Single action help

T

Targa

New member
Hi all, I have had the itch for a single action revolver longer than I can remember and would like it in .44 mag. I am looking at the Uberti 6", 1873 Cattleman and a 5.5" Ruger Super Blackhawk. My knowledge of these firearms is limited to the couple of times I have shot a single action so feel free to dumb it up for me, I will not be offended (and who cares if I would be right?:D). What would you go with? Is there any stand out issues with either one? I am leaning towards the Ruger simply from a reputation standpoint but I really like the looks of the 6" Uberti. Thanks Darrin
 
I'm surprised Uberti even makes a .44 Mag, especially for the Cattleman SAA design. I wonder just how beefed up it is.

Now, for the king, the Ruger Super Blackhawk, it's got a 60-year track record of excellence and in handling the hottest .44 Mag loads. And although it's classic configuration is the 7.5 inch barrel, the SBH is also offered in 5.5 and 4 7/8 inch barrels.

Others may jump in and suggest the Freedom Arms but that wasn't in the original question.
 
Ok thanks for the info, thats exactly what im looking for. I am certainly open to other suggestions such as Freedom Arms, like I said I have limited knowledge of single actions at best.
 
.44 mag lends itself to adjustable sights due to the variety of bullet weights and velocities available. I have found the Bisley grip frame on the Ruger SA to work the best in handling recoil. Best of luck with your purchase.
 
During my formative years, from watching way too many Western movies and tv shows, all my handguns were SA revolvers.
Ruger Blackhawk in 357/38, Ruger Super Blackhawk in 44M/44spl, Hawes/ JP Sauer in 44M, and Pietta 1858 in .44.
The Rugers were sturdy and mostly trouble free, except for the center pins always trying to follow the bullets downrange.
Easily cured, though.
But the best shooter and best handling of them was easily the Hawes.
I had two in 44Mag.
Mostly because they followed the design of the original Colts.
So, maybe in today's market, you might want to take a look at those that still do.
 
Uberti does make a .44 Mag

Think they call it the Callahan(?) Never seen one.

The SBH is pretty much the definitive Single Action .44 mag.
 
I'd say go with the Super Blackhawk:



I've had the brass-butted gun for over forty years, and its odometer (my log book) reads over 17,000 rounds fired. Its been fed everything from fire-snortin' loads to mild mannered stuff.

As a matter of interest, I set up some gun with Bisley grips to investigate recoil and came back to the Dragoon style of the Super Blackhawk where heavy recoiling stuff is used. Tamed recoil better, for me, anyway.

Bob Wright


Augh! I just realized used the wrong photo. The one above are three screw Rugers. This is one I meant to use:

 
I have a JP Sauer Hawes in .357 and that is built like a tank, shoots like a dream. Didn't know they came in .44!

My brother had the Uberti Cattlemen .44 mag.
Very nice looking and looked more like a Colt SSA than the blackhawks.
Can't say much about how durable, but did shoot a few .44 mag out of it and it felt great.
 
Bob Wright is right on target

With comments on the Bisley grip handling heavy loads. I can shoot top 44 Mag loads very comfortably with the SBH. My Bisley 41 Mag is quite comfortable, but my 44 Special and 45 Colt Bisley have been relegated to mild loads. I do have one 45 Colt load with a 275 LFN under 10gr of Unique for 1057 that recoils mild but hits with authority. That load hit a hog in the face from my son's Blackhawk at 20 yards and put a beer can sized hole next to his bhole.
 
Super Blackhawk is virtually indestructible. If I ever find some grips that feel comfortable, I might be able to shoot it well....
 
To keep things simple (as if:rolleyes:), basic question, Five shots? or Six?

The Colt SAA action (and copies) are safe to carry with 5 rounds in the cylinder, with the hammer down on the empty chamber. They are not safe to carry with the hammer down on a live round.

In 1973, Ruger introduced the "New Model" lockwork, using a transfer bar, and new model Rugers are safe to carry with 6 in the cylinder.

The manual of arms for both are DIFFERENT.

The Colt system (and copies, including unconverted pre-73 Rugers) have a half cock position on the hammer that frees the cylinder to turn for loading and unloading. The proper method of loading one for carry is to load a chamber, skip the next one, then load the next four. Then bring the hammer back to full cock and ease it down on the empty chamber.

New model Rugers do not have a half cock position. Opening the loading gate (alone) frees the cylinder to rotate. Load all six, close the gate, and carry.

