Bob F.
Member
Read Jim March's excellent @ the top re: picking a sound revolver and several other posts re; .357 for deer & Ruger Blackhawks in general.
Been wantin' a woods gun and always preferred a revolver in that role, though I prefer a semi auto for ccw.
Local shop had a 6.5" .357 BH that looked good (except for the white paint blob on the front sight-easy to fix). Checked out good, almost no BC gap, faint ring from the bolt dragging. Otherwise solid, price OK, not great, but I WANTED it!!
Loaded some new Starline, 14gr 2400 Fed SPMag primers topped with 158gr XTP-HP. Not impressed. Read more here and several said ya' gotta push Jacketed bullets a little to get best result in the Rugers. Somebody else said try reg SP primers w/ 2400. Loaded 10 rds each of 5 different loads, all w/ Fed SP (not mag)primers. The first 2 loads were 158 XTP's, the other 3 with 158gr Bull-X SWCs. Shot 5 of each with shooting glasses from sandbags, the 5 of each w/ my bifocals, fighting to see the sights and targets! Darned old age! Yes!! HOT load of 2400 w/ 158 XTP's is my hunting (deer) load, 4 rounds into <2" @ 25yds, pulled one. Midrange 158 SWC over max load of 231, same result, same POA/POI. And, of course, 3.2gr 231 behind 148gr WC in .38 cases for shooting flies off the 25yd target! LOL! Love my Blackhawk!!! Now gotta get a Bianchi "Lawman" holster for it, and find a cooperative deer!
I really want to thanks the folks here for a lot of help, some of it even indirect! I thought of trying 110, but saw the thread re: flamethrowers. Fun, but not now.
Thanks!!
Been wantin' a woods gun and always preferred a revolver in that role, though I prefer a semi auto for ccw.
Local shop had a 6.5" .357 BH that looked good (except for the white paint blob on the front sight-easy to fix). Checked out good, almost no BC gap, faint ring from the bolt dragging. Otherwise solid, price OK, not great, but I WANTED it!!
Loaded some new Starline, 14gr 2400 Fed SPMag primers topped with 158gr XTP-HP. Not impressed. Read more here and several said ya' gotta push Jacketed bullets a little to get best result in the Rugers. Somebody else said try reg SP primers w/ 2400. Loaded 10 rds each of 5 different loads, all w/ Fed SP (not mag)primers. The first 2 loads were 158 XTP's, the other 3 with 158gr Bull-X SWCs. Shot 5 of each with shooting glasses from sandbags, the 5 of each w/ my bifocals, fighting to see the sights and targets! Darned old age! Yes!! HOT load of 2400 w/ 158 XTP's is my hunting (deer) load, 4 rounds into <2" @ 25yds, pulled one. Midrange 158 SWC over max load of 231, same result, same POA/POI. And, of course, 3.2gr 231 behind 148gr WC in .38 cases for shooting flies off the 25yd target! LOL! Love my Blackhawk!!! Now gotta get a Bianchi "Lawman" holster for it, and find a cooperative deer!
I really want to thanks the folks here for a lot of help, some of it even indirect! I thought of trying 110, but saw the thread re: flamethrowers. Fun, but not now.
Thanks!!