Ruger's 44special BH

[Lefty Red]

First of all, hello....again. Was on here around 2008-9 and was gone due to personal issues. Now I am back and finally back to shooting and hunting again.

I have a great 44 mag, NMSBH with a 7.5" barrel! Only thing I did was have some grips fitted to it and built up a load that it loves. I shoot a Hornady 240gr SWC/HP (#11118) with enough Blue Dot to push it along at 1100 fps for hunting. I use their 180gr with Trail Boss at 850 fps for plinking. It had taken Deer, ground hogs, yotes, feral dogs, and one annoying chipmunk without allot of recoil and blast.

I really want another SAA type revolver for woods walking cause even though the SBH isn't bad for hunting, it sucks lugging it around when out and about.

Was at local gunshop yesterday and was mulling over their stock and found a NMBH in 44 special and with the 4.5"ish barrel. Was wondering what folks that got them feel about them. I am already set up for reloading the 44 cal and like the idea of my plinking load in a special. I would have gotten one in 45LC, but it didn't have the short barrel, but the 7.5" did feel great.

[JayinAZ]

I have the Vaquero version of it and I love it. Very accurate with Skeeter's load. I'd like one of the flat tops too.

[Trey45]

I have the Lipseys Flattop Backhawk 5.5" 44 Special and a Lipseys Vaquero Sheriffs Model 3.5" 44 Special. Both are superlative shooters that I wouldn't trade for anything. It's hard to go wrong with the new Ruger single actions.

[376Steyr]

I love mine. Note that the Ruger 44 Specials are built with steel frames, so they weigh in at 42 ounces.

[Lefty Red]

Well that is good cause I just called the gunshop and had them put it on layaway for me. So I will have it in my hands in 60 days.

Lefty

[Lefty Red]

42 ounces is allot less than what I am use to hauling around. :)
But it felt great!

Lefty

[Larry in MT]

I like mine. Very accurate. My 44 Mag sits in the safe. Front sight was a tad short. I shoot 240-240 grain slugs @ 1080 fps and 200 grainers @ 1130 fps,

http://i861.photobucket.com/albums/ab176/larrykay47/a668c219.jpg (http://s861.photobucket.com/user/larrykay47/media/a668c219.jpg.html)

[John Allen]

Larry, that one is a pretty bud. I would love to have one.

[Lefty Red]

I didn't know they were made in stainless!
Larry, thta is a beautiful weapon! I wouldn't carry anything else either!

Lefty

[Thumbcocker]

Mine loves Keith boolits over 7 of unique or 8 of power pistol.

[historicfirearms]

I've been thinking about one in 44 special too. Anyone measured their cylinder throats and barrel groove diameters yet? Hoping Ruger got these ones right.

[Trey45]

I size .430 for both of mine. Lyman 429421 and 7.5gr Unique. Perfect.
I gave the wrong barrel length for the Sheriffs model, it's 3 3/4".
http://images107.fotki.com/v1143/photos/6/1809686/12262544/IMGP0704-vi.jpg

[historicfirearms]

Trey, those are really nice grips. Did you make them?

[W.R.Buchanan]

I have a new Blackhawk Bisley in .44Spec. with a the 4 5/8' bbl. I love the gun. I also have a SBH Bisley with the barrel cut off to 5" I love it too.

Love, love, