Blackhawk or super black hawk what is the difference?

[TMAKER]

I have killed deer with Rifle , blackpowder,bow,shotgun, single shot contender and a Ford pickup. Now it is time for a revolver. I see alot of people love the Ruger revolver. What is the applicable difference between the  Blackhawk and  super black hawk? I am trying out a 45lc Ruger blackhawk Bisly 6or 7" barrel. Whats it worth? Can it handle the same load that the super blackhawk can handle ? Where can I look up the serial numbers to tell the production year?

[Black Eagle]

The Super Black Hawk has a much heavier frame and cylinder to accomodate the pressures of a .44 Mag.  I don't even know if they make the Super in .45 Colt. Many loading manuals use a Black Hawk for testing the .45 LC and they keep the velocities and pressures way down.  I know guys who have tried to approach .44 Mag ballistics with a .45 LC in Black Hawks and one guy [not too smart] blew one up. Nevertheless, a 250 grain bullet at 800 fps ought to be enough for whitetails.  [It wouldn't be a legal hunting handgun for any big game here in Colorado because it lacks power. We have a minimum kinetic energy requirement of 550 ft./lbs at 50 yards and the .45 LC falls well short of that.]

[Blackhawker]

Just a note; Super Blackhawks and standard Blackhawks have the exact same strength in frame and cylinder.  Supers have add-ons.....fancy hammer spur, ribbed trigger, and a squared off trigger guard that ends up biting the heck out of your hand if you're careful.

If you doubt me on the strength issue, just look up the custom shops who convert Blackhawks into mega-five shot-cannons.  (John Linebaugh etc)  They start their work with standard Blackhawks. 

[BlkHawk73]

  Actually the BH and SBH use the same cylinders and cylinder frames.  Only real differences are the grip frame, hammer and trigger.  Even within the SBH's there different grip frames.  Then there's the Bisley models.  Again, these use the same cylinder and cylinder frame as the BH and SBH but again, will have different grip frame hammer and trigger.  BH's and SBH's are available in more bbl lengths.  The Bisley is available with the 7 1/2" bbl in blued models and in a 5 1/2" model in the special distributor model stainless models. 
  Not all SBH's are .44 mag however.  SBH Hunters have been made in .41 mag and 45LC chamberings. 
  Basically look at the catalog and see what the different variation are and which appeals to you.  Then handle them.  What works best for one ≠what works best for another.  See which feels best to YOU. 

  If you have the need for such "Ruger level" loads, rather than push and overload a lesser chambering, simply start with a more powerful one to begin with.  Both the .44 and the 45LC, as well as the .41 mag, will be quite sufficient for deer if the shooter does their job (shot placement). 

[Blackhawker]

  Actually the BH and SBH use the same cylinders and cylinder frames.  Only real differences are the grip frame, hammer and trigger.  Even within the SBH's there different grip frames.  Then there's the Bisley models.  Again, these use the same cylinder and cylinder frame as the BH and SBH but again, will have different grip frame hammer and trigger.  BH's and SBH's are available in more bbl lengths.  The Bisley is available with the 7 1/2" bbl in blued models and in a 5 1/2" model in the special distributor model stainless models. 
  Not all SBH's are .44 mag however.  SBH Hunters have been made in .41 mag and 45LC chamberings. 
  Basically look at the catalog and see what the different variation are and which appeals to you.  Then handle them.  What works best for one ≠what works best for another.  See which feels best to YOU. 

  If you have the need for such "Ruger level" loads, rather than push and overload a lesser chambering, simply start with a more powerful one to begin with.  Both the .44 and the 45LC, as well as the .41 mag, will be quite sufficient for deer if the shooter does their job (shot placement). 

You are absolutely right Blkhawk73...they all use the same frame and cylinder.  The grip frame, triggers, and hammers are the only things different between standard Blackhawks, supers and Bisleys.  Of course there are a bunch of different barrel lengths. 

Your recommendation to handle each one is a good idea.  Unfortunately, a lot of people aren't ready for the "single action roll" so to speak, upon firing one.  If you've never fired a single action revolver in a larger caliber, see if you have a friend that has one and if he or she will let you fire it.  Some ranges rent pistols as well.  It's probably a good idea for you to shoot one to see if you like the way they handle when fired.  It's different from an automatic or a double action.  The Bisley frame attempts to bridge that gap however.

