Blackhawk vs. Super Blackhawk Hunter...and more ???

[DakotaElkSlayer]

Went to Sportsman's Warehouse tonight and handled a .45 Blackhawk and a .41 Mag Super Blackhawk Hunter.  Both revolvers felt great in the hands, but I sure did prefer the Blackhawk price!  Is the extra $$$ for the SBH Hunter just because of the Stainless, or is it something else?

  I will definately want to mount some sort of optics on it, is that any problem with the Blackhawk?

  For a given bullet performance, is the recoil the same with the .41 mag and .45 Colt?

  Is there a grip style that will lessen the "felt" recoil?

  Performance wise, both calibers are pretty much the same if you handload, aren't they?

  Any other models/manufacturers you would recommed for a first big game handgun that is IN THIS PRICE RANGE?

  Any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated...

  Thanks for your input,

  Jim

[redd7]

As far as feeling the recoil I have a friend that owned a gun store and shot alot of different guns. He always claimed that single action pistols were easier to shot because the pistol would roll upwards due to the grip shape. I shot several but never believed him, and/or just figured I was a double action guy until i shot my SB bisley hunter. Mine is a 44 mag and it recoils less than any 44 mag pistol I have shot. I love it. I love the bisley grip. Another thing to consider is with the regular BH you won't get the  ruger scope mounts.  :grin:

[BlkHawk73]

If the BH isn't stainless, yes a big part of the higher cost for the SBHH is the material difference, the Hunters also have a bit of a higher price becasue of the configuration in general, more material and more machining required.  They also come with the scope rings.  Generally, the Hunter grips are more costly to buy as an aftermarket item than the plain BH grips.  All adds up.  

    You can mount optics on a not Hunter model but would require a seperate base.  Either a cheap clamp-on style or a more rigid style that would require removal of the rear sight and drilling & tapping of the topstrap.  Have done this to my .41 BH and like it.  The Hunters of course have the mount integral on the bbl rib which accomodate the included rings.  

    I have both .41 and .45lc uger SA's.  The .41 seems to have a shrper kcik while the .45lc has more of a real heavy push.  My brother actually likes shooting my .44 more so than my .41.  The SBH's and Bh's also have different gripframes.  The SBH has a slihtly longer grip than the BH and allows a slightly different hold.  The Bisley grip allows a totally different feel and seems much more user friendly , especially with heavier loads.  It allows more roll during recoil.  

   For reloading, the .45lc offers much more choices and can be loaded much hotter.  The .1 is still by no means a slouch.  Just not as popular so not as many componets to choose from.  An awesome cartidge though.

   If you're buying this for hunting purposes mainly and you will haveoptics, the really think the Hunter series is the way to go.  There are the cataloged Hunters in .44 magnum in both the standard grip and the Bisley style.  There's also the "distributor editions" made expressly for particular distributors.  Davidson's has the two configuration in .41 magnum.  Lipsey's has the standard configuration in 45lc now and will have a Bisleys configuration in 45lc later this year.  I've got the standard .45 Hunter.  Prices are usually in the $495-$525 range for the Hunter models regardless of chambering.  
  I'm not ahuge fan of the .44 just because it's to common. Bought the 45 Hunter becasue it was one I'd always wanted made and because it was different than all other Hunters I see areound.  had the .41 Hunters been available first, i'd have bought one instead, and actually was going to get one anyways until the Acusport Bisleys snagged my interest.  

  reccomendation:  Wait for the 45LC Bisley Hunter

[jakes10mm]

Be careful in your comparison of "Hunter" grip frames.  Ruger makes them in the standard Blackhawk-style (curved) and Bisley-style (straighter, more DA style).  The Bisley grip frame feels very good in the hand.  I have held several Bisley's and Bisley Hunters....ultimately adding them to my "wanted" list.  My hunting buddy bought a Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley Hunter in 44mag.  After shooting it, I opted to buy a Super Blackhawk Hunter in 45 Colt with the "normal" curved grip.  Most of my shooting is with a 1911.  I found that my grip felt more natural with the curved grip.  They do roll in you hand more from recoil than the Bisley's do.  

There are two different grip models of Hunters out there...make your choice appropriately.

One more plug for the Hunter model: They come with "self-centering" scope rings.  My plan right now.....is to sight the Hunter in at 100yards with a 2x scope and 50 yards open sights.  When I get out hunting, ideally that will give me a little more flexibility in the field depending on the shooting lanes and range to targets.

[DakotaElkSlayer]

Thanks for taking the time and giving me your input.  That input is VERY VALUABLE to me...  Out of everyone I know here, I have the MOST handgun experience which is now owning a Beretta Neos for a month! :-D

  Ok, so you folks feel the extra money is worth it for the Super Blackhawk Hunter models...  Didn't realize I would have to take off the from sight of a Blackhawk in order to mount optics.   On the Super Blackhawk Hunters, does the barrel feel more "tip-heavy" since the weight of the optics is more over the barrel than over the receiver?

