Anyone share my love of SA .44's?

orca8589

orca8589

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Jan 27, 2007
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Back in 1998, my wife got a bonus, and bought me a 7-1/2" Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 magnum. I'd wanted one since childhood, when a friend's dad let me shoot his. I had a chance to buy one of the old three-screw models, but it wasn't mod'd to the new transfer-bar safety, so I bought the newer one (made in '77.)

Ever since, I've had this one locked up, but close at hand, and loaded with two Winchester Silvertips up first, then the next four shots are Glaser Safety Slugs. In all these years, I've never felt "under-gunned" with only six shots. I've practiced my reloading skills, and I'm pretty quick. I like the idea of emptying & loading 2-3 individual empty chambers, and not having to empty all & reload to bring the piece back to a full 6-shot load. (I never was very good at just reloading two-three chambers of my old S&W .357.)

The Ruger is as accurate as I can shoot it, handles every load well - even heavy Garrett solid loads, and my son (who's ten) likes to shoot it with light .44 Special loads.

Recently I've been looking for a new pistol, maybe a DA revolver on a smaller frame, and I just keep getting reminded of how much I like my Ruger SBH. I may get the smaller revolver for my wife, but I'm realizing just how happy I am with my old Ruger.

Anyone else here have just a SA like that for protecting your home & hearth?

~Chris
 
Makes a good CLUB,eh?

Just kidding, I have six Vacqueros - 4 .44 Mag and 2 .45 Colt..played at Cowboy Action for a while.

Despite conventional wisdom on what you should reach for when something goes bump in the night in your home any firearm that is ready[ loaded and available] is better than none.

I've been a shooter for over 60 years, my wife is not and further has no interest, so I'd suggest that you involve yours from the start on any discussion of a gun for her. I bought my wife a .22 revolver for our first Christmas['59]..she held it like a dead RAT!
 
I started my shooting hobby with IHMSA (metallic silhouette) and had a 10 1/2 SBH...learned a lot about reloading cast bullets with it and the Merrill.... shot a lot of bowling pins in the revolver class in those days... first gun I ever owned that paid for itself with winnings....got into the practical shooting sports and somewhere it got traded off... I think a 5 1/2 Bisley Hunter is in my future
 
:thumbup:Absolutley LOVE my Rugers 44 mag same as yours Chris also have a three screw 357mag all original NO tranfer bar SA's are alot of fun and very pratical!! 22 single six ETc:D
Been looking at a little Super Bearcat all steel version made IIRC 71-74 really sweet litte gun!!
 
I bought my first one nearly 30 years ago... they were just offering stainless and the cost difference was about $15, so I bit. I don't regret buying my 44 SBH and have NEVER felt under-gunned.:thumbup:

Oh yeah... you could definitely club the crap outta' someone/something with it too!
 
I have a few Ruger's in 44 mag and NM Flattop 44 special. I have a SBH 44 mag with a spare 44-40 cylinder.
 
I have both Blackhawks and Redhawks in 44 mag, and an S&W with 8 3/8 barrel. Love 'em all and shoot 'em all. Also two 10 inch BFRs in 45-70.
 
orca8589 said:
Back in 1998, my wife got a bonus, and bought me a 7-1/2" Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 magnum. I'd wanted one since childhood, when a friend's dad let me shoot his. I had a chance to buy one of the old three-screw models, but it wasn't mod'd to the new transfer-bar safety, so I bought the newer one (made in '77.)

Ever since, I've had this one locked up, but close at hand, and loaded with two Winchester Silvertips up first, then the next four shots are Glaser Safety Slugs. In all these years, I've never felt "under-gunned" with only six shots. I've practiced my reloading skills, and I'm pretty quick. I like the idea of emptying & loading 2-3 individual empty chambers, and not having to empty all & reload to bring the piece back to a full 6-shot load. (I never was very good at just reloading two-three chambers of my old S&W .357.)

The Ruger is as accurate as I can shoot it, handles every load well - even heavy Garrett solid loads, and my son (who's ten) likes to shoot it with light .44 Special loads.

Recently I've been looking for a new pistol, maybe a DA revolver on a smaller frame, and I just keep getting reminded of how much I like my Ruger SBH. I may get the smaller revolver for my wife, but I'm realizing just how happy I am with my old Ruger.

