Let's talk about the ruger single 7

[brettb75]

I'm really considering buying a single 7 and I'd like to hear people's experiences with this gun. I want a small game hunting revolver and will mostly shoot .32 long. I hunted with a single six for a while but I'm not quite good enough to land heads shots on squirrels consistently so I think a .32 long with full wad cutters should anchor small critters with ease.

[Green Frog]

I have no experience with the Single 7, but own and shoot a Blackhawk 8 in the same caliber. It can handle (and has handled) everything from 327 FM all the way down to 32 ACP and 32 S&W (Short.) I believe your plan is a sound one.

Froggie

[wrench man]

The first ones had loading notch issues and mine also liked to PUKE out the base pin!, I opened up the loading notch and deepened the hole fore the cross pin and all is well now, noting but factory Federal 327 down the tube, it sure does BARK when you touch it off!!

[Scorpion8]

...but I'm not quite good enough to land heads shots on squirrels consistently so I think a .32 long with full wad cutters should anchor small critters with ease.

So you're going to a bigger cartridge to compensate for missed head shots? Why not go with a target 22 instead - Browning Buckmark, Ruger 22/45, HiStandard, etc. My experience with Ruger Single-Six style pistols is that they were never meant to be tack drivers, especially since they use a barrel fitted for 22 WMR, not 22 LR. Same with the Chiappa Puma 1873's. If you're looking to use an accurate wheelgun, try one that was manufactured 22LR-only. Taurus Tracker is a great option, as are the old H.Schmidt 21S's.

[Gus Youmans]

brettb75,

I have a Single 7, SP101, and GP100 in .327 Federal. All three are fine guns but I seem to reach for the SP101 more than the other two. The two negatives with the Single 7 are (1) the short cylinder limits you to shorter cast bullets when using .327 brass and (2) the difficulty of loading/ejecting due to the tight loading slot. Since I shoot mostly .32 S&W Long and .32 H&R Magnum the short cylinder is not a problem for me but the tight loading slot is kind of irritating. I seem to have an affinity for double action revolvers and that is probably the biggest reason why I shoot the SP101 more than the Single 7. The GP101 doesn't get much love because it is so much heavier than the other two guns and I don't need the extra weight to tame the recoil of my relatively light loads.

Gus

[brettb75]

Thanks guys. You have given me something to think about. I was considering the larger caliber to compensate for lack of headshots. Glen Fryxell advocates the .32 for small game hunting and Keith even said he used round nose boolits and light loads in a .44 to hunt small game but that seems very excessive. I think I'll pick up a Taurus .22 or smith 617 and practice but I love reloading the little .32. Have a good day

[contender1]

I'm a little late here,, but I'll chime in.

I own several 32 cal guns. I own a Blackhawk 327,, as well as the Single-Seven in 327. I also own several 32 H&R mag Rugers, mostly SA's with one SP-101.
Either the 32 H&R or the 327mag. is a fine caliber for small game with the proper load. I shot a bunch of ground squirrels in Idaho a while back with a pair of guns,, one of which was my 327 Single-Seven. Since I wasn't planning on a stew,, body hits were acceptable. I was using a cast 115 grn powder coated bullet,, and it put them burrowing rodents down easily. I'm sure my 32 Mags could have done the same.
The Single-Seven is a bit tight in loading the cylinder,,, but once you understand it,, it's fine.

[rking22]

Hi i notice you are also in Tn. That is a good choice also as our state regulations preclude use of center fire for small game. Kinda stinks as the little 32hr ss has done well when I travel to a friend's place out of state. Kinda don't understand the rationale of 7 shot cyls on a SS ain't like it's gonna be needed to " lay down covering fire" , just seems 6 shooters should hold six. Just an old boring fuddy duddy here I guess.
I have several Taurus revolvers and shot a m94 for a while, I have a Smith 617 no dash and M17,,,_ there is no comparison! They are on different ends of the performance spectrum. Now I have an older Rossie clone of the Smith 63 that is very comparable to a 63 I used to have(traded like an idiot!) . If your flexible on the revolver Ruger Mk2 shoots great at about the status price point. Trailside by Sig is an outstanding performer that is undervalued due to some early problems. Browning makes a good auto, mine is a Challenger, great shooter but gotten into the collector from. Ever consider a Contender? Awesome accuracy, one at a time. To get really weird I hunted some with a TC pistol in 36 percussion, can't call the name at the moment. Was really a one shot thing ��

[Scorpion8]

.... and Keith even said he used round nose boolits and light loads in a .44 to hunt small game but that seems very excessive.

And the author of "Forty Years with the .45-70" stated that he used reduced loads with cast bullets to hunts squirrels also, or at least tried to. What he never stated was that he ever got to eat any of them, or what remained of them....

[BK7saum]

Hi i notice you are also in Tn. That is a good choice also as our state regulations preclude use of center fire for small game. Kinda stinks as the little 32hr ss has done well when I travel to a friend's place out of state. Kinda don't understand the rationale of 7 shot cyls on a SS ain't like it's gonna be needed to " lay down covering fire" , just seems 6 shooters should hold six. Just an old boring fuddy duddy here I guess.
I have several Taurus revolvers and shot a m94 for a while, I have a Smith 617 no dash and M17,,,_ there is no comparison! They are on different ends of the performance spectrum. Now I have an older Rossie clone of the Smith 63 that is very comparable to a 63 I used to have(traded like an idiot!) . If your flexible on the revolver Ruger Mk2 shoots great at about the status price point. Trailside by Sig is an outstanding performer that is undervalued due to some early problems. Browning makes a good auto, mine is a Challenger, great shooter but gotten into the collector from. Ever consider a Contender? Awesome accuracy, one at a time. To get really weird I hunted some with a TC pistol in 36 percussion, can't call the name at the moment. Was really a one shot thing ��

I think the rationale on 7 shots versus 6 had to do with pressures and the cylinder latch notch. On a 6 shooter the notch is over/above the chamber. On the seven shooter 327 magnum, the cylinder latch notch is between the chambers.

Brad

[rintinglen]

I have two and also have an SP 101. I did briefly own a Blackhawk, but sold it to my brother, as I felt it was just too heavy for the cartridge. But the lighter guns have earned a place in my heart, albeit the path to true love was a rocky one.

I really like this caliber and have grown to like the guns, but beware. Ruger has a reputation of building "Kit Guns," i.e. guns that you have to work on to make 'em right. That was true of both of mine. I had to deepen the cartridge cut outs on each of them and send the 7 1/2 incher back to have the problem with the Cylinder center pin walking out fixed. I also gave them a trigger job. But now they are my favorites.

I have fired more 32's of various flavors in the last year than any other caliber. The 7 1/2 revolver is among the most accurate revolvers I have ever owned. I can't see well enough any more to drag the best out of a hand gun, (some ne'er-do-well has glued fuzz to the edges of my front sights), but I have now shot several honest 1 inch, 25 yard, groups with the longer barreled gun. H-110/296 has been the most accurate powder for me

Unfortunately, I am still stuck in California for another two+ years, so my guns haven't been able to get out and shoot the small game for which they yearn. I have found no source for unleaded bullets which are required under current state law.