Iron Sights or Scope on a Blackhawk

[kmeyer]

   Hey all. Just yesterday I did the paperwork on a new Blackhawk below.

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=860&return=Y

  I pick it up tomorrow. I'm curious how many of you hunt with iron sights? My plan has been to put one on it, but the last couple days started rethinking that.  I know all the light gathering advantages of the scope, but curious how and why you iron sight guys do not scope. This is not really a financial decision. Thanks all.

[Mikey]

The very best light gathering device there is happens to be the old M-1 Eyeball.  It gathers much more light than a scope does.  All you need is something contrasting on the sights to get a good sight picture in the diminishing light. 

I don't know how good your eyes are and that may be a consideration for you but I think that if you try taking a sight picture with regular iron sights it may be difficult around dawn/dusk but if you have something (paint, dots, etc.) that contrast you may be better off than with a scope.  JMHO.  Mikey.

[Prof. Fuller Bullspit]

Yes, it is all in the eyes for me. As long as I can see the iron sights I'll use them. I prefer a clean simple pistol (revolver) and pistols are supposed to be more portable than rifles! Scopes complicate the rig and they just don't look "right" to me. Scopes also make carrying the pistol a bit more difficult.

Try out the pistol for a few weeks with iron sights. See if you can reliably hit a paper plate at the ranges you want to hunt. If you can, you are good to go. If not, resolve yourself to reducing your hunting range or scope the gun.

[jro45]

I put a 2X leupold scope on mine. It gives me a clear picture at max range for my Blackhawk 45 L.C.

[apollo]

A scope on a revolver just ain't right. It ruins the balance and portability of the gun. If you have iron sights that you can see in dim light, then they are better than a pistol scope. Pistol scopes just don't work as well as larger scopes that you would put on a rifle. I have always been able to hit better off hand with iron sights than I have with a scope as well.

[Graybeard]

Yup I agree with apollo. I've been down that road before using scoped revolvers and scoped TCs and I no longer do it. If I can't get the job done with iron sights on my revolvers now a days I go to a rifle. To me a scoped handgun is an abomination I'd as soon carry a rifle as a scoped handgun as to me it's actually just as convenient if not more so.

Yeah I know most of the handgunners here ain't gonna agree and I used to not myself but that's the view from here for now.

[Heavy C]

As it's been mentioned already, a scope on a revolver; especially the Blackhawk wouldn't be right.  I considered putting a red dot on mine, but started looking at the clean lines and opted not to ruin the look.  I am moving away from the traditional iron sights and giving the peep sight available through One Ragged Hole.  I am a believer in scopes for Contender and Encore pistols.

[redhawk500]

I have fired a Super Blackhawk back in the infancy of scopes and it was amazing what a revolver could do at 75 yards!  Having said that, I had plenty of time, the revolver was drawn up over my knees and the paper target showed no signs of running off.  I have found my mediocre 6 inches at 50 yards standard, with iron sights,  kills lots of deer.  If you can keep them off hand at a given distance on your common paper plate, you can put venison on a china plate too.  I don't like to have a special holster for a scoped handgun and they are awkward and bulky to me.  I will scope my Contender when I start hunting with it, using a sling over my shoulder.  I will probably be using a tree stand and a steady rest too.

[kmeyer]

   Thanks to everyone for your input.  I just got home from picking the gun up. It is a really a quality piece and I couldn't be happier with it:) It really does come down to personal preferance to scope or not.  I have a scoped contender and a scoped double action taurus revolver already. I think for now I will go with iron sights on this one. I think the blackhawk being a more historic style, fits iron sights better. I plan to shoot it a bit over the weekend. Most of my deer shots are at 20 yards and few over 50.  If I can hit consistently at those ranges I think I will leave the scope off. Thanks again for all the input. I don't post much, but read it daily. This forum is really fantastic!!!

PS: The guy at the gun shop has one and replaced the factory iron sights with "Williams Fire Sight". He loves them and feels it add 15 minutes of shooting time at both dusk and dawn. Maybe that would be a good consideration as well. I will start a thread on that as well.

[Cheesehead]

I have a Blackhawk in 45 LC with a 4 5/8 barrel. No scope on this gun. It is so very compact and carryable. A scope would be wrong for that reason. A larger handgun would be more scope worthy. The use of iron sights is an acquired talent, meaning practice and more practice. I have taken one deer with this gun.

Cheese

[jason280]

Personally, I would leave the scope off the Blackhawk.  With a little practice, most people can become rather proficient at ranges up to 50yards with an iron sighted revolver.  But, it takes practice.  I do use a scope on my 10" Contender, but not my 7.5" SBH.  My Ruger is actually drilled and tapped, and its convenient to be able to add a scope for load testing/accuracy.  For hunting, though, I will keep the iron sights in place.  I primarily hunt with a rifle, but I will sometimes pack my Ruger for critters that wander in too close.  However, I keep my shots under 50 yards, as that is the max distance I personally feel comfortable with. 

[kmeyer]

    I thought I'd post a update on things. This morning I spent a few great hours shooting my new Blackhawk with iron sights. My groupings were about 2 inches at 25 yards. When I went to 50 yards, I couldn't even call them grouping:) They were all over. Good thing I shoot 9 ot of 10 deer at 20 yards. The gun itself was really great. I now understand what you all mean by saying a "Blackhawk" rolls more than the "Redhawk". After the first couple shots though, it's really no big deal as you know what to expect. I still plan to use iron sights for now and see if I can improve at up to 50 yards. At that distance I was having trouble with my eyes though. I'm still considering adding "Fire Sights" as well. I plan to take both my rifle and this Blackhawk deer hunting and use the rifle if the shot is beyond 30 yards. Maybe next year with practice I can make that 50yards.

   I still cannot say enough about the gun though. It just exudes quality craftsmanship!!!