Ruger blackhawk in 45lc/45acp

Dexter Morgan said:
Ruger Blackhawk 45LC/45ACP with 4 5/8 barrel weighs 39 ounces.

Ruger Super Blackhawk 44-Magnum with 4 5/8 barrel weighs 45 ounces.


That sure sounds like a heavier built gun to me.
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I looked at a new 44 Super Blackhawk at a shop in Penticton a while back and I didn't have another Blackhawk there to run a comparison but it didn't physically 'feel' any bigger. I guess there would be a weight difference between the two considering the difference in bore and chamber diameters. I would think, if they were to use a bigger frame size, it would be something I would expect to see on the 45.
 
The Blackhawk probably has an aluminum alloy grip frame ( mine does) and the Super Blackhawk has a steel grip frame. That could account for the difference in weight.

Back to the OP,

I have a 5 1/2 inch Blackhawk convertible that I have shot approx. 1000 45 colt rounds through and approx. 500 45 acp rounds through. I purchased it new and have enjoyed it for the past 5 years or so.

I really like shooting the heavier than cowboy loads ( 300 grain bullet at 1000 fps or 250 grain at 1200 fps ) and my Blackhawk seems to like them better also. But newbies do better with 45 acp. I reload so either can be reloaded fairly cheaply. I don't notice any noticeable difference in accuracy between 45 colt or 45 acp. If you want a pipsqueak load just load a 45 acp to the minimum with a 185 grain bullet. Just be prepared that your POI could change dramatically between different loads ( good thing the back sight is adjustable )

Now the bad news. Be prepared to get some work done ( or do it yourself ) on the revolver if it hasn't been done yet. From what I have read ( and mine was the same way ) the cylinder throats are not reamed uniformly in size - mine varied from .449 to .452 on both cylinders. I reamed mine to .4525 - this helped accuracy substantially. The barrel forcing cone might need to be cut to the right angle if you are shooting lead bullets. I haven't done mine yet and the barrel will lead up very quickly ( within 6 rounds with some loads ). The front sight could be canted to the side - take a good look before buying.

If you are real interested there are a couple of ruger forums that will have all the info you could ever want on the Blackhawks ( rugerforum.com and rugerforum.net )
 
I've seen the same information on alloy grip frames for Blackhawks vs the SBH as well. Also the non fluted vs fluted cylinder would account for an ounce to ounce and a half.

The stainless models apparently have all stainless steel parts though so the reported weight of those is a bit higher. For example a .357Mag with 6.5 inch barrel is 45 oz in blued and 48 oz in stainless. The difference would be in the grip frame and ejector rod housing.

For my money and since I reload I just can't see the point in a convertable. These big boomers aren't guns which you're going to shoot ammo off like popcorn at a movie theater anyway. So it's not that big a deal to keep up with the reloading duty.

And this brings up a good point. Anyone that gets into the big boomers and who doesn't reload their own is missing out on at least half the fun of shooting these guns. As the cartridges get bigger the scope of reloading recipes expands in leaps and bounds. Not to mention that reloading your own is what makes the big boomers financially viable. And it's not like we need a huge fancy setup to reload at casual rates. A basic single stage setup can be put together for around $200 even buying new. And even a simple setup like this will allow reloading around 150 to 200 rounds an hour.
 
BCRider said:
I've seen the same information on alloy grip frames for Blackhawks vs the SBH as well. Also the non fluted vs fluted cylinder would account for an ounce to ounce and a half.

The stainless models apparently have all stainless steel parts though so the reported weight of those is a bit higher. For example a .357Mag with 6.5 inch barrel is 45 oz in blued and 48 oz in stainless. The difference would be in the grip frame and ejector rod housing.

For my money and since I reload I just can't see the point in a convertable. These big boomers aren't guns which you're going to shoot ammo off like popcorn at a movie theater anyway. So it's not that big a deal to keep up with the reloading duty.

And this brings up a good point. Anyone that gets into the big boomers and who doesn't reload their own is missing out on at least half the fun of shooting these guns. As the cartridges get bigger the scope of reloading recipes expands in leaps and bounds. Not to mention that reloading your own is what makes the big boomers financially viable. And it's not like we need a huge fancy setup to reload at casual rates. A basic single stage setup can be put together for around $200 even buying new. And even a simple setup like this will allow reloading around 150 to 200 rounds an hour.
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Same here and for the most part, I agree. I already have an older model Vaquero in 45LC, plus a custom Colt 1911 and a S&W 4506, the latter two in 45ACP. I had no intention of getting a convertable, until the dealer put the 4 5/8" SS beauty out on his table. :redface:Then I weakened and needed it:D.
 
