I have a GP100 6"barel and a Blackhawk 45 Colt/ 45acp convertible with a 5.5" barrel. I would recommend either model depending on which action you would want. If I had known the GP100 was available with a 5" barrel that is what I would have chosen because I was undecided about the 4" or 6". The Blackhawk is a great single action and sometimes I wish I had chosen the 357mag instead of the 45. I may try to pick up a 357 also. Neither gun is concealable, at least for me, but both are great for the range and for HD.
Recommend me a Ruger!!
- Thread starter Pond James Pond
- Start date
Does it have to be a new gun? I own stacks and stacks of Rugers… if I was pushed into a corner and had to pick "my favorite," it would be very hard to pick a New Model over an Old one. My absolute favorite would probably be a Clements custom that I bought on the Ruger forums. 4 5/8ths barrel, OM, all the special features you would expect, .44 Special. Even has the Clements OM Bisley hammer on it. All case hardened. Really beautiful gun and just great in the hand.
Second favorite would probably be a .44 Special I had built for me. OM .357 conversion, 5.1" barrel, two tone, locking #5 Belt Mountain cylinder pin. Handy gun, easy to carry and shoots great.
If we HAVE to deal with NM's and factory guns… I did really like the 50th Anniversary models. My .357 50th is probably the best NM I ever bought factory new. Just seems to magically hit right where I look. Great feel, size… everything. Except it isn't an OM!
Finally, if we are going to leave single actions and move to double, I have two favorites. OK, plus an extra comment! My favorite of my "old and discontinued DA Rugers" is a 5.5" stainless Redhawk in .41 Magnum. Once I put some of the fancy European grips on it, it's about perfect. The best "new Ruger" I've bought in the DA area is my seriously fun Ruger Alaskan in .480 Ruger. Easy to reload, just a whale of a lot of fun to shoot. Large enough to be impressive without being so crazy large that it becomes impractical. Everybody who gets the full tour of my gun collection asks to shoot it. And then they smile. Really big. And ask for more ammo to do it again!
I do love original Security Sixes. And the Ruger DA that I own with the most rounds downrange is probably my 9.5" Ruger Super Redhawk in .44 Magnum. I used to shoot 50-100 rounds through that gun every time I went to the range. Put a stainless Leupold 2x scope on it. The weight of the gun plus the scope calmed .44 Mag down and made it easy to shoot. Even with super hot reloads. I've made a lot of crazy long range shots with that gun _off a bench_ and it will really explode a 2 liter soda bottle at long range. Load a Sierra 180 grain JHC bullet with an absolute max charge of WW296 and it makes you laugh when the bottles explode.
Gregg
Second favorite would probably be a .44 Special I had built for me. OM .357 conversion, 5.1" barrel, two tone, locking #5 Belt Mountain cylinder pin. Handy gun, easy to carry and shoots great.
If we HAVE to deal with NM's and factory guns… I did really like the 50th Anniversary models. My .357 50th is probably the best NM I ever bought factory new. Just seems to magically hit right where I look. Great feel, size… everything. Except it isn't an OM!
Finally, if we are going to leave single actions and move to double, I have two favorites. OK, plus an extra comment! My favorite of my "old and discontinued DA Rugers" is a 5.5" stainless Redhawk in .41 Magnum. Once I put some of the fancy European grips on it, it's about perfect. The best "new Ruger" I've bought in the DA area is my seriously fun Ruger Alaskan in .480 Ruger. Easy to reload, just a whale of a lot of fun to shoot. Large enough to be impressive without being so crazy large that it becomes impractical. Everybody who gets the full tour of my gun collection asks to shoot it. And then they smile. Really big. And ask for more ammo to do it again!
I do love original Security Sixes. And the Ruger DA that I own with the most rounds downrange is probably my 9.5" Ruger Super Redhawk in .44 Magnum. I used to shoot 50-100 rounds through that gun every time I went to the range. Put a stainless Leupold 2x scope on it. The weight of the gun plus the scope calmed .44 Mag down and made it easy to shoot. Even with super hot reloads. I've made a lot of crazy long range shots with that gun _off a bench_ and it will really explode a 2 liter soda bottle at long range. Load a Sierra 180 grain JHC bullet with an absolute max charge of WW296 and it makes you laugh when the bottles explode.
Gregg
Pond James Pond
New member
Yes.
If only because I have only ever seen one used Ruger on sale. Ironically it was a SBH in .44 Mag!!
+1, definitely a fine firearm!
DannyB1954
New member
My favorite Ruger revolver is the SP 101 in 357 mag. Whatever barrel length you like.
Cheapshooter
New member
Super Blackhawk. Hunter, or Bisley if you want to sope It, standard model if you don't.
Pond James Pond
New member
They are very cool looking guns, I will say that!!
Micahweeks
New member
Ruger GP100 Match Champion! Fits everything you said, and it's a phenomenal revolver. I just got mine on Monday. I haven't shot it, yet, but everything about it is great. I expect it to shoot much like any other GP100 but with a muich nicer trigger.
I don't own any Ruger DA revolvers. I have had personal experience with the Security Six and the SP-101, but don't own any.
I do own
Super Single Six convertible .22LR/.22WMR
Blackhawk .45 convertible 7.5" barrel (two of them)
Blackhawk .357 Mag 6.5" barrel (couldn't find the convertible when I was in the market)
Vaquero .45 Colt 4.625" barrel SS (two of them)
Vaquero .45 Colt 5.5" barrel blued
Vaquero .45 Colt 5.5" barrel blued Bisley
New Vaquero .45 Colt 5.5" barrel blued
Super Blackhawk .44 Mag 7.5" barrel blued
All are new model lockworks.
Got my first Blackhawk in 83. For my money there is no finer single action revolver to be had in the price range of the Ruger.
leaving out the .22, of the others, only the New Vaquero is the size of the Colt Single Action. The rest are bigger guns. They aren't Colts. The don't handle like Colts, they don't work like Colts (new model rugers have no half cock, and use a transfer bar to safely carry 6 rounds), and you can shoot loads in them that would wreck a Colt in short order, if you are so inclined.
My Vaqueros all wear their factory grips, but all my Blackhawks wear Pachmayr rubber. Its a personal matter, but for me, the big Rugers are at their best when they wear rubber grips.
I do own
Super Single Six convertible .22LR/.22WMR
Blackhawk .45 convertible 7.5" barrel (two of them)
Blackhawk .357 Mag 6.5" barrel (couldn't find the convertible when I was in the market)
Vaquero .45 Colt 4.625" barrel SS (two of them)
Vaquero .45 Colt 5.5" barrel blued
Vaquero .45 Colt 5.5" barrel blued Bisley
New Vaquero .45 Colt 5.5" barrel blued
Super Blackhawk .44 Mag 7.5" barrel blued
All are new model lockworks.
Got my first Blackhawk in 83. For my money there is no finer single action revolver to be had in the price range of the Ruger.
leaving out the .22, of the others, only the New Vaquero is the size of the Colt Single Action. The rest are bigger guns. They aren't Colts. The don't handle like Colts, they don't work like Colts (new model rugers have no half cock, and use a transfer bar to safely carry 6 rounds), and you can shoot loads in them that would wreck a Colt in short order, if you are so inclined.
My Vaqueros all wear their factory grips, but all my Blackhawks wear Pachmayr rubber. Its a personal matter, but for me, the big Rugers are at their best when they wear rubber grips.