Hello all, i was in the gun shop today and bought a Ruger super black hawk 44 mag with a 7.5in barrel. It is stainless steel and i paid $275 for it. Was this a good price? They had the same gun new but in blued steel for $399 plus tax.I bought it cause i always wanted a .44 And the price was good i thought. It was a consignment gun so maybe the guy needed money.How is the recoil in this gun? I have never fired a 44 mag but couldn't resist getting this gun,i don't know why. I could always use .44 specials to start out with right?And work my way up from there? Isn't this the best way to learn to handle recoil.Is recoil mostly mental? I mean how bad can it be right? I don't hunt-YET- so i can't think of a pratical use yet for it. For that price i'll put it in my safe and admire it!! Help here guys.
BOUGHT A RUGER SUPER BLACKHAWK TODAY.MY FIRST .44 MAG HELP!!!!!
- Thread starter 45automan
- Start date
No one can judge recoil of your gun except for you. Shoot it ASAP, and find out. Try it with both 44Spl, and 44 Mag ammo. If you handload you can tailor to your needs. Some people's comments may scare you, others may make you over confident. I think you got a decent deal on it. I've seen worse($300+), to a little less ($250). I should mention these prices were for the blue models. Stainless usually goes for more. There are gloves out there that will help with recoil. Just don't be afraid of it, or you'll never tame it.
[This message has been edited by PB (edited July 15, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by PB (edited July 15, 2000).]
GIT_SOME.45
New member
I`ve got a stainless Colt Anaconda 4", that is a real thunder wagon...
I`ve only shot 44 magnums out of it though, no 44 Specials... Kinda spendy to shoot if you don`t reload.
Got a buddy of mine that wants to get a Ruger Super Redhawk, he wants it really bad...
Enjoy your new Hardware, and remember to smile as everyone at the range looks to see what your shootin' when you touch that baby off !
------------------
SHOOT,COMMUNICATE AND MOVE OUT !
[This message has been edited by GIT_SOME.45 (edited July 15, 2000).]
I`ve only shot 44 magnums out of it though, no 44 Specials... Kinda spendy to shoot if you don`t reload.
Got a buddy of mine that wants to get a Ruger Super Redhawk, he wants it really bad...
Enjoy your new Hardware, and remember to smile as everyone at the range looks to see what your shootin' when you touch that baby off !
------------------
SHOOT,COMMUNICATE AND MOVE OUT !
[This message has been edited by GIT_SOME.45 (edited July 15, 2000).]
Haven't had one of the .44 Rugers for some years, but they're not that bad to shoot. The recoil characteristic with the traditional SA grip gives you more of a roll with the muzzle flip than you get with the DAs.
Loud. I have a Ruger .45 4 5/8 barrel, with a cylinder reamed for .45 Win. Mag. (similar ballistically) A quick set with that and folks two counties over have been known to close their windows because of the approaching storm.
Price sounds OK. Saw one in a shop here today, stainless, really mint condition, box, papers, extra set of Pacmeyers (sp?). A little better than 300.
------------------
Jim Fox
Loud. I have a Ruger .45 4 5/8 barrel, with a cylinder reamed for .45 Win. Mag. (similar ballistically) A quick set with that and folks two counties over have been known to close their windows because of the approaching storm.
Price sounds OK. Saw one in a shop here today, stainless, really mint condition, box, papers, extra set of Pacmeyers (sp?). A little better than 300.
------------------
Jim Fox
I've had two of these. The current one is 10.5" bbl. stainless. It's one of my -- ah hell! They're ALL favorites! The Ruger New Super Blackhawk is hands down the strongest production 44 mag on the market. This is the preferred gun of the production class silhouette shooters -- and they run the heaviest loads they can work up. You can't get a beefier single action 44 mag. You done good!!!
You don't mention grips. I have large Houge on this one and Pachmayrs on the first. Never have seen one fired with the stock wood grips. I've never seen a used one with the original wood grips. Somewhere, I imagine, there's a warehouse full of old wood grips for Ruger Blackhawk 44 mags.
$275 is a good price. I think I paid that for mine maybe five years ago.
