Author Topic: Ruger Blackhawk 5 1/2" @ the range (Read 2426 times)

Gunruner · « **on:** March 23, 2004, 01:25:35 PM »

Took my newest single action to the range today. It is a 5 1/2" blued Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt. I never owned a Ruger in .45 Colt and have read all the horror stories of having to ream the cylinders out, lap the bore, replace the base pin, replace the springs. Just to get a decent shooting gun? Well, not this one. Trigger is just under 5# out of the box, clean crisp with short overtravel. Sights were spot on at 25yd with all four of the loads I had. I loaded Winchester and Starline cases with Star 255gr RNFP bullets on top of 7.9 through 8.5 grains of Unique (old Unique and new Unique). All loads were exceptional but 8.2gr of new Unique was target grade. Old Unique left alot of powder residue and slightly smoked (had a great smell). The new Unique didn't leave hardly any residue, no smoke and unfortunately NO Smell. I'll miss the old powder, but not the cleanup. I need to get a holster for this new gun as it is definitely a keeper. P.S. no loads caused any leading!

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #1 on:** March 23, 2004, 05:13:52 PM »

Sounds great!

It sure is nice when a new gun shoots up to what you were hoping for.

I shoot a lot of the new Unique in my 357 loads. I have to agree, it sure is nicer(as far as clean up), than the old stuff. It may just be me, but it seems to burn a little more consistantly too.

Gunruner · « **Reply #2 on:** March 24, 2004, 01:52:04 PM »

Thanks for the reply Jerry. Yes, it is nice having one come out of the box a super shooter. I've had a few, one was a 3 screw Single Six, another was a Ruger Government model .22, and my G19 Glock. Almost forgot the little snub nose Charter Arms .38 that we all shot everytime we got together. That little gun could put all 5 inside a coffee can at 40 yards.
The new Unique is a much better burner as you say.
Thanks again for your comments!.........................Mike

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 25, 2004, 03:22:19 AM »

Gunrunner, You know, we talk so much about the improvements that we can make to our Blackhawks or whatever(we're even worse over on the Contender forum) that while its true that improvements can be made and we all enjoy self customizing our own guns, we talk ourselves into thinking that the original gun is a piece of crap. And that is just not true, at least in most cases. Glad you got a shooter. Walt

Gunruner · « **Reply #4 on:** March 25, 2004, 05:13:24 AM »

I think you hit the nail on the head! Thanks Walt

140orbetter · « **Reply #5 on:** March 25, 2004, 10:24:08 AM »

I also have a Black Hawk 45 colt 5.5" and straight from the hard case it has been reliable and a shooter.
I load 16.0 gr of 2400/255gr lead RN for the range and it is more accurate at 25 yds than I am!
Also load 22.0 gr H110/ 300gr Hornady XTP Mag to hunt deer, with this load this past Nov I waffeled a big Pa 10 point @ 60 yds, thru one shoulder and under the skin on the far shoulder with that same Blk Hwk. I also use the H110 load in my Win Legacy 45 colt and have droppped deer at 125 yds in their tracks. 140OB

140orbetter · « **Reply #6 on:** March 25, 2004, 10:26:16 AM »

I also have a Black Hawk 45 colt 5.5" and straight from the hard case it has been reliable and a shooter.
I load 16.0 gr of 2400/255gr lead RN for the range and it is more accurate at 25 yds than I am!
Also load 22.0 gr H110/ 300gr Hornady XTP Mag to hunt deer, with this load this past Nov I waffeled a big Pa 10 point @ 60 yds, thru one shoulder and under the skin on the far shoulder with that same Blk Hwk. I also use the H110 load in my Win Legacy 45 colt and have droppped deer at 125 yds in their tracks. 140OB

Gunruner · « **Reply #7 on:** March 25, 2004, 11:24:57 AM »

140orbetter...That H110 and 300gr bullet load is some heavy duty load! I only loaded my .41 mag with 21gr H110 under a Speer 220 SP. I may try a few jacketed loads with my .45 Colt but it will probably remain mostly a fun big bore plinker. Thanks for your response.......................Mike

