Joined
·
4,978 Posts
Don't see many posts on this version of the Super Blackhawk 44 mag, so thought I would share my story on this gun and will do it in two parts to avoid a lengthy post. This is Part One.
The gun is the 0811 SBH 5 1/2" barrel 44 mag.
![]()
This version of the SBH has the distinction of being the only SBH with a fluted cylinder.
![]()
I bought the gun, this summer, for several reasons, but mostly because of its 5 1/2" barrel length, my favorite length in SA revolvers. Also got the gun because I have been shooting 44 mags most of my life and love the cartridge.
The gun really does have a nice balance in the hand. Feels more like a Blackhawk than a Super Blackhawk with its very reasonable 45 ounces of weight. It's a lighter and trimmer gun, too, than the Super Redhawk with a 5 1/2" barrel. What's not to like?
I learned that answer to that question in a hurry on our first range trip. My second shot and my fourth shot with this gun actually drew blood and I do mean blood. Despite my best efforts to grip the gun, firmly, the gun swiveled so back so viciously after the shot that hammer came back and punctured not only my shooting glove, but also my hand underneath, leaving me with nasty and painful gouge. That's a first ever for me and I've been shooting 44 mags of all kinds for forty some years. What the heck?
The problem is the small XR3 Red grip frame Ruger uses on this gun. That's the same grip frame, by the way, that us used on the Single Six. Imagine holding your Single Six, but instead of a 22 LR on top, you have a 44 mag. You get the idea.
Now, I can understand Ruger's decision to go with this grip frame. It does keep weight down and, for sure, it avoids that dang dragoon trigger guard with its nasty spur. Bad as this setup is, I'll take it over the dragoon trigger guard versions, any day.
Still, I was heartbroken. Even though I loved the barrel length and the balance on this SBH, it had to go. I'm a shooter, not a collector and no way could I afford to shoot something that inflicts pain, so we headed right back to our local shop where we purchased the gun and traded it off on another gun.
Had a change of heart, overnight, though. Crazy me, but a little voice in my head kept telling me to give the gun another chance. Just something about this gun that called to me. Call it woman's intuition or whatever, I couldn't give up on it.
Thanks to our wonderful local shop, we were able to buy the gun, the next day at the same price. Yup, something to be said about buying guns from a good local shop.
Turns out that it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. The story does have a happy ending. On to Part Two.
The gun is the 0811 SBH 5 1/2" barrel 44 mag.
This version of the SBH has the distinction of being the only SBH with a fluted cylinder.
I bought the gun, this summer, for several reasons, but mostly because of its 5 1/2" barrel length, my favorite length in SA revolvers. Also got the gun because I have been shooting 44 mags most of my life and love the cartridge.
The gun really does have a nice balance in the hand. Feels more like a Blackhawk than a Super Blackhawk with its very reasonable 45 ounces of weight. It's a lighter and trimmer gun, too, than the Super Redhawk with a 5 1/2" barrel. What's not to like?
I learned that answer to that question in a hurry on our first range trip. My second shot and my fourth shot with this gun actually drew blood and I do mean blood. Despite my best efforts to grip the gun, firmly, the gun swiveled so back so viciously after the shot that hammer came back and punctured not only my shooting glove, but also my hand underneath, leaving me with nasty and painful gouge. That's a first ever for me and I've been shooting 44 mags of all kinds for forty some years. What the heck?
The problem is the small XR3 Red grip frame Ruger uses on this gun. That's the same grip frame, by the way, that us used on the Single Six. Imagine holding your Single Six, but instead of a 22 LR on top, you have a 44 mag. You get the idea.
Now, I can understand Ruger's decision to go with this grip frame. It does keep weight down and, for sure, it avoids that dang dragoon trigger guard with its nasty spur. Bad as this setup is, I'll take it over the dragoon trigger guard versions, any day.
Still, I was heartbroken. Even though I loved the barrel length and the balance on this SBH, it had to go. I'm a shooter, not a collector and no way could I afford to shoot something that inflicts pain, so we headed right back to our local shop where we purchased the gun and traded it off on another gun.
Had a change of heart, overnight, though. Crazy me, but a little voice in my head kept telling me to give the gun another chance. Just something about this gun that called to me. Call it woman's intuition or whatever, I couldn't give up on it.
Thanks to our wonderful local shop, we were able to buy the gun, the next day at the same price. Yup, something to be said about buying guns from a good local shop.
Turns out that it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. The story does have a happy ending. On to Part Two.
