Paralysis of analysis: which one to get?

[sidheshooter]

I'm in purgatory; do I spring for one of the Lipsey Blackhawks in .44 spec (as mentioned in the recent thread) or do I grab the minty recent-gen Colt DS that just came up on consignment in the same Ma and Pa store that would be taking my down payment on the Ruger?

I mean, I don't need either, and I can only spring for one, at best.

But both are appealing.

Which way to go, which way to go.

Opinions?

For the record, I have two K-frames (.38 4-inch and .357 3-inch) a J-frame (3-inch heavy barrel chief) as well as a flat top .357 'hawk... oh, and a rossi 720 .44 spec, so I don't need either the design, or the caliber in either case; the other side of the argument being that I would have compatability with existing stock regardless of where I drop my Franklins.

 

[batmann]

Hard to pass on the Colt, in all honesty and this from a Ruger guy that has one of the Blackhawk .44 Spl's on order.
My only question on the Colt vs Ruger would be the intended usage. If it is just going to a shooter and not a safe queen that might change things a little.

 

[clang]

Do you reload? If not, the .44 Special can be mighty expensive to feed. not that factory 38 Special is that cheap any more either.

What's the asking price on the Colt?

 

[HuntAndFish]

DS if you have a CCW. Blackhawk if you don't. JMO.

 

[Oro]

DS if you have a CCW

He's got plenty of other guns to cc that bracket the DS in size and caliber - it doesn't really fill the niche. That said, a clean DS is always hard to pass up - a classic.

From what I can tell, the Lipsey's is only unique in that it is .44 special vs. .44 magnum. Meaning they machined the cylinder bores 1/8" shallower. No big deal vs. a standard .44 Blackhawk - they can shoot .44 special, and just as well - it's really hard to justify a .44 special vs. a .44 magnum that can do both, unless it's in a frame that can't handle the magnum when fit with magnum loads. I also don't see a dollar-for-dollar value in the Lipsey "Special" - I bought a much more collectible 1st year "New Model" Blackhawk, unfired in the box, last summer for about 1/2 of the MSRP of the Lipsey special. Used Blackhawks offer much, much more value.

I would strongly vote for the DS. I am, in the revolver realm, a S&W guy. The Python doesn't even impress me that much - I'd rather have another S&W 27, or another classic N frame, or for a shooter a 586. But the Colt DS does impress me. I'd snap up a good deal on one of those for certain.

 

[P. Plainsman]

Reviving this thread just to correct some misinformation above --

From what I can tell, the Lipsey's is only unique in that it is .44 special vs. .44 magnum. Meaning they machined the cylinder bores 1/8" shallower. No big deal vs. a standard .44 Blackhawk

A few problems here. First, there is no such thing as a "standard .44 Blackhawk," at least in contemporary times. Ruger has made all its .44 Magnums on the Super Blackhawk frame for quite a while.

Second, the Lipsey's .44 Special limited edition gun is on Ruger's special smaller, .357 "50th Anniversary" Blackhawk frame. It's a different, smaller frame size than even the regular Blackhawks in .45 Colt and .357, let alone the Super Blackhawks.

The new Lipsey's guns are very cool and desirable revolvers. But you do need to reload to get the most out of the delightful .44 Special cartridge.

Whether to buy one over a nice Colt DS -- couldn't rightly say, since neither would be a "need" gun for you. Both good choices; up to you.

 

[ArmedBear]

Ruger has two frame sizes: the 50th Anniversary and New Vaquero size, and the Blackhawk/Super Blackhawk size. Blackhawks and Super Blackhawks have the same frames. I didn't think so, either, but someone posted here that they did, so I compared mine. The poster was correct.

Ruger has four grip frames: the regular Blackhawk, used also on Super Blackhawks with barrels under 7 1/2" in length, the Super Blackhawk Dragoon grip frame, used on the 7 1/2" and longer barrel guns, and the "XR3" used on the 50th Anniversary and New Vaquero guns.

The XR3 is a one-handed grip, like an old Colt 1851 Navy and Single Action Army.

The Blackhawk grip is slightly enlarged, but similar in shape to the old Colt grip. It's a bit more comfortable for modern two-handed shooting.

The Super Blackhawk Dragoon grip is a good deal larger, taken essentially from the Colt Dragoon black powder revolvers (Walker, Models 1-3, and Whitneyville) and is something that Elmer Keith pushed for. It's more comfortable with heavy loads.

The other one is the Bisley grip, which is similar to the old Colt Bisley grip, and very similar to what Freedom Arms now uses. It's easier to keep from "rolling" with heavy loads.