Author Topic: Fair price for Ruger Super Blackhawk (Read 1320 times)

Bis · « **on:** July 07, 2004, 02:04:27 PM »

Hello everyone. I have just purchased my first used revolver ( I have always bought them new) and I was wondering if I got a good deal, screwed, or a fair price. I am not that knowledgeable about the prices of used hand guns, but I saw this pistol at a pawn shot and it just said please take me home, plus it shoots the rounds as my Win. 94 (which is the main reason for getting it or so I told my wife :grin: ).
The weapon is a Ruger Super Blackhawk, cal. 44 mag, 7.5 inch barrel, stainless steel. There are a few slight marks on the cylinder (could be from a holster) but none on the rest of the metal parts. The bore looks great (after some cleaning). The only real sign of wear is a little of the black has worn off the rear sight. There is a small scratch on one of the grips ( which my wife pointed out). I don't think it has been fired much since there is hardly any sign of where the locking lug drags on the cylinder. There is a slight bit of movement when the cylinder is locked up, maybe .002-.003. There is a slight gap between the cylinder and the barrel but you really have to look to see it ( I have not had time to put a feeler gage to it yet). The gun was manuacftored in 1996 per Ruger's web site.
The pawn shop wanted $300 for it and we settled on $240. So what do you guys think.
Thanks

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 07, 2004, 02:16:14 PM »

Any type of good .44 magnum for less than $250? Are you kidding? Quite worrying and just enjoy! Take a black marker to the rear sight (it will wear bright again so just keep it dark). If you use you new piece for anything other than a wall hanger, the grips will get more scratches, but you won't notice them with you hand wrapped around it. Again, enjoy.

Prof. Fuller Bullspit · « **Reply #2 on:** July 07, 2004, 06:48:41 PM »

You got a good deal. Is this the model with the squared off trigger guard or the newer model with the round trigger guard? My preference is for the squared trigger guard but many people prefer the round.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #3 on:** July 07, 2004, 11:40:47 PM »

you got a steel on it!

Bis · « **Reply #4 on:** July 08, 2004, 01:23:06 PM »

Thanks everyone for the inputs. I can now approach my wife with this info. and tell her that since I got a good deal, that I should take the money I saved and buy some dies for the 44. That way maybe I can come up with a load that will work for the Ruger and the Win 94. This whole deal just keeps snowballing doesn't it :grin: . First the rifle, then the pistol and on and on :grin: .

Prof. Fuller Bullspit- My Ruger has the back side of the trigger squared off. I like the look, sort of the old Colt Dragoon thing.

Blackhawk44- where abouts in Texas are you? If you don't mind my asking.

Thanks again everyone.

Old Griz · « **Reply #5 on:** July 09, 2004, 08:14:01 PM »

:cb2: What's the address of this pawn shop? :eek: :-D

The Shrink · « **Reply #6 on:** July 10, 2004, 09:33:51 AM »

Bis

Absolutely get into reloading, if you're not already. You'll increase your shooting volume dramatically and even more so if you go to cast bullets. This becomes cheap shooting, even with the .44!

Bis · « **Reply #7 on:** July 10, 2004, 01:23:57 PM »

The Shrink- I have just started to reload a few months ago for my 243. Unfortunately my spare time has disappeared and in that time I have only loaded 20 rounds, but it is neat to load a few and then go on the back porch and have at it. I also have dies for my 45/70, but have not loaded for it yet. I have asked on other forums about loads for the 45/70 and my people have said to go with cast bullets and now you are suggesting the same for the 44 mag. I do not understand what is so great about cast bullets, it seems like you would get lead fouling and less accuracy with a cast bullet. I have enjoyed shooting my Win 94 in 44 mag, but this Ruger is a blast, I may have to reload just so I can afford to shoot the thing.
Thanks for the response.

Old Griz- Next time you are in Deep East Texas, I will take you to Palestine and all the pawn shops :grin:

Old Griz · « **Reply #8 on:** July 10, 2004, 06:30:09 PM »

:cb2: I'll be in Ft. Worth on Thursday, but if the pawn shop owners in Palestine are such easy marks, it might be worth the trip down there! :-D

Prof. Fuller Bullspit · « **Reply #9 on:** July 11, 2004, 05:18:25 AM »

Biz. I too like the squared off trigger guard. Some people find that the point of the square hits their middle finger when they shoot heavy loads but I haven't found this to be a problem. I think you got a great deal on one of the best single action .44 magnums ever made.