140orbetter · « **Reply #8 on:** March 25, 2004, 01:03:04 PM »

TSK! that's nothing, I had some loaded @ 26.0 gr of H110...Good God Almight that WAS a heavy duty load but accurate as well :grin:

Gunruner · « **Reply #9 on:** March 25, 2004, 02:10:49 PM »

26gr H110+300gr bullet = OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't think I'd like to be on either side of that combo.................Mike

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #10 on:** March 27, 2004, 08:37:48 PM »

Am working on three different loadings for the .45 colt. Two for accuracy using Unique and Bluedot ( working out very well )

The kicker is my starting loads for hunting, 20.4/296 Fed 150 primer & 250gr xtp's are shooting great offhand at 45yds using mixed cases.
Is There A Load That The .45 Doesnt Like?

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #11 on:** March 28, 2004, 12:08:14 AM »

heres my shake on it. A 5 lb trigger is still to heavy for me. Im sure your groups would even be better if it were at 3 lbs. I routinely put in belt mountain pins in all my single actions. If nothing else they keep the base pin from jumping and they just about all will with heavy loads after a while. Throating a .45 ruger will help it. It may not make it more accurate with loads it likes but it will sure make it alot more fussy as to which loads will shoot good. Most rugers will benifit a little from a SMALL ammount of lapping it will cut down the leading when using softer cast bullets. If you ever decide to shoot the heavy bullets at speed you will probably need to replace your front sight as there just not high enough. Ruger will provide one for free. Im glad you have a fine shooting gun there but maybe it could even be better. For about $70 you can get a base pin lap your barrel and have it throated. Ad a good action job at around $90 and a nice set of grips off ebay for around $50 and youll have a real nice semi custom gun to really be proud of.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #12 on:** March 28, 2004, 12:24:01 AM »

one more bit of advise if i may. I have a ruger vaquero that i shot many of loads of 26 grains of 110 and a 300+ cast out of. They will take it but after a while mine did in fact lossen up. Rotational play increased and end thrust increased. Bottom line is the gun got sloppy enough where i resorted to colt level loads for a while. Its now at Clemments getting tightened up and a face lift. If it were a gun id plan on keeping for a while id keep them to less the 24 grains. Especially with a jacketed bullet. Also if you plan on shooting any heavy loads in a ruger make sure you keep a little oil on both ends of the cyl. where they rotate or you will no doubt beat them up alot faster! The difference in killing power between a 300 grain bullet and 22 grains of 110 compared to 26 is basically nothing. Just more recoil and noise. Good to impress the guys at the range but Mr. deer or bear will never know the difference. My favorite .45 heavy load has become a 330swc and 22 grains of 4227 its very accurate and easy to shoot all day. Does about 1100fps and kills very well. If i had to use jacketed bullets which i refuse to do. Id probably go with 23-24 grains of 110 as a little more speed may help with expansion. (if expansion is what you want) Actually ive come full circle on the .45 i started with lighter loads then went to the extreem heavys. Ive found out lately how well a 255 at 900fps kills and most of my shooting with the .45 is at that level. If i want more power i take out a bigger gun.

140orbetter · « **Reply #13 on:** March 28, 2004, 03:39:00 AM »

Mr. Smale: Your into handguns semi custom or full blown custom jobs on them. Great, that's your thing. I too have spent more money on revolvers after market than I actually spent for the revolver new...sound familar?
As well I've come the full circle you speak of, an now have learned to enjoy a "stock Revolver" straight from the box it came from. If I want a better quality weapon than what I spend $350 on( such as a RugerBH) I buy it that way. I guess what I'm saying is after all those years Of custom triggers, etc I have learned that what you have left after all that is still a Ruger BH.No matter how hard we may try you just can't slick up a Chevy to be a Hummer, can we?
As far as reloads I've killed more big game ( Blk bear mule deer,elk,caribou) with a 255 gr soft RN @ 16.0 gr of 2400 than anything else I have loaded. At <75 yds one of them kills just as well as 24+ gr H110/300 gr Sierra # 8830. Truth be told I've killed just as many blk bears with a 357 Mag in my 8" Taurus Tracker an 158gr casts as I have with a 45colt.
Why do some of us load heavy ..... because it's just plain fun to experiment.
Heck a 218Bee kills just as well as a 25-06 on chucks under 150 yds too but I own both rifles and shoot chucks with both of them each summer,why....cause I enjoy it. and isn't that the true reason for being in the shooting sports to begin with?

