Author Topic: Ruger Revolver Indecision: Help RH versus SBH Hunter (Read 1610 times)

Mawgie · « **on:** January 30, 2004, 03:02:20 PM »

Folks -

I am 99% home. It's either a .44 Mag stainless Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley Hunter in .44 Mag (model # KS47NHB), or a .44 Mag stainless Ruger Redhawk with the same 7.5" barrel length and the same integral scope mounts (model # KRH-44R+).

I am paralyzed with indecision because I love both guns. Can some people intervene here and give me some pros and cons?

By way of background, I live in the northeast, and this gun will be used extensively at the range, handloaded for accuracy; and for whitetail deer hunting, mostly from a treestand. The long shot where I live and hunt is 100 yards, much more often than not 80 yards or significantly less.

I know that the Redhawk has slightly longer barrel chambers, and will, for example, take the Garret's 330 grain 44Mag broad meplat ammunition. A plus, but not at all necessary for deer. Also, the Garrett 310 grain rounds are acceptable in the SBH.

On the other hand, the Redhawk double action has an obvious feature that the single action Super Blackhawk does not. No deal breaker to me. I don't plan to do much double action shooting.

Many have posted that double action recoil is softer and more manageable than single action recoil. I've always had a hard time believing that from a load transfer standpoint. Can someone who believes this clarify the point with some technical explanation?

What I'd like to know about are the pros and cons re: handling; packing; trigger pull; reliability; the "nooks and crannies", so to speak. In short, which is more pleasant to live with at the range or in the field?

I suspect that it will boil down to apples and oranges. I believe they are both graeat choices.

Thanks for any input.
Regards- Mawgie

KN · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2004, 03:27:21 PM »

For me thats a no brainer. I have always felt the SBH is much easier to shoot well than the Redhawk or the Super Redhawk. I would love to get my hands on one with the laminated grips. KN

myronman3 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2004, 04:18:26 PM »

well i have a sbhh and a taurus raging bull. all anyone is going to be able to tell you is that they deliver recoil differently. the blackhawks spin in your hand abruptly when fired. this action doesnt come back at you directly as hard as a d.a.; but it do swing up really fast so no matter how hard you grip it it is going to swing up. the d.a. delivers the recoil more straight back into your palm, and doesnt swing up wildly. it all boils down to preference. i would advise that you shoot any medium to large caliber s.a. and the same in d.a.. this will give you a better understanding of your answer. hell of a decision you have in front of you!

MattC · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2004, 04:20:37 PM »

I'd say the hunter. I have both and the trigger is better on the blackhawk and easier to "fix". If I could only keep one it'd be the hunter hands down.

Bullseye · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2004, 05:14:39 PM »

I say Redhawk. I had a Bisley in 41 mag and the shape of that grip hurt my hand so much I hated to shoot it. Most people like it better but it is the only handgun I ever wore a glove anytime I shot it and it was not that bad of kicker. I also have had a Redhawk and liked it much better than the Bisley. I now currently have a Super Redhawk and like it better than both the others, but you did not mention that option.

kciH · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2004, 09:21:34 PM »

Why don't you just buy both of em' and see which you like the best? You'll only have the rest of your life to decide which you like best:)

Jim Stacy · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2004, 02:43:44 AM »

You will find that you like shooting one better than the other . There are SA shooters and there are DA shooters . DA shooters talk about the SA's long slow hammer fall anfd SA shooters talk about their plow hamdle grip and how it spreads the recoil and hurts less. Personally I would go with a 7.5" SRH and a 2 or 4 x scope , a spring kit or have a gunsmith do a trigger job on it and you will have a fine and accurate huntig or plinking wepon accurate to 100 yards. If you are going to hunt white tails any factoey load from the 240 JHP on up will shoot length wise through a white tail but shoot what works for you . The Garrett loads are very accurate and will be adequate for anything you are likely to ncounter in the lower 48 including a large hog. Good luck your money your choice.

