Comparison between BH .45 Colt and SBH

[azmark]

I haven't had a chance to handle both of these.  I'm wondering about the differences in handling characteristics between the BH and the SBH.  Also, does the SBH hit your hand as hard as a DA revolver in .44 Mag?  I've shot 2 different DA revolvers in .44M and didn't like either one.  I know that standard .45 loads would be less punishing than the magnum, but factory ammo in .45 Colt is very unreasonably priced compared to .44.  I'll do some handloading either way, but it would be nice sometimes to just go to Wally World and get a box of ammo.  Know what I mean?

[m-g Willy]

The SBH has a longer grip frame and wider and lower hammer spur.
The recoil on a SBH or any single action with the plow handle grip will roll the gun up in recoil more than most double actions designs making it feel like less of a kick(sorta of like rolling with the punch)


Willy

[Cap'n Jon]

I bought the convertable 4 5/8" barrel ruger blackhawk in .45 colt and just love it!  It has almost the punch of the .44 but the recoil is not there like the .44.  It is easy to shoot w/ one hand, unlike the .44 where it will smack you in the forehead one handed! 

[poncaguy]

I 2nd the 45 Colt!

[Lloyd Smale]

I love the 44 but hate the super blackhawks with the squared back dragoon grip frames. try a super with the standard black hawk grip frame and i think youll find it alot more pleasant and if your buying factory ammo anyway you can buy 44 specails that are on about the same power level as the 45 colts. Once you learn to shoot it its a heck of alot easier to find 44 ammo thats stout enough for hunting.

[BlkHawk73]

  I like the square back gripframe also.  Makes little difference to me in shooting the different varieties.  I actually prefer the Bisley style, especially for heavier loads.  It's allows a nicer roll.  I'm not a big .44 person but do like the well rounded vesatility of the 45 Colt cartridge. 

[Dusty Wheeler]

I bought the .45 Convertible.  If you like Wally World ammo the .45ACP cylinder is just what you are looking for!  The BH has an aluminum grip frame while the SBH has steel which makes them balance different.

[2 dogs]

I dont have any problems with the SBH trigger guard until I get into the very heavy 300 plus grain loads. Then it smacks me pretty hard on the middle finger....I would say you could ask a whole bunch of sixgunners and get a bunch of different answers. What matters is how it shoots in YOUR hands....

[44 Man]

Azmark, this is a tough call.  Personally I like the SBH for shooting.  That grip works well for me and I like the lower hammer.  (I have put a SBH hammer into a couple of Blackhawks).  Oh the other hand, I like the looks of the blackhawk better, more traditional.  My first 'real' (non .22) handgun was a Ruger Blackhawk .357.  After a couple of years I moved up to a SBH .44 Mag.  The SBH grip worked better for me.  I have had no problem with recoil rapping my middle finger on any Ruger until I purchased a New Vaquero.  I have to be careful how I grip that one with full loads or it will leave me with a sore knuckle.  Of course the best answer is to buy one of each, a SBH in .44 and a BHK in .45.  44 Man

[kennisondan]

try them both out for feel and heft... I like the 44 mag and specials for off the shelf loadings, and handloading is a snap with a 44 to reduce loads way down or spruce them up some.. I like the 45 colts too, but for off the shelf loads, the cost is crazy...
the grips on the sbh work best for me as they are bigger and longer, and do not put the rear edge of the grip into my palm like the smaller blackhawk grips do...
if you want aftermarket grips to deal with really heavy loads in the square trigger guard modelled SBH, there is a wooden grip and a rubber one (uh) that fills that space in behind the guard to protect my little knuckles with the heavy hot loads... I do not use that grip any more but it is out there.. a herret or hogue, IIRC in wood and a pachmayer in that black material that is reallly for tires..
Now that I tried the bisley grip, though I like it as much or more than my SBH grips that I used since 73...
got to learn something every ten or fifteen years or I get lazy..
dk

[doc-and]

I own both a BH in 45Colt/45acp and a Custom SBH by Mag-Na-Port and find that depending on the ammo/load both are not bad to shoot.  I also own S&W's in the 45Colt and 44Mag and enjoy the single actions more with hot loads.

docand