Anyone else here have just a SA like that for protecting your home & hearth?

~Chris
Click to expand...

Maybe ... ;):D
 
I've had a Ruger Super Blackhawk since the the late 70's or early 80's. It's more accurate than I am. I've never considered it a self defense weapon. Too much penetration. Also, it's too bloody big to handle fast. I've often thought that a regular Blackhawk in .45 Long Colt would be nice to have. (But I no longer shoot often enough to do more than think about it.) If I were going to consider a single action for home defense, it would be the standard Blackhawk in .45 long Colt.

Although I remember reading years ago about a border patrolman (famous gun writer, name escapes me) who had been out hunting with a Super Blackhawk and got called in. IIRC, there was some drug fella that they caught. Fella was going to make a fight of it until he looked into the business end of that Super Blackhawk six inches away from his face.
 
knarfeng said:
I've had a Ruger Super Blackhawk since the the late 70's or early 80's. It's more accurate than I am. I've never considered it a self defense weapon. Too much penetration. Also, it's too bloody big to handle fast. I've often thought that a regular Blackhawk in .45 Long Colt would be nice to have. (But I no longer shoot often enough to do more than think about it.) If I were going to consider a single action for home defense, it would be the standard Blackhawk in .45 long Colt.

Although I remember reading years ago about a border patrolman (famous gun writer, name escapes me) who had been out hunting with a Super Blackhawk and got called in. IIRC, there was some drug fella that they caught. Fella was going to make a fight of it until he looked into the business end of that Super Blackhawk six inches away from his face.
Click to expand...

I thought that one through, back when I first got my SBH; we lived in downtown San Francisco then. That's when I decided to load only .44 Special loads in it. I chose Winchester Silvertips & Glasers on the recommendation of the guy I bought the Ruger from.

As far as size, I figured I could handle the Ruger faster than a tactical shotgun in our little studio apartment, so I stayed with that. I practiced so much with it that I just kept it as my home defense weapon after we moved to a bigger place.

I believe the writer you're talking about is Charles Askins, but I'm not sure.

~Chris
 
I have 2 SBH 44 mags with 5 1/2 inch barrels. I keep one loaded on my shelf. would never feel under gunned for self defense. I love mine and am very accurate with it. I do also have a Glock gen 4 40 cal loaded on my night stand.Something goes bump in the night I will grab whichever is easier to get to.

Mike
 
I've got a Super Blackhawk in 7" and I Love this thing. I keep it loaded with wadcutters because they are cheap and with a 44mag, you don't NEED super duper ammo for it to be seriously effective. Its in the lineup for my Zombie Defense stash. I also have 2 S&W 29's, SS and Blue, good guns but I like the Blackhawk better
 
When I was 12 (1965), my dad caught the .44 bug and passed it to me. When i was 20, i got a 6-1/2" S&W. Since then i owned 2, 4" S&W, 3 contenders in various configurations. I was not totally satisfied. Owned 2, 7-1/2" Rugers. Never found a .44 that i loved. Made me feel disappointed.

THEN, i got a 4-5/8 Ruger SBH, this one is "THE ONE". Yes i have, and yes iw ill use it for defensive purposes. It just took 45 years to find the right .44.

The Gunwriter who got called in for duty, was Charles A. Skelton, A.K.A "Skeeter Skelton". He was carrying his beloved, 7-1/2" Ruger "Flat-top" in .44 magnum. He was a long time lawman.comp shooter and gunwriter for "Shooting Times" magazine and others. Henry
 
Henry44 said:
The Gunwriter who got called in for duty, was Charles A. Skelton, A.K.A "Skeeter Skelton". He was carrying his beloved, 7-1/2" Ruger "Flat-top" in .44 magnum. He was a long time lawman.comp shooter and gunwriter for "Shooting Times" magazine and others. Henry
Click to expand...

I almost had it - I knew it was one of those Border Patrol guys. :)

~Chris
 
Skeeter Skelton= LEGEND Charles Askins= LEGEND Bill Jordan= LEGEND They all enjoyed shooting the SBH. Henry
 
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