Personally, I'm not crazy about the Super Blackhawk, but that's a personal matter. 30+ years of shooting the (new model) Blackhawk just leaves me with a couple gripes about the Super. I don't care for the Dragoon triggerguard. I don't like the grooved trigger, and the hammer spur is in the wrong place, compared to where I feel it ought to be.

All personal issues, and can be changed, if desired, I've just never bothered, since I don't shoot my Super very much. I do shoot the Blackhawk in .45 Colt, and Vaqueros in .45 Colt, and like them very much.

There are purists who feel that if is single action revolver doesn't look and work like a Colt, its not worth having. I'm not one of them, and don't have any Colt Single action revolvers, or clones.

I do like new model Rugers, and have several, .22, .357, .44Mag (SuperB) .45 Colt (two Blackhawks and 4 Vaqueros, and a New Vaquero)

Ruger also uses coil springs, the original Colt design does not.

Hope this helps
 
Shooter....Get the Ruger and adjustable sights. Nothing more frustrating than a revolver that doesn't hit where the sights point. Also handy when you want to shoot 44 specials, can sight it in for those.
Gary
 
To elaborate on 44AMP's statement above:

Personally, I'm not crazy about the Super Blackhawk, but. that's a personal matter. 30+ years of shooting the (new model) Blackhawk just leaves me with a couple gripes about the Super. I don't care for the Dragoon triggerguard. I don't like the grooved trigger, and the hammer spur is in the wrong place, compared to where I feel it ought to be.
Click to expand...

As to the trigger guard, it matters not to me either round or square, I do prefer the longer grip. Most of my SBHs have smooth triggers, and from my photos elsewhere, the hammer spurs are those of Blackhawks, which I prefer.

As to Three Screw vs. New Model, once loaded, the handling of the gun is the same. I only load five in either one.

Both Three Screw and New Model guns can be made to have very good actions and excellent trigger pulls. The only problem I have had has been with converted Three Screw models which, to me, never acheive that smooth action.

Bob Wright
 
It comes down to what model ...and grip style, size and length fits your hands the best..

For me, the length and width of the grip in the Freedom Arms large frame, model 83, fits that bill better than the other suggestions. So I would opt, and have, for the 5 shot large frame Freedom Arms.

Here's mine I ordered a few yrs ago.... 4 3/4" octagonal barrel, in .357 Mag...and I think this yr, as my birthday rolls around again in Jan, I will order another one, identical, in .44 Mag...

http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=82010&d=1339790943
 
Where a 44 Magnum is concerned I would go with the highest quality revolver I could afford. Regardless of price the Ruger is extremely difficult to beat quality wise. I have only one 44 Magnum and it is a Ruger Vaquero 5 1/2" barrel Bright Stainless Steel. Like the Super Blackhawk it is built like a tank. Would I ever consider getting rid of it? Absolutely not.
 
Beautiful gun Big Jim. I want to keep the price in the $600 range so the Freedom Arms seem to be a bit rich for my blood but they are beautiful, no doubt. 357 Python, you mention your .44 in a Vaquero. I like the looks of the Vaquero a bit over the Super Blackhawk but it looks like I can only find them in .357 and .45 lc. am I missing something? Did they discontinue the Vaquero in .44? Thanks again all.
 
Targa, you are the victim of the Ruger name idiocy.

Ruger used to produce a gun they called the "Vaquero". Same frame size as the New Model Blackhawk/Super Blackhawk. But it had fixed sights. Blued & stainless. (I had a 7.5" stainless .44Mag) Ruger dropped this model several years ago.

They replaced it with, and currently produce a gun named "New Vaquero". It is a smaller framed gun, approximately the size of the Colt SAA. It is available in .357 Mag and .45 Colt.

They are NOT the same guns, despite the very close names.

The trouble is someone says "Vaquero" meaning the original Vaquero, and someone else says Vaquero meaning the NEW Vaquero, and you kind of have to have the context to tell which is which in conversation.

IF RUGER had picked ANY OTHER NAME, it wouldn't be an issue.



The gun on the top is a NEW VAQUERO, 5.5" barrel .45 Colt.
The gun on the bottom is a VAQUERO, 4 5/8" barrel .45 Colt.

Note how both guns are almost exactly the same size overall, despite one having a barrel 7/8" shorter than the other. A close look will show the size difference in the frames, as well.
 
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