palgeno · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2004, 04:32:54 AM »

Had the same question last summer----fired super blackhawk, super redhawk, and sbh and thought all beat my fingers up ------then got to try a super blackhawk hunter Bisley model and it was love at first shot! Very much like my Freedom arms model 83---but not the same quality. May try a Belt Mountain base pin if it loosens up. Got a good 310 gr cast leas gc load which chronos like the 310 Garrett---I don't need the 330's. Go for it! PG

Dave in WV · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2004, 04:57:37 AM »

I'm not a fan of single action revolvers BUT I would get the SBH Bisley hunter over the RH or SRH. I like the feel of the Bisley over the Ruger DA revolvers.

BlkHawk73 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2004, 10:48:42 AM »

I'd go with the SBH Hunter. I do have a Ruger DA revolver but am partial to thier SA's. I picked up the 45 Hunter myself. If you're planning on heavier loads such as those you mentioned, I'd even reccommend the Bisley Hunter as that configuration is more often than not, much more comfortable, especially w/ heavy loads.

briarpatch · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2004, 12:29:42 PM »

from what I have read in your post you have already made your choice. All you need is a coin toss to confirm it. Then take that coin, lay it up and add to it, so you can buy the other one.

Mawgie · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2004, 02:32:05 PM »

Thanks, guys, for making it so easy. Buy both!!
Well, most of you seem to lean toward the SBH hunter with the bisley grip, and I am inclined to start there....

Another poster had this to say:

"if you are going to hunt white tails any factoey load from the 240 JHP on up will shoot length wise through a white tail but shoot what works for you"

This I flatly, though politely disagree with. My .44 Magnum will be used at the limits of its reasonable capacity for whitetails, e.g., 100 yards. While a hard cast wide meplat Garrett cartridge may, and I believe would achieve full lengthwise pentration on a whitetail, I certainly don't think every factory load from 240 grains on up would have the same effect at ranges exceeding 60-70 yards. Much energy is lost in the .44 Magnum by the time it reaches 75-100 yards.

Another poster suggested handloading my own 310 grain hard cast bullets, and I think in a broad meplat design this is an excellent way to go.

Thanks to you all for your input.

- Mawgie

JR5 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2004, 05:10:24 PM »

Mawgie,

I have had both models and taken deer with both. The Super BlackHawk Bisley Hunter, is by far the best.

It's overall frame & configuration is extremely well balanced, making it an easy "pointer", even with a scope on it.

It's less bulky frame better lends itself to an easier carry in a shoulder holster format. The Redhawk is much more "tipsy".

The Redhawk's double action pull seems long and mushy, which does not provide an adequate platform for that quick smooth second shot. You really need confidence that you are not going to jerk that second shot.

The Redhawk's long mushy pull almost sets you up for a poor second shot.
It really requires a lot of concentration to manage it correctly.

The Bisley grip, hammer & trigger format places your hold on the weapon in such a manner that the trigger pull is sweet and crisp.

Go for the Bisley and don't look back.

Good Luck with it!

BlkHawk73 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 01, 2004, 04:08:42 AM »

Quote from: JR5

Mawgie,
The Redhawk's double action pull seems long and mushy, which does not provide an adequate platform for that quick smooth second shot. You really need confidence that you are not going to jerk that second shot.

Have you tried changing out the springs? Doing so in my Ruger DA was a big improvement. Easy swap and inexpensive.

HappyHunter · « **Reply #14 on:** February 01, 2004, 04:53:12 AM »

I have the SRH and am quite pleased.

The scope rings come off and back on without loosing scope zero.

One of the easiest trigger jobs (just put in wolff spring).

Cleaning is a breeze. In 30 seconds I can have the grips off, trigger group out, hammer out and cylinder/crane assembly off. This may be more important to me than others, which is back to personal preference is it not?

You really need to shoot both before you buy. Of course buying both is always a great idea.

