Ruger Blackhawk and chamber indexing (alignment) with respect to the ejector rod?

[MCMXI]

So I ordered a NIB Blackhawk Bisley Acusport (.45 Colt), and once it was shipped (Friday of last week) the seller informed me that he also has a NIB pair with consecutive serial numbers. I told him that I wanted the pair and my local gun shop owner decided that he wanted the one that I ordered so everyone's happy. Anyway, the first one arrived today and I was able to spend some time with it this afternoon. It's a beautiful revolver that's for sure.

Now to my question. What's the logic (reason) behind the Ruger Blackhawk "feature" that the cylinder chambers don't line up with the ejector rod when the cylinder is rotated counter-clockwise back against the stop. The chambers on my USFA Rodeos index (align) perfectly with the ejector rod when the cylinder is rotated back against the stop. The gun shop owner has a Ruger Vaquero with a kit installed that "fixes" this issue but I was curious as to what Ruger's reasoning behind the design was. Do you consider it to be a flaw or a feature?

Thanks.

 

[Jim Watson]

I think it probably arose out of the design of the New Model transfer bar action. Alignment of the chamber with the gate and rod did not have high priority with the designers, they were focused on safety.

Availability of "free spin" kits and probably some complaints from customers led Ruger to bring out the New Vaquero and the "new flattops" with a detent to properly align the cylinder with gate open.

 

[Virginian]

I consider it just a characteristic of the New Model Ruger design. My first centerfire handgun was a NM Blackhawk in .357 in 1973, so that was all I knew for a while, and I never considered it a problem. Later, when I got into Colts and clones I found they had differences, but I think on balance the Ruger design is not a big issue. I have no more problem reloading my old Blackhawk than I do a Colt or my new 50th Anniversary Blackhawk with the indexing pawl. As noted, if it's a big deal to you there are a couple of modifications that can be made to make them index on a click like your other guns.

 

[MCMXI]

Jim & Virginian, thanks for the clarification/explanation.

I'll see how I like the factory arrangement before I make a decision on a hammer,trigger and spring kit such as those from Power Custom. Loading isn't an issue, it's unloading that seems to be more difficult compared to a SAA revolver ... I don't want the ejector rod to damage the front of the cylinder.

http://www.powercustom.com/revolver/parts_revolver.htm