Blackhawk for deer hunting

[canoe13]

Hey Guys, This winter I picked up a converted 3 screw BH with a 6.5 inch barrel that I want to use for deer hunting here in western New York.  I really like the look of SA revolvers with the barrel the same length as the ejector shroud.  So, I was thinking of getting this one cut down and have a fiber optic front sight installed to use with a One Hole peep sight.  Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks, Steve

[tacklebury]

Weigand makes a nice from sight base that a smith can attach easily to replace the factory front.  Lets you use different front blades.  4-5/8" isn't a bad length and you can still shoot out to 70 yards or so with it.  My 5.5" .45LC does 75 easily and hits the 10x10 gong with irons.    The one hole peep has been very spotty on production recently, not sure why, but Magspark has been low or out of everything.  I don't do fiberoptic but I do paint mine up a bit using the daughter's nail polish. 
 
Ruger base about 1/2 way down: http://www.jackweigand.com/interfs.html
 

 
http://www.warrencustomoutdoor.com/pl-spark-start.html

[Lloyd Smale]

if it were me i surely wouldnt do it to a 3 screw ruger. Id be looking for the original lock parts and use it as is. To easy to find a newer super to cut up. By the way i also detest peep sights on handguns and dont care for fiber optic fronts either. Ive had them fall apart at inopertune times and have never seen any advantage to them. they may give 5 more minutes of low light capabilitys to a gun but thats about it and to get that you give up the precision a flat black blade gives in the daytime. Everybody has differnt tastes but i personaly think what your about to do is about like putting spinners and 20s on a 67 camero!

[BigMuddy]

I agree with Lloyd. Don't cut the barrel on that OM Ruger. If you REALLY want the shorter barrel, you would be $$ ahead to look to trade your gun  for a shorter one, or often times you can find a used 4 5/8" barrel for sale pretty reasonable. You could have your barrel changed out, and keep the original.

I also agree with Weigand fron sight base. I have one on my Power Custom #5 and really like the different sight blade options it allows.

Dan

[44 Man]

There's not too many things that Lloyd and I disagree about, but this is one of them.  Don't do this on a whim, but if you really like the gun and do not intend to sell it as a collectable some day, go ahead and make it the way you want it.  I have converted several guns over the years.  Sometimes they were a low price opportunity, but sometimes there were 'what I always wanted'.  What I always wanted except for the wrong barrel, caliber, finish, etc.  So I have taken what I had and made it into what I didn't have but wanted.  If you really like this gun and want it to wear a shorter barrel, go for it.  You will enjoy it that much more and truly make it your gun.  Another option though is to change barrels.  All Rugers use the same threads.  You could pick up a 4 5/8" barrel on the internet and have it fitted, keeping the original barrel in a drawer, 'just in case'.  Probably wouldn't cost much more than cutting the barrel and remounting the front sight and refinishing it.  44 Man

[BlkHawk73]

 Converted or not, you don't cut down an OM for just this.  were it gonna be a full conversion by one of the GOOD gunsmiths maybe, otherwise... 

[Lloyd Smale]

now to a point i agree with 44man. Ive cut up quite a few 3 screw rugers. the differnce is they were 357s and at the time they were a dime a dozen. Even then guys balked at it but i just couldnt see how they considered a gun i could buy for 200 dollars a collectable when a new 357 cost twice that. the 3 screw 44 mags were a bit differnt. Not nearly as many were made and they allways commanded higher prices then a 357 and anymore a nice one is worth near a grand and for that you can buy a new model with the barrel lenght you like and have a few hundred bucks left over for customizing. It just doesnt make sense to cut one up. Anymore it doesnt even make alot of sense to cut up 3 screw 357s. they may not hold the value the 44s do but theyve gone up to the point there about worth what a new gun is. Plus ruger now makes a new model the same frame size. Ill bet smiths like clements bowen ect do 5 new model conversions anymore to each old model they do. Believe me i am NOT a ruger collector and a ruger sixgun of any vintage is nothing but a shooter to me but there is enough guys out there that think some of them are worth a bit more then i do.

[shaner]

i dont  know your state regulations on barrel length for  hunting handguns , here in ohio  has to be 5.5 in ?? i know several  guys  me included thats  dropped many deer here in ohio with 357 blackhawks  with 6.5 barrels ,   just a thought?

[damienph]

The 4 5/8" barrel is my favorite as well, except for deer hunting.  I use a 7 1/2" Super Blackhawk (scoped) and am comfortable taking 100 yard shots if I can rest or support it on something; tree branch, fence post, truck hood, etc.

 
I also have a 4 5/8" iron sighted Super that I have taken hunting (haven't taken a a deer with it) but I am not comfortable taking a shot past 50 or so yards, even with a rest.

 
 

[Larry Gibson]

I wouldn't cut the barrel either, reasons;
 
Its a 3 screw
Ballistics will be lowered
Muzzle blast will be increased
With an optic sight on it portability will not be increased
W/O the optice sight, portability for a hunting revovler will not really be increased either but sight radius will be decreased.
 
If you want a short barreled Blackhawk then replace the conversion with original parts and sell the OMBH, you'll probably then have more than enough $s to buy a NMBH with the shorter barrel, sight base and optic along with some ammo.
 
Larry Gibson

[popplecop]

Wis. also requires that a handgun for deer hunt have a 5.5" barrel lenght, but the measurement is made from the FP to the muzzle.  So my SAs with 4&5/8ths" barrels are legal.