[BlkHawk73]

  A mistake some people make when first shooting the SA's is fighting the recoil.  Ya gotta let 'em roll under recoil.  Not all free and loosely, but the roll is key.

[Noreaster]

I never really warmed up to the 7.5 inch barrel on my SBH 44mag. I sold it. I didn't mind carrying a 6.5 inch blackhawk, yeah I know it's only an inch but I just liked the gun better. Check out the 41 mag BH, you don't give up much in firepower.

[Blackhawker]

  A mistake some people make when first shooting the SA's is fighting the recoil.  Ya gotta let 'em roll under recoil.  Not all free and loosely, but the roll is key.

Ahhh, the roll.  There's really nothing like it!  I think once one learns to shoot a single action and learns to work with the roll correctly, they never go back to any other pistol.  You just want to buy more single actions.   

[Ak.Hiker]

I have both a 4 5/8 inch blued Blackhawk in 45 Colt and a Super Blackhawk 4 5/8 inch in 44 Magnum. The 45 Colt is plenty strong enough to handle any sane 45 Colt load up to and including loads like the Corbon 300 grain JSP. Pretty much the same power level as the 44 Magnum. The main difference between these two guns is the 45 Colt is half a pound lighter. It has an aluminum grip frame compared to the steel grip frame on the Super. The Super is unfluted as well. So in the blued versions the Blackhawk in lighter. However the Stainless Blackhawk has a steel grip frame and in 45 Colt the weight is about the same as the 44 Magnum Super Blackhawk. For me even though I do not have any worries about the strength in my blued Blackhawk I do prefer the 255 grain Keith type loads over the 300 grain heavyweights. The heavier weight of the Super Blackhawk does help tame recoil when shooting the 320 grain 44 Magnum heavyweights. 

[panman]

Black Eagle.Are you trying to say that the 45LC is not enough gun for hunting???.Its been used ALL over the world begining from day one.It has shot and killed anything you care to name.The 45LC can and does reach 550ftlbs with ease.One of the best killin cal out there.Yea theres some that clame better,but dead is dead.pan. 

[rawhidekid]

The conversions listed earlier are usually done on the Bisley format.  The Bisley doesn't role and is more a push like a double action.  Balckhawk, I know what you mean about the role, the first time I shot a 454 Casuel, I let it role and it didn't hurt, just scared me when it roled so much it almost pointed back at me.   The gunsmith for some reason was not used to single action role and when he shot the 454 he went back three feet and I caught the gun.

[flatgate]

The Super Black Hawk has a much heavier frame and cylinder to accomodate the pressures of a .44 Mag.  I don't even know if they make the Super in .45 Colt. Many loading manuals use a Black Hawk for testing the .45 LC and they keep the velocities and pressures way down.  I know guys who have tried to approach .44 Mag ballistics with a .45 LC in Black Hawks and one guy [not too smart] blew one up. Nevertheless, a 250 grain bullet at 800 fps ought to be enough for whitetails.  [It wouldn't be a legal hunting handgun for any big game here in Colorado because it lacks power. We have a minimum kinetic energy requirement of 550 ft./lbs at 50 yards and the .45 LC falls well short of that.]

Yikes, you've not been paying attention to the Handgunning world, as of late.

The .45 Colt cal. Ruger Blackhawk can safely shoot 335gr. hard cast lead bullets at 1,200 fps, give or take a few fps.  Wyoming has similar "performance laws" and Buffalo Bore Ammunition, since it's a "Factory Load", makes the .45 Colt a legitimate Big Game cartridge.

Hodgdon's Data Manual #26 carries the "Ruger Only" loads and is most informative. 

Approaching .44 mag. ballistics is easy with the .45 Colt, just not with lightweight bullets. It "shines on" with 300's, 325's and 335 grain bullets.

Perhaps a trip over to John Linebaugh's web site would offer you some eye opening data?

Link HERE.  Check out his 'Writings' section and look for "Dissolving the Myth....."

Happy Trails,

flatgate

PS This new fangled stainless thing, in .45 Colt cal., shoots the above loads very easily.

[Reverend Recoil]

At one time the blued Superblackhawk had a better polish and bluing than the standard blued Blackhawk.  I have not looked at the new ones lately.