The Shrink · « **Reply #10 on:** July 11, 2004, 07:56:07 AM »

Bis

Frankly the big advantage of cast is the price! I am casting my own, and that's a separate hobby which you clearly have no time to do. Leading isn't a problem unless the alloy is overly hard or you are trying to push it to fast or the lube is inadequate. Yeah, I know, adding at least three more variables to the mix when you're just starting isn't fair.

BTW, the best load for the 45-70, IMHO, is a case full of Goex FFG, compressed to fit the bullet in, a 500 gr. cast with BP lube finger seated (don't resize the cases, just pop out the primer) and just enough crimp on to hold the bullet in. I've actually had the bullet easily spin in the case, just not fall out, and gotten excellent accuracy out of an original Trapdoor Springfield.

Wayne the Shrink

There is no 'right' that requires me to work for you or you to work for me!

Bis · « **Reply #11 on:** July 11, 2004, 03:59:54 PM »

Old gris- When you hit Forth Worth, you are about 2.5 hours north of us. Palestine has several pawn shops that seem to have good prices, this is the first time that I have ever dealt with a pawn shot. The ones in Crockett (excuse me the one in Crockett) have new gun prices on very used guns. I am sure that as deer season get closer that the prices will go up. Email me if you think you will be down around our area.

Prof. Fuller Bullspit- I think the trigger guard gives it a very distinctive look This thing is great to shoot, I am probably going to go broke feeding it :grin: . I bough a box of CCI Blazer 44 S&W SPL for it. Are these reduced loads or are 44 specials that much softer than the mag.'s ??

The Shrink- How do you know how much alloy to add to the lead. I have about 150 pounds of pure lead that I use for my Minie balls. But do you have a hardness tester or what??
I bought a pound of IMR 3031 for my 45/70 and some Rem. 300 grain jacketed bullets for it. I was just guessing when I ordered the stuff, I hope it works.

Thanks everyone for your inputs

The Shrink · « **Reply #12 on:** July 12, 2004, 01:31:49 AM »

Bis

The measure of the alloy is typically the lead/tin ratio, with the possible addition of antimony. It is really the antimony that gives the hardness, tin provides some but mostly helps the lead flow into the mold.

Typical lead/tin ratios used in BP (low velocity) shooting are: 30/1, 20/1, and the original Sharps formula of 16/1. You simply weigh the requisite amounts of lead and tin and melt together. These are plain based bullets below the speed of sound, generally below 2000 fps.

Without antimony none of these are as hard as wheelweights (ww) that are very popular (ever lose your wheel weights while parked at a mall?) among some of the Silouette BP shooters.

This should give you the idea that, at least at the low speeds we are talking about with BP, exact alloy mix is not that much of an issue.

If you are really interested get a copy of Lymans Cast Bullet Handbook. It will tell you more than you really want to know.

Wayne the Shrink

There is no 'right' that requires me to work for you or you to work for me!

Prof. Fuller Bullspit · « **Reply #13 on:** July 12, 2004, 10:37:22 AM »

Quote from: Bis

Prof. Fuller Bullspit- I think the trigger guard gives it a very distinctive look This thing is great to shoot, I am probably going to go broke feeding it :grin: . I bough a box of CCI Blazer 44 S&W SPL for it. Are these reduced loads or are 44 specials that much softer than the mag.'s ??

The .44 special is in fact much milder than a .44 magnum. The .44 special is what one might call a pleasant load to shoot. It's kind of like the difference between the .38 special and the .357 magnum. I used to shoot the .44 special but then started to reload and from then on I just created loads that were in the .44 special power range in .44 magnum brass to avoid leading the cylinder.

Bis · « **Reply #14 on:** July 12, 2004, 04:11:57 PM »

The Shrink- I think you are right about trying to many things at one time. I guess I will first try to master this reloading thing, which seems to be an art of its own, or maybe more like black magic :-) . After mastering reloading ( if that ever happens) I will try cast bullets. To many variables at one time are just to much for this old brain.
So just don't go to far away, when I start casting bullets, I am sure I will need you help.
Thanks for all the info.

Bis · « **Reply #15 on:** July 12, 2004, 04:24:03 PM »

Prof. Fuller Bullspit- You have a very good point about leading the cylinder. I have shot 38's in my 357 for years and it never occurred to me that I might be doing hard to the cylinder. I guess sometimes you have to get hit between the eyes with a 2X4 to get the point. I think I need to go re-check my Python. I also think I need to suck up to my wife and get the dies for a 44 so I can have it both ways (44 special and mag.) and if I am real lucky I can sneak in a set of dies for the 357.
Thanks for the info.

