Ruger 44mag

[gonoles_1980]

I'm looking at getting ruger 44mag. I like the looks of the Super Blackhawk single action 10.5 barrel. My concerns would be do I feel the wood grips? I'm also not sure I'd like a single action. The gun is $300 cheaper than the Super Redhawk Double Action 9.5 barrel. It has the hogue grip. Anyone shot either of these? Opinions?

 

[goon]

I've shot Super Blackhawks with standard .44 Magnum 240 grain loads. Though the standard Blackhawk frame bashed my middle knuckle on my middle finger something fierce until I adopted a two-finger grip, the SBH grip is a bit longer and didn't seem to give me that problem. Some have reported that the square triggerguard of the SBH punishes them or even cuts their knuckles during recoil. Personally, I prefer the feel of a DA revolver, specifically how the grip stays put during recoil rather than allowing the gun to roll in the hand. I also feel that I get a more consistent grip, which means I get more consistent accuracy. When I shoot a Single Action Revolver now, I hook my pinky around the bottom of the grip to keep it from rolling during recoil.

Personally, I'd say you should try shooting both before you buy if you can. I don't think the .44 Magnum is a particularly hard cartridge to handle in a full size revolver with a moderate length barrel, but you are going to need a comfortable gun to enjoy shooting it. And good ear protection.

 

[mdauben]

My concerns would be do I feel the wood grips?

When I was thinking about the SBH a while back, when I was in the market for a .44 magnum, the overwhelming recomendation I recieved from people who actually owned and shot them was to go with the Bisley grip version. It is supposed to handle the magnum recoil much better than the standard SA plow handle grip.

 

[Schwing]

I have the super blackhawk .44 7.5 inch and love it. I won't lie to you about the wood grips though. Mine has the square trigger guard and it beat the crap out of my hands. I finally ended up replacing it with a hogue grip... Doesn't look as cool but I can shoot it all day now.

I have been led to understand that the rounded trigger guard is a little more forgiving but, since I have never held or shot one, I can't speak to that.

 

[buck460XVR]

Years ago I had a 3-screw Blackhawk in .44 mag. It beat up my hands also. Don't know if it was the grip angle or just the grips, but I traded it for a SXS grouse gun. I have since went to S&W DAs which fit my hands much better and have never looked back.

 

[eldon519]

Just out of curiosity, why are you interested in such long barrels?

 

[moxie]

My question too. Anything longer than 8" or so gets hard to hold steady, at least for me. The 7.5" barreled Rugers are the way to go, IMO.

Re grips. Hogue definitely.

 

[critter]

I have the Hunter model with the Bisley grip. I find it comfortable to shoot quite a bit with hunting power loads. BTW, it WILL kill a whitetail or a hog DEAD.

 

[GTS Dean]

I've owned both a 7.5" SBH and 7.5" Redhawk in .44Mag.

Shooting full-house mags thru the SBH on a hot day with wood grips will lead to a scraped thumb knuckle from the rotation and sweaty palm. I put Pachmayr Presentation grips on the SBH and never had the problem again. I still have the Redhawk with Presentation grips and LOVE it.

I don't think I would have kept either with 10.5" barrels.

 

[98Redline]

I own all of the configurations mentioned above for the SBH and SRH in the 7.5" varietey.

IMHO if you are looking for a hunting gun AND you plan on carrying that gun anywhere but the open plains, the 7.5" barrels are much more manageable. Those long barrels are nice for a little more sight radius and a bit more velocity but unless you plan on shooting IMSHA type competition (metallic silhouette) I would opt for the 7.5" barrel.

As for the Blackhawk configuration (plow handle or bisley) I would pick the bisley every day and twice on Sunday. It makes the recoil of the heavier 44M loads shootable where the plow handle tends to really roll up in your hand with a 300+gr bullet at 1300+fps.

 

[gonoles_1980]

Thanks for the great responses.

Sounding like recommendations are for a slightly smaller barrel, and that I have a valid concern on the wood grips.

eldon519 - Was just looking for a longer barrel, I currently only own snub noses, 38 and 357.

98Redline - There is the potential I could go hog hunting sometime, one of the reasons I was looking at the longer barrel. This won't be a carry gun, my 357 is my carry gun.

My range does have a Redhawk I can rent, so I'll give that a try first. Thanks again for all the great comments.

 

[rule303]

Most of the posts you see about excessive recoil on single actions is from improper shooting technique. A single action needs to roll back in your hands under recoil. Most shooters new to single actions try to fight the gun to keep it on target, which is frustrating, and can be painful with heavy loads.

 

[Ed Ames]

On the issue of proper grip...

I once let someone (who owned a m29 so no stranger to .44m) shoot my Bisley SBH. I then had to spend several minutes cleaning blood off the bottom of the grip frame. They were using some two handed oddity of a grip that let the butt cut into their palm under recoil.

When I shot that gun, it would end up pointing up at the sky after every shot. Even with a two handed grip it was going to slide. Never drew blood from me though.

 

[g.willikers]

If you're trying to decide between single vs double action, mostly folks shoot heavy caliber double actions as single actions, anyway.

 

[aloon15]

awesome choice in a revolver... i have the super red hawk Alaskan in 454 casull... rugers redhawk line is top notch in my opinion...

 

[Reloadron]

Been there and done that a few times over. I remove and save the wood and replace with softer rubber on my Rugers as well as S&W Model 29. While the wood is beautiful it does tend to be a little punishing on my hands. Pachmeyer rubber works for me.

Ron

 

[longknife12]

I've had a 7.5 Redhawk for years and absolutely no issues!
Dan

 

[BCRider]

I've got a SBH and like many suffered from "Blackhawk Bite". Instead of buying the grip filling aftermarket grip scales and ruining the classic SA look I opted to try making some thicker grips to let my bigger hands get a better grab on the gun. This worked out so marvellously that I'm a little surprised that it's not a more common option. Since I put the grips on that are shown below I've not had the guard kiss the back of my middle finger even with the strongest loads.

So something like this might be an option for you.

As for SA vs DA/SA that's up to you. I've also got a SRH with a shortened barrel that I find to be a lot of fun to shoot. But for long distance and slower precision shooting I far and away prefer the SBH.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I rented a Super Blackhawk at the range today

and shot 44spl out of it. Way less recoil than my Ruger LCR 357, I'm hooked. I can't believe how accurate I was with that gun. So now it's between the Super Blackhawk Hunter and the Super Blackhawk Bisley Hunter.

My concerns about the wood grips were well overblown.

 

[au_prospector]

I believe there is a big difference between .44 spl and .44 mag.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I would figure it's be like the difference between a 38spl and 357mag. I'd probably work my loads up with the 44mag brass. Though I have 44spl brass now that I've fired the gun.

 

[bluetopper]

If you're going to get Ruger 44 Mag, the Bisley grip frame is the way to go.

I don't mind 44 Mag single actions. I really don't know anyone who shoots that caliber in double-action anyway.

 

[BCRider]

My concerns about the wood grips were well overblown.

Not really, there's a bigger jump from .44Spl to .44Mag than there is in .38Spl to .357Mag.

But if you're reloading anyway and shooting for fun instead of hunting you're going to work up a load that shoots well from the gun and that you can shoot well and lots without beating yourself up. So it's quite likely that the stock grips will work for you. If they don't then there's always the option for fill in grips (fugly to my eyes) or thicker upper section wood replacement grips (what I did).

But whatever the option there's no doubt at all that holding up that big gun and shooting the big boomers puts kid like grins on our faces....

 

[gonoles_1980]

BCRider, I doubt I'll every buy a factory 44mag load for the the gun, except the first few when I buy it. I'll load up just to the limit and get a big boom with a big gun .

 

[Storm_Shadow]

If you're going to get Ruger 44 Mag, the Bisley grip frame is the way to go.

I don't mind 44 Mag single actions. I really don't know anyone who shoots that caliber in double-action anyway.

+1
I'm really happy with the Bisley frame but can't I compare it with the original as I never shot one.