Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Any love for Ruger Blackhawks?

On the Old Models yes.

You can interchange frames from reg to Super on New Models

Dunno if any grip size diffs though.
Do prefer the look of the dragoon Super frame.

Dont have a reg New Model reg frame to compare.
Do have a NM Super frame if ever a deal on small warning label 4 5/8 .357 blued pops up

Prefer the wide lower spur of a NM Super hammer as well.

Well gave that Blackhawk another look. It's an old 3 Screw unmodified version with an aftermarket grip. Wood grip, decent, but not the originals. Bluing is nice with just a faint light area near the muzzle from holster wear. No end slop, nice and tight, don't think it has been shot much. I'm tempted. What do you think its worth in todays crazy market?

I recently sold a fairly clean late old model here back in Feb. for 500. as quick a it sold I must have priced it low.

For condition of it, pics are in my add dated 2-04. That might give ya a baseline.

Thanks, hard to tell where prices are currently. I'm not very knowledgeable about all the little nuances that affect the value.

I like ruger single actions. Used to cowboy action shoot and for me the muscle memory makes them work well. Still probably have 7 or 8 of em.

If I were starting out and did not have any I would buy a 5.5 Single Six 22M/22LR SS followd by a Blackhawk convertable.

I have a 6.5 Blackhawk .357/9mm convertible in SS. They were a distributer special run. First one got sent back to ruger as the chamber depths on the 9mm cylinder was so whacked it would not rotate when loaded. I was pissed as I ordered and waited for it. Sent it back they replaced the gun and now it is good for both and I shoot 9mm out of it alot which is really what makes this such a neat thing too have. Relatively cheap 9mm with little recoil in a steel gun. Fun to shoot.

Vaqueros, blackhawks, super blackhawks, single sixes and bearcats they are all good solid outdoor guns and once you get a good example keep it because getting good ones seems to be getting harder to do and more expensive. Ruger is too busy pumping out wranglers.

By the time you get one, see it its a shooter, tweak it, get leather, etc. you have some time and energy into it but good ones just feel right and are a joy to own and shoot.

The Super Blackhawk grip is a bit longer than the Blackhawk.

Top to bottom:
Super Blackhawk Bisley 44Mag
Single Six 22/22WMR
Super Blackhawk 44 Mag
Blackhawk 45 Colt/45 ACP
Security Six 357 Mag

Nice group of pistols!!

I like the Bisley models. But I did manage to hang on to one Blackhawk, a 3 screw 357. I almost sold it awhile ago but I couldn’t get what I wanted for it. I’m kinda glad it didn’t sell because it’s a very nice shooter.

Nice holster! Who made it?

El Paso Saddlery

My 45 Stainless

Back in the 70s when 'Dirty Harry' made the S&W 29s evaporate, and you could buy Ruger Super Blackhawks for the same reason, I bought a Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt caliber. I cut my teeth on learning to reload, cast bullets, and handgun hunt. I put Jay Scott ivory stocks., (thye were made out of some man made material) bought Bianchi holster and belt. I finally gave the whole system to my oldest grandson. I need to get my Dillon 650 repaired and start cranking out some ammo for him, 45 Colt ammo is a bit pricy. Blackhawks are grand utilitarian side arms.

I really like the front sight conversion on the top revolver. Please tell us about it!

I have a 4 5/8 .44 special flattop which I generally like very well, except for the front sight. Am I the only one who finds the angle of the front sight makes the thing want to disappear in various lighting conditions? I've killed five or six deer with the flattop, but also had to pass on some shots simply because the front sight wasn't sufficiently discernable. On the stainless guns, this is an easy fix. Simply get a properly angled front sight from Fernin Garza or Clements. Until Creeker's pic I've not seen an easy solution for the blued guns.

I have a this flat top convertible that I like a lot. Very accurate and well made. From the Lipsey first run. Worked on by Ron Power it is one smooth revolver.

I've got an original Ruger Vaquero, i.e., large frame, in .44 Magnum. Close, but not quite.

I'm a fan of the Ruger single action. Don't own any currently, but had a pair of Vaqueros in 45 Colt, an old Single Six, and one Blackhawk in 357 Max in the past. The Vaqueros and Single Six were a blast. I gifted the SS to the wife several years ago, since she's far more of a handgun shooter than I ever was.

The Max, on the other hand, was the only thing I have ever owned that made my ears ring with earplugs in. I took it out shooting ONE time, and promptly traded it off back at the same shop I bought it from. In hindsight, I wish I had hung onto it a while, given what they sell for these days vs what I paid for it back then.

Here's the one that got me to start this thread......It has as set of Herrett's that I'm having a hard time getting used to. I could use a set of XR3-RED grips if anyone has a set laying around, please PM me.

I get along fine with the Old Model Rugers, which are close enough to Colt to feel normal to me.

Up through full 44 magnum loads with 240-250 grain bullets, I'll take the basic Colt 1860 Army grip every time.

After owning a half dozen New Model Blackhawks and Vaqueros over the years, I finally admitted the NM grip just does not work for me. These are a huge improvement for me.

https://www.thesixgunjournal.net/texas-grips-extended-single-action-revolver-grips/

I can get along with Ruger's Bisley grip OK. IMO the best NM grip Ruger ever offered was on the Hunter series revolvers- a full Super Blackhawk grip with a rounded trigger guard.

Ronnie Wells offers a great selection of custom grip frames for the NM Rugers, if you are so inclined.


https://rwgripframes-com.3dcartstores.com/

I have my pap's 1956 .357 , a 50 year anniversary .357 and the .44 Special 5.5" Flattop that I waited 50 years for Ruger to produce. I love the Flattop Blackhawk's , just wish they would quit messing with the way they function.

I really like Ruger Single Actions. They're my favorite sidearms, particularly the Super Blackhawk iterations.

I do spring jobs on them and usually hone the triggers just a hair to take out the creep, and they are good to go for thousands of rounds of single action fun.

First Group


Top Row: Super Blackhawk Bisley .480 Ruger; Super Blackhawk Bisley .454 Casull with the grip frame swapped out for the SBH Hunter grip frame

Second Row: Blackhawk Bisley .41 Magnum; Blackhawk Convertible .10mm/.40 S&W

Bottom: Single Six Convertible .22LR/.22 WMR


Second Group


Top Row: Old Vaquero .45 Colt; Blackhawk Convertible .357 Mag/9mm

Second Row: Blackhawk Bisley .45 Colt; Blackhawk .357 Mag

Third Row: Single Six .327 Fed Mag; Super Blackhawk .44 Mag

Bottom: Bearcat .22LR

I am in the process of swapping the 4 5/8" barrel for a 7 1/2" barrel and replacing the standard BH grip with a square trigger guard SBH grip on the .44 Mag.