Ruger 44mag Handgun question about DA vs SA.

[teddy12b]

The next gun I buy will probably be a Ruger 44mag revolver.  I'm still considering either double action or single action.

Is there any difference in accuracy out of the two?  I'm going to be firing the gun from single action only about 99% of the time.  I know most hunting shots would be single action, but the single actions just don't fit my hands very well. 

My ideal gun would be a redhawk 5.5" stainless, but I wanted to know if there was any accuracy advantage to going with a single action. 

I'm planning on using this as an easy to carry hunting gun.

[Cement Man]

I've had a few of both - Super Blackhawks, Blackhawks, Bisleys, and two Redhawks.  I have found the single action grip frames to fit me better, and would give them an edge in accuracy; however, the single actions were worked over by good smiths, Horvath and Clements, so it might not be a fair comparison. The best grip for me was the Bisley with Eagle gunfighter style (slimmer) grips.
I had a 5.5" Redhawk and could never get to like the balance and the grip.  I didn't shoot it very well either.  I finally got a 4" Redhawk with the new style Hogue grip and I consider it the best of the Redhawks. To me, the 4" RH has made a whole new "sidearm" possible out of the Redhawk - cutting down the size and better handling.
I never tried any aftermarket grips on the 5.5" Redhawk, I believe some of the Hogue grip styles might have changed my mind.  The Super Redhawks have a similar grip to the GP-100 d/a revolvers, a grip that I always found to be excellent.  For hunting use, I think the Super RHs look pretty good, probably would be my choice for strictly hunting.
The grips, balance, etc. are a subjective thing - but with handguns, the subjective things do have some impact on practical accuracy.  For hunting, I would probably consider a model with the integral scope mounts such as Blackhawk hunter or the Super RH.  For sidearm in the woods, I like my 4" RH.  For accuracy, I believe the Super RH, then the S/A models, then the RH in that order, but all will give useful hunting accuracy if you do your part - just my general experience, nothing scientific. The D/A are certainly faster and less tedious to load & unload.

[Bigeasy]

I don't think there is any real difference in accuracy between the two styles, at least not that I can see.  Try a Ruger single action with the Bisley grip, you may like it.  If not, the Redhawks are fine guns, with a variety of grip options available.  My 7.5 inch Redhawk with a red dot sight has accounted for a bunch of game over the years.

Larry

[teddy12b]

I've owned a gp100, super redhawk 44, and a super blackhawk.  All shot well, but the two double actions shot the most consistantly for me and I think it's largely because of the grip.  I've given a lot of thought to the 4" redhawk because I think it'd be easy to carry, but I haven't made up my mind yet on how they feel in my hand. 

I loved the grip of the gp100 & super redhawk.  I had the hogue tamer grips on both and I wish they made that grip for the redhawk.

I'm going to wait until after the Shot Show before I get too serious about any purchases because I want to see if Ruger is going to offer something else.

[Cheesehead]

I have had good hunting and accuracy success with a Blackhawk in 4 5/8 inch barrel configuration. I put Hogue large rubber grips on this revolver and it changed the handling characteristics radically. Very easy to controll with heavy loads and compact in size. For me it is a near perfect, iron sighted, hunting revolver.

 I have used a model 29 hunting, the swing out cylinder is handy but not necessary for a hunting hand gun. I never use the double action on this gun except at the target range. Double action serves no purpose in a hunting application.

Cheese

[45-70.gov]

i  change  my  preference  every decade  between  single action  and  double

got a super black  hawk last  year

i  feel  like  i am  cheating  on  my  old  5 inch 629  when  with  the black hawk

after  all  the  guns  i  got  to  know  well  none  are  as perfect  as  that  smith  i  have  had for  15  years  now

the  point  i  am  making  is  get  both    i  once  thought  an  old  357 bkack  hawk  was the  love of my life


what  ever  you  get  ...make  it stainless

[Cheesehead]

45-70 is right.

Get both.

My model 29 is blue but also a 5 inch, the near perfect size.

Cheese

[bluecow]

i had a 5 1/2 44 redhawk for some time and didnt care for the feel of the grips.  never fired it d/a.  traded it for 5 1/2 44 super blackhawk loved the way it felt in my hand...then i fired it.  not real bad but not nice.  tried pachmayr s/a grips: ok but look like home made sin, rubber just dont do it.  now have hogue wood finger groove that look good, help with recoil,but; it doesnt have that sinle action feel.  maybe i should have tried new grips on the redhawk.  its a wash.  accuracy has been the same for both .  had a dan wesson for about 10 years and bet i didnt fire a dozen rounds d/a.  look over both with care a buy the one thats the tightest, or new no mattert the action.  oh by the way sill glad i have the blackhawk  and would do it all over again.

[Tom C.]

I have a 5 ½” Redhawk, 5 ½” Super Blackhawk, and a Super Redhawk cut to 6”. I like all of them, but they are each different. I have Pachmayr Presentation grips on the Redhawk, smooth Eagle Gunfighter grips on the Super Blackhawk and factory grips on the Super Redhawk. Grips are a very personal thing, but I don’t like the factory grips on the Redhawk or Super Blackhawk.