  Will Lipsey's Super Blackhawk Bisley 45 Colt be offered in blued, or just stainless?  Being a bowhunter, the idea of a shiny weapon with the killing range(in my hands) being about the same as a bow, makes me a little uneasy...

Thanks,

Jim

[BlkHawk73]

Only available in stainless. I wouldn't worry to much about it though.  How mad can stainless be if most hunting revolvers are stainless and the big trend in rifles has been for stainless.  They're not that reflective and even, then what the game would see is still only a very small frontal area. It is a bit bbl heavy but not so much that it's bothersome or uncomfortable.

[jakes10mm]

I have found my Hunter in 45Colt to be very balance, but I haven't mounted a scope yet.  I have fired a few "HOT" loads with 250gr and 300gr bullets..... I'm glad I have the few extra ounces in the barrrel.  I also like the original grip over the bisley grip, but I believe I'm in the minority there.

Good luck in your search for the Lipsey.  I had several dealers try to track one down and they were told they sold out last June.  They stated that they may get more for 2005, but they'd probably be Bisley framed.  One dealer was successful in locating one for me.

[BlkHawk73]

Awesome price here:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=29620827

[DakotaElkSlayer]

Blackhawk73,
Ya, that's a great price!  Didn't you recommend that I hold out for the Bisley version?

Jim

[BlkHawk73]

Blackhawk73,
Ya, that's a great price!  Didn't you recommend that I hold out for the Bisley version?

Jim

In a way, yes.  This would gt you going however and changing over to a Bisly configuration is an easy parts swap.  For what you could likely get out of the SBH parts you'd swap off, it would almost pay for the Bisley parts.   Besides, the Bisley hunter in 45lc may not be out for a few months.  No exact date yet.

[AntlersDS]

Hey Dakota,

I also echo what others have said about the SBH Hunter .44.  I bought one a month or so ago from Sportsmans Warehouse in the Dallas area and love it.  It is my first real handgun and plan on using it for snakes and hogs and whatever else.  The recoil is not bad, just go with it.  I am now looking at a SBH .41 that SW sells.  Probably won't go with any scopes at this time, but nice to know on the Hunter model you already have the rings.

[DakotaElkSlayer]

AntlersDS,
If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for that SBH Hunter?  I will compare that with my SW that just opened a few months ago in Fargo.

Know, to change a SBH Hunter to the Bisley version, what exactly do you have to do?  Remember, I only have Beretta Neos knowlege! :lol:

Thanks,

Jim

[DakotaElkSlayer]

One more thing, what are the rings like that come with it?  In another words, are they some sort of "quick detach" style?

Jim

[BlkHawk73]

Here's the rings:


I simply use a coin to remove them.  The design allows for removal and attatchment without worrying about losing "zero".

[AntlersDS]

Hey Dakota,

I paid $479 plus sales tax at Sportsman's Warehouse.  Bisley SBH .44

[DakotaElkSlayer]

Thanks AntlerD!  I will go in my SW tomorrow and check their price...

Jim

[Lawful Larry]

1.   I will definately want to mount some sort of optics on it, is that any problem with the Blackhawk?





Don't know about the Blackhawk.  It would require some form of special base I suppose.


2.  For a given bullet performance, is the recoil the same with the .41 mag and .45 Colt?

The .41 is not in the same class as the .45 Colt.  The .45 Colt is about the same recoil as the .44 Mag.  when loaded for the ruger and not the Colt SAA or clones.


3.  Performance wise, both calibers are pretty much the same if you handload, aren't they?

Like I said in question #2, the .41 is not in the same class as the .45 Colt.  The balistics  of the .45 Colt are closer to the .44 Mag when loaded for the ruger or TC.  You can load a 320 grain bullet on the .45 Colt, but only a 210 bullet on the .41 mag.  The .41 mag. is closer to the .357 Mag.


4.  Any other models/manufacturers you would recommed for a first big game handgun that is IN THIS PRICE RANGE?

The Ruger Redhawk or Super Redhawk in .44 Mag would not be too far off base for a great hunting handgun.  There is also the S&W 629 .44 mag:



I got two does this past season using this rig.  I was using a reload of a 240 XTP with WC820 powder.  This bullet has a velocity of 1371 fps.

As to the .41, don't count that one out for a hunting caliber.  It would be good for whitetail deer, but would be a little lacking for black bear or bigger game.

My recommendation is to go with the .44 Mag for caliber and go with whatever gun feels great in your hand.  Try to shoot these guns first if you can to get a better idea of what you want.   :wink:

[DakotaElkSlayer]

Thanks Larry.  You are probably right with your .44mag recommendation, but I think the .45 Colt "fits" me better.  I am the guy that when everyone else was buying .270's and .30-06's, I bought the .280Rem.  I don't hunt with a lab, or german shorthair, but with a Gordon setter...

Jim