I'm in the market for a Stainless Blackhawk in .357mag for a "trail gun" to carry while scouting and setting up stands. I'll be carrying it also while I'm hunting if an up-close opportunity comes along. Can't make up my mind on going with the 5 1/2" or 6 1/2" and not sure it makes much difference. Also haven't decided on holsters yet. I see the benefits of a crossdraw more than a hip. Except for when sitting. Does a crossdraw holster have a habit of digging the gun into your gut when sitting or any other disadvantages?
Yall help me out here please....I've got a brand NIB Taurus PT 1911 and 650 rounds of ammo I'm fixin to put on the block to get this done.

Go shorter, especially if you are planning on having to draw while sitting. For myself, I like the 4" barrels.

I lucked into a 4 5/8" Blackhawk for $300 last Dec.
I wanted short and light and as far as digging into my gut, I don't have a gut so no problem.
How about a shoulder holster or a holster that rides across your chest.

4 inch. Wouldn't think of a 5.5 or longer for a compact gun.

We carry a 329PD and a couple of Kimber Ultra Carries often. Really would not deal all that well even with a 5 inch 45 for our tastes.

4 inches is plenty long enough for speed and accuracy at what most consider pistol distances.

4"

I carry a 4 5/8 Ruger .45 Colt Blackhawk in a cross draw chest rig.

Cross draw, ....hands down for comfort, and accessibility across the broadest range of positions, regardless of barrel length.

4" dittos.

Can't speak to gut,......got none.

GTC

Shorter like the guys are saying will serve you better. I like my S&W 629 it has a 3 1/2 inch barrel. My objective is not 100 yard shots.

Definitely 4 or 4&5/8. Carrying a longer barrel just gets in the way and having 4lbs strapped to your hip gets old fast.
I have a full 6" Ruger in .357 and a 686, 6" in.357 and they only go to the range.

If I am riding(saddle) with nothing else, a 44mag blackhawk with 4&5/8 barrel goes along, but mostly it is a 4" Ruger Security Six in.357.

I almost always carry cross draw if have rifle as when I sling it over my should it interferes on the right if I am carrying a handgun there. If am riding across draw is much more comfortable and does not interfere with the cantle or any lead ropes when I am pulling a pack string.

CC It is always strong side with a 9mm or J frame smith in .357

My preferences only YMMV

Thanks for the advise. Noted. Yea mostly I had in mind to have during snake season scouting and setting stands and like I said the odd chance shot within 50yards or so on deer. BTW...what's the magic of pulling back the hammer without spooking what you're fixing to drop it on?

4 inch barrel for me in a trail gun and for most of my hunting

I have a 5.5 inch Blackhawk in .45 Colt. I can't think of a better length. I'm not concealing it. I carry it in a leather rig that rides just below the hip. Most comfortable rig I've ever had.

Try this place out no matter which length you go with.

Cowboyneeds.com

Great prices. Excellent customer service. All sorts of leather goods.



P.S. I use this particular setup.

110 & 114 combo

Since your barrel limit is 4" I'd go with a 4-5/8. Not a 357 mag though, either a 44 or a 45. If you run a cast flat nose bullet of 240-250 grains out of either at 1000fps you'll kill anything in the woods.

Since the 357 Blackhawk it not offered in 4" that answer is moot unless you want to dump some cash on a chop job. The 7/8" difference between in a 4 5/8' gun and a 5 1/2" one never bothered me with regard to carry. I carry crossdraw and use both lengths depending upon the piece I feel like carrying. Go with the 5 1/2" and be done with it.

5.5" barreled Ruger Flattop .44 special or .45 LC in a Old El Paso Saddlery Crossdraw holster
Definately Not a .357mag, though

Shorter is better (and more convenient). As for the magic of soundlessly cocking the hammer, (not the safest way, but the only way), you have to keep pressure on the trigger while you cock the trigger and then hold the hammer back as you release the trigger. You'll probably get only the final click, but not the multiple clicks as the cylinder passes over the locking notch and the half cock position.

Practice this at the range before attempting in the field (and always point the muzzle in safe direction).

I have a 4 5/8" Vaquero in 45 Colt with a Birdshead Grip - For me it's perfect.

I don't think you're going to find a blackhawk .357 in 5-1/2 ... not a factory barrel length option, you've got 4-5/8" or 6-1/2".

In a short .357, I think you should keep the 4" GP100 on your list. The 4" SP101 with adjustable sights should be another consideration. DA has some advantages. Even if you never fire it DA, the swing ut cylinder is going to make reloading faster .. speed loaders, speed strips, etc.

