Just got my first Blackhawk! Couple of questions.

[mattri]

Finally brought home a Blackhawk! 

Its a 357 with the 6.5" barrel and black plastic grips, picked it up new yesterday.

This is technically my first handgun, when I was a kid my father bought a few "for me" but that was longer ago than I care to admit.  Since then I've owned a number of long guns and I do reload. 

The plan at the moment is to try a few factory loads through it and get a ballpark idea of what it likes, and get reloading supplies from there. 

I would eventually like to start casting bullets for it as well.

Will use 38 Special type loads most of the time for target practice etc but would also like to work up some hunting loads for whitetails out to 35-50 yards. 

What are some factory ammo offerings to try?

What are some economical options for a holster?

Best bullet/powders to start with? 

As I'm new to this kind of shooting any and all suggestions welcome! 

[kynardsj]

If you plan on hunting with factory ammo at 35-50 yards try some 158 gr jacketed soft or hollow points. Economical holster would be something like an Uncle Mikes. Hard to beat 158 gr jacketed or cast for reloading a 357 mag, with a bulk quantity of cast being the cheaper of the two. I recommend Unique for everything but the hot magnum loads and then would look at some H110 or Lilgun for loads you want to hotrod. Lots of other good magnum powders out there too. Congrats on the new Ruger. Shoots great and built like a tank.

[mattri]

Thanks for the reply and the good tips- I'll check them out for sure.  I chose the Blackhawk as my first handgun because I wanted something strong and accurate- can't wait to see how she shoots.

[Swampman]

I use Unique for everything.  Get yourself a Lee mold and cast your own 158 grain SWC.

[mattri]

Looks like Unique is the powder to start with, thanks. 

Looking at various 158-180gr bullets until I can get set-up to cast. 

Is there any advantage to a Hornady XTP flatpoint over say  Nosler, Magtech etc?

[kynardsj]

All my jacketed handgun bullets are Hornady. Excellent performance, accuracy and the price is better than most other jacketed bullets.

[mattri]

Thanks for the information.  Having a hard time finding Unique locally.  Are there other powders that might work?  Looks like H110 is good for max loads, looking for something a little more versatile. 

[SHOOTALL]

holster , cheap won't be good . check out Sportsmam Guide they have some reasonable leather holsters for sale. For jacketed bullets I like 296or H110 . for lead 231 ,unique , bullseye ( seldom) or what is on sale  if you want good bullets at a fair price Leadhead bullets on line are nice. Berry bullets (plated not jacketed) . hunting 180 gr XTP is nice .

[mattri]

Found some Unique and picked up some 158gr Hornady XTPs.

Looks like 6-7.8 is charge range, that sound about right?

[bilmac]

I like the 105 gr Lee SWC bullet for light 38 loads. It is very economical to shoot, it only takes a dab of powder to push it and it is easy on your lead source. It seems to shoot good with just about any load in any of my 6 shooters, and it works well in my marlin too.

[flintlock]

Get you a good set of grips as well, might not shoot better, but it sure will look better...I got mine from here....  http://privatescustomgrips.com/

[jimster]

Since your reloading, 38 spl, sure will work great, but you can also load heavy cast bullets going pretty darn slow in the .357 cases as well if you want, reloading opens up the door on most anything.
I have the .44 spl. blackhawk, I took off the plastic black grips and put on some smooth walnut flat cut on the bottom by Cary Chapman, feels a whole lot better than the thin black grips that came on it, these fill my hand better and give my pinkie finger a place to go.  But if you like the feel of the stock ones, keep em...it's up to you. Like someone else on here already stated, Unique is a good powder for all around use, I always kept going back to that after much experimentng, just seems to work well on medium/low power loads.
http://www.clccustomgrips.com/
 

[45-70.gov]

i shoot  180 grain   like this one
http://leeprecision.com/mold-dc-358-158-rf.html


this is 158   but lead is getting harder to find


i  don't load anything to hot  for my  j-frame smith or LCR ruger
i  like  one round fits  all  and does all.......from  LCR  to handi rifle
they really get your attention  in the LCR  but are for  girls  in the blackhawk
i am sure this load will plow through any deer


i shoot 38s in the rifle cause they are  soooo quiet
other than that  i  ONLY   shoot 357.......or  now  max in the handi
i  want to get to know  just one round  in a gun....not confuse my self with different loads
sure you will want to  try  MANY  before you settle  on one  do all load

[mattri]

What loads are you referring to with the 158s 45-70?

[45-70.gov]

What loads are you referring to with the 158s 45-70?

http://leeprecision.com/mold-dc-358-158-rf.html
this was just a quick search  for a cheap  mould  with a picture to look at
my  mould came from LBT  abd weighs  185 grains


i shoot 3 grains bullseye  in 38   and
6 grains  in my 357mag.......just because  i have  LOTS  of free bullseye


i limit the 357s  in  my pocket guns with this  load as i can't find it listed any where
some find this load brutal  in a j-frame  but a real pussy cat  in the blackhawk


i also  tried 12.7  of  H110   in the 357 mag
i feel safer with this load  in the small 5 shooters
but  not worth the expensive powder in the blackhawk  and handi
all  are  plain based......tried  gas checks  but not worth the  time or money


357 MAX   19 grains  H110   same 185 slug......undecided about the check for now


you DO KNOW you need a handi  in 357mag  then ream it to 357MAX  to go with that black hawk
that  is  mandatory...you would know this if you read  in the handi  forums  on GBO

[mattri]

LOL I've read about the 357 max, and may end up with one eventually.  Need to get this one sorted first. 

[snapdragon]

I like Simply Rugged holsters.  The pancake is set up to wear either strong side or cross draw.  I use one in the woods carrying a 44 Mag old Vaquero in the cross draw position.  I also like the Cattleman if I am going to carry strong side.  I have several I use for Cowboy Action Shooting.

I should remind you that shooting 38 Special rounds out of a 357 Mag is great, but you occasionally need to clean out the cylinders really well.  A ring of stuff will build up in front of the 38 Special case mouth that can prevent you from chambering a 357 Mag round.  It is no big deal but is something about which you need to be aware.  I generally use 357 Magnum cases for all my reloads, both full strength and light loads, that I will use in 357 Magnum firearms.

[facetious]

That was my first hand gun . I got it in 1981. The guy who tough me to reload started me with 4227 and a lee 358-156c. That bullet seats to deep to get all the powder that the load manual says is max but a case full to the bottom of the bullet shot good and I used it for a long time. I have used 14.5grs of 2400 and a 358156 more then any thing and has been a good all around load. When you get it sited in with the 357s start working up a load in 38s upping the charge from a starting load a little at a time till the point of impact is the same or close as the 357s. This way you can have two loads that hit to the same aim point. I had them to where thy would all group the same at 25yds. The farther the range thy the less thy will have the same point of impact, but if you are shooting at 50yrds or more you will be using 357s any way.

[t-reg]

I prefer Universal over Unique for mid-range loads.   It meters better and shoots with less blastnflash.  Also use it in 12Ga. for the same reasons.

My most used powder is WW231 / HP38.  Consistant metering and easy shooting.