So I talked to my FFL dealer and personal friend of mine about trading a shotgun and a .22 for a Ruger Blackhawk. It will be chambered in .357 with the 6.5 inch barrel. I could do an even trade and get the blued barrel version by next week, or I could hope that he could order a stainless steel version but there is a chance the he could not be able to get one. What do you guys think, will the blued one be good enough for around the farm and in the cold and snow that we are starting to get. Or should I hold out for the stainless steel.
Ruger Blackhawk
- Thread starter acman
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billybob44
Contributing Member
What kind of trade??
I guess my question would be what kind of shotgun, and what kind of .22??
A Ruger Blackhawk is a fine revolver-blued or stainless, but there are other QUALITY .357 Magnums out there that are worth/cost more.
If you are supplying a $400.00 shotgun, and a $300.00 .22 for a $500.00 Blackhawk then you are going the wrong direction..Bill
FWIW: A blue revolver will be just fine if you keep up on it..
I guess my question would be what kind of shotgun, and what kind of .22??A Ruger Blackhawk is a fine revolver-blued or stainless, but there are other QUALITY .357 Magnums out there that are worth/cost more.
If you are supplying a $400.00 shotgun, and a $300.00 .22 for a $500.00 Blackhawk then you are going the wrong direction
..BillFWIW: A blue revolver will be just fine if you keep up on it..
I like gun oil for my blued and Parkerized guns.
I prefer stainless for my hunting/CC handguns, but none of my blued/parkerized CC, hunting, woods-bumming pistols have rusted yet.
Gun oil is your friend.
I think you'll be fine.
Yes, stainless would be better in that it would be lower maintenance, but keeping your blued gun oiled or waxed, with Renaissance Wax will keep it in good shape.
My buddy just bought the blued, 6.5" .357/9mm convertible Blackhawk.
He loves it.
I prefer stainless for my hunting/CC handguns, but none of my blued/parkerized CC, hunting, woods-bumming pistols have rusted yet.
Gun oil is your friend.
I think you'll be fine.
Yes, stainless would be better in that it would be lower maintenance, but keeping your blued gun oiled or waxed, with Renaissance Wax will keep it in good shape.
My buddy just bought the blued, 6.5" .357/9mm convertible Blackhawk.
He loves it.
Armored farmer
Member
A Blackhawk is a fine weapon. Very durable and dependable. I own two of them.
One word of advice. The older .357s are made on the same frame as a the .45s. this makes them he77 for stout....but very heavy.
One word of advice. The older .357s are made on the same frame as a the .45s. this makes them he77 for stout....but very heavy.
highlander 5
Member
If you get the Blackhawk keep an eye on the screw that holds the ejector housing as it will shoot loose.
My buddy had to use red loctite to keep from launching into the weeds
My buddy had to use red loctite to keep from launching into the weeds
Driftwood Johnson
Member
Howdy
I never understand the desire for Stainless guns. A conventional blued firearm will do just fine in any climate, unless you live in a steaming jungle, as long as you keep it reasonably oiled. It will of course develop holster wear over time, rubbing the blue off at the muzzle and high points on the cylinder. Not a deal stopper for me.
I never understand the desire for Stainless guns. A conventional blued firearm will do just fine in any climate, unless you live in a steaming jungle, as long as you keep it reasonably oiled. It will of course develop holster wear over time, rubbing the blue off at the muzzle and high points on the cylinder. Not a deal stopper for me.
EVIL
Member
I live in Ohio a state with a variety of climate conditions. I have several blued & stAinless revolvers with no real preference as far as function of the finish is concerned. I have the exact same wheelgun --- the 6.5 in .357 blued blackhawk with pacmeyr grips - 2004 manufacture. It has been my companion on countless hikes, canoe trips, hunting etc. The thing is bombproof, and I roll some pretty stiff loads for it. Just a wipe down with a silicone impregnated cloth and the lightest touch with some hoppes oil after an outing or range session and I have never had an issue. I take good care of it even though it is my "beater" woods bumming gun. I don't worry about it.
I bought it for under $300 off armslist --- if that is any indication of the deal to help you with trade value. It is a gun I shoot well and am not afraid to carry in any conditions, as I am constantly outdoors either on my property or elseware. Also --- I think western style revolver attract little attention ( other than positive comments) when open carried in this moderately populated state. YMMV. The pistol is an excellent & affordable choice for any outdoorsman or hunter.
I bought it for under $300 off armslist --- if that is any indication of the deal to help you with trade value. It is a gun I shoot well and am not afraid to carry in any conditions, as I am constantly outdoors either on my property or elseware. Also --- I think western style revolver attract little attention ( other than positive comments) when open carried in this moderately populated state. YMMV. The pistol is an excellent & affordable choice for any outdoorsman or hunter.
