I also have "moved on" from the 38/357 cartridge to the 44 - but the 44 mag /44spcl will frighten most folks b/c of the recoil as well as the "reputation" I've been on the range with many a newbie and 3 or 4 rounds of 44 mag makes them tend to move on-not only b/c of the more potent cartridge but the heavier bullet as well- and the shorter and lighter versions really wakes them up and sends them back to the 357/38 spcl- I've got a charter arms bulldog in 3 inch, and redhawks in 4.2, 5,5 and 7.5 inch, and I prefer the 5.5 as I find it the best balance of the bunch and you can scope both the 5.5in and 7.5 - but the 4.2 is fastest out of leather
Handled a Ruger Blackhawk 357 and loved it
- Thread starter Marcog
- Start date
well this is how it went...pretty funny story with a perfect ending! I went to the range this week and I talked to the guys there about the blackhawk and all were in favor of me getting one, pretty much like you guys! Of course the $$ question of shooting 44mag rose up but that's not much of a concern for me. One of the guys said that I should bring down the cost of my 'weekly range visits' by shooting some 22lr instead of always shooting 9mm, which makes total sense. He showed me his Ruger Mark 3 and talked about how it is build to last forever. You can get them for 250-300$ quite easily. Night is over and go back home.
Next day, the gun discussion started at the office and my boss is an enthusiast of all the World Wars and start talking about this guy in the shop who took him shooting some years ago. I just happen to cross him while leaving the office that day and talked about the obvious. I told him I was looking for a revolver, a Ruger Blackhawk. Instantly he mentioned the name of a another guy in the shop who has 3 guns for sell...what are the odds...
A Ruger Redhawk in 44mag
A Ruger Mark 2
A S&M MP9
I send him a text and went to his house to checked them out. Deal is now done. I get the 2 Rugers and 7 boxes of 44mag (50pc/ea), the redhawk holster, and the 2 carrying cases for 900$
The Redhawk is just awesome and perfect. It just empowers me when I hold it
))
WOOHOOO!!
I think I'm now set for a few months ;-P
thanks all of the support on this one!!
Next day, the gun discussion started at the office and my boss is an enthusiast of all the World Wars and start talking about this guy in the shop who took him shooting some years ago. I just happen to cross him while leaving the office that day and talked about the obvious. I told him I was looking for a revolver, a Ruger Blackhawk. Instantly he mentioned the name of a another guy in the shop who has 3 guns for sell...what are the odds...
A Ruger Redhawk in 44mag
A Ruger Mark 2
A S&M MP9
I send him a text and went to his house to checked them out. Deal is now done. I get the 2 Rugers and 7 boxes of 44mag (50pc/ea), the redhawk holster, and the 2 carrying cases for 900$
The Redhawk is just awesome and perfect. It just empowers me when I hold it
))WOOHOOO!!
I think I'm now set for a few months ;-P
thanks all of the support on this one!!
I got a blued .357 off the EE recently for $470. Steal of a deal from a very nice bloke. Took my new Blackhawk and Wrangler to the range the other night along with 3 semi auto handguns and a bucket full of .357, 38 spl and 9mm for the semi autos. I came back home with nearly all my 9mm. Shooting the revolvers was a totally different experience. The only way of explaining it is like comparing taking pictures with an older 35mm film camera vs a digital camera. You need to stop and smell the roses a bit more.
Oh, and I put hogue mono grips on both and they are even better now.
Oh, and I put hogue mono grips on both and they are even better now.
well this is how it went...pretty funny story with a perfect ending! I went to the range this week and I talked to the guys there about the blackhawk and all were in favor of me getting one, pretty much like you guys! Of course the $$ question of shooting 44mag rose up but that's not much of a concern for me. One of the guys said that I should bring down the cost of my 'weekly range visits' by shooting some 22lr instead of always shooting 9mm, which makes total sense. He showed me his Ruger Mark 3 and talked about how it is build to last forever. You can get them for 250-300$ quite easily. Night is over and go back home.
Next day, the gun discussion started at the office and my boss is an enthusiast of all the World Wars and start talking about this guy in the shop who took him shooting some years ago. I just happen to cross him while leaving the office that day and talked about the obvious. I told him I was looking for a revolver, a Ruger Blackhawk. Instantly he mentioned the name of a another guy in the shop who has 3 guns for sell...what are the odds...
