Ruger Blackhawk .45LC

[photogpat]

So, if a guy has a chance to pickup a new model Ruger Blackhawk in .45LC -- which barrel length would one go with? Options available to me are 4.62", 5.5", and 7.5".

I don't have any specific activity in mind for this yet other than plinking at my steel targets -- I just have a bunch of .45LC ammo, and wanted a single action 6-shooter to continue rounding out the collection. I've reloaded for .45LC before, so I know thats an easy one...straight wall cartridge, low pressures, cast boolits, etc...just can't decide on a length.

I'm not fishing for any sales -- I already have my source, just trying to decide which one I want. Help me out here.

Thanks!
Pat

[OldmanFCSA]

For general all around shooting I would choose the 7.5" barrel as it would promote better velocities and reduce recoil whip.

I miss my Ruger collection, had them all in 200th year Blackhawk series, but somebody wanted them worse than me, just wish they would have paid for them and caused les damage. (Joliet Illinois area).

Only have 1 Ruger Blackhawk now, a 44 Mag 7.5".

They got my 200th year Ruger rifle collection too. didn't touch anything else.

[DonT]

I would agree with OldmanFCSA that for general pinking I wold go the 7.5", for all all around use like cowboy action or carrying in the woods as a backup gun I would defer to the 5.5" for convience.

A number of years ago I did a lot of Cowboy Action Shooting & had a pair of the 5.5" Vaquaros for sidearms. I found that the accuracy was less than stellar shooting cast bullets, much better with jacketed but we could not use those. No I am not a deadeye by any means but it was bad even for me. I was also getting an excessive amount of leading even though the loads were light, well under 900fps. I was getting 2 or 3 shot groups with 3 or 4 flyers. I checked my loading, crimping, weighed bullets, nothing was out of wack. I even had others at the range shoot the guns and they had the same results.

I slicked them up, replacing sprngs and polising the actions and this helped some but not much. I then really started to dig into them and found that the throats on the cylinder varied as much as .005 in diameter running from .454 down to .449. At first this wouldn't seem like a major issue but it was. Seen the cylinders were swaging the bullets down to just bore diameter .450 or smaller in some cases. This was like shooting a 9mm cast bullet (.356) in a .357 (.358). Jackets don't seem to have a major problem with this .002 variance but cast do.

I called Ruger and was told this variance was within tolerance and there was nothing they could do. After some real soul searching and a few sleepless nights I ordered a .452 ream from one of the tool suppliers and decided to open the tight chambers. I really liked the guns and wanted them to perform. When it arrived it still took me a good week to muster up the courage to do what I thought needed to be done. Bear in mind I am not a machinist (only do it as a hobby) nor am I a gunsmith (again a 30 year hobby)...... I setup the cylinder on the mill, chucked the ream and with plentry of cutting oil proceeded to open the first chamber from the front, having a friend turn the spindle by hand as I advanced it into the cylinder. I held the cylinder with my other hand to allow the ream to center in the current hole as I didn't want to cause it to go out of round.

After doing all athe chambers, some had more material removed than others, a few nothing was cut, I cleaned up the cylinders, reinstalled it in the guns and headed to the range. The guns were clean and the first 6 rounds told me I had found the problem. I HAD GROUPS NOT PATTERNS. Saying I was a happy camper is a understantement. An additional benefit was the guns no longer had any appreciable lead build up. I shot this pair of guns for about 6 years while running the cowboy matches at our range and never had an issue of any sort. They got traded in a deal when I lost interest in cowboy action shooting about 8 years ago and to the best of my knowledge they are still functioning well.

Since this time I have done a few of these for buddies that were having the same problem with their guns, one as recently as last year, one chamber I did was about .445, this would have caused problems with jacketed bullets... So Ruger hasn't fixed the issue yet to the best of my knowledge. This seems to be a problem in 45 Colts only, i have not seen it in other calibers and I don't know why, reamer size maybe?? I don't know for sure but I am assuming maybe they have a boring machine that does all 6 chambers at one time and they are trying to get the most out of their reams so when they start to dull they end up undersized. This is just a guess. Anyway you might want to bring a dial caliper with you when you go to look at guns and check the front end of the chambers. Of course if you get one that is tight and talk real nice you might be able to talk me into opening them up for you under the same pretense I told everyone else. "I am not a machinist, I am not a gunsmith, and if things go south you are on your own and I bear no responsibility"...

DonT

[photogpat]

Don -- that was with a Vaquero? I know that the Vaquero is functionally a Blackhawk with fixed sights...but I hadn't heard of this with one of those. Good info!

I'm sticking with the Blackhawk for the sights, and the frame strength -- I'll keep in mind your experience if the shots start to "string" out there more than can be attributed to me.

[DonT]

I have found this in both Vaquaros and Blackhawks, blued &/or Stainless. Didn't seem to matter. But only in the 45 Colt not any of the others...

Good luck, but now you got me thinking about Single Actions again and how much I liked them.. Damn, don't need that..

DonT

[rugersol]

I shoot Vaqueros in SASS ... .45 Colt, in recent years.

There's a distinct difference between what is known as the "XR3" grip, and those commonly found on most single-action Rugers of the last 40yr+.

It may be a matter of personal preference, but most aficionados (and while I'm typically excluded from this group, in this case, apparently not) prefer the "XR3" grip.

I recently acquired a brand new .41 "Flattop" ("Flattops" and "New" Vaqueros typically come with the "XR3" grip) in 4.625in bbl. I've shot a "deer pistol" league fer a few years now ... usually two guns ... usually one of 'em, .44 Mag ... loaded to basically Winchester U.S.A. 240gr levels ... shot from a Bisley Hunter ... and a 4in 629. In working up some "warm" .41 loads, at typical factory levels, the 4.625in handles as well, if not significantly better, than my Bisley Hunter did (albeit, with less powerful ammo ... but the weight difference, IMO, more than makes up fer it). It's also remarkably accurate. Almost fergot to mention, I've also shot this .41 with the "warm" loads one-handed, with no ill effects.

A good friend once suggested to me that the recoil of an SAA is managed to a great extent by way of what we often negatively view as "muzzle flip" ... the grip (particularly the non-Bisley, and when gripped properly, with the pinky underneath the butt) does absolutely nothing to counter this. However, such guns, shooting "warm" loads, also exhibit remarkably little recoil.

IMO, a longer bbl tends to counter this "feature" ... to some extent. However, at the same time, a longer bbl adds mass, as well ... so I don't believe it's a 1:1 kinda thing. In my experience, the shorter 4.625in bbl merely "flips" more (not nearly 'nuff to put a dent in yer noggin', though! ) ... whereas, the longer bbl tends to drive rearward into the palm of yer hand. At which, I realize less fatigue, with the shorter bbl.

IOW, my best guess is, you likely won't see much difference on the target, or on yer hand (the edge, to the shorter bbl) with various bbl lengths. At which, choose the one you believe you would enjoy, most.

I can't speak to DonT's point. All my .45 Colt loads have been under 500fps. I have won a few "poker" matches ... even using "match" loads! ... but past that, I can't guarantee what he says is not prevalent ... in .45 Colt. In .41 Mag, I would highly doubt it. I also recently acquired some dual-cylinder .45 Colt/ACP "New" Vaqueros ... again, .45 Colt loads are unremarkable ... however, with the .45 ACP cylinders, even "match" loads exhibit remarkable accuracy ... possibly one of my most accurate pistols, I own. At which, if such things are a concern fer you, 'er even not, IMO, a dual-cylinder .45 "Flattop" would be be WELL worth the extra $100.

P.S. if ya have some factory .45 Colt "cast" loads ya'd like to try in a 4.625 "XR3" Ruger ... such things can be arranged.

[photogpat]

Hmmm...I'll have to ask and see if the "convertible" .45LC/.45ACP is on the list or not. Having the option to go back and forth is attractive -- and hearing that the performance doesn't seem to suffer is a plus one.

I was looking at a convertible Blackhawk .357/9mm at Gunstop a few months back -- it was a good deal, but I passed after reading too many stories about how the 9mm wasn't much good for anything other than going "bang" (plus, I already have a Security Six that fills the .357 gap in the collection).

[ijosef]

Hmmm...I'll have to ask and see if the "convertible" .45LC/.45ACP is on the list or not. Having the option to go back and forth is attractive -- and hearing that the performance doesn't seem to suffer is a plus one.

I was looking at a convertible Blackhawk .357/9mm at Gunstop a few months back -- it was a good deal, but I passed after reading too many stories about how the 9mm wasn't much good for anything other than going "bang" (plus, I already have a Security Six that fills the .357 gap in the collection).

There are a few .45LC/.45ACP convertibles on Gunbroker being sold NIB from gun shops for fairly reasonable prices. I keep mulling one over in my mind. I'd like a S&W 625 for the .45ACP and one of the rare Ruger Redhawks in .45LC, but maybe a convertible could fit the bill. I like DA revolvers but I usually shoot single action with them anyway.

[AkRay]

The shorter barrel lengths are usually easier to resell if you find yourself in a bind down the road. They're also easier to carry in a holster, should you decide to go hiking or camping. I buy the longer barrel guns if they're a good deal, but will opt for the shorter guns if both are available for about the same price. Stainless steel can be a strong selling point.

The ACP cylinder makes the convertible a more attractive option too. 45 ACPs are just fun to shoot with a Ruger Blackhawk.

[photogpat]

I've got the .45LC/.45ACP coming -- its the 5.5" blued model.

Thanks for the input everyone...I love my single six and security six...and I'm kinda looking forward to have a .45COLT to shoot too again!

*edit, it'll be nice to have any firearm again after all my others were unfortunately lost in a tragic ice fishing accident*

[Eric Marleau]

Photo Man,

You will really like your gun.
I've had the exact pistol for quite a while and it shoots my reloads in both .45ACP and .45Colt at 25 yards very accurately.
I like shooting it when I'm too lazy to pick up the brass with my other .45 Autos

You won't be disappointed.

Eric