Convertable vs Convertable

R

Rubber Duck

New member
I asked this question on another thread, a thread that had been dormant for over a year, But I really want some opinions on this.

Most I read on the other thread (That was titled "Ruger Black Hawk Convertable") really favored the Black Hawk .45 ACP /.45 Colt. My question is why is this one more desireable than the .357 / .38 / 9 mil convertable?

Am I wrong in thinking its better to have 3 choices in caliber with one Revolver? is .357 and .38 and 9 mil not more economical?

I ask, because I am seriously considering buying one or the other.

Any opinions or insight is welcome.
Thanks,
Ike:cool:
 
While it may or may not be an actual issue, I for one can't wrap my brain around the possibility of accuracy problems with the 9mm cylinder. That bullet (9mm) is .355 diameter (fairly sure) and the .357/.38 launches a .358 diameter bullet.

But all in all, Ruger tends not to make junk. So, what do you see yourself buying, reloading, and shooting the most? Does one or the other satisfy an itch better than the other? I don't really think they designed and marketed either of the revolvers around the questions you ask as far as economics of how many different ctgs can be made to work- simply what's handy. After all, the .45's aren't limited to ACP and Colt, there's the old Schofield, Gov't, and maybe a few others that could be on either side of obscurity.
 
Certainly 9mm is more economical to shoot than just about anything other than .22LR. As to three calibers vs. two -- it's still only two cylinders, so IMHO calling .38 SPL and .357 Magnum different "calibers" is not much different from calling .45 Colt cowboy loads a different caliber from full-power, modern .45 Colt loads.

The Blackhawk is styled after the Colt SAA, which is iconic in .45 Colt. I think that's why there's perhaps a preference for Blackhawks chambered for .45 rather than .38/.357/9mm. I once bought a Blackhawk convertible. I chose the .45 Colt/.45 ACP and never even considered the .357 version. I don't mean I didn't seriously consider it -- I mean it never even occurred to me. Not even on the radar.
 
Thanks for the feedback, Im new to shooting, (about a year) and Im getting ready to buy my first Revolver, I have been looking for a while. Although I love a to shoot a .44 they are a bit expensive to shoot on a weekly basis. I will eventually own a .44, but for my first, I have it narrowed down to the two convertables. My carry weapon of choice will be a .38, which will be my 2nd gun purchase.

I tend to lean towards the "extreme" What will be harder to get in a crisis .45 / .38 / .357 or 9 mil ammo? I planned on using mainly .38 for target practice, reloading, and keeping the .357 / 9 mil for hunting or home protection.

I just want to get the best bang for the buck, I believe both revolvers run about the same price, so does it just come down to personal preference?

Or is there a genuine advantage of the .45?

Sorry about the ramblin, but I tend to over analyze sometimes, I just dont want to regret my first purchase.
Thanks for your comments /opinions,


Ike:cool:
 
I favor the 45acp/45 colt but I also reload. To me I love the 45's both are an awesome round. The down side is they're very costly to shoot. Also a good reason to get into reloading.
 
I have both and I constantly shoot both, the 357 stays mostly in 9mm as I have 8 diffrent blackhawks. I reload everything and in the 357 I reload with 9mm bullets bought special in 357 and have no problems at all shooting the 9mm bullets in the 357 barrel. If I could only have just one, I would take the 45cal as it is the perfect gun as far as I feel.
 
I tend to lean towards the "extreme" What will be harder to get in a crisis .45 / .38 / .357 or 9 mil ammo?
Click to expand...
In a genuine crisis, IMHO you should plan on ALL ammo being unavailable. The ammo you'll have is whatever you stocked up on beforehand.

Of course, if you're concerned about another post-election buying panic, the two pistol calibers that consistently didn't disappear from my local store shelves in 2009 were 9x18mm Makarov and .32 S&W Long. Perhaps you should consider a .32 H&R Mag Single Six! ;)

On a more serious note, I would personally recommend .38/.357/9mm because it's less expensive to practice with. You should also seriously consider handloading; although 9mm factory ammo is cheaper, the cost difference between these three calibers is pretty much a wash because the biggest expense in handloading is the bullet, and they all take similar-sized bullets.

.38Spl is perhaps the perfect starter cartridge for handloading IF you use a procedure that guards against double-charges, since the case will hold far more powder than it can handle. On the plus side, the cases are large and easy to work with, the low operating pressure allows cases to last virtually forever, bullets are cheap and available, the cartridge takes small pistol primers (which cost slightly less than the large ones), it's extremely flexible, and it's very forgiving of minor mistakes. .45 is similarly easy to work with, but it takes larger and more expensive bullets and primers.
 
Thanks, Im gathering its preference, .45's are abit more pricey and make bigger holes.

I to will be getting into reloading, so I guess its a matter of availability.