3006va · « **Reply #16 on:** July 13, 2004, 10:31:40 AM »

Bis. You didn't really ask this but with your responses on two points I would offer this, About dies,get them with carbide sizer dies so you don't have to mess with the sizeing lube. Go with 38spl and 44spl dies because they can also be used for the magnum types also(not always true the other way around). Lastly since you cast minie balls already(150lbs pure lead) you could scroung some wheel weights to mix in and get low cost Lee molds for the 38&44 and some liquid alox for lube and have hundreds of low cost practice rounds! Going by the cost of factory rounds in my aera,the cost would be recovered VERY quickly. Just food for thought on unasked points,

Bis · « **Reply #17 on:** July 13, 2004, 03:12:21 PM »

3006va- I see what you mean about not going both ways with dies as far as 44 mag working for 44 special. I got out my Lee catalog and in most cases you can use the dies for std. rounds and a mag. but not the other way around. All my stuff is Lee, Challenger press, dies, powder measurer and a very old Lyman scale. I like the lee stuff ( except for the O ring thing on the dies), so I looked up dies for the 44 and it seems that I would need the deluxe pistol die set. Since it comes with the factory crimp die. I have a Win 94 that I would be using 44 rounds in and I think that I have to chimp the rounds when they are in a tube magazine. Then there is the problem of which mold to get. There sure are a lot of different sizes and shapes. I guess more research, this just keeps going and going doesn't it :-) .
Thanks for the reply

3006va · « **Reply #18 on:** July 13, 2004, 04:41:18 PM »

Forgot to say in my first response that ,that was one heck of a deal on the SBH. ENJOY THAT SIDEARM!!! I also like your choice of reloading equipment,sounds alot like mine. I have some other brands that were either on sale or my brother left me. Lee may not be the best but to me it's the best bang for my buck. If the "I gotta shoot more and cheaper" bug takes hold look at the Lee 38spl (38&357) dies#90964 29.46$ and mold#90321 17.12$ (158gr SWC) and for the 44's (spl&mag) die#90966 29.46$ and mold#90299 17.12$ (240gr SWC) and a bottle or three of Lee Liquid Alox 1.88 a bottle. Those bullets are great plinkers and the SWC nose will work on smaller game if wanted. Prices are from the 2003 www.midsouthshooters.com cat. I shoot mine as cast but some guns may
require sizeing. Sorry to ramble but I do love those SBH's and they should
be feed well and often!

Prof. Fuller Bullspit · « **Reply #19 on:** July 13, 2004, 08:32:28 PM »

I think the Lee dies are the best value on reloading dies out there. I actually like the 'O' rings better than other locking systems.

Good advice about the .38 special and .44 special dies.

You can usually buy good cheap lead bullets at most well-stocked sporting goods stores. If time is an issue that's the way to go unless you are looking for a specific bullet or just enjoy casting.

Tell us how it shoots!

Bis · « **Reply #20 on:** July 14, 2004, 01:52:27 PM »

3006va- I am beginning to see what you mean about loving the Super Blackhawk. I have gone thru about 50 rounds 44 spl. and about 20 of 44 mag. and the thing just seems to grow on you. I am probably going to upset some people by saying this, but I think it is comparable to my Colt Python and I don't think you will find a Python for $240. The Colt does seem to have a better trigger. I know one is 357 and the other 44, but the feel and action is what I am talking about. I have not got down to the nitty gritty of punching paper to check accuracy. I have an old flywheel hung on the fence separating the pastures and that is what I have been blasting away at.
MANY years ago when they (I can't remember the name of the manufacture) first started making copies of Colt SAA I tried a guys pistol (in 44 mag.). I fire 1 round and handed it back to him, my hand hurt the rest of the day. I was a little apprehensive about buying the 44 but I have yet to experience the pain with the Ruger.
I have marked your suggestions in the catalog and will now start sucking up to my wife, at least for the reloading stuff. I guess I better get going so I can do the dishes and vacuum the house before she gets home :grin: .
Sorry about being so long winded, I get on a roll and just can't stop.

Bis · « **Reply #21 on:** July 14, 2004, 04:24:32 PM »

Prof. Fuller Bullspit- I would love to find a well stocked-sporting goods store, unfortunately there are none around here. We sort of live out in the boon docks. If Waly World doesn't stock it we are out of luck. There is a small gun shop about 50 miles west of here. Not much inventory, but it is a gun shop. I am stuck with mail order. It sure would be nice to walk in and actually handle the product.
I do think I will try buying cast bullets to start with, to many variables between trying to work up a load, correct bullets,ect.
This may take a while to get everything in place so that I can start reloading 44's, the only other alterative is to take a second out on the house to feed the Ruger :grin: .