140OB

Gunruner · « **Reply #14 on:** March 28, 2004, 01:33:48 PM »

Smale, I'm extremely pleased with my .45 Colt Ruger Blackhawk "out-of-the-box". I'll be frank, I honestly couldn't shoot it any more accurate than it is right now. I have a big hand and 5# trigger that's crisp is perfect for me. Too light a trigger never did work for me. I was only saying that I was impressed with MY .45 Ruger as I read all over this and other forums that this caliber in the Blackhawk needed help. I saw none of the problems others have experienced. My .41 Magnum was a different story and required much load building and never did shoot a 210gr bullet well. It had a horrendous trigger and I had to work it. As far as grips go, I happen to like the regular plow handle factory ones even with my hands. I have had custom guns and it's nice to own and shoot them but I too enjoy(as 140orbetter said) the factory product I received this time. Thanks for your input.........................Mike

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #15 on:** March 28, 2004, 02:24:21 PM »

nothing wrong with a out of the box gun. I have a few myself. Glad you got a good one.

Mike C · « **Reply #16 on:** March 29, 2004, 01:34:41 AM »

A good trigger is perhaps the most important element of hitting offhand with a revolver. A trigger overtravel stop will cut your group size too.

Mike C

Gunruner · « **Reply #17 on:** March 29, 2004, 08:11:09 AM »

Mike C, Yep, that is the one area that could be improved on this gun. I'm sure it would help me in the follow through and tighten my groups a little. If I get brave, I'll attempt the stop screw installation myself down the road. Thanks for your imput....................Mike

jar-wv · « **Reply #18 on:** March 30, 2004, 05:25:59 PM »

Gunruner. My 5.5" 45 Blackhawk in my favorite revolver. The only thing aftermarket about it is Houge grips. They don't look as pretty as the walnut stocks that come on the gun but it sure helps with recoil on the the heavy h110 / 300xtp loads. I also did the poor boys trigger job on it. Have heard a few negative things said about that but it seemed to work out ok for me.

jar

Gunruner · « **Reply #19 on:** March 31, 2004, 07:23:13 AM »

jar-wv, Where in WV are you? I'm in Hurricane, 19 miles west of Charleston on I-64. My 5 1/2" Ruger .45 is rapidly becoming my favorite Ruger centerfire also. It seems to me that Ruger has picked up the ball on QC from what it has been in the late 80's and 90's. Fit and finish on this new gun rivals the 3 screw guns form the 60's. Glad you got a good one also and thank's for posting............................Mike

jar-wv · « **Reply #20 on:** April 01, 2004, 03:26:57 PM »

Gunruner.

. I'm up near the Clarksburg area in Harrison County. Glad to stumble into another "hillbilly" here :wink: . I sometimes work down in your area, & once even bought a gun there. Place was called Dunlaps I think.

jar

Gunruner · « **Reply #21 on:** April 02, 2004, 06:11:54 AM »

jar-wv, If you were in Dunlaps at Hurricane, you were a 4 minute walk from my place. I stop in his place several times a month. Yesterday I looked at a new Beretta Stampede he has in the case ($465.00!!!). He's mostly overpriced unless he took something in real cheap. Thanks for posting....................Mike

EOD3 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 02, 2004, 07:04:18 PM »

I've got a BN455X (.45 Colt with a .45 ACP cylinder) in 5.5 inch. Great gun, I normally shoot .45 ACP out of it and use a plain old .45 auto magazine for a speed loader.