Thanks to all for the insight
Ike:cool:
 
45 colt unavialability

45 colt got me into reloading because the ammo is so hard to find. I have never been able to find much of it for sale in the last 20 years. Components are expensive to. Convertable guns kind of sound good but have their problems. Do you really want to re-sight in every time you change cylinders? Many 38's dlon't hit in the same place when you change bullet weight and 357 's may be way off. My advice is start with a 22 move up to a 38 and don't worry about interchangeability.
 
My next question is availability, I see these things on line from G.I and Cabellas, but my local gun store says "GoodLuck" Is it Ok to call Ruger Direct and order, or do I need to go through the local gun store? I know it has to be sent to a licenced dealer, but, cant understand why they are "supposedly" so hard to get, especially when they have the .45 convertable on the shelf.

Thoughts?
Ike:cool:
 
In most states...and I don't know about Virginia ....but most states, you have to go thru a FFL dealer to order a handgun from a mfg...it has to be shipped from the mfg to the FFL dealer. You buy thru the dealer - they do the required registration paperwork ...you pay the documentation fees, sales tax, maybe the freight as well, etc...

In most cases ...the local dealer will order the handgun you want thru distributors.. or sometimes from the mfg.
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If you're getting into reloading...in general my reloads in 9mm are about $ 5 a box ( 50 rds ) when I use a 115 gr FMJ bullet .....40S&W, .45 acp, .38 spl, .357 mag ....44 mag ...as the weight of the bullet increases the cost of the reloads go up a little...with a 230gr FMJ bullet in .45 acp my reloads are about $ 8 for a box of 50 .../ the cost of the bullets is what is driving the cost of the reloads...the cost of the bullet ( and how you buy it ) even if you buy in case lots will be about 70% of your cost.

most mfg's of bullets ....9mm 115gr bullets come about 4,000 to a case...
most mfg's of bullets ....45 acp 230 gr bullets come about 2,000 to a case..
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popularity of the specific model you want ...will determine availability and price...many mfg's are way behind on orders right now ...some I'm hearing, on some models are out 6 or 7 months --- even many custom shops ..( like Freedom Arms - are quoting deliveries in the 3 - 4 month range right now). But it varies a lot on the specific model..

sometimes dealers already have orders in on popular models ...so they're already in the pipeline...same thing on distributors.../ so it just depends...
 
Roger that, That maybe the issue. Thanks for the info.

I think Va. is the same, I was just curious, As I was on the Ruger Website and it had an option to order. But Im sure somewhere it would have asked for an FFL #.
Thanks again,
Ike:cool:
 
good luck ...and have fun with the process.

I'm semi-patiently waiting for a gun I ordered thru my dealer - from Freedom arms...that I ordered Jan 21st ...so its been about 12 weeks now ...and last I knew, they hoped to have the gun shipped by the end of April - but I was hoping for sooner.../ but I want it to be perfect ....not quick ...( its my first single action revolver...so I wanted something very specific ...and high end) ...

It's been hard to wait this long ...but I'm confident it'll be worth it in the end..
 
As a .45 Colt fan, that is my preference. I reload and can afford to feed the revolvers both .45 Colt and .45 ACP. But for a more economical solution the .357/9mm will work very well. Beyond the economics, it comes down to personal preference and how you intend to use it.
 
Freedom Arms I ordered....is their large frame, premium grade ( model 83), 5 shot, 4 3/4" octagon barrel, cocobolo wood grips in .357 mag ...a honed action - and specd the trigger at 3.5 lbs with an overtravel screw and green fiber optic front sight...

should be a great shooting gun.../ kind of like this photo...

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...30D0420F34B8E8536A152702&first=31&FORM=IDFRIR

weight of the gun will be around 53 oz ...and in .357 mag ...it should be a really soft shooting gun / easy on the arthritis in my hands and wrist...and the octagon barrel look - will kind of go along with my Henry rifle I have with the octagon barrel in a .357 mag as well. Just for fun ..no cowboy competition or anything... but I really like the .357 mag as a round and as a caliber in general.

but for comparison ...a model 27 S&W ( in .357 mag ...the classic N frame -large frame S&W revolvers...) in a 4" barrel is 43 oz ...and even in a 6" barrel the model 27 is only 47 oz ...so this new gun / will be heavier than a N frame model 27...
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I have a lot of S&W revolvers...and I'm taking 5 of them to the range this afternoon for some fun ...mod 18 4" in .22 my warmup gun ( practice my draw ) and a 66 in 2 1/2" and 4" ( both K frames in .357 mag ) - all use same holster / then go to N frames - mod 27 4" in .357 mag ...and 629 3" in .44 mag ..and change holsters for the N frames....practice my draw, some double taps, some reloads ( where I need a lot of work ) ...and mostly have some fun !

http://www.freedomarms.com/

Here is a link to Freedom Arms - in Wyoming --- interesting company / if you want to get into single action revolvers / not inexpensive ...but very nice guns. I've been able to fire a few of their guns in .44 mag and .454 Casull ...pretty amazing craftmanship...

good luck with your search ...
 
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