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Thread: Ruger "Hunter" revolvers

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    Ruger "Hunter" revolvers

    I am usually partial to 5.5" barrel guns, but the Hunter style revolvers from Ruger appeal to me. I have seen them in 41 mag, 44 mag, and 45 Colt. Plus the single six hunter in 22/22mag. Has Ruger ever made a 357 hunter, or are they just really rare? I would think one of the Super Blackhawk Bisley hunters in 357 would be a dandy varmint revolver, but I have not been able to find one in 357. I wonder why Ruger doesn't have one?
    Lyman 22596,225107,225353,225438,225415,225450,225646, 225462,228367,244203,245496,245497,245498,245499 RCBS 22-55-SP,22-55-FP,243-95-SP,243-100-FP, NEI 100244GC-#14, 55 224 GC-#4,225 45-#3 PB, NOE 22-055 SP,MX2-243,Saeco 221 & 243, RD TLC225-50-RF,Lee 22 Bator 6c & 2c HP. Love casting small boolits, let me know if you have one that I don't that you would part with!

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy Southpaw 72's Avatar
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    To my knowledge they never made one in .357. The most common ones are in 44 mag. 41mag and 45 colt are few and far between.

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master
    rintinglen's Avatar
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    I 've never seen them catalogued in .357. 44's are as common as fleas on a hound, 41's are much scarcer, and I've never seen a 45 colt, though I have seen it written that they exist and some folks even claim to have one. Of course, some folks claim to have seen Bigfoot, too. I've a .44, my brother has a Bisley in .44 which I much prefer--one of these days I hope to get mine converted.

    Personally, I think a 3 pound .357 is overkill. I shot a Redhawk 7 1/2 inch .357, and while recoil was negligible, the weight was far more than I'd want to carry. It would be very accurate from a bench, but too much for a 60 year old man off hand.--at least too much for this 60 year old man. I suspect that is why Ruger quit making the Redhawks in this caliber. Not enough market.
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  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    It is always a marketing.Supply and demand.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master

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    I love my Ruger Hunter in 41mag. However, my friend shot it and found it to be too heavy for him to shoot comfy. I suggest you get your hands on one and see how it feels for you.
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  6. #6
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    I have the 44mag I got off a fellow member I really like it. I am on the lookout myself for one of the 22 versions.

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy
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    I have the Ruger hunter with a Wieland mount and a four power weaver scope .I had some tune up work including the trigger done to it . A real good shooter handles recoil from heavy loads real well but its kind of heavy in the field. I also have the 22 version with a red dot shoots very well tks ken

  8. #8
    Boolit Buddy Gibbs44's Avatar
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    I can't say I've seen one. I imagine one on the SBH frame would be very heavy. As with other recent revolvers, .44 special BH, it seems that they are open to building anything, if they can sell it. It might be kind of cool if they would build one on the regular BH frame.
    Sully

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    I guess I'm in a minority, I don't mind the extra weight, but I rarely pack one very far and I rarely shoot offhand. The extra weight always feels better to me. Heck, I carry a bull barrel rifle deer hunting a lot of the time. It might be a bit of overkill, but I still want a 357 Redhawk too.

    For shooting from a rested position, I would be comfortable. But I'm a big guy with big hands. I like the bisley frame as it fits my hand better. The super grip frame is better than a regular Blackhawk grip, but I still prefer the bisley.
    Lyman 22596,225107,225353,225438,225415,225450,225646, 225462,228367,244203,245496,245497,245498,245499 RCBS 22-55-SP,22-55-FP,243-95-SP,243-100-FP, NEI 100244GC-#14, 55 224 GC-#4,225 45-#3 PB, NOE 22-055 SP,MX2-243,Saeco 221 & 243, RD TLC225-50-RF,Lee 22 Bator 6c & 2c HP. Love casting small boolits, let me know if you have one that I don't that you would part with!

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
    Lefty SRH's Avatar
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    I have both .44mag and .45 colt SBH Bisley Hunters, I'm lightly looking for the 41 version and my set will be complete. Both my .44 and .45 are very very accurate guns. I've hunted with my .45 several times and it carries very well as I have a chest holster specially made for it by Diamond D leather in Alaska.

  11. #11
    Boolit Grand Master Tatume's Avatar
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    Davidson's has some 41 Magnum Super Blackhawk Hunter revolvers on backorder from Ruger. If your FFL will contact them they will reserve one for you.

    I have the 45 Colt Super Blackhawk Hunter revolver and I like it very much. I put a Power Custom hammer and trigger kit in mine and the trigger is great!

    One of the neatest features of all the Ruger Hunter revolvers is that you can remove and replace the scope and it returns to zero, and you do not have to disturb the open sights. On most revolvers you have to remove the rear sight to install a scope.

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master
    454PB's Avatar
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    [QUOTE=rintinglen;2240325]I 've never seen them catalogued in .357. 44's are as common as fleas on a hound, 41's are much scarcer, and I've never seen a 45 colt, though I have seen it written that they exist and some folks even claim to have one. Of course, some folks claim to have seen Bigfoot, too. I've a .44, my brother has a Bisley in .44 which I much prefer--one of these days I hope to get mine converted




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  13. #13
    Boolit Grand Master

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    I had a SBH 44Mag with a 2x Nikon Monarch that was a tack driver but it was a very heavy pistol. I bought an over the shoulder holster to cart it around and finally sold it and went back to BH's.
    Real nice gun though.
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  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master

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    I've got a hunter in 41Mag. I've had the option for a Bisley, which was a Davidsons exclusive. Both are excellent. I have a Weaver 2x7 on it and it is a tack driver with lead or jacketed. Currently have it sighted in for a 210gr XTP, but may load up some 250gr lead that dad had cast L&S for me before be passed.

    It is a little heavy, but I usually sit at a base of a tree and shoot off the knees or carry my Marlin GG and spot and stalk through the woods.

  15. #15
    Boolit Mold
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    I've shown this one every time (just about ) that the subject of Ruger Hunter revolvers comes up.

    This one is a .41 and it seems to be pretty damn accurate, though I have no groups to display or Ransom Rest testing to prove it, I have made some good hits with it.

    I sent the cylinder to a fairly well known 1911 'smith who also does revolver work and he opened up the throats to .410" for me and did the polished bolt-band and nice satin beadblast as well as numbering the chambers for me.

    Otherwise, this is a stock revolver.

    I've been a .41 Mag. fan for more than 20 years but lately I have questioned whether I really need a .41 since I have several .44s that obviously can do the job as well as a .41 can.

    The fact that it is a minor oddball may be the appeal to me.

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    Last edited by 45Driver; 06-10-2013 at 05:17 PM. Reason: been shooting .41 Mag since '88
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  16. #16
    Boolit Master
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    I kick myself every time I see mention of the Ruger "Hunter" pistols mentioned. I was in the market for another Revolver and at a local gun store there was a new Ruger 45 Colt Bisley hunter and a 45 Colt Bisley stainless with 5.5" barrel. Since I had the standard blackhawk with a 7.5" barrel I was looking for some thing shorter. I just loved the feel of that hunter. I know it would have handled the stouter loads better with the extra weight added to the gun. My brother was the one who suggested I buy the standard Bisley since I already had the longer barrel. Now after all these years I wish I would have followed my gut and went with the Hunter. Since all I can ever find are the 44 mag with the super blackhawk grip. Which I am a fan of neither.

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BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
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