Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Ruger Blackhawk guys...

I've recently acquired a couple of Ruger Blackhawks. A standard Blackhawk convertible in 45 Colt with a 45 ACP cylinder, 4 5/8" barrel...

...and a Super Blackhawk 7 1/2" barrel 44 mag.

I'm handloading for both, and would like to find some mild loads using cast bullets for general shooting and plinking...

And I'd also like some full power loads. I'm assuming that the 45 Colt can be stoked up pretty well in this revolver.

I've noticed that the point of impact can really vary A LOT with that 4 5/8" barrel and those high sights. I loaded 8.8 grains of Unique behind a 200 grain RNFP bullet (45 Colt) and they were hitting very low at 25 yards, and seemingly right on at 50 to 70 yards. Is this normal??

Anyway, any advice on adjusting or using the iron sights, and any handloading advice would be greatly appreciated. I have Pachmeyers on the Super Blackhawk and a Hogue monogrip on the 45. I'd like to find some stock grips for the 45...

Thanks for any advice/comments...

Dan

8.0 grs. of 231 has worked well as a medium power target/general purpose load in just about every .45 Colt and .44 Magnum I've owned, that's with their standard 255 and 240 grain cast bullets. Velocites will of course be higher in the .44 due to the smaller powder space and slightly lighter bullet. Depending on your revolvers expect anywhere from around 850 to the high 900 fps range.

Wizard,

I had a bunch of 44 Spcl brass laying around so developed a load that shoots well in my Blackhawk 7.5" barrel. Using a 240gr Hornady lswc I used 13gr of 2400 powder. This had a velocity of 977fps (probably a +P} but it was easy to shoot in the Blackhawk and grouped well.

I might try your 44Spcl. load in my 629 backpacker, or would like a load in this area, anyone got a good one to use cast bullets? John

My preferred 45 colt load is 9 grs of unique and a 255. I've ran up to 18.5 grs of 2400, and a good bit more of h110 for some hooraw loads in my old blackhawk.
In the 44 for some just good working loads, try 8 grs of unique and a 240 gr bullet. Top end loads I prefer 21 grs of 2400 with 240's.
Both guns work real well with the plinker load of 5.8 grs of trailboss and 255's cast in the 45, and 240 gr cast in the 44.

Thanks Ranch 13 been meaning to try that trailboss stuff I hear alot of good about it! John

Saddlering its interesting stuff, I think the best thing about it, it'ld be almost impossible to double charge a handgun cartridge.

wizard:
I've been using a load on the advice of a local expert, the recoil of which is very managable in my S&W 44 Mag.

It is 20 or 21 grains of either H4227 or IMR4227 behind a 240 grain cast bullet. The load is pretty potent, yet still fun to shoot.

Try it, you'll like it, I betcha.
Smitty of the North

11.0gr Unique under a 240 gr cast SWC is my everyday 44Mag load. Midrange performance. It goes about 1100 fps via 4 5/8" bbl.

IMR4227 is a powder folks don't normally think of when loading the .44 and .45 but it seems to be very accurate in full to moderate power loads.

I used to load 20 grains of IMR4227 under a Lyman 429215 SWCGC in my old 3 screw SBH. That was a very moderate load. Never had a chrongraph back then but figure it was going about 1000 fps. It would leave a few kernels of unburned and partially burned powder in the barrel and empty case but man oh man was it accurate. Never shot anything but targets and jacks with it but it would do a real number on the jackrabbits.

In full power loads it recoils a bit less than 2400, or rather being a bit slower it seems to spread the recoil impulse out longer. Whichever, it definitely feels like less recoil when you fire same velocity 2400 and 4227 loads one after the other.

Thanks guy looking for a so-so load for a 629 with a 3 inch barrel! got some loads here to try! Thanks again John

With that 3" barrel disregard my recommendations for 4227! The 231 or Unique loads listed should work okay for you.

Great stuff guys. Thanks for sharing you info...

I'll be picking up some 2400 and 4227 soon... until then, I'll try some of the Unique loads recommended.

Dan

I know everyone uses Unique, but I have found Universal Clays to be much cleaner burning.IT is pretty close to burn rate of W231, and Unique isn't far off

Dan,

I got a Blackhawk in .45 Colt in the late 60's and it remains one of my favorite handguns. In fact its second only to the Woodsman in my experiance. I loaded it up really hot to keep up with the 44 mag guys and the gun took it without any problems.

Those loads were so hot that I should pull the bullets now that the rush is over.

These days I use a Saeco plain base SWC cast from linotype ahead of 9.5 grs of Unique. It gives about 1000 fps and is very accurate. Nothing wants to get hit with that bullet within its range. A very deadly load on what I have shot with it which includes a lot of pests including some large porkupines. I have not shot or hunted big game with it.

I hit nine straight critters with the first shot on my best run.

I use the standard grips that came with it and I would not change them. They are just walnut grips.

Here are some 1/2 gal. cartons filled with water that were shot with the 9.5 gr load. It blew up the first four and hit the bottom of the fifth thats still standing then went under the cartons and then through two feet of soft earth where it was lost.

Cool...

Thanks for sharing your info.

I'm really looking forward to working with both of my Blackhawks. The 45 Colt intrigues me the most...

Dan

Skeeter Skelton's pet load for the .44 Spl. was 7.5 gr. of Unique and the Lyman 429241. (The Elmer Keith bullet) To duplicate the velocity in a .44 magnum, try 8.5 to 9.0 gr. of Unique and the same bullet.
For a full power load, I use either 20.0* gr. of Alliant #2400 or 24.0 gr. of W-296.
*Elmer used 22.0 gr. of Hercules #2400, as did I, but Alliant may have slightly changed the formula so now, at least in some manuals 20.0 gr. is the recommended load. I think that the problem is more a case of the hot load Elmer used has a tendency to shke the 1908 S&W design loose in a bit of a hurry. My S&W 629 has gone back to them twice now for a rebuild.
If you check back on factory loads in the 60s and 70s, you'll notice that the .44 mag. was in the 1450 to 1500 FPS range. Current ammo runs 1200 to maybe 1300 with 240 gr. bullets. Guess S&W griped enough about having to repair all those guns that shot loose. That's why today, my 629 only gets the Skeeter Skelton equivilant loads only, saving the real stompers for the Blackhawks and Redhawks. At least they can hjold up under the strain a lot better than the Smiths. (Based on my experience.)
Paul B.

That's a good load I use Hodgdon Universal (10 grains over a 240 grain LaserCast SWC) for about the same performance.

BMT

that 44 mag you might give blue dot a shot with cast,seems 15-16 grs of the blue and a 240 gr. lswc should do nicely.as for full power my super redhawk loves 24grs of h110 and a 240 gr xtp.i would start around 22 grs of h110.yoou should find the sweet spot somewhere from there to 24 grs.44 special load ,i had some good results with 12.5 grs of 2400 and a 250 gr lswc.

teh 45 colt is prett well covered by the other posters.be safe and good luck, dan.