Personally, though, for a trail gun / woods bumming gun, the hole diameter ought to start with .4, not .3. 41 mag, .44 special or mag, or .45 colt. My favorite for looks and balance is the stainless 5-1/2 barreled super blackhawk. However, for carry, a S&W 329PD is hard to beat.

When I scout and refresh my "No Trespassing" signs each year around my parent's southern Ohio property, in addition to my sidearm, I'm also carrying: a small section of aluminum ladder, bag of nails, stack of aluminum signs, and a hammer. It's just about 1 mile around the perimeter with 4 pretty steep inclines and declines and I'm pretty worn out when finished.

NOTE: The guns are carried loaded, "empty" weights are merely given as a reference point.

I used to carry my 4" 629 in a cheap Hunter brand holster. While it was comfortable, at around 42 oz (empty), it was a load by the time I got back. A couple years ago I tried carrying both an aluminum frame Taurus PT1911 (32 oz empty) in a Bianchi 59 holster, and a Taurus 605 3" (24 oz empty) in a Simply Rugged holster (Silver Dollar I believe) rotated around to my left side for comparison. I was a little shocked that the 1911 was far more comfortable. Must've been the paddle holster.

At 46 to 48 ounces, those Blackhawks are going to get pretty heavy. Have you thought about just sticking with the 1911 you already have?

Practice this with an unloaded gun.

Deg..,

Don't understand those negative comments re the .357. I carried a Smith M19 four inch every day for six years. It killed everything I needed it to. Ammo is cheaper and easier to find and also lighter.

Now days I carry a three inch 696 in 44spl. Everything about it is heavier and I load my own ammo. My old M19 is in semi retirement.

But it's a Ford-Chevy thing. If you want a 357 get it and be happy.

O

I've considered sticking with my PT1911. As far as my caliber choice, I picked the .357 cause for plinking, and option of shooting .38 or .357 depending on ammo availablity and using rat shot on "ole no-shoulders". Plus it's packs enough (imo) to handle any deer I'd encounter out to 50 or so. Naturally the solution to all these much appreciated opinions and advise, is to buy at least one of everything I've personally considered. But there-in lies another decision.....how to get the scratch to pull off such a mind blowing, fantasy enduced shopping spree as that would be
Just so happens that in Little Rock there is a place called Don's Weaponry where you can test-fire before you buy. The 41 mag was actually my first choice and the 45LC ran a close 2nd....but the 357 won out for reasons i mentioned. At least til I go do a "test fire" on some of the short barreled bigguns this Thursday and make a more educated choice.
Thanks to everyone for your insight

Mine has served me well.

I picked up a S&W 396 ti 44 special in 4.5 inch and it's turned out to be a helluva fine trail gun.

It's a feather and it's accurate...It blows away the 629 heavyweights I've had. They're fine relovers, but you'll feel that weight after a long day.

What holster you use makes a big difference in what you can carry comfortably.

I use a S&W 25-7 .45 Colt as my all around gun and with it's 5" barrel I have no problems at all.

Of course I use a high quality chest type holster that gives the best of all worlds in my opinion!






Look up "Guides Choice" if you're interested.

Keith

12 inch i love a good buntline good for everything carry in a cross draw it rides nice.

5 1/2"!

Go shorter. I finally ended up with a 4" SP101, but I have other calibers in longer lengths.

It is a personal decision with many right answers. It depends on what you think, not a bunch of people you have never met.

In .357 I like a 4 in or 4 5/8 in barrel on the hip. For .44 mag and up, I like a 6 in barrel carried cross-draw.

Measure your inseam. If it's like mine, you'll have to use the 5.5" barrel or the front sight will drag on the ground.

In .357, my choice is 4". In .45 Colt, which I carry more than the others, it is 5.5".

The .357 rides in a strong-side hip holster, the .45 Colt rides crossdraw.

Neither one is a bad choice for an all-around trail pistol.

Ed

Now that is a prepared pistolero. I have a crossdraw for my Ruger 4 5/8ths .41 Mag and a tanker for my Smith 4" .44 Special.

I like this...

This is nice too...

I appreciate any and all input here and other questions I've posted. I find even the "not so positive" to be something to learn from.
Karnis...that chitt was funny
To everyone else please feel free to post pics of what you have. I like the gun porn and ideas for my next piece. Understand though, at least one of you stand high risk of having me copy what you have. Carry on......

In the right holster, no. They're not heavy.

In the Triple K Wyoming belt with Cheyenne holster, I don't notice the weight at all. And that's with 25 rounds in the belt loops. It's heavy overall, but the way it sits on the hips, you don't notice at all.

