Ruger flat top .44 spl.

[jimster]

For a lot of years I always wanted a 44 spl ruger blackhawk, now it seems Ruger is putting the flat top .44 right in their regular line up with the blued blackhawks on their site.
Priced one today at the gun shop, didn't think any would be available, seems they have access to 30 of them.  $479 plus state tax. I'm not sure I can resist after wishing for one years ago...steel old model grip frame, adjustable sights, I think I am going to order one, I'm giving this fixation I have 10 days to go away first before I order one.
Looking at the the shorter 4.6". Anyone esle have one of these? I'm not sure I can beat 479 bucks in these parts, it's less than suggested retail on Ruger's site.

[John R.]

I love mine, it has the 4 5/8" bbl. Be sure and put some Cary Chapman grips on it, they really dress up the gun.

[BlkHawk73]

  If they had at least 6 1/2" bbls, I'd grab one.  just not big on short bbls.   I'd certainly hope they'd be below MRSP.  NEVER pay full suggested retail!    You should be able to get below the $479 price though.  Should be down in the $430 range.  

  In case you didn't know, they do make a stainless one in the 4 5/8" bbl length as well.  That one's a TALO issued one.  Thinking $530 range for that one.

[jimster]

If they had at least 6 1/2" bbls, I'd grab one.  just not big on short bbls.   I'd certainly hope they'd be below MRSP.  NEVER pay full suggested retail!    You should be able to get below the $479 price though.  Should be down in the $430 range.

I'll take a ride south of here to a small harware/gun store and see what they can do, they usually order for 10% over their price. I think the retail is $554.  I'll shop around a bit.

I love mine, it has the 4 5/8" bbl. Be sure and put some Cary Chapman grips on it, they really dress up the gun.

I went to this site...wow. Those are some nice grips.  I'm trying to decide between stag and nice wood right now.  Instead of waiting for this urge to wear off, I'm already shopping for grips and leather.  Guess that's how it is sometimes.

[ole 5 hole group]

These prices are in the ballpark.

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=104711

[Lloyd Smale]

ive got one and mines a 4 5/8s bisley and its right up there tied for first place in my favorite single action. Its very accurate and the smaller frame with the bisley grip frame just feels right in the hand to me.

[crash87]

Just got one w/4 5/8" barrel. It goes without saying that i love it. I have a 357 anny model & an old model I bought to have converted before the new models came out. The anniversery model to me isn't as good as this 44 spec. In fact, if I was to base the purchace on what I thgink of the anny model, Ruger wouldn't have gotten my money. Trigger pull is atrocious and there seems to be a drag in the rotating cylinder, nothing I've ever encountered before or since. May send it back, still debating, and I have never fired it, safe queen I guess. The old model still may be converted but we will see.
     Back to your post, I do like this trigger as it is light enough but not to light, and smooth. A little travel, but again smooth.  The other important part of any revolver, I think anyway, is dimensions, internal dimentions. Throats measure .431 with a slugged bore, at muzzle of .4295. The cylinder also locks up nice and tight, I have older Rugers that don't and I won't even get into my Colt single action Army custom shop mistake.
     And jimster, DON'T let a few buck$ stand in the way of your purchasing this fine revolver. It kills me as how some guys let price stand in the way of getting something they really want. If they don't get a DEAL on it they won't buy it. The best deal is free, I got news for them, nothings free. Yet, as you say "I'm not sure I can beat 479 bucks in these parts". Then don't, just go on in and order it!!! You will love it. CRASH87

[John R.]

For leather I bought an El Paso Saddelery Tom Threepersons rig with extra-fancy floral carving along with gunbelt (18 loops) with the same carving. I love this rig and have been wearing it all hunting season.

[jays375]

Just one quick question.Are you saying that the new Blackhawks are flat-tops?Don't know much about Blackhawks.Almost bought some of the new flat-tops a few years ago.

[Lloyd Smale]

the 44 special blackhawks are all flattops

[375supermag]

I would say ...go for it!

I ordered one of the Lipsey exclusives the day after they were announced. It did take a few months to arrive, but was well worth the wait and price.

It shoots quite well with a 240gr SWC over 7.5gr of Unique. The grips are a bit small for someone like myself who has large hands and the black plastic grips are uncomfortable in recoil. A larger grip frame and some new grips are in the future.

I have fired quite a few hundred rounds through this revolver and am very pleased with it.

I have a sneaking suspicion that a couple of the new Vaqueros in .44Special will soon join it in my collection.

[coyotejoe]

Something I don't understand and probably never will is why the Vaquero costs nearly 100 bucks more than the flat top. I grew up in the age when it was accepted that if you want adjustable sights on a handgun you'll have to pay extra to get them. Now Ruger is charging extra to leave them off? Does that make any sense at all?

