NIB Blackhawk convertible is finally mine!

[50caliber123]

I have always wanted one of these 3-caliber guns. Mine is .357/.38/9mm. Here's my only problem: I haven't fired the gun, but for some reason in SE MI, there isn't any .38spc. or .357mag ammo anywhere. If you can find 9mm that isn't factory reloads, its $40.00 for a 100ct box of winchester 9mm. Anyone have any personal experiences with this gun, advice before I shoot it, and know where in SE MI I can find .357 for $30 a 50rd box or less? Any comments appreciated, thankyou.

 

[kanook]

got a couple of them. love them. they eat anything that I feed them

 

[CoRoMo]

Awesome Choice!!!

That was my first handgun ever.
Still have it in the nightstand, although its main purpose is my backcountry hiking gun.

My only advice is to shoot it as much as you can.
If at all possible, start reloading. The .38spl / .357mag rounds are good cartridges to begin reloading with, and it doesn't take a whole lot of cash to end up with a lifetime's supply of powder and primers. Of course you'd have to be able to find them too. Companies like CheyCast will give you a plethora of bullets at good bulk prices.

 

[WC145]

Good for you! When you get a chance to shoot it I'd really like to her how the 9mm and .38/.357 compare as far as accuracy, recoil, etc.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

I bought one last fall to compliment a .357/38 lever carbine. I have not been shooting it (or anything much) lately due to ammo prices and working too many hours. However when I shoot it I very much enjoy the versatility of it, not to mention it burns up money considerably slower than my bottom feeders. I've read a lot here how the 9mm mode is more accurate if using 147gr lead.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I had the 4-3/4" convertable like yours a few years ago. Great gun. Nothing handles recoil better for such a light gun.

Mine shot pretty well with 9mm, not a target gun, but not bad at all.

When you do find .38 special ammo, be sure to clean the gun thoroughly, including the chambers before firing jacketed or magnum ammo.

 

[50caliber123]

I don't consider it a light gun, although I have fried some that were way heavier. They definently don't make guns like this. Mine is the one with the 4 5/8". I did a lot of research before settling on this exact make and model. What a beauty. I will have to post pics and tell how it does. I'm taking it to the range, and all I have to shoot out of it is 9mm right now. I'll post how it shoots.

 

[LTR shooter]

I don't consider it a light gun Mine is the one with the 4 5/8".

Yep , I have the same and agree for a 4 5/8" gun it is not really light , built on the same frame as the 44 mag and a very massive cylinder for a 357. But the weight and the grip style makes the gun pleasant to shoot even with stout magnum loads. Mine is really accurate with the 357 cylinder .

 

[76shuvlinoff]

Anybody run much of the Hornady .357 leverevolution thru one of these yet? I have a couple boxes and I'm itching to really try it out.

 

[50caliber123]

I want t get some of those new hornady loads. I bet its a good deer round

 

[steveracer]

I love it. I had one for a long time, but traded it not long ago to get the new flat top in .44 Special.

 

[CSA 357]

I would love to find a 45 acp cylinder for my 45colt blackhawk

 

[Ben Shepherd]

I have one, and have shot others. Love 'em

My only advice?

Stay with the heavy(147 grain) 9mm stuff, it shoots much more accurately than the 115 or 124 fodder usually. Me theory behind that is the longer slug grips the slightly over sized .357 rifling better than the shorter/lighter ones do.

 

[Plinker Craig]

I bought one last summer and I love shooting it with both 9mm and 38spcl. I sometime shoot .357 magnums but for the kind of shooting that I enjoy which is mostly informal plinking, I have most fun with 9mm and 38spcl.

I did notice that with the Remington 9mm 90gr MC ammo that I used last summer that about half of the primers showed some sign of small tearing at the indent, as if the firing pin was over-penetrating them. Other than noticing the way that the used 9mm brass appeared, I had no trouble at all resulting from this issue. I remember the Ruger manual makes some mention of this, and I just downloaded the manual from Ruger so I can quote it here for you:

"Notes on Revolvers Chambered for 9mm or .30 Carbine: Because 9mm
cartridges are manufactured worldwide for use in pistols, revolvers, and
submachine guns, it is possible to encounter cartridges which, when fired,
develop pierced primers. If this occurs, discontinue the use of the particular
brand or type of ammunition. The possibility of a pierced primer is another
compelling reason why a shooter should always wear protective glasses to shield his eyes."

Again, I will repeat that I did not have any issue with the pierced primer other than noticing it and worrying a small bit about it. But following the manual's advice I guess I'll shop for another brand of 9mm to fit my Blackhawk. I use the same Remington ammo in my semi-auto handguns with no issue at all.

I just looked at some notes I kept, and I paid $350 in July 2008 for my Blackhawk brand new. Honestly that price seems like such a bargain today since I love this gun so much. Also I kept track of ammo prices and at the same time I was paying 18 cents per 9mm round of bulk 250 box of Remington ammo. I wish I could even find 9mm ammo today!