Ruger Blackhawk

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I haven't posted in a long time so please be patient with me as this question may have come up before. I am interested in a Ruger Blackhawk, 45 colt with the 45 acp conversion cylinder. Ive noticed that some of the grip frames are made of differing materials, some steel, some aluminum, etc. The question I have is "Does the aluminum grip frame affect the strength of the gun, or is it as strong as the so called bullet proof all steel gun? ( I know that any gun can become a bomb if hand loaded ignorantly regardless of strength) I intend to load and shoot hot loads very few and far between, only when I occasionally am in the woods cutting firewood for my Mom. Seen a few Black Bears (small size, maybe up to 270 pounds. Thanks for your patience if you read this and Thank you all for any answers in advance. Mike

Hot loads meaning +P loads. Not really the +P+.

And do you feel a single action adequate for bear protection?
 
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What osteodoc08 said. My Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt / .45 ACP Convertible is one of my most accurate and favorite handguns out to 25 yards (probably out to 50 yards, but I have to find a range that long to try it) shooting both easy 'cowboy' loads and heavier 'hunting' loads.

Your only real question is: "What length barrel do I get?"
 
45Colt can be loaded pretty hot and be a reasonable bear pistol. And the Blackhawk can handle them. I don't know of any 45acp load that would be as stout, but most people who have one of those convertibles love target shooting with the 45acp cylinder in.
They are accurate, well made revolvers.
 
I have the same gun and for the most part I use the .45acp cylinder but I did buy a box(50) of Buffalo Bore .45C in 325gr HC +P for hunting and bear protection, it's a stout load but accurate and I believe will work on black bear.
 
Most black bears are just as scared of humans as humans are of bears. I am sure the 45LC will be do the job for that rare exception.
 
I have the same 45lc/45acp Blackhawk and it is a great gun. It will handle the Buffalo Bore but I really doubt you will ever need for black bear, but it will provide you with venison.
 
I own two .45 Blackhawks, 4.5" and 7.5" (3 screw) I've owned for decades. One has a .45acp cylinder. The aluminum grip frames make for a lighter revolver and doesn't affect their goodness at all.
 
either will do you just fine, and the single action is a fine choice for the rare occasion that you may need it for protection. just be sure and practice.

if i may, i would recommend the bisley grip frame convertible, as it makes shooting those stouter loads much more enjoyable,
 
The standard Blackhawk is built on the same cylinder frame and cylinder size as the Super Blackhawk. It has an aluminum grip frame and ejector housing. That's the one that will handle the "Ruger only" .45 Colt loads.

Ruger also makes a "flattop" Blackhawk in .45 Colt, some I think with the extra .45 ACP cylinder. The gun is all steel but it is built on the smaller so-called medium frame, same as the one used in the New Vaquero. Fine for standard factory loads but not the heavy handloads.

A skilled shooter can make fast hits with a SA revolver.
 
Thanks for all the responses to the strength of the Ruger Blackhawk.
I have a few Rugers that I love, just not any of the Blackhawks. Thanks "back 40" for the recommendation of the Bisley frame as I was thinking about that style and wondering if they made the convertible for that model.

Went shooting today and took out my old Colt SAA. Just got it from my Father in law and it shoots like a new one.... Can't wait to get the new Ruger:)

Thanks again everyone...
 
The strength isn't a problem. Personally I'd pay extra for the SS or other models that are all steel though. The aluminum framed guns look good when new, but the aluminum parts are coated with a matte black coating which over time will scratch or flake off from use exposing the shiny aluminum underneath. The blued steel like any other blue gun will wear in from character marks, holster wear etc from use too. But as the gun gets older the difference between the aluminum and steel parts becomes more and more dramatic and different. An all steel gun, SS or blued just looks much better as the gun gets older.

There will be no difference in strength or reliability. It is just a cosmetic issue that would be worth the extra money to me.
 