Gunruner · « **Reply #23 on:** April 03, 2004, 06:21:43 AM »

never thought of using a 1911 mag as a speed loader!...............Mike

Deaf Smith · « **Reply #24 on:** April 03, 2004, 02:06:59 PM »

I too have a 5.5 Ruger Sa revolver only mine is a Stainless 44 Magnum. Its basicly straight from the box(back when I bought it the boxes was still cardboard!) with two small additions both of which I had around the house for years from other projects no extra money spent. I put a millit white outline rear sight on it for the wider flater sight blade. The second thing I did was put an old set of mustang oversized grips (walnut) to take up some of the recoil. there is of course a lot more I could fo but why bother the gun just shoots like a house a fire as it is. I needed the sight becouse of my ageing eues and the grips becouse for me they help control the gun during recoil. But thats all I shoot the gun with 2 sinple loads - 19 grains of 24 with a lead hard cast round nose bullet for fun and games plinking practice and just for the hell of it. My second load is 19 grains of 2400 and a 250grain hard cast keith style semi wadcutter with or without a gas check(depends on where I buy the bullets) This load is for serious bisness eith human or critter and hunting the mighty pig as well. The whitetail falls in this group as well. but these two loads are all the gun ever see's and you know what its a lot of fun. Its one of my favorite blasters both for any hunting I may want to do or just some power-plinking. Its powerful; accurate and a great gun. For carry in the woods and fields I had a unknown custom maker whip up a nice full flap holster with a stud to keep the gun in and to quitely release it when I see game(snaps make noise. Now I would use a Ruger Practial holster but I have never found one for a 5.5 inch gun. Enjoy your gun as much as I have mine over the years they are a blast. Rugers always are. I just love the 5.5 inch length for Ruger SA guns makes them balance just perfect for me. Right now I am sceming on how to get my hands on one of them new 5.5 stainless Ruger old armies. It will even fit in my same holster! great gun for fun and game I just have to have one. Later and good shooting!

Gunruner · « **Reply #25 on:** April 04, 2004, 05:03:11 AM »

Thanks for your post Jim. I agree that the 5 1/2" seems to be the best overall compromise for sight radius and holster carry. I started many years ago with a 5 1/2" Single Six and now I own my first 5 1/2" centerfire. It "feels" real good in the hand..........................Mike

140orbetter · « **Reply #26 on:** April 05, 2004, 02:10:39 PM »

I own more guns than most people and surely more than my wife thinks I need.
I do my own reloading and keep a log of everything I load. As I glance over it, I see hands down the most ammo I load is for my 5.5 Ruger 45 Colt. When you take into consideration I have a cabinet full of reloading dies that says alot.
I also have a Win Legacy in 45 Colt between the 2 of these guns since January 1,2004 I have shot in excess of 2500 rounds. and I am not into CB action shooting either. I just love to shoot!

Gunruner · « **Reply #27 on:** April 05, 2004, 02:54:32 PM »

140orbetter, Your a shooter like I am. My CCW pistol is a Glock 19 and after owning it for a month I had 850 rounds down the pipe. I haven't a clue how many rounds I've fired from it by now. My .45 Ruger is only a few weeks owned (no holster yet), but it has had 500+ 255gr RNFP through it. It's a real FUN gun. I didn't say it before but it has the most beautiful set of matched rosewood grip panels I've ever seen on a production gun. It's a keeper. Thanks for your post...............Mike

Deaf Smith · « **Reply #28 on:** April 06, 2004, 03:58:51 AM »

in six months befour he has to start over again. Everything from an officers acp to a navy arms shofield with a few customs thrown in as well as a trails end and legacy rifles and a couple of 45/70 rifles(my favorite the Ruger # 1 in 45/70! Now thats a rifle!)
Jim L

Gunruner · « **Reply #29 on:** April 06, 2004, 09:57:13 AM »

Jim, How does the Scohfield shoot? It's a short case if I remember correctly. They are neat looking guns, I just wondered how accurate they were and how the function was. Thanks...........................Mike