[Lloyd Smale]

possibly because fewer are sold so they needed more money to offset tooling cost but thats just a guess

[C1PNR]

That 855 fps load with a 250 Keith is no slouch, even though you could juice it up.  I just love the .44 Special, just can't afford another one right now.  The bad thing is mine are both S&W double action, one a 6 1/2" barrel 1955 Target and the other a converted 28-2 in 4" barrel.

[gcrank1]

Yeah, what a 'bad thing'!

[jimster]

Well I ordered one today, $455 was the cheapest I could find around here, but I have a gift certificate for that store so that will knock the price down some more.
I noticed while looking around this area, they went as high as $489. High prices in this area. Always wanted the .357 size Ruger in a .44 spl, I wonder why it took Ruger so long to do this. They could have done it decades ago and they would have sold a bunch I bet. 



 

[coyotejoe]

Yes, I've been a bit peeved with Ruger ever since the went to the "one size fits all" concept back in the early 70's. I thought it ridiculous to build .357's, .30 carbines, 32 H&R's all on the same frame and cylinder size as the Super Blackhawk. Maybe now that they have the smaller frame for the New Vaquero and flat top they will begin producing the smaller calibers on those frames, maybe.
I have a 50th Anny flat top .44 mag and have a friend has a flat top and vaquero in .44 special. All have the infamous "thread choke" or frame pinch, meaning the bore is squeezed down .001" or more at the frame. My friend had fire-lapped that out of his Vaquero but I'm still struggling with my Anny model. It holds most jacketed bullet loads in 2-2 1/2" and one selected cast bullet load under 2" but I sure wish Ruger would learn to fit a barrel into the frame without reducing the bore at the most critical point.

[jimster]

Anyone...is the cylinder in these flat top 44's long enough to use a 250 gr Keith style bullet?  I figured it would be, but better ask.

[gcrank1]

Even if it was a tad short you can seat the bullet deaper and crimp over the front driving band.
Bear in mind that whenever seating deeper you increase pressures, but in these big, long cases that wont be a problem as long as you dont make magnum loads. It is very critical in the shorter auto loader cases like .32, .380,9mm and even .45ACP.

[jimster]

I was hoping to be able to use the crimp groove on the 250gr Keith and not seat it deeper in the case. I guess until I hear different from someone who has loaded these in a 44 spl flat top I'll just load 240 grain bullets. 

[jackruff]

I bought a Super Blackhawk .44 magnum stainless with 5.5 inch barrel just before Christmas for $497 plus tax.  Other stores in the area wanted as much as $50 more than that.  I really enjoy shooting everything from .44 specials to big boomer magnum loads in it.

[MePlat]

They will take the 250 keith with room to spare.   Who said they wouldn't?

[44 Man]

As for cost, it could be because it's a special order from one distributor, and he can charge more for it because you have to buy it from him.  Now I hope they do the same thing with it in .45 colt.  44 Man

[jimster]

They will take the 250 keith with room to spare.   Who said they wouldn't?

Hey thanks for the info. Nobody said they wouldn't, I was just asking because I didn't know.

Thanks
Jim

[Lloyd Smale]

its the 45 colt in the small framed rugers that has the problem. The 44 special is a shorter case and ive yet to find a bullet that wouldnt work in mine.

[jimster]

its the 45 colt in the small framed rugers that has the problem. The 44 special is a shorter case and ive yet to find a bullet that wouldnt work in mine.

Yep, there sure is room enough for most anything it looks like. It sure seems accurate so far. I have a feeling this 44 spl is going to cost me some money, grips are on the way, and I'm looking at Clements custom site....I think it may "need" some things.  Or it might be I "want" some things done. 

Jim

[redneckdan]

I picked up one of these this fall.  Funny story, I was waist deep in a beaver pond doing battle with a 40lb'er who had dragged the drowning weights up on to the bank and was sitting there waiting for me.  My gun pusher called and said hey I have one in stock...you interested?  I said something to the effect of ya, that might be quite handy to have right about now.....


On a more serious note, I usually am not a fan of single actions.  I had a 50th anniversary .44 for a while....got rid of it and found a 4" 629.  I picked up a 30 carbine 3 screw and while it is mighty accurate and cheap to shoot it just doesn't click for me, i am holding onto it in case I end up moving to some place that has pasture poodles.  From the moment I picked up this 4 5/8" Bisley it just felt right.  It fits my hand nice.

[texagun]

I was in Cabela's yesterday in Ft. Worth and they had the blued .44 Special flat tops  with 5 1/2" barrels on closeout special at $450.  The regular price had been $499.

[redneckdan]

My favorite single action, a 4 5/8" 44 special.

[Frank V]

I'd go with the 5-5/8" too. It's a wonderful length for carrying & for shooting. The .44 Special really is a great cartridge to load for, shoot, & hunt with. It's powerful enough for most game that a handgun should be hunted with.
Frank