JMR40 does make a good point. The aluminum does have a finish on it that does like to flake off and shows wear more readily than steel. The problem is finding a factory all blued all steel gun is difficult. My 41 mag flattop is all steel blued and you can feel the extra heft.

I prefer to put on wood grips that encase the grip frame as it gives me better purchase for my large hands and does "protect" the aluminum to some degree.

My favorite is a 4-5/8" new model with a set of Badger walnut grips on it. It feels as if it was molded to my hand and even the stoutest, heaviest loads aren't a problem because the for is so good.
 
Any stainless BH will be all steel. Ruger doesn't make a "in-the-white" aluminum grip frame or ejector rod housing. Blued guns will mostly have aluminum gf and erh. Not always. Just check with a magnet. What ever Ruger uses to blacken aluminum is tough stuff. I tried to chemically strip a BH grip frame once and it was totally unfazed by some pretty nasty smelling and caustic chemicals.
 
Shoot a few rounds from a Bisley Blackhawk and you quickly see the advantage of having a steel frame instead of aluminum. Better balance - less felt recoil. While there is nothing "wrong" with the aluminum framed Rugers I have owned both and much prefer the all steel models.
 
Thanks for all the good info and insight of the aluminum vs. steel. I like the stainless but I want the convertible so I can shoot 45 acp from the same gun. I don't think the convertible comes in the stainless so I might be stuck with a blue gun. If I have the option of the stainless then I believe my mind is pretty well settled...

From all the people I've talked with that have shot or owned the Blackhawks, they all seem to love them. Can't wait to join that club :D

Just another question... Does the Bisley come in the convertible model? It looks like to me on the Ruger Sight, the only way to get the convertible is Blue and with the standard grip frame... Not sure if aluminum or steel??
 
my ruger 45c/45acp made in 1973-1974 is a fun shooter,from 255gr bullets at 850fps to 250gr bullets at 1100-1200 fps. i like the lighter weight of the aluminum grip frame and ejector housing as i carry it hunting. eastbank.
 

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Some reading material :

When talking about 'strength' of .45 Colt Ruger large frame SA revolvers I like to point to two articles :

Linebaugh Dissolving the Myth .45 Colt

and

Seyfried on the .45 Colt

And then for the medium frame Blackhawk flattop :

Brian Pearce .45 Colt

Note that Brian's son took a Black Bear with the medium framed flattop which was in a Handloader article a couple of months ago. The medium frame flattop and New Vaquero are good for Tier 2 loads which is plenty for around here. Tier 2 has been raised to 23K with the introduction of the .45 ACP on the flattop. BTW, the 13.0g HS-6 load under 260g bullet mentioned in Linebaugh's article is a Tier 2 load. It is what I load in mine for a 'woods' load for both my large and medium frame .45 Colt revolvers. As for barrel length it is a personal choice. For me, if hunting, I'd go with a 7 1/2". For walking in woods I like 5 1/2". Others like 4 5/8 or 3 1/2.... Your choice.
 
"Does the aluminum grip frame affect the strength of the gun, or is it as strong as the so called bullet proof all steel gun? ( I know that any gun can become a bomb if hand loaded ignorantly regardless of strength)
Click to expand...
The grip frame has nothing to do with the strength of the gun -- that's a matter of the cylinder, frame and bolt stop location.
 
Back 40, That is a beautiful Stainless Bisley, and you answered my question about the Bisley coming with the 45 acp convertion...

I believe that is the one for me, Now if I can just remember where I buried that pot of gold:banghead:
 
eastbank, those are some nice grips....

What have you hunted with your blackhawk? Have you hunted anything bigger than deer, and if so, how does the 45 colt perform as far as penetration is concerned?
 
deadeye, I did go to the Ruger web site and I didn't see the the Bisley offered in the 45 colt / 45 acp convertible model.

I might have just overlooked it, but I'm glad to know that it does come that way.... Saw it on gunbroker.com..:)
 
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