I don’t find the recoil bothersome on any of them, but there sure is a difference in weight. The Redhawk weighs 53.5 oz. The Super Blackhawk weighs 43.6 oz. and the cut down Super Redhawk weighs 51.8 oz., so if you are looking for maximum recoil reduction, weight helps.

[Default]

 Well ,

  Personally for my hunting needs I go to my single actions .. I leave the DA revolvers I own to home duties ..
  During hunting season I tend to carry my SBH 7 1/2" more then my 4 5/8 45lc (Uberti) though where I hunt is black bear country and I trust both .. Of all the BHs I have owned over the years they have all been accurate , tough as nails and carry well ..

  But of course I agree that the SBH has the reloading advantage .. And a little more weigth ... So I like the little lower weigth of the SBH and should I need to yank that hog leg , I dont think faster reloading is gonna change the outcome of a close encounter with alot of fur ,claws and teeth .. So keep that in mind 

  Keep in mind though that you can get rubber grips that change the shape of the BH or SBH to meet you prefference ... Think it boils down to what feels best in your hand ...For myself its the old time tested SA   

     Just my  $ .2 ,


   Default

[catfishfiend]

i shoot the stainless hunter in .44 mag, it has a 7 1/2 bbl.  that gun is way more accurate than i am, and dependable too.  i don't think the redhawk is more accurate than the bh or vice versa, it just comes down to preference.

[teddy12b]

I'd prefer a blackhawk because it would look more appropriate with a Puma 92 with open sights, but I'd prefer a redhawk because it fits my hands better and is more functional.  Time will tell.

[Darrell Davis]

Morn'in shooters,

I have, over the years, owned 3 Blackhawks as I recall, including one scoped Hunter.

Great guns.

I now have and really enjoy a 5.5" Redhawk.

As per "issues" ----------------------  Well, a Blackhawk with a set of aftermarket grips - probably Pachmayr - has been the only one to hurt me.  Took a month or so before I could get back to shooting the 44.  Pain deep in the hand, with nothing ever showing up on the surface.

My last one, the "Hunter", remained with the factory grips and never a problem with the hand or recoil.

The one mechanical issue I have seen, happened only after I began to shoot the 310 and 325 grain cast slugs.  The recoil caused the "base pin" ( the pin the cyl. revolves on) to move and jam against the cross pin retainer.

Again, this was only with the heavy slugs.

If I were to again have a Blackhawk, and were still shooting the heavy cast bullets, I would explore the aftermarket pins with the locking screw.

Now with the Redhawk, it is one tough gun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To the max!

The one I have has the aftermarket grips, is heavy, and has never hurt me!  I think the weight is a factor in that.

My regular diet of ammo for the RH is the cast 310gr. LBT ahead of 19grs of AA #9.

This load sends them over the Chrony right at 1300fps from the 5.5" tube.

The RH is just like a Timex, only better, as it also takes a lick'in and keeps on tick'in!

My vote goes to the RedHawk.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

[mcwoodduck]

Not to be a master of the obvious but in your post you said you would be shooting the gun 99% of the time on single action.
If you were to get a single action you would need to be shooting it single action 100% other wise it doesn't go bang....
My vote is for a double.  Only because they fit your hand better.  The more you like it and the better it feels to you the more you will shoot it and that results in being better with it.
Good luck.

[Dixie Dude]

I have had both, but prefer the Blackhawk.  It is much lighter carrying around all day hunting.  I tried to shoot my Redhawk double action and I couldn't hit a thing.  Cocking the hammer made me aim.  Redhawk was heavy.  Get the proper grips for the Blackhawk or get one with a bird's head or Bisley handle instead of the plowhandle if you can find one used. 

[teddy12b]

I have had both, but prefer the Blackhawk.  It is much lighter carrying around all day hunting.  I tried to shoot my Redhawk double action and I couldn't hit a thing.  Cocking the hammer made me aim.  Redhawk was heavy.  Get the proper grips for the Blackhawk or get one with a bird's head or Bisley handle instead of the plowhandle if you can find one used. 

I held every style of Ruger 44 mag revolvers there is.  The only one that fits well is a redhawk in a hogue grip.  I agree the weight is much more with the redhawk, but it's not enough to make it a big deal to me for what I would use it for.

[Autorim]

Well, there you have it. It boils down to the grip that feels good in YOUR hand, how well you can shoot it and how you like to handle recoil. Weight definitely helps tame recoil.

For loads with heavy recoil, I prefer the Ruger Bisley with smooth wood grips. Factory grips work fine for me. My Bisleys are .357, .41 mag and .45 Colt.

For general shooting and plinking I prefer the S&W revolvers with Hogue rubber grips. I shoot them double action except when testing loads off the bench. I rarely load the Smiths heavy enough for recoil to be a real issue.

[keithcarter]

There is one really big difference!  My 4 5/8 .45 Long Colt  Blackhawk is light, and it shoots a .45 caliber bullet. It's easy to carry all day. It has the MOST POWER PER OUNCE OF GUN of any gun I own.  As it is a bear-woods gun, I handload it heavy. The single-action grip allows the barrel to flip up and the wood to slide through my hand without the pain of regular recoil. No matter ho hard I hold it, the barrel points straight up at the sky after every shot.
But it is very comfortable on my bare hand.  Rubber grips pull the skin off the palm of my hand.