Now . . . on to the shooting.
I'm assuming you have hands sufficient to get a secure grip on this hawg. I'm assuming that you're strong enough to haul your own groceries out of the store and into your truck.
Treat yourself to a box of full-bore, 240 gr. 44 mag. JSP or JHP. Any brand is fine so long as it's not "Econo-Splat" from Walgreen's discount bin. "Generic" is fine. It's Remington ammo anyway.
Get to the range, load this hawg, put on your ear protection, eye protection, take a firm grip, point down range, and pull the trigger.
I'll presume that if you had an inclination to buy a 44 mag. for "no particular purpose" except that it's big and you've always wanted a big handgun . . . I'll presume that you'll be euphoric about the recoil.
It's NOT going to get away from you, break your wrist, knock you off balance or any of that. It MAY make you wonder if you got a round that was "double charged." Better shoot it a few more times to make sure!
I had a girl buddy of mine who was all sorts of "politically correct" and loathed handguns. I asked her if she'd ever shot one -- and if she'd never shot one how could she possibly know what she was talking about?
That did it. We went to the range with my Ruger and some of my "super mag." 240 gr. handloads -- a bit stiffer than the factory stuff. She's your average, average . . . 5'6" and maybe 130 lbs. Not particularly strong, but no whimp either.
I told her (without any preparation or demonstration of what the gun was about), "Just hang on, point down range, and pull the trigger. Don't try to hit anything, just get a grip."
One shot and she was ready to go out and buy one!
You don't need to "work up" to this caliber. Or . . . if you've ever fired a handgun larger than a 22, you're ready for this.
It kicks like a mule -- and you're going to really dig it!!! You were looking for a big gun when you bought it, right??? Well, now you OWN one!!!
Have fun!!!
[This message has been edited by JackFlash (edited July 15, 2000).]
You don't mention grips. I have large Houge on this one and Pachmayrs on the first. Never have seen one fired with the stock wood grips. I've never seen a used one with the original wood grips. Somewhere, I imagine, there's a warehouse full of old wood grips for Ruger Blackhawk 44 mags.
$275 is a good price. I think I paid that for mine maybe five years ago.
Now . . . on to the shooting.
I'm assuming you have hands sufficient to get a secure grip on this hawg. I'm assuming that you're strong enough to haul your own groceries out of the store and into your truck.
Treat yourself to a box of full-bore, 240 gr. 44 mag. JSP or JHP. Any brand is fine so long as it's not "Econo-Splat" from Walgreen's discount bin. "Generic" is fine. It's Remington ammo anyway.
Get to the range, load this hawg, put on your ear protection, eye protection, take a firm grip, point down range, and pull the trigger.
I'll presume that if you had an inclination to buy a 44 mag. for "no particular purpose" except that it's big and you've always wanted a big handgun . . . I'll presume that you'll be euphoric about the recoil.
It's NOT going to get away from you, break your wrist, knock you off balance or any of that. It MAY make you wonder if you got a round that was "double charged." Better shoot it a few more times to make sure!
I had a girl buddy of mine who was all sorts of "politically correct" and loathed handguns. I asked her if she'd ever shot one -- and if she'd never shot one how could she possibly know what she was talking about?
That did it. We went to the range with my Ruger and some of my "super mag." 240 gr. handloads -- a bit stiffer than the factory stuff. She's your average, average . . . 5'6" and maybe 130 lbs. Not particularly strong, but no whimp either.
I told her (without any preparation or demonstration of what the gun was about), "Just hang on, point down range, and pull the trigger. Don't try to hit anything, just get a grip."
One shot and she was ready to go out and buy one!
You don't need to "work up" to this caliber. Or . . . if you've ever fired a handgun larger than a 22, you're ready for this.
It kicks like a mule -- and you're going to really dig it!!! You were looking for a big gun when you bought it, right??? Well, now you OWN one!!!
Have fun!!!
[This message has been edited by JackFlash (edited July 15, 2000).]
That sounds like a good deal to me. New Ruger prices have increased considerably in KY.
