Tips for shooting the Ruger Super Blackhawk?

[Peter M. Eick]

I was out blasting today with my Ruger SRM 357 Maximum and have so so luck with accuracy. I am getting better at it, but after over 800 rnds out of the gun I still cannot keep 50 rounds inside 3" at 50 ft.

The loads are imr-4227 and RL7 pushing a 158 at just over 1600 fps. Not hot by any stretch, but enough recoil to be interesting.

I seem to get better accuracy if I grip the gun two handed with the left hand supporting but the right hand somewhat loose. I then let the gun recoil up off the left hand and roll in the grip. This works ok, but you have to reset your grip every time.

I see that pinkie under the grip for an indexing point is not a good idea with hot loads. To easy to blister up the pinkie!

It seems to shoot more accurately when I can keep the grip tight if I get an isometric two handed tight grip also.

So, Any advice or tips on how to shoot the Super Blackhawk more accurately?

 

[plexreticle]

Don't death grip it, make sure to follow through on your shots.

Have you tried these loads out from a benchrest?

 

[unspellable]

SA vs DA grips

I have never been able to shoot a SA as accurately as a DA and I am inclined to think the difference is a matter of how the two grip styles fit my hand.

 

[swampdog]

I use pachmayr Presentations on my SBH. I think you'll find that cures the pinkie blisters. If it still blisters, some fine sandpaper will quickly smooth out the slight rib in the grip.

I usually "push/pull" with moderate/firm force in a weaver stance with both thumbs forward. The index finger of my offhand rests just under the trigger guard. This is a personal preference, I've seen some excellent shooting from other grips and stances. The most important thing, as you probably know, is to grip the gun the same, with the same force, everytime. I don't try to adjust my tension to let it "roll". It will roll on it's own. I cock the revolver with my offhand thumb so I don't adjust my grip for every shot.

50 rounds in 3" inches at fifty feet should be doable. How does your load group from a rest? If they're hot rounds, shooter fatigue may be causing more problems than style. Can you do it with some lighter loads?

I've always been a little more accurate with a DA than a SA, too. I think it has more to do with the longer hammer fall than the grip styles. Follow through is very important with either, of course.

Good Luck

 

[Heavy Barrel]

Mine shoots much better with 180's and 4227.Try some H110 with your 158's.Actually I don't shoot many 158's anymore.Have much better success with the 180's and 200's.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Thanks guys!

I am burning up my 158's and will switch to 180's with my next order. I do like how 4227 (either H or IMR) burns in the gun. Very low spreads.

I will order presentation grips for my max with the same 180's so probably this weekend. I like presentation grips on my python but do not use them on any other revolver.

Don't death grip it, Got it!. I had sort of concluded that I was either not gripping it tight enough or too much. I think you answered my question on that.

I tried the classic weaver stance but had poor luck with it. Maybe I did not try it long enough. I will have to just work at my shooting of the gun.


Thanks for the tips. I need to reload my use able brass and give it another go next week. I appreciate your help!

 

[timothy75]

My method of shooting adjustable sighted SA revolvers is as follows. Feet shoulder width apart boxer stance. Arms in weaver push pull tension. Thumbs on top of eachother locked down. Death grip with right hand then support hand wraps around it freezing it from moving. Support index finger wedged under trigger gaurd preventing muzzle dip during anticipation. Now heres the trick. Right before the shot breaks make a concience effort to squeeze the V together in the front of the grip frame with the bottom 3 fingers of the support hand like a nut cracker. This will give a very steady grip and works well for me. Good luck

 

[YodaVader]

I actually grip pretty firmly when shooting my 4 5/8" and 6 1/2" 357 mag Blackhawks and my 7 1/2" 44 mag Super Blackhawk. With the left hand I support enough to steady the sight picture.

With my first ever 44 mag SBH - a 5 1/2" model with the short grip frame, I fired my first shot using stout 240 grain reloads using a "loose" grip. The gun pivoted up in my hand to the point where the sharp edge of the frame/gripframe meet and actually cut my lower thumb!

 

[unspellable]

Hammer fall

There may be something to the hammer fall idea although I never thought of it until now. I have a Colt target revolver that is a SA built on a DA frame. (S&W did the same thing at one time.) Now if you take a DA and remove the self cocking strut all you have is a DA that won't work in self cocking mode. The SA on the DA frame actually has a different hammer and trigger. The object of the exercise was to obtain a shorter hammer fall. if they went to that much trouble to get a shorter hammer fall maybe the long hammer fall on a typical SA does detract from accuracy. One wonders if there is any practical way to shorten the hammer fall on a Blackhawk. Not that their trigger pull is all that good even with a trigger job.

Oddly enough I have a replica of the Rogers & Spencer cap and ball revolver that has an excellent trigger, better than any SA Ruger I've seen. Maybe that has something to do with my obtaining somewhat surprising accuracy at 100 yards with it. They have a reputation for accuracy both as originals and as replicas.

 

[slabsides]

There's no question but that a fine trigger is the most important component of firearm accuracy.
Three inch groups offhand at 50 feet, when you're talking 50 rounds at a session, is pretty good. That's a punishing regimen. How do you do from a supported (benched) shooting stance?
Long hammer fall in a SA can be a detriment to accuracy IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THROUGH with your shot. Even more important with the longer barrels of guns such as the SRM and SBH. You should strive to hold the sight picture until after the shot is away.
A firm uniform grip, smooth press, and follow-through, will do wonders for accuracy. I prefer smooth factory stocks on the Rugers, and let them roll in recoil. I used Pachmayr's on my SBH for one silhouette match and burned a good blister on my palm.
I think you'll do better when you stop using the 158's. The SRM was designed to shoot heavy bullets. When you get some 180's you'll be surprised, I think.

 

[EdLaver]

Peter, just curious what range in Houston do you go to? American Shooter off Westheimer Parkway? I saw a guy out there using a Super Black Hawk, that thing is a MONSTER!

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I was at ASC this week. Actually I was shooting there Tuesday morning, Thursday morning and today. I normally shoot down at the 15 yard range toward the west side of the firing line. If you saw a guy down there chrono-ing or just blasting away, that was me. By the way, did you see a guy with a weird 1911? That was my Heavyweight Monolith in 10mm. If you saw me with the other N frame, that was when I was testing out my Registered Magnum. I had the 357 Maximum out both days.

Thanks for the advice on the follow through. I have never (or can't remember when) I have shot off the bench. I normally just stand up there and bang away two fisted. I can usually shoot reasonably well, too ok. Here is what I have shot recently for example:

This is my python at 15 yards, 50 shots offhand. This is what I normally expect to be able to shoot. With the big Ruger, I am just barely able to keep 50 shots in the black right now. My goal is 50 shots inside the 10 ring.

From the comments given and thinking about it. I think I need to focus on the grip and follow through. I am not used to the long hammer swing of the SRM compared to an N frame or a python.

I have the dies set up for the last of my 158's. I will get my next order this week for 180's so we shall try again soon.

Again, thank you for the advice.

 

[DWARREN123]

50 rounds in 3" at 50 feet is not that bad. Try different holds and maybe different brands of grips. Try shooting 6 rounds at 50 yards and see how you do.
Are you trying for a hunting or competition load/gun?

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Neither. Just blasting at paper for my own sense of fun. No place around here for Silhouette so I just hunt defenseless pieces of paper from Midway.

If I get invited to go deer hunting this year, then I would have a project!