Ruger .44 Special Flattop Blackhawk

[wcwhitey]

Went in a LGS road trip today with my son to see what the stores had in the used counter. A few Model 10’s at $395 (be glad to give the contact). Out of the 4 I looked at 3 were super tight, all were NYPD turn ins with much holster wear. Anyhow, the point of this post.

At one of my favorites looking at a Old Police PositiveI looked at the corner of the new cabinet and spotted a Ruger Flattop Blackhawk 5 1/2. I asked the caliber and the counter fellow said he could not tell the tag was worn out. I asked to look at it, spotted the price and read the barrel. Once I saw .44 Special I said SOLD. You see this was a NOS Blackhawk shipped in 2009 that still had 2009 pricing at $529.00. Big score happy as a clam. Not the first .44 from this store that I scored on. Apparently in my region the .44 Special does not get much respect.

Sorry no pictures, will pick it up on Tuesday.

 

[Barbaroja]

Outstanding find! I love mine, also a 5.5” from 2009 I got in 2020. It disappears on my hip in a simply rugged sourdough pancake holster. I hope your a reloader! The Blackhawk can handle a lot . It really lets the 44spl shine.

http://www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/44_Special_Articles/Ruger Lipsey 44 Special.pdf
Great article from when it came out.

 

[wcwhitey]

Outstanding find! I love mine, also a 5.5” from 2009 I got in 2020. It disappears on my hip in a simply rugged sourdough pancake holster. I hope your a reloader! The Blackhawk can handle a lot . It really lets the 44spl shine.

http://www.goodrichfamilyassoc.org/44_Special_Articles/Ruger Lipsey 44 Special.pdf
Great article from when it came out.

Yes Sir! My favorite caliber! Thanks

 

[Dave T]

I had one of the New Model FT 44 Specials a few years ago but quickly sold it. I spent most of my adult life shooting Old Model Rugers and Colt SAAs. Just could not abide the New Model action. Oh well, more power to those who like or tolerate them.

Dave

 

[bannockburn]

Love my .44 Special Blackhawk Flattop!

 

[ontarget]

One of those is very high on my list.
Especially if I could find one at that price.

 

[Riomouse911]

A great gun in a great caliber, it’s the best of both worlds!!

Excellent pick up, you won’t be disappointed.



My .44 Spls., both Rugers.

Stay safe.

 

[RKRCPA]

I got one when they first came out...

But I like the Bisley better.


I'm afraid the plowhandled one doesn't get much use anymore.

 

[.38 Special]

My Bisley version is one of my very best guns.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I love stories with a happy ending!

Smoking deal on a great revolver.

 

[daverich4]

I’ve had the 4 5/8 version for a number of years but don’t shoot it much as the grip is too small for me. Just can’t get used to having my pinky underneath the grip, especially when shooting off a rest.

 

[Seedy Character]

You had me up to "I get to pick it up on tuesday"


As one who lives in FREE and somewhat near SANE America, that pay and wait doesn't sit well.

Awesome find, one day you can enjoy it.

 

[wcwhitey]

You had me up to "I get to pick it up on tuesday"


As one who lives in FREE and somewhat near SANE America, that pay and wait doesn't sit well.

Awesome find, one day you can enjoy it.

Funny, it was more of didn’t want to come home with a present for myself this close to Valentines Day. Been married over 3 decades for a reason.

 

[Seedy Character]

LoL

Much better

 

[Bazoo]

I really like mine. I carry it most of the time. In a simply rugged sourdough holster. It's the most comfortable holster/gun combo I've ever worn.

I didn't like the smaller grip frame so I replaced it with my preferred xr3-red frame. I also wanted the two tone look right from the start. I fell in love with it after seeing and old model two tone in a John Taffin article.

 

[Bazoo]

View attachment 1058865

Yes Sir! My favorite caliber! Thanks

What bullets you got loaded there?

 

[unspellable]

I recently acquired one. Now I'm wondering how hot load it.

 

[wcwhitey]

What bullets you got loaded there?

Both are Rimrock Bullets. Left 200 RNFP and right is their 190 SWC-HP (Advertised as 185 but actually 190, 8 Brinnel, my nod to the FBI load)

 

[RKRCPA]

Both are Rimrock Bullets. Left 200 RNFP and right is their 190 SWC-HP (Advertised as 185 but actually 190, 8 Brinnel, my nod to the FBI load)

I have a box of those hollow points to try. Hoping to find a good load for my 696. The Ruger gets Skeeter's load.

 

[Bazoo]

I've been working with mine using several bullets.
RCBS 44-240-swc
RCBS 44-250-k Keith clone
Lee 432-265-RF ranchdog

I have found good loads with 5.5 unique and the 44-240-swc cci300.

And the 432-265-rf with 4.6 bullseye and cci 350.

Course I'm still working with it. I'm wanting a 200 grain bullet. I have a lee 429-240-2r but I haven't worked with it any yet.

The 44-250-k, I've only loaded a few and they leaded with 50/50 soft/ww alloy but were accurate nevertheless. I'm going to make up some ww bullets and try them next.

 

[joneb]

Not the first .44 from this store that I scored on. Apparently in my region the .44 Special does not get much respect.

What do the cylinder throats measure?
Most Ruger .44 calibers that I've encountered have oversized throats (.433"+) that causes extreme leading with cast bullets.

 

[wcwhitey]

I have a box of those hollow points to try. Hoping to find a good load for my 696. The Ruger gets Skeeter's load.

They get loaded with Win244 same data for the 200 RNFP, weight is so close and bases are exact same dimension.

For the heavier bullets I load using Unique. Both the Keith 529421 and Rim Rocks 270 Wide Nose Semi Wadcutter. I have a few posts in the reloading section on my the Win 244 loads. The Unique loads are right out of the Lyman Manual for the 429431. Except the 7.5 grain Skeeter load that is above current data so they stay out of the Bulldog. Same for the 270 Grain RimRockbullet but I use the data for the old 260 RNL as that base is identical to the RimRock SWC. Those 270’s are super sweet tack drivers using 5.5 Grains of Unique.

 

[wcwhitey]

What do the cylinder throats measure?
Most Ruger .44 calibers that I've encountered have oversized throats (.433"+) that causes extreme leading with cast bullets.

Won’t know till I pick it up and measure it. I had some of those issues with my SBH when I first got it.
Found plain based bullets like the 429421 and the Rimrocks and haven’t had leading in a long time. All are 12 brinnel or below. Super hard cast and beveled bases were the issue for me. The only cleaning necessary is from the Unique.

 

[Bazoo]

My throats measure .4312-.4325 best I recall (I have it written down). I'm loading .431 sized. I have been getting leading with mine but not severe.

I loaded two boxes, both RCBS 44-245-swc. One from ww+Sn alloy and the other from 50/50 ww/pb+Sn alloy. Both with bullseye powder. I can't remember without looking at my notes but it was around 5 grains. I cleaned my gun well and fired one box. Minor leading. Repeat the other box with same results.

Then I switched to the 44-250-k from 50/50 alloy and using unique. 5.5 was some leading and it increased as I went to the skeeter load. So I'm thinking my bullets ain't hard enough for those pressures and burn rate.

Lube was 50/50 from white label throughout.

That's as far as I've gotten with my plain based testing.

The first results were promising.

I do have a mild constriction felt when slugging. I'm reluctant to fire lap or otherwise tinker on it until I've exhausted all my other options.

 

[twarr1]

Outstanding deal! Congratulations!