I have a ten and a half stainless SBH. I have the original wood grips on mine. I didn't like the rubber type. I have a Bushnell Trophy Series Variable Scope on mine. My mount is a B-Square. Here is a tip, get a Weaver mount. The B-Square has too many screws and such. My Brother purchased a Weaver Mount. It looks good. IMO.
Have a great time.
Sgt.K
I have a ten and a half stainless SBH. I have the original wood grips on mine. I didn't like the rubber type. I have a Bushnell Trophy Series Variable Scope on mine. My mount is a B-Square. Here is a tip, get a Weaver mount. The B-Square has too many screws and such. My Brother purchased a Weaver Mount. It looks good. IMO.
Have a great time.
Sgt.K
Rocky Road
Retired Screen Name
45automan---
If your screen name means anything, you've fired pistols more action-filled. When you shoot a .45 ACP, lots of things happen, right? Fairly sharp noise, slide slams back and forth, empty brass flies off to the side or overhead.
I suggest you get a box of .44 Special loads. In this heavy revolver, it is less than shooting 185 SWC .45 auto target loads. Really, the 246 gr LRN Special load is somewhat less powerful than a .45 ACP hardball load. The 200 gr JHP .44 Spec loads feel about the same but perhaps a little louder.
With full magnum loads in the Super Blackhawk, there is a somewhat sharper, louder report. If you're holding it properly, the barrel raises up in recoil and the stocks slide down in your hand. Holding onto it properly--Very firmly. NOT so tightly as to set up a tremor. If things begin trembling, you're holding too tightly. The tales of the .44 mag actually drawing blood have to do with new, coarsely checked stocks with the saw-handle shape of the S & W Model 29. With smooth wood, the big SA .44s are a joy to shoot. As said before, it rocks back in your hand, with the barrel pointing upward. This expedites re-cocking.
You are truly shooting a major caliber firearm, but not as traumatic as full .357 mag 158 JHP in a K or L frame S&W, or a Colt Python. Don't let it spook you, friend. The main problems with .44 mag revolvers have to do with them being large and heavy, and when people try to wring out every foot-per-second velocity, with the heavy bullets.
If you hand load, you can go with heavier-than-Special loads but still real magnum loads. A 240 gr JHP with 10 grains of Unique gives about 1125 fps. 17.5 gr of 2400 gives same bullet around 1230. Hottest I've ever gone is 240 JHP with 22 gr of H110, showing 1362 in the Speed #12 manual. This is still two full grains under maximum.
The .44 mag is a wonderfully versatile cartridge, and the Ruger Super Blackhawk is strong and accurate. Give the smooth wood stocks a chance before you try oversize rubber handles. These have a tacky texture and do not allow the change in recoil vector that tames the "kick." Take it out and shoot it, and have a great time. Hope you enjoy your .44 as much as I have several over the years. Best regards,
RR
------------------
---The Second Amendment ensures the rest of the Bill of Rights---
If your screen name means anything, you've fired pistols more action-filled. When you shoot a .45 ACP, lots of things happen, right? Fairly sharp noise, slide slams back and forth, empty brass flies off to the side or overhead.
I suggest you get a box of .44 Special loads. In this heavy revolver, it is less than shooting 185 SWC .45 auto target loads. Really, the 246 gr LRN Special load is somewhat less powerful than a .45 ACP hardball load. The 200 gr JHP .44 Spec loads feel about the same but perhaps a little louder.
With full magnum loads in the Super Blackhawk, there is a somewhat sharper, louder report. If you're holding it properly, the barrel raises up in recoil and the stocks slide down in your hand. Holding onto it properly--Very firmly. NOT so tightly as to set up a tremor. If things begin trembling, you're holding too tightly. The tales of the .44 mag actually drawing blood have to do with new, coarsely checked stocks with the saw-handle shape of the S & W Model 29. With smooth wood, the big SA .44s are a joy to shoot. As said before, it rocks back in your hand, with the barrel pointing upward. This expedites re-cocking.
You are truly shooting a major caliber firearm, but not as traumatic as full .357 mag 158 JHP in a K or L frame S&W, or a Colt Python. Don't let it spook you, friend. The main problems with .44 mag revolvers have to do with them being large and heavy, and when people try to wring out every foot-per-second velocity, with the heavy bullets.
