Pictures by the writer
Let me start by telling you about my expertise with the Tremendous Blackhawk. It was 1979, and I used to be exhibiting my Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt to my good good friend Mitch’s dad. He was a navy collector and had a basement simply this facet of Fantastic. I liked to go down there… each wall was full of rifles, pistols, helmets, and different objects. He even had a 6-foot-tall model, Herman, decked out in an entire Wehrmacht uniform with helmet, appropriate in each element, with a Gewehr Karabiner 98k slung over his shoulder. Herman may creep you out for those who weren’t anticipating to see him… Fairly quickly, he went away. Many museums have been jealous.
Anyway, he had an authentic Ruger Blackhawk .44 Magnum. Not the Tremendous Blackhawk, however the authentic, earlier than the protection gizmos, the latter New Mannequin ones employed. This was the one constructed on a barely smaller body, with out the protecting “ears” across the rear sight that the later fashions had. I really loved dealing with that revolver.
I had the .45, as I stated. Nevertheless, I wished a .44. This was instantly after Soiled Harry, and .44s have been the factor to personal, not these old style .45s. I actually wished a Mannequin 29, however at the moment there was no approach. That film pushed costs into La-La Land. (I finally did find yourself with that 29, and I’ve a 629 now.)
So, regardless that I used to be reminded that the .45 Colt was no slouch as a manstopper, I needed to have the double-deuce. I traded the Blackhawk for a Tremendous Blackhawk and obtained into handgun silhouette competitors. I used to be utilizing Elmer Keith’s load of twenty-two grains of 2400 powder underneath a 250-grain exhausting forged SWC bullet. I practiced with that load till it raised a bone in my wrist, at which level I tamed it a bit through the use of much less powder. I additionally bear in mind hand-carving walnut grips with a recoil shoulder, which prevented the gun from rolling in my hand. Why I did that, I don’t know… that’s the benefit of the SAA-type of revolver. It rolls with the recoil.
I stored that gun an extended whereas and traded for that 29, if I bear in mind proper. The (6)29 (is)/was nice, however I used to be at all times afraid I used to be going to bend one thing by capturing hundreds via them that the Tremendous Blackhawk ate with regularity.
So, the outdated Tremendous Blackhawk and I’m going approach again and have been pals for many years.
I used to be perusing Ruger’s web site some time again and stumbled throughout the SB… I believed, “Why not?” and ordered one to evaluate. I obtained the shorter-barreled model, the under-five-incher, in stainless. I’ve at all times wished to strive that quick barrel. Each my earlier Rugers had 7.5-inch barrels. I’ve since owned one other .45 Blackhawk with the 5.5-inch tube, however I favor the shorter model.
The Tremendous Blackhawk… Why?
At the present time of whiz-bang polymer-framed 9mm superblasters, why will we nonetheless want the steam-powered revolver? I’ll inform you why, in a single phrase… versatility.
The revolver has no equal when it comes to the kinds and ranges of ammunition it will probably hearth. Don’t get me fallacious… I personal many semi-autos, and I shoot them. However when it comes to one do-all gun, nothing beats a revolver. If I wished to shoot some lighter hundreds in a semi-auto (similar to after we tried handloading some subsonic .223 hundreds for my suppressed AR), be ready to have a single-shot until you alter out springs. The identical rule applies to pistols.
With a purpose to shoot these sorts of hundreds in a revolver, you merely load them into the cylinder and hearth the gun. So long as the bullet exits the muzzle, you’ve obtained a winner.
The identical factor works with bullet sorts and weights. Some semis are very choosy in regards to the sorts and weights of bullets that they work finest with. Not so, revolvers. You possibly can shoot a flat-nosed full wadcutter (just like the .358 RCBS mould I personal throws) at 600 fps for those who want… the gun will nonetheless work as marketed. Attempt that with most semis, and it is possible for you to to provide you with new curse phrases.
Lastly, I touched on reliability. With many semis, you’ve got a reasonably broad vary of pressures that may operate the gun, however when you step outdoors these parameters, something can occur, from the gun simply not firing to it coming aside. I’ve had each occur. The revolver, alternatively, isn’t as choosy. From barely-leaves-the-muzzle to elephant-stompers, until you actually overdo it, the gun will nonetheless operate as supposed.