A Ruger Redhawk in 44mag
A Ruger Mark 2
A S&M MP9
I send him a text and went to his house to checked them out. Deal is now done. I get the 2 Rugers and 7 boxes of 44mag (50pc/ea), the redhawk holster, and the 2 carrying cases for 900$
The Redhawk is just awesome and perfect. It just empowers me when I hold it
WOOHOOO!!
I think I'm now set for a few months ;-P
thanks all of the support on this one!!
Nice score, gotta love it when things just work out as if they were meant to be....
I had a 357/9mm conversion and it didn’t shoot very accurate with the larger bore for the 38/357...
But awesome gun otherwise
Ruger makes these in different flavors, barrel length and in 44 the trigger guard.
These are both 4 5/8" barrels. The SBH in 44 has the round trigger guard which I prefer. I added a SBH hammer to the 357 BH so they would feel similar. Everyone has their own barrel length preference, and I prefer 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 barrels for Cowboy Shooting. The 357 in the picture is a backup for my cowboy guns. The 4 5/8" barreled 357 BH is a real joy to shoot, and the throats and bore/groove are good for cast. It is not hard to work up loads for, doesn't lead as a rule and is accurate.
The 4 5/8" 44 Mag SBH is also a very good gun, throats and bore/groove where they should be. I own Vaqueros in 44 Mag, one with a 5 1/2" barrel and the other has a 7 1/2" barrel. With a middle of the road cowboy load, the longer barreled hip guns are pleasant to shoot and very manageable. However that is not the case for the 4 5/8 SBH. It is a brute, and I've given it the nickname "Barky". It is fun to shoot because it feels like a magnum even with cowboy loads.
I've owned other Rugers, and although they are built rugged and strong, Bores, grooves and chamber throats vary considerably. This isn't a big deal if you shoot jacketed or gas checked cast, but it can be a real nightmare if you are trying to load ammo for more than one gun in the same caliber.
When I bought my 357 (pictured) I used a caliper to measure the throats and barrel groove diameters. Not the most accurate way of measuring, but it does let you know if it is in the ballpark.
As far as price, I would not pay $800 for the 44 unless the throat/barrel dimensions were good, and perhaps if it had a spring kit. Used hip guns can be a scary buy. Lots of shooters will have tinkered with theirs. Some of the tinkering can be bad, but Rugers are easy to work on, so most are OK. Bore/groove dimensions are what they are. Only one of my Rugers was purchased new.
The 357 seems to be priced a bit high as well.
They are not priced unreasonable, just on the high end of reasonable. Used, a 44 is usually a bit cheaper than a 357.
I have one SBH 44 mag and it's a great revolver but what is even better in 44 mag is the Cimarron Bad boy in 8 inch configuration with an 1860 army grip, i bought 2 from IRG and they are my favorite, for solidity and reliability i say they are on par with the Ruger.
Here one of my Bad Boy 8 inch octo barrel.
Here one of my Bad Boy 8 inch octo barrel.
I have the SBH with a 4 5/8" barrel and really like it too. The 4 5/8" and 5.5" versions of the SBH have the smaller blackhawk grip frame however, which i find a little small to control with 44 mag. I recently added the SBH Hunter grip from to mine and the extra space makes a difference. I prefer the hunter grip frame because it is a full sized plough-handle with a rounded trigger guard, not the squared Dragoon style trigger guard that comes stock on the 7.5" and 10.5" SBHs.
I never warmed up to the Bisley frames personally but many guys like them too.
Can you quantify that at all? I've never actually compared group size with mine but for plinking it hit's can's just fine with the 9mm at reasonable handgun distances..... I should put it on paper and find out if I got a unicorn....
I could also compare it to a dedicated Alfa 9mm revolver.
Over the bag at 11 metres, the 9mm will group 3.5 inch, 38 will do 1.5 inch and the 357 will do 2 inch.
I must have something to do with the .355 size of the 9mm in a .357 bore.
I used the 9mm once and did not touch it afterward, i find it to be fair at best for accuracy.
I need now to buy a revolver that is bored for the 9mm.
turbo_bird
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
I've got a stainless 357 Blackhawk I've had for years. Never really cared for the old cowboy guns much, I like my double action Smith and Wesson's a lot more. If they're going for that much money maybe I should try selling mine. They are fun guns though, and revolvers are great when you're shooting outdoors, no hunting for your brass.
Kristian
Kristian