I've not handled one in a while. Unless things have changed the blue versions have an aluminum grip frame with a black coating on them. The finish will never match the blue steel barrel and the rest of the frame. Over time the black coating will scratch or wear off in places showing the bright silver color beneath. In my opinion those versions just look cheap after a few years of use.
Some of the other versions, Vaquero's I think, as well as the ones with Bisley grips are all steel. As are the SS versions. For that reason alone I'd pay the extra for SS.
But then my info could well be out of date. As said, I haven't looked closely at one in a long time. But have owned both blue and SS in years past.
Some of the other versions, Vaquero's I think, as well as the ones with Bisley grips are all steel. As are the SS versions. For that reason alone I'd pay the extra for SS.
But then my info could well be out of date. As said, I haven't looked closely at one in a long time. But have owned both blue and SS in years past.
JeeperCreeper
Member
I think it sounds like a decent deal if you want the Blackhawk and not the 2 guns you are trading. When dealing with an FFL, even if it is your friend, he will probably have to make money on the deal, and you are trading used guns so expect them not to fetch new gun prices even when he sells them.
As for the Blackhawk, I love mine. It is an excellent shooter and built to last a few lifetimes. Mine is blue and the bluing is tough, so for farm duty, it should have zero issues with either finishes. If you take care of it, it will take care of you. See if you can get the convertible model, that extra cylinder sure makes it fun to plink with!!!
As for the Blackhawk, I love mine. It is an excellent shooter and built to last a few lifetimes. Mine is blue and the bluing is tough, so for farm duty, it should have zero issues with either finishes. If you take care of it, it will take care of you. See if you can get the convertible model, that extra cylinder sure makes it fun to plink with!!!
JeeperCreeper
Member
I thought the new blackhawks were large frame and the newer vaqueros were on the smaller frame.
It's probably worth mentioning that the blued versions of the large frame .357 Blackhawk have aluminum alloy grip frames which cuts several ounces off the weight and also changes the balance of the revolver somewhat. Stainless large frames are all-steel and much heavier. Blued smaller framed Blackhawks like the anniversary .357 have steel frames and are heavier than the large framed blued Blackhawks. Off topic somewhat but, for me, the quickest handling Blackhawk is a blued 45 Colt or or 45 Convertible with 4 5/8 inch barrel. Sixgun Heaven.
bannockburn
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acman
A new Ruger Blackhawk (Model 0316), with a blued finish, is built on what is called the mid-size .357 frame. With a 6.5" barrel it weighs 45 oz. and has an aluminum grip frame. Suggested retail price is $609.
The same gun, but made in stainless steel (Model 0319), weighs 48 oz. and retails for $729. Williams Shooters Supply also offers a version (Model 0320), with an extra 9mm. cylinder.
A new Ruger Blackhawk (Model 0316), with a blued finish, is built on what is called the mid-size .357 frame. With a 6.5" barrel it weighs 45 oz. and has an aluminum grip frame. Suggested retail price is $609.
The same gun, but made in stainless steel (Model 0319), weighs 48 oz. and retails for $729. Williams Shooters Supply also offers a version (Model 0320), with an extra 9mm. cylinder.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
The only New Model Blackhawk .357 made on the mid-frame is the anniversary model and it was only built for 2005. All other new mid-frames have been .44Spl's and .45's.
Driftwood Johnson
Member
Howdy Again
Yes, Blackhawks have an anodized aluminum frame and it is a slightly different color than the blued rest of the gun. However I beg to differ about how readily it scratches and wears off. I bought this 45 Colt/45 ACP Blackhawk brand, spanky new in 1975, and there is hardly any wear at all on the grip frame.
This 44 Mag Flat Top is older, sometime in the late 1950s, and there is almost no wear on its grip frame either.
If one is reasonably careful, the grip frame of a revolver does not see much abuse and at least in my experience, they do not get a lot of nicks and scratches. However the ejector housings, which are (or were) also anodized aluminum are another story. I have seen Blackhawks with a great deal of the anodized finish worn off the ejector housing. However blued steel ejector housings are available from Ruger and they will not show any more holster wear than the barrel will.
Crunchy Frog
Member
CraigC is correct. I wish Ruger would make the .357 Flattop Blackhawk a regular catalog item.
About five years ago CDNN had the Anniversary Model .357s available for well under $400 but those are long gone. I see "new old stock" models on Gunbroker quite frequently.
About five years ago CDNN had the Anniversary Model .357s available for well under $400 but those are long gone. I see "new old stock" models on Gunbroker quite frequently.
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