Recommendation? Revolvers

[Markeologist]

Will all of the Blackhawk .44mags shoot the .44 special as well? Will they accept any other caliber safely and effectively?
You make a strong point.

Revolvers chambered for .44 Rem Mag will also shoot .44 Special. Look for SUPER Blackhawks if you are after .44 Rem Mag...plenty of used out there.

 

[BP_]

Thanks. I ask because as I’m browsing and stumbled back across this little guy. It caught my eye before but I wasn’t sure about the caliber.



I also like the Vaquero Montado. But the one above first caught my eye before I ever came across the Montado.

 

[eveled]

44 mag will shoot 44 special. Same cylinder. Will be a large frame gun.

A dedicated 44special will be slightly smaller and handier (medium frame)

357 mag will shoot 38 special. Same cylinder. Some come with a separate 9mm cylinder. Look for convertible in the description. A 357 could be large or medium frame.

Some 45 colts come with a 45acp cylinder again look for convertible in the description. Also could be large or medium frame.

The single six shoots .22 short, .22 long, and .22 long rifle all from the same cylinder. A convertible single six comes with a separate .22mag cylinder.

 

[eveled]

This is the .45 that I have It’s a flattop small frame It can handle .45acp +p But not the Ruger only .45 colt loads View attachment 1255212

 

[BP_]

44 mag will shoot 44 special. Same cylinder. Will be a long frame gun.

A dedicated 44special will be slightly smaller and handier.

357 mag will shoot 38 special. Same cylinder. Some come with a separate 9mm cylinder. Look for convertible in the description. A 357 could be long or short frame.

Some 45 colts come with a 45acp cylinder again look for convertible in the description. Also could be long or short frame.

The single six shoots .22 short, .22 long, and .22 long rifle all from the same cylinder. A convertible single six comes with a separate .22mag cylinder.

I knew about the .357 and the .45 but did not know about the .44 or the .22
I appreciate the clarification. Knowing that makes me feel confident about a .44 caliber gun. Specials for shooting regularly/target/plinking and mags for carry.

 

[BP_]

That black/white color combo sure is sweet

 

[eveled]

This model is still a .45 convertible but it’s not a flattop it’s the large frame and can handle heavy Ruger only loads View attachment 1255215

 

[eveled]

Anyone of them would be a fine choice.

 

[eveled]

A comparison of the two frame sizesView attachment 1255226 View attachment 1255227

 

[Markeologist]

Thanks. I ask because as I’m browsing and stumbled back across this little guy. It caught my eye before but I wasn’t sure about the caliber.

View attachment 1255188

I also like the Vaquero Montado. But the one above first caught my eye before I ever came across the Montado.

I've been considering one of the "round" trigger guard Super Blackhawks myself as they have a slightly smaller frame (XR3) and shorter barrels than my pictured Super Blackhawk with the "square back" trigger guard (original Dragoon style) with its 7.5 inch barrel...I've been considering the also smaller Bisley style Super Blackhawk as well. I understand the visual appeal of the Vaqueros BUT unless I was into cowboy action shooting, I can't see choosing a fixed site revolver over one with modern adjustable sites.

 

[315]

I’ll throw a little teaser for you to look at while you’re trying to decide. My .357/9mm Blackhawk and a 686 3 inch .357.

 

[BP_]

I've been considering one of the "round" trigger guard Super Blackhawks myself as they have a slightly smaller frame (XR3) and shorter barrels than my pictured Super Blackhawk with the "square back" trigger guard (original Dragoon style) with its 7.5 inch barrel...I've been considering the also smaller Bisley style Super Blackhawk as well. I understand the visual appeal of the Vaqueros BUT unless I was into cowboy action shooting, I can't see choosing a fixed site revolver over one with modern adjustable sites.

Function over fashion I always say. Not into the action shooting, or whatever that is. I’m sure it’s fun for some, but not my speed

I’ll throw a little teaser for you to look at while you’re trying to decide. My .357/9mm Blackhawk and a 686 3 inch .357.

Hey thanks for the teaser. That makes life just so much simpler now
Those DA’s are good looking guns. I’ll have one of those as well at some point. I can feel the itch.

 

[315]

Those DA’s are good looking guns. I’ll have one of those as well at some point. I can feel the itch.

Years ago a buddy had a Smith model 65, heavy barrel 3 inch that was perfect. I could not jump on it fast enough when he sold it so I missed out. To this day I still kick myself because it had the absolute perfect balance. The 686 is a little bit bigger but it still feels pretty good, although I am going to swap the grips out for something different.

One thing I have comptemplated, a friend had his .357 cylinder machined to take full moon clips and he can now shoot .38 special, .357 Mag and 9mm in the same cylinder. I’m not really brave enough to have my cylinder worked on like that.

 

[Mongo]

I can add my personal experience here at least.... up until about a week ago,* the Ruger SP101 has been my CCW, pocket carry in a Robert Mika holster. FANTASTIC gun! Just had a range session with her earlier this week, and I'm impressed with the accuracy at 30 feet. Just about every shot in the 10 ring. I also have a Colt Cobra 1st gen which is old school fantastic. Last revolver I have is a Ruger Security Six in .357mag with (I think) a 5" barrel. Smooth as glass trigger and insanely accurate.
* SIG P365 just took over CCW duties... sweet little 9!

 

[22-rimfire]

I knew about the .357 and the .45 but did not know about the .44 or the .22
I appreciate the clarification. Knowing that makes me feel confident about a .44 caliber gun. Specials for shooting regularly/target/plinking and mags for carry.

It really depends on how much you shoot. Factory 44 Special ammo is expensive. For a ranch carry gun the Talo Ruger single action in 44 looks great. (I honestly would love the same configuration in 41 magnum.) But think hard about or caution you about getting 44 magnum at this point when you don't have any experience with the caliber. You can get cowboy loads for 44 magnum too.... which are low powered. My only experience with factory cowboy loads is with 41 magnum and they generally load around 850-900 fps which is a bit light for me. If I am going to shoot a 41 mag, I want some oomph!

Do not go above 44 magnum without shooting experience. I hunt with a 480 Ruger revolver.

In case you don't know, you cannot shoot 22 magnum rounds in a 22LR gun and vice versa. You technically can shoot 22LR in a 22 mag chamber, but you will likely get split cases and poor accuracy.

If you shoot a lot and reload yourself, 44 magnum makes sense as you can tailor you loads to the kind of shooting you do and the recoil. Generally speaking, if I want less recoil, I shoot a lesser caliber.

A note on 41 magnum: I love the caliber and chose it over the 44 magnum for hunting or when I just want to carry a heavier caliber gun in the woods. (I have owned 44 mag's.) It generally is a reloader cartridge (versus factory ammo). But it really depends on how much your shoot. Folks that shoot it, love it. I am not encouraging you to get a 41 magnum revolver. Factory loadings are about 20% less recoil than typical 44 mag loadings. But have much the same effect on deer as the 44 mag. I don't know if I could tell you which gun was a 41 mag versus 44 mag if I shot them in the same gun model side by side. So the difference is subtle and I don't know about the 20%.

 

[22-rimfire]

<double post> System was slow.

 

[eveled]

What 22-rimfire says all makes sense. I would add that .45acp is going to be cheaper and easier to find than the 44special.

.45 colt is easy to find but tends to be on the week side. Heavy loads are available. If you reload .45 colt can be almost as powerful as .44 mag.

You cannot go wrong with either. But I think .45 is slightly more versatile, and I already have 1911’s. So I skipped .44 all together.

 

[22-rimfire]

I think there are some factory "bear loadings" for 45 Colt (45LC) that are much more powerful. They are usually solids and larger grain size. 45 Colt has gotten a lot more popular for heavy shooting (hunting or bear defense) in recent years. But as eveled said, factory loadings are pretty whimpy.

I think you would be very happy with a short barreled (<6") single action Ruger in 357 mag where you can easily switch between 357 and 38spl.

Single actions tend to help with the recoil as the gun tends to roll in your hand versus a big push back like most double action revolvers. This is why you see the really big caliber revolvers are often single actions with the exception of S&W as they don't make a single action revolver. Yes, I know, Ruger has the Super Redhawk (SRH); it can be a little painful to shoot in 454 or 480 Ruger until you get used to them and possibly adjust your grip a bit. My first experience with the SRH was bloody hands.

 

[BP_]

Thank you for the write up, I completely agree about caliber and not getting something I don’t have experience with. When I get off work this afternoon I’m actually headed to the gun shop. Going to shoot a .44mag .44spl and .357mag to compare. I do like the idea of the 357/38 versatility, but if .44spl loads are smooth and relatively easy to shoot I don’t see why I wouldn’t have a .44mag to have the option of using the bigger loads. I know I’d never want for more power that way as well. But if the .357 is the most comfortable that is what I will get.

 

[BP_]

Double post.

 

[eveled]

I agree the .357 is probably all you will every need. It’s by far my favorite cartridge.