I use this rig for hunting. I probably hike around 7 miles a day, for six days. Average probably. Very hilly terrain. I love this rig. I've tried all sorts of sidearms and holsters. Including a 1911 in a paddle holster. And I've not found anything more comfortable than this. I used to get back to camp and immediately remove all the excess weight. Now I don't even drop the rig. Dump my pack and start cookin. Now, a comfortable pack is something I ain't found yet.

Triple K leather is as good as it gets. It's not fancy and period correct like El Paso. But this set up is a working rig, not show. And the price can't be beat with a stick. Nothing against El Paso. If I wanted fancy, high quality, period correct leather I'd likely go there. But for a durable, comfortable, high quality rig that still looks nice, Triple K is it. Treated with Balistol, this one rig has lasted several years without any signs of fatigue or stress.

As to barrel length, I prefer the 5.5 if I think I might be taking longer shots with it. It's a personal thing, but I "feel" steadier with it. As to caliber, I like the .45 Colt of all the "4s". As for .357, I don't think there's anything wrong with it. I like .45 because my rifle takes it as well and that's my primary hunting rifle.

As for cost, well, the .357 has the .45 beat there. If cost is your main concern, you're better off not getting anything. If you keep the concerns to defense and handgun hunting, the .45 is just a little better than that .357.

For a trail gun the barrel lengths you're asking about are way too long. Think 3 inch. Pack in a waist holster where its handy. If you don't think your caliber of choice packs enough punch in 3 inch then up your caliber. A 3 inch .44 mag is more comfortable to carry than a 5 inch or longer .357.

Normally, I'd agree. But he's also talking about using it to hunt with. It's hard to say there's a barrel length that is the best of those two worlds. But I'd err on the side of hunting in this case.

I carried a Ruger .45LC with 4-5/8" for several years. I tried longer barrels, but when hunting out of tree stands like I do a lot the 4-5/8" was the longest I could use and not have the barrel push the grips up against the side rails on tree climbing stands when sitting.

Shoulder hostler would remedy that, but I liked wearing it on my hip.

Arkansas has a minimum 4" barrel length. Y'all wouldn't believe how hard it is to find a 4-5" barreled in any we've mentioned. I did find a really nice stainless S&W .357 in 6" today. Can't remember model- $599.00 I thought was a little high. So for now and scouting, placing stands I've got my little Taurus 941.
Anyone know a leather cross draw that's not over $50?

For Blackhawks in .45 at 4 5/8 or 5 1/2, try Tin Star Shooting Range. They're in Oklahoma, but with shipping and transfer fees, they were still the cheapest I found. Fast shipping and excellent customer service.

As for shoulder rigs less than $50, you won't find quality if you're still talking leather. Can't help you with nylon. Sorry.

Thanks. At the moment I was speaking of a holster for my little 941. And $50 is a bit on the low side. I just don't wanna spend $100.00 or more so I was low-balling it lol

Ok- going to pick up a Blackhawk .41 mag with 5 1/2" barrel this saturday.
FOR HUNTING, riding, and just taking a stroll through the woods, do yall prefer Exposed trigger guard or not. The latter seems more secure and protects gun better but yall have more experience so lay it on me...

.

Shorter will carry better ,slightly longer sight radius may help accuracy a little as well as velocity ,your choice,sounds like you plan on carrying more than shooting so personally I'd go shorter

I don't think Ruger offers the Blackhawk in 357 with a 5 1/2" barrel. I prefer the shorter barrels myself. Hard to beat the 4 5/8" Blackhawk in 45 colt. It's lighter than the 357 and quieter, too!

I think, a perfect size double-action revolver, for a trail gun - should have a 4" barrel.
As regards a single action revolver - My favorite trail gun is my Ruger Vaquero 45 Colt with a 4 5/8" barrel.

Both have good balance and are more wieldy.

I generally wear one of my Kifaru packs when walking. The waist belt has such great support that you can wear a fairly heavy sidearm with comfort.

I have 6 3/8" Model 28 in 357 that is a great piece when you start shooting, the 357 loses a lot in a short barrel. I also carry my 45ACP/460 Rowland Model 625 with a 5" barrel.

While I have shorter barreled pistols, I feel that these two don't compromise performance one bit, while I always feel the shorter ones are simply defensive weapons and not serious hunting tools.

Well I'm still looking for what I want. Believe I'm gonna swap the 760 I been posting about til I get what I want. Thanks for all the input folks

The shorter of the two.

Consider a 'shoulder holster' rig maybe?

5.5" is good. 4 5/8 is even better. My 454 casull is 4 3/4". I don't own a long barreled handgun at this point.