me, I bought a 41 mag Ruger Blackhawk used at a yard sale when I was 19 yrs old, now I'm 62 the gun has the transfer bar, so when did this come out.
jeez....I thought I had an old gun but it turns out it's sooooo modern.
JD 41 Mag1.jpg
 
I had an early Blackhawk convertible 45 Colt/45 ACP. Best one I ever had and never never never should have sold it.
 
tbob38 said:
I had an early Blackhawk convertible 45 Colt/45 ACP. Best one I ever had and never never never should have sold it.
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That 1967 above was sold by me in 1983 to pay for my wife's cancer treatments. The guy I sold it to came and asked me if I wanted it back in 2008. He had shot 5 rounds through it and put it in a drawer. I paid $50 markup and got the partial box of cartridges that I gave him with it back!
 
dickydalton said:
That 1967 above was sold by me in 1983 to pay for my wife's cancer treatments. The guy I sold it to came and asked me if I wanted it back in 2008. He had shot 5 rounds through it and put it in a drawer. I paid $50 markup and got the partial box of cartridges that I gave him with it back!
Click to expand...

Fantastic!
 
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