Thinking of buying a Blackhawk- what to watch out for?

[mattri]

Looking at getting a NM Blackhawk in 357, 6.5" barrel, blued finish.  What are some things to watch out for when examining the gun?  Obvious misalignments, play in the cylinder, rough bore, anything else? 

Have never owned a revolver before so don't really know what problems these guns may be known for. 

Thoughts? 

[drdougrx]

Not much really...they are built like tanks.  A year or so ago, I bought a 41mag that was in really rough shape...sent it Ruger and they replaced everything except the trigger, hammer, cylinder, frame and barrel.  Had them do a re-blue and the total cost to me delivered was $130.

I'd look for rust, pitts, etc.  Really excessive wear.

[mattri]

Thanks for the reply- I'm looking at buying new, are the new models as good as the older ones? 

[SHOOTALL]

in 357 they are much the same in 44 and 45 they have new ones along with the older style and the new ones are not up to the over loads the older ones could stand. If buying an older gun look ar the five frame screws if buggered up it might indicate someone with less than working knowlege has been working on it. Then also on blued guns the grip frame is alum. on some guns maybe all and if the gun was fed a diet of heavy loads the screws tended to back out wollowing out the holes. I know I have seen it , always kept an extra set in shooting box . Even the 44 mag screws will back out.

[billythekid55]

I have a Blackhawk Convertible. Shoots .38 spcl and .357 magnum. Change the cylinder and it will shoot 9mm. The revolver functions great with both cylinders. Additions:
I added Pachmayr grips - much easier to hold on to. I have a post on here that lists the model number. Search for billythekid55 in this forum
I ordered a "Simply Rugged Cattleman" holster for it. I had a "Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake" but I did not like it. The 'Cattleman' is much more comfortable. In my opinion, much better than the TrippleK holster that Ruger sells on their website.
thanks, billy

[tacklebury]

Most common issue I've heard of with them is that the cylinder throats are often tight.  If you buy one and they are small, they will not be accurate with cast bullets unless you get them reamed to proper dimensions.  I purchased a brand new .45 colt/.45 acp convertible and I couldn't hit an 18x18 target frame at 15 yards.  I was peeved to say the least.  It was returned to Ruger and they ended up replacing the barrel and both cylinders and doing a trigger job free of charge.  It is now my most accurate pistol. 

[45-70.gov]

stainless

[gcrank1]

Ha, what to watch out for.....?
That Rugers dont start multiplying in your gunsafe!

[mattri]

Now you tell me!  Bought that 357 a few weeks ago and am already thinking what caliber I need next.

[Squib]

I think the hammer throw is a bit much for most, if not all, from the factory.  I don't like the gun "jiggling" from the force of the hammer dropping.  hold one loosely and dry fire it, it's weird.  the gp-100 and super redhawks do it too, but not to that degree (and even less if fired d/a).

as for older ones being stronger, that's just the vaqueros to my knowledge, the originals were rounded/contoured blackhawks, the newer ones are smaller/thinner aka WEAKER in critical areas.  in 45 colt, the issue has been weak cylinder exterior walls, not the frame.  a hot 45 colt is usually not even that much psi, usually not over 30,000.  that is not going to blow a frame on a steel gun- a paper-thin cylinder yes.

[gcrank1]

I've never heard the 357s are weaker.

[Squib]

no one claimed that they (.357 magnum) are/were weaker (in this article).... so did you misread or did someone edit a post before I read that?

[gcrank1]

Me misread?......oh come now, surely you jest......(of course I could, have, and likely will again in the future  ).
See Shootall's comment of Nov.13; a casual reader, unfamiliar with Rugers, could perhaps get the impression that the new ones arent quite what the old ones were. Just thought Id make for sure and certain on the 357s in particular.

[Squib]

gotcha, I had to read it twice myself.  I don't know about the new/old strength on non vaqueros, I've heard the old blackhawks were harder to blow up, but the screws were easily broken by heavy loads (if they weren't locked down tight with threadlocker).  I'll never load that hot, so who knows?

.357 is higher pressure but the walls are so much thicker on the cylinder, that is an issue on most revolvers that bugs me.  look at a .45 or bigger on most any revolver model and look at how thin the exterior of that cylinder is.... creepy!