My first single action pistol

[SM Bob]

I just got my first single action pistol this week. A stainless steel 4 5/8" Ruger
Blackhawk .357 Mag. It is the first single action pistol I have owned. I have
been shooting handguns for over 40 years and have owned several double
action revolvers and semi automatics from .22-.44Mag. I put a set of Hogue
rubber grips on it right away. The standard Ruger wood ones look great, but
they wouldn't work at all with my big meat hooks. I bought 500 Lazer Cast
158 gr SWCBB bullets and several different powders. (2400, Bullseye, Titegroup,
Blue Dot, 231, Trail Boss) Some of these I already had on hand. I loaded all 500
rounds and headed to the range today. It was a bit windy. (15-20 mph steady)
Of all the loads the Blackhawk seemed to like the ones with 2400 the best. I
noticed about 1/2 way through the day that my front sight blade was loose
and wiggling back and forth. That doesn't help accuracy at all! I still managed
to nail a few plastic 2 liter soda bottles at 100 yards every now and then despite
the flopping front sight blade. I am going to drive the pin out tomorrow and use
some JB Weld to keep it from moving. I really like the Blackhawk though! The Hogue
grip is fantastic! As soon as I get it dialed in with the 2400 It is going to be a lot
of fun to shoot! Now I want to get a 41 Mag Blackhawk next! I guess I caught the
sickness. It feels so good though!

                                                   Robert

[BlkHawk73]

  Congrats!  Nothing like that first single action revovler.  Even better when it's already leading to another and better still when that next one is a .41 mag.    Love the .41.  Prefer the longer bbls myself for both asthetics and balance but to each thier own, they're all nice. 
  Can't comment nice on the rubbers though. 

  For some real fun, find yourself a .30 carbine one. 

 

[Flash]

Good choice and congratulations. You'll be hooked in no time. Here's my 30 Carbine.

[SM Bob]

Thanks fellas. I'm kind of partial to the 4 5/8" barrel length. I know rubber
grips are kind of a sore subject here with a lot of people. I meant no offense.
Yea, I'm getting jacked up to get a 41 Mag Blackhawk soon. I have had a
Marlin 1894S lever action 41 Mag for sometime now and have been wanting
to get a side arm in the same caliber. It would be a great hunting setup for
sure. That is a beautiful 30 carbine Blackhawk Flash. Years ago I owned a
30 carbine rifle. It was an Iver Johnson stainless one. Without a shadow of
a doubt it had to be the biggest steaming POS of a firearm I have ever owned.
That rifle was nothing but trouble. I ended up giving it to a guy I worked with
that had a sailboat. I didn't care much for the cartridge as a military round.
It would be OK for general blasting and small game hunting from a Blackhawk
though. I would have never carried a M-1 Carbine in the military. Given the
choice I would have carried a Garrand without question.

                                 Robert

[BlkHawk73]

  My .30 carbine BH isn't Bisley-ized yet but likely will be eventually.  Do have one of the Bisleys here gripped just like the above one.  Actually might be two like that - forget. 
  You're also corrct that having the .41 BH as a mate to the marlin would be a great combo.  have that myself.  The 1894FG and a 4 or 5 .41 Rugers. 

  Now if I could only convince myself to do a .41 Vaquero...

[bilmac]

When I was in high school I bought a S&W combat masterpiece. I shot thousands of rounds through it, but could never hit moving targets with it. Neither running rabbits or thrown bottles. Then I acquired a SA. All of a sudden I was able to make hits on moving targets, not 100% of course, but they were possible. I believe that it is just the difference in point ability. For me the SA points naturally a DA does not.

You may like the looks and feel of the 4 3/4 barrel, but you should try a 6"er before you decide too firmly. I have both, and the 6" is the most accurate handgun, not counting single shots, that I have ever shot.

[Lloyd Smale]

had to chuckle. The first sa i had was the exact same gun a stainless 4 5/8s 357 blackhawk and it to had a front sight that would teter back and forth. Luckly i wasnt a good enough shot to have it make a difference. I can still remember the first day i shot it. I was in awe of the way it bucked and belched flame. Really thought i had a tiger by the tail. If i would have know then what i shoot now i would have had to giggle a little. mine got traded on my first super blackhawk and that ones gone now too. Wish i had some of those first guns back now just for sedimental reasons.

[SM Bob]

Lloyd,
You never forget your first one. My first .357 was a S&W model 27 with a 6"
barrel. I shot thousands of full house rounds through that pistol. The most
accurate handgun I have ever owned. I could hit what I was aiming at almost
all the time. In a moment of stupidity on my part I sold it to get another pistol.
I wish I had that one back!I fixed the wiggling front sight with a little JB Weld.
It should be good to go. This Blackhawk is a sweet shooter. Recoil is minimal.
Even with some pretty hot loads. I really like the way it points and handles.
That 41 Mag is next on the list for sure! Some 215 gr cast SWC's over some
2400 should be a pretty potent combination for that bad boy.

                                      Robert

[Lloyd Smale]

im not a big 41 mag fan ive owned many but they dont stick around long. The only one i have left is a old model 357 that dave clements converted to 41 mag years ago. Theres one that i would love to get back though. I had a 4 5/8s blackhawk that had a bisley grip frame fitted to it and a bowen rear sight and a nice set let walnut grips on it. it wasnt anythng special but it was sure a good trail gun. It shot well and just felt right in the hand for me. It got traded off on something else i probably traded off later. One of these days ill run across a cheap blackhawk and do another one like it.

[SM Bob]

Bilmac,
I was in a local gunshop yesterday and checked out a couple of Ruger
Blackhawks with 6.5" barrels. I have to say that they felt great! Not
too long. They balanced nicely. You talked me into it. I'm going for the
6.5" barrel when I get my .41 Mag.

                                             Robert

[bilmac]

Hate to have you make a decision just on my say so, Do you know anybody who has one you could try? Would a gunstore rent you a used one for an afternoon? Maybe you could at least run a thread or a poll to quizz Greybeard guys.

[SM Bob]

Hate to have you make a decision just on my say so, Do you know anybody who has one you could try? Would a gunstore rent you a used one for an afternoon? Maybe you could at least run a thread or a poll to quizz Greybeard guys.

No worries Pal. I know what I want and I have owned many handguns over the years.
I'm no stranger to them. When I see what I want, in this case a 6.5" barrel Ruger
Blackhawk 41 Mag, I buy it and I'm happy with it. Most of the revolvers that I have
owned have had 6" barrels. I have never had an issue with them where I wished I
had chosen a 4" instead or visa versa.

                             Robert