If you hand load, you can go with heavier-than-Special loads but still real magnum loads. A 240 gr JHP with 10 grains of Unique gives about 1125 fps. 17.5 gr of 2400 gives same bullet around 1230. Hottest I've ever gone is 240 JHP with 22 gr of H110, showing 1362 in the Speed #12 manual. This is still two full grains under maximum.
The .44 mag is a wonderfully versatile cartridge, and the Ruger Super Blackhawk is strong and accurate. Give the smooth wood stocks a chance before you try oversize rubber handles. These have a tacky texture and do not allow the change in recoil vector that tames the "kick." Take it out and shoot it, and have a great time. Hope you enjoy your .44 as much as I have several over the years. Best regards,
RR
------------------
---The Second Amendment ensures the rest of the Bill of Rights---
P
PreserveFreedom
Guest
44 Magnum in a handgun is loud and it kicks but there is nothing like it. I still miss my Vaquero.
44 mag is great. Easy to reload, inherently accurate, and real power in a handgun. Just pay attention to the basics (sight picture, follow through, etc.) and grip it like you're shaking hands with someone that owes you money. If you can shoot a 45 auto, you can shoot a 44 mag.
------------------
God and soldiers, we adore
In times of danger, not before
With the danger safely righted
God is forgotten, and soldiers slighted
------------------
God and soldiers, we adore
In times of danger, not before
With the danger safely righted
God is forgotten, and soldiers slighted
killer45auto
New member
I have one myself I gave a 325$ for mine in stainless with the 7 1/2 barrel. It is a very accurate gun ,more so than my Kimber Gold Match.Very pleasant to shoot( even with the heavy weights),the 7 1/2 barrel go`s a long way to help ease the recoil of this round.By the same token I have a 4 5/8 vaquero in 45 colt that when you use the hot handloads the equal the 44 mag it is a lot more gun to shoot than the 44.Which is funny Ive always heard the .45 colt at the same power levels will shoot softer than the 44 mag.In my case it sure doesn`t . The 44 imho is one the best rounds ever invented, because you can do a lot of things with this round ,from hunting to pins, to bullseye or even self defense.So go buy some ammo and start plinking and holler back at us .
See ya!
See ya!
killer45auto
New member
Oh and did I say youd have to kill me to get this gun from my hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really Love this gun!
hehe
killer45auto
I really Love this gun!
hehe
killer45auto
MountainGun44
New member
You'll find that the recoil varies a lot from one load to another. You shouldn't be afraid of any of them in that revolver. My 4" Mountain Gun isn't fun to shoot with some heavy loads that are tolerable in a Ruger, but even it is OK for hunting.
Next, get one of these to go with your handgun:
I LOVE mine!
Next, get one of these to go with your handgun:
I LOVE mine!
Good Gun, Good price.
I used to have a 7 1/2" bbl Redhawk (sold it to get a lever gun) and a 7 1/2" Blackhawk at the same time (never going to get rid of that one).
Back in my younger days, I'd load up 240 gr. rounds (factory and reloads both), and, when shooting at an old gravel pit, hold one in each hand and "walk" an empty milk jug up the hillside (it was only about 7-10 yds--we're talking fun here, not accuracy). I could hit it about 4-5 times out of each 6 shot revolver (actually did better left handed??--I'm righty, but with casual one handed shooting, I seem to do better with my left). So, basically, recoil (I weighed under 200 lbs then and was 5' 10"--mostly spare tire, not all muscle) is easily manageable with practice.
It is also a very accurate firearm!! 1-2" groups are easily possible with good ammo.
Aside from fun shooting, it is a nice fixed sight hunting revolver. Or, just pack it in a holster when you are hunting (if you hunt) to dispatch wounded animals. It is probably one of the best all-around "tool" guns you could get--not necessarily for self-defense, but it could easily be used for that also.
I used to have a 7 1/2" bbl Redhawk (sold it to get a lever gun) and a 7 1/2" Blackhawk at the same time (never going to get rid of that one).