Best of luck, keep em in the black.

Fred

Jim Stacy · « **Reply #15 on:** February 01, 2004, 06:13:02 AM »

No offense taken on the 240 gr comment . I have not shot a deer any further than 50 yards with a 44 wheel gun and the Federal 240 load will penetrate a small southern white tail full length at that distance from presonal experience in the brisket and out the hip. I am sure the garrett load will penetrate better . If I were going to shoot something larger than a little white tail deer I would probably use some load other than a 240 HP or SP also just our deer here in SC aren't very big. When I said to scope the SRH and you would have a rig for 100 yards I guess I should have qualified my self and said a maximun of 100 yards , at laest my self imposed maximun. Like I said no burn on the 240 comment just commenting frim experience. Jim

Mawgie · « **Reply #16 on:** February 01, 2004, 04:45:54 PM »

Jim -

Thanks for checking back in. I agree with what you said.

I am a New York State whitetail deer hunter, and probably have a little more "big game" fever than I should. A large deer up here is 200+ pounds field dressed. That's certainly big, but the majority of deer aren't nearly that big.

On the other hand , my hunting partner harvested a 4 point buck this year built like a linebacker: heavy, thick, great mass; built like he kept a set of free weights back in the swamp.

So, as I start out with handgun hunting, I really want to wring as much power and range out of the gun I buy and ammunition I reload.

Best of luck to you.

Regards-Mawgie

Old Griz · « **Reply #17 on:** February 14, 2004, 06:45:01 PM »

I've had them both, and the Bisley was -- rather, IS -- much more fun to shoot. The RH is a fine gun, VERY accurate, but I always had to wear gloves to shoot it comfortably. Traded it for yet another .44 Bisley.

Plus, I've gotten lazy in my old age. Like HappyHunter said, it just takes seconds to break down a SA handgun to clean it. Open the gate, press the button, pull the pin, and pop it out. What could be easier?
:cb2:

msparks · « **Reply #18 on:** February 19, 2004, 03:04:39 AM »

For the longest time I wanted a SBH(Hunter), then they quit making it. I always thought I wanted a scoped pistol for Deer.

Well I bought a Regular SBH a couple of years ago and couldn't be happier--non-scoped. For most of my hunting, shots 50-75 yards in thick cover is what the SBH is best at. It's also much lighter without the scope and the heavy rib.

IF I were looking for a scoped Handgun in .44 I would get a contender.

WNY_Whitetailer · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2004, 06:28:26 PM »

What is the going rate for a Super Black Hawk Bisley Hunter? I am in the process of getting my pistol permit now and I am shopping around for hunting pistols. Of course I cannot buy one now but soon enough I will be at the Buffalo Gun Center looking at pistols.

Norwester · « **Reply #20 on:** February 24, 2004, 08:19:09 AM »

I bought one last week at Sportsmans Warehouse for $479. My first SA. Its a pleasure to shoot and with no tuning/polishing,easily the most accurate of my handguns. I'm considering dumping 2-3 RFs and picking up one of the Lippseys version in 45LC. Another nasty expensive habit! :roll:
Jeff
Forgot to say,I'v seen prices ranging up to $530 including tax out the door.

BlkHawk73 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 24, 2004, 11:18:41 AM »

I've got just about $500 in my 45 Hunter, maybe a bit less. My 45 ss Bisley is due any day now. Browse the gun auctions to get a feel for going prices.

Captainkev · « **Reply #22 on:** March 10, 2004, 02:04:45 AM »

I have a SBH in 44 mag. I immediatley took off the grips and put on a set of Hogue Lamo Camo grips. What a difference in handling the recoil!
A quick trigger "adjustment" and a 2X Leopold on top, and it is a 100 yard shooter any day of the week.
You mentioned using it for range work and hunting from a treestand.
You would not do either of those things Double Action anyway, so why get the Redhawk if you are going to shoot it Single Action.

Kevin