Right here’s our pattern…
Ruger’s wonderful adjustable rear and entrance submit sights haven’t modified since I owned one a long time in the past. If it ain’t broke… About the one distinction is that they don’t put white paint within the rear sight notch define these days, however that’s simply achieved.
Shiny! This was taken earlier than we blackened the entrance of the cylinder by capturing the gun.
Vary Time
I had two .44 Magnum hundreds available, and one Particular selection, all Black Hills. The Magnum hundreds have been a 240-grain JHP and a HoneyBadger 160-grain machined copper bullet.
I additionally had a 125-grain, .44 Particular HoneyBadger load that I utilized in a current take a look at of S&W’s new Evening Guard 3” .44 Particular 5-shot DA revolver. That was one good gun… search for the evaluate on this web site.
Due to time limitations, we didn’t shoot this Particular load within the SBH, however it could’ve dealt with it nicely and would’ve been extra tame when it comes to recoil.
Anyway, my oldest son Jesse carried out the honors. I attempted to shoot it, however my arthritis in my hand acted up, and it damage after one shot, so he stepped in. We shot 5-shot teams at 25 yards.
This goal of the 240-grain JHP is exclusive… we see three holes, however he shot 5 occasions. I wouldn’t suppose he went over the goal, however you by no means know… at the least there are three holes! This was about all of the capturing his palms may stand… prodigious recoil!
The HoneyBadger load behaved higher:
By way of ballistics, the 240-grain load went 1298 fps, with 898 ft./lbs of power, and the HoneyBadger’s 160-grain bullet traveled 1594 fps, with 892 ft./lbs of power. Keep in mind, that is the shortest-barreled (4.6”) Tremendous Blackhawk they make. An extended barrel would do even higher. Talking of barrel size, let’s have a look at some specs…
Specs
Grips: Hardwood
Entrance Sight: Ramp
Barrel Size: 4.62″
Materials: Stainless Metal
Capability: 6
Rear Sight: Adjustable
Twist: 1:20″ RH
End: Satin Stainless
General Size: 10.50″
Weight: 45 oz.
Grooves: 6
Out there in CA & MA: Sure
Instructed Retail $1099.00
Conclusion
As I stated earlier, I’ve owned just a few Blackhawks and one Tremendous Blackhawk. These weapons are the results of technological progress from the early 1873 Single-Motion Military revolvers, a fruits of producing strategies, know-how, and supplies. You should buy costlier single-action revolvers, however in my guide, there’s no motive to until you need an unique caliber.
This revolver can be a helpful addition to anybody’s assortment who traipses via the woods looking for deer or related recreation. Stoked with full-bore magnums, you might take virtually something respiratory on the North American continent, and with Specials, have a tame goal or plinking session. It’s versatile. Simply bear in mind that pushing heavy bullets to excessive velocities may have a response… the recoil could be fierce, however the SAA “plow-handle” grip helps tame it because it rolls up in your hand. An extended barrel would possibly assist a bit extra with recoil, however not a lot, from my expertise. with the 7.5-inch SBH I owned earlier than. I just like the 4.6″ size of this barrel… the gun is helpful to tote round, however nonetheless yields magnum efficiency.
In the event you’re available in the market for a helpful, heavy-caliber revolver, give the Tremendous Blackhawk a glance.
Hyperlinks To Gadgets Used In This Evaluate
Athlon Rangecraft Velocity Professional Radar Chronograph, $500
Birchwood Casey Crammed Capturing Luggage, $40
Birchwood Casey Eze-Scorer 8 Inch Bull’s-Eye Goal, 26 Targets, $9
Birchwood Casey Vary Cleansing Package, $60
Black Hills Ammunition
Caldwell E-Max Low-Profile Listening to Protectors, $33
Caldwell 66% AR500 Metal Silhouette Goal, $127
Caldwell Final Goal Stand, $33
GPS Medium Vary Bag, $150
MTM Case-Gard Excessive-Low Capturing Desk, $160
Wheeler Spacesaver Screwdriver Set, $22
Wheeler Set off Pull Gauge, $88