Back in my younger days, I'd load up 240 gr. rounds (factory and reloads both), and, when shooting at an old gravel pit, hold one in each hand and "walk" an empty milk jug up the hillside (it was only about 7-10 yds--we're talking fun here, not accuracy). I could hit it about 4-5 times out of each 6 shot revolver (actually did better left handed??--I'm righty, but with casual one handed shooting, I seem to do better with my left). So, basically, recoil (I weighed under 200 lbs then and was 5' 10"--mostly spare tire, not all muscle) is easily manageable with practice.
It is also a very accurate firearm!! 1-2" groups are easily possible with good ammo.
Aside from fun shooting, it is a nice fixed sight hunting revolver. Or, just pack it in a holster when you are hunting (if you hunt) to dispatch wounded animals. It is probably one of the best all-around "tool" guns you could get--not necessarily for self-defense, but it could easily be used for that also.
Bobbalouie
New member
I grew up with an old model Super Blackhawk in the house. My dad named it "Sweetlips", referring to Geoffrey Chaucer's "Tail of the Miller's Wife". Ka-boom! That thing has a report. Guaranteed to turn heads. But we fired it as teenagers, and with the stock walnut grips. What a wonderfully-built gun. Have a blast... really!
Bobbalouie
Bobbalouie
Want to turn heads at the range? Load up some 180s over a healthy charge of H110/296 (29-30 grains in MY SBH). BIG fireball. Flame two feet wide (out the front of the cylinder) and three feet out the muzzle, visible in broad daylight. Thunderous report. A fellow shooting a 454 next to me concurred. Probably not good for the forcing cone, but guaranteed to scare the hell out of the fellow shooting the pipsqueak nine into a mansize silhouette at 7 yards (tough) next to you.
------------------
Jerry V.
------------------
Jerry V.
Craig Luna
New member
You think that 180 with 30grs of H110 was bad, you need to check out a 445Super Mag with 180s and 40-42grains of Win296 and a 4inch comp barrel. My really hot 44mags sound like 38spls in comparison (same gun) and the concussion can be fel 10 feet away.
It really is funny to step back and see the whole line of people at the range staring in your direction. The guy to my right didn't heed the warning and I think I saw him jump in the air in suprise.
-CAL
It really is funny to step back and see the whole line of people at the range staring in your direction. The guy to my right didn't heed the warning and I think I saw him jump in the air in suprise.
-CAL
A great "Mine's is bigger'n your'n" story about shooting the SBH. My newbie buddy, who had recently bought his first firearm, an AMT backup in .380, and I went to an impromptu range at lunch to shoot. He had his Backup, I had my SBH. We started loading, and naturally, he got finished first and commenced firing 90gr JHP's at a cinder block, 15-20 yards away. He had hit it with 2 or 3 shots, leaving dark-gray craters 2" wide in the light gray block when I touched off a HOTTTTTTT 180gr JHP at the center of the block. There was a gout of gray smoke on the target, and when the smoke cleared, the block was gone. Didn't even seem to be any rubble left. The smoke WAS the target. Newbie, who had never heard a large handgun go off, nor seen the effects of a .44 on a target was struck dumb. He dropped his shooting arm to his side, closed his mouth, and wordlessly packed up his gear.
New to the forum so howdy . . . 
45automan . . . I still remember when I got my S&W 629 some years ago. First large caliber pistol I had ever shot at 75 and 100 yard targets . . . still recall the KABOOM, the imperceptible pause and then the WHAP as the bullet struck the target & cardboard backing. Impressive . . . but the story above about demolishing the concrete blocks is even more so . . . take it out and try it.
You're gonna' like the .44.
------------------
ralph
45automan . . . I still remember when I got my S&W 629 some years ago. First large caliber pistol I had ever shot at 75 and 100 yard targets . . . still recall the KABOOM, the imperceptible pause and then the WHAP as the bullet struck the target & cardboard backing. Impressive . . . but the story above about demolishing the concrete blocks is even more so . . . take it out and try it.
You're gonna' like the .44.
------------------
ralph