I've got a 4 5/8" Super Blackhawk in 44 Mag, and I really like it. As has been stated, the 4 5/8" barrel makes 44 Spl loads a handful to hang onto. I have Vaquero's with 5 1/2" and 7 1/2" barrels. There is a big difference when the barrel is shorter than 5 1/2". More of a difference than I imagined. I was shooting 240 gr SWC at just under 850 fps, not too far off what a 45 LC would be.

I've got a convertible in 9mm/357, and it allows me to shoot cheap(ish) bulk ammo, if I want to. This also makes the gun easier to sell, if the time comes.

I think a 45/45 Ruger Blackhawk with a 4 5/8" barrel should be excellent. Loaded to normal book loads with a 255 gr Kieth, it's gonna feel like you are shooting something big. It won't be anything like a 357, trust me. The power factor on a 255 @ 750 fps is 190, and if you load to the manuals for T/C or Ruger, you can bump that to a PF of 250. Cowboy loads are around PF 180, and the gun will feel powerful enough.

45 ACP, for standard bulk, a 230 gr @ 840 fps, you still have a 190 PF.

If we were talking 7 1/2" barrel, then full power 44 Mag loads become a bit more manageable, and PF's in the 325 and beyond are factory fodder. But this is beyond plinking and fun IMHO.

Just my $0.02, for what it's worth.

PS: I would swap in a SBH hammer, and a Wolff spring kit, if it were mine.

Nitro

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BCRider said:
A basic single stage setup can be put together for around $200 even buying new. And even a simple setup like this will allow reloading around 150 to 200 rounds an hour.
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BCRider....can you provided whats needed and where to source it. I'm interested in reloading 45LC and haven't got a clue......
 
I feel for a handloader 44 Magnum is the most versatile cartridge. 200 gr lead bullets and some Trail Boss and you have something that shoots softer than any factory 9mm round or load it up with some H110 and well you know the rest.
 
super7 said:
The new model blackhawk with 2 cylinders for 45lc and 45acp. Who has one and what do you think of it? Are both rounds accurate?
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I own quite a few Rugers and the 45LC / 45acp model is one of my favorite. Shoots great with both rounds, trigger is the best on all my Blackhawks by far.

It is a smaller frame, and CANNOT handle the ruger only loads. But I got the 44 if I feel like hammering myself.

I highly recommend either or better yet BOTH.

-posted with my phone
 
I have a 4 & 5/8" barrel on my Pietta SAA 45 colt... it's not too snappy to a point where it's uncomfortable... it's quite a joy to shoot. I've loaded it up to max loads (not the +P max loads, my gun can't handle those) and it doesn't like those as much. The brass slides back making the cylinder drag the brass rather hard. So, it like middle of the road loads best.
 
I picked up the Lipsey model a few years back and it now is one of my favourites. I probably have shot more 45acp through mine than the 45LC. Not sure why. I load 200 gr LSWC mostly in 45acp and 255 gr LSWC in 45Colt.

8 Gr of Unique under the 255 gr is a nice load and about all I want to shoot over the course of an afternoon. Over that the wrists can get sore after awhile. Sore is not good.

I have marked the rear sight to adjust for the .45acp load of 5.1gr of 231 under the 200gr LSWC.

I size my bullets .451. The gun seems to enjoy both loads. Accuracy is excellent.

One thing I do is to keep my .45acp brass for the Blackhawk separate from my .45acp brass for my semi's. Any burr on the case rim and you have instant cylinder rotation issues. The brass lasts forever so it really isn't much of an effort to keep them apart.

Take Care

Bob
 
I had a S&W 625, sold it and bought one of these. I was not happy with it and sold it and re-bought another S&W 625. The good story is the new 625 is cherry. I have a few of these Rugers. I do not like the sights, to wide in the rear I guess. I also had the cylinder coming unattached while firing. Could have wrecked the gun. Solid guns, the Rugers. Hard to hang onto if you have big hands maybe.
 
I have both the 4 5/8 and 7.5 inch, I suggest spending $40 and getting a set of Hogue grips, those wood grips are to small and slippery.

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The Hogues are great for absorbing some of the recoil from 45Colt loads. I have a set of wider wooden grips that do much the same thing. The Lipsey faux ivory grips are pretty thing.

Take Care

Bob
 
Those Hogues feel good but look terrible on Single action revolvers.... I don't know why Ruger doesn't offer their longer SuperBlackHawk Hunter grip frame as an option for the .45LC and other blackhawk's?

It's easy to switch out the grip frame but they are not easy to get.
 
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