Should I scoop up this 44 mag?

Rock Hound · 08-25-2012, 01:53

Alright, I had big bad SW500 mag as my serious woods gun. I asked myself though, "Am I serious?" hahaha. I decided to part ways with it and picked up my first Glock. A G20. Ive made friends with it over the years and even bought another and tuned it. Got into hot handloading etc... blah blah blah.

I want another wheel gun for serious woods. Was thinking a 629 but then I saw this.....

Talk me into it or out of it...

NIB Ruger Super BlackHawk 44... 7.5" blue/wood - $380

vafish · 08-25-2012, 05:30

Decent price on a great gun.

Only downside is the barrel is a bit long.

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bac1023 · 08-25-2012, 05:47

That's a great price for a new one.

alwaysshootin · 08-25-2012, 07:15

For that price I would have jumped on it, and, taken it to my favorite Smitty, and had the barrel cut to 5-5 1/2, which is a better carry length, IMHO.

ronin.45 · 08-25-2012, 07:36

Have you shot SA revolvers much? Heavy recoil out of a SA is a whole different animal than your 500. I don't care for .44 in a SBH. I prefer DA.

That is a good price on the SBH though.

SigFTW · 08-25-2012, 07:45

That's a great price, don't let it get away.

Bruce M · 08-25-2012, 08:09

Sounds like a good price but if you decided to have the barrel shortened, I wonder how much that would cost.

Three-Five-Seven · 08-25-2012, 08:38

I've owned a few of the Super Blackhawks. The 7 1/2 barrel is way too long for a carry gun. The gun is heavy and cumbersome. If you get it, you'll not carry it or use it much.

They make the Super Blackhawk with a 4 5/8 inch barrel these days. Excellent gun. Easy to carry.

And, no, there is not much difference in the accuracy potential of the two barrel lengths.

Pass that gun up. Not a particularly good price anyway.

**pennlineman** · 08-25-2012, 09:40

I have to agree with the others. Great price, great gun, barrel too long for a carry gun though. If you were actually hunting with it a 7.5" would be good. I have a Blackhawk in .45 Colt with a 5.5" barrel that is about perfect. The 4.625" barrel would be a great choice also.

If you reload, look at the .45 Colts as well. You can load them to match or exceed the power or the .44 magnum with less pressure in the Ruger Blackhawk.

Good luck!

glock2740 · 08-25-2012, 10:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by vafish

Decent price on a great gun.

Only downside is the barrel is a bit long.

I agree. Good price, but barrel is about 2" longer than I would prefer. My G20 is my woods gun too. I used to have a 7.5" SS Ruger Redhawk in .44, but now have a 5.5" SS Redhawk .44 and like the shorter barrel. Would either tote it on my hip in "grizzer bare" country or my 5" S&W .460, but the G20 goes with me for now. It pretty much replaced my 4" SS GP100 .357 as my woods gun.

ca survivor · 08-25-2012, 10:03

love SA revolvers, but can't hit a thing with SAs.

AKRover · 08-25-2012, 10:30

For a serious woods gun, as in carried in grizzly bear country, I wouldn't carry a single action (1911 is an exception). In a stress situation such as a charging bear I don't want to be fumbling any more than necessary. I'd prefer to just pull the trigger and have it go bang. That's one of the primary reasons I like striker fired pistols and I carry my 1911s cocked and locked.

I wish I had thought of having the barrel on 629 cut down to a more manageable length. I had the 8-3/8" barrel and it was just too long for a sidearm. Great for handgun hunting though from what the precious owner told me.

countrygun · 08-25-2012, 10:52

Good price but clumsy length IMO. Even my Anniversary Flattop at 6 1/2" is too long. I an thinking about having it trimmed since it is a nice "packable' frame size

Zombie Steve · 08-25-2012, 11:44

4-5/8" bbl

M&P15T · 08-25-2012, 11:50

A collector will give you a "yes", someone like me that only owns what they can justify will say "no".

Just consider BAC and I to be on polar opposite sides of the spectrum.

Which are you?

dnuggett · 08-25-2012, 12:00

The SBH is nothing like the 629. I won't get into which one I think is better, that's just a matter of opinion. What I will say is based on actual sales on GB that price is equal to or maybe a little higher than what they go for used. For NIB, that is a good price out the door. If you have to pay tax or FFL fees than the price is about what it should be.

Rock Hound · 08-25-2012, 13:51

I was concerned about carrying a piece of that length, the weight isnt a concern, but the awkwardness of a foot long hand cannon. Id obviously wanna cross draw it Id guess as I spend 99% of my time off trail it would likely be in the way on the hip.

Rock Hound · 08-25-2012, 13:58

Taxes will be on top at 9% but no ffl fees. Im kinda shying away... Im a collector but only of what I can deem to be the best bet for a situation. I never have shot a SAO pistol so thats a good point. I have shot SA but am not sure Id like it to be required. Reloading is a bit more time consuming as well. God forbid it be necessary with a weapon like that.

Rock Hound · 08-25-2012, 13:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombie Steve

4-5/8" bbl

A 4-6" seems much more practical and for field carry stainless would be more desirable, yes?

Rock Hound · 08-25-2012, 14:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by glock2740

I agree. Good price, but barrel is about 2" longer than I would prefer. My G20 is my woods gun too. I used to have a 7.5" SS Ruger Redhawk in .44, but now have a 5.5" SS Redhawk .44 and like the shorter barrel. Would either tote it on my hip in "grizzer bare" country or my 5" S&W .460, but the G20 goes with me for now. It pretty much replaced my 4" SS GP100 .357 as my woods gun.

I sure have come to love the 10mm. The cartridge is so versatile. I reload so ammo is not an issue. I shoot for a fraction of what cheap otc 9mm even costs so no one will be able to argue with me on that. The high cap mags full of 1200fps 200 grain fmj will deter about anything I run into in the woods.

Zombie Steve · 08-25-2012, 14:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rock Hound

A 4-6" seems much more practical and for field carry stainless would be more desirable, yes?

Yep.

I prefer this one on my hip much more than the 5-1/2" Blackhawk I have...

Like everything else, it's a tradeoff - shorter sight radius, lower velocities... I tend to think 4-5" barrels are the best compromise for backpacking / hiking / woods work in general.

fnfalman · 08-25-2012, 14:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombie Steve

Yep.

I prefer this one on my hip much more than the 5-1/2" Blackhawk I have...

Like everything else, it's a tradeoff - shorter sight radius, lower velocities... I tend to think 4-5" barrels are the best compromise for backpacking / hiking / woods work in general.

A heavy load of 300-gr hard cast .44 Mag will still thump like a mofo out of the short barrel SuperBlackhawk.

I prefer it as my woods gun.

bac1023 · 08-25-2012, 17:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombie Steve

4-5/8" bbl

Very nice Steve

bac1023 · 08-25-2012, 17:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by M&P15T

A collector will give you a "yes", someone like me that only owns what they can justify will say "no".

Just consider BAC and I to be on polar opposite sides of the spectrum.

Which are you?

M&P15T · 08-25-2012, 17:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by bac1023

Of course if I had more budget to spend on firearms.......