Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns First range outing with my new Ruger 10.5" Super Blackhawk

These KS411N Ruger Super Blackhawk's are somewhat thin on the ground, but my entrepid local gunstore was able to find one for me. I've begun competing at local IHMSA matches and rather than wait for a Freedom Arms (which everyone else has and is the standard for the game), I decided to acquire a 10.5" SBH instead. I figure if this revolver made the 40x40 possible back in 1981 it ought to be able to do so again today. One thing is for sure: I won't be shooting a 40x40 anytime soon, but I've got plenty of brass and bullets to help get me there

This SBH is really nicely finished, and Ruger's decision to move the warning up underneath the barrel makes for a very sleek and purposeful look. Out of the box the trigger was slightly heavy, but not gritty and had a crisp let off so I'm leaving it alone for now. I removed the pretty good looking factory laminate grips and put on a pair of Pachmayr's. They seem to have been the IHMSA standard for this gun and they remove any chance of the square-back trigger guard hammering my middle finger. Ruger is putting out some really nice guns these days and this one is no exception: flats are flat, the brushed finish is evenly applied and the lettering is all crisp. The new style rear sight with Ruger Eagle has positive clicks, though I'm looking into acquiring a Bomar/Bond rear/front setup sometime in the future.

Had it out to the range this morning. The load was 22.7gr of Hodgdon Lil' Gun under a 240gr Nosler JSP in Hornady brass with Winchester LP primers. Recoil was stout but muzzle rise was negligble, accuracy from standing off-hand was decent (6" at 50 yards for 5-shots) but I have no doubt the gun can do better. I didn't shoot much from Creedmoor because my homemade blast shield, while protecting my leg from the blast itself, still let the force of the blast get through. Felt like someone was snapping my leg with a huge rubber band It had me flinching after two rounds, so I called that off. Likely going to layer in some quilted material between the leather sheets of my blast shield to help dampen to force of the blast.

All in all a good day at the range. I'm looking forward to the next silhouette match in October.

Go for it!

Nice looking gun, remember the first time a revolver bit me on the leg at a match, hurt..........

Looks like fun to me. Keep on shootin!

Yep!

My eyes and handgun shooting ability have deteriorated to the point that I don't think I could even duplicate your 6 inch group at 50 yards. That is plenty good to kill a deer with at that range, do you have any visions of doing so? I would sure be tempted.

stop Lil Gun and go to 24 gr of 296 with a Hornady 240 XTP or 23.5 with a Hornady 240 SIL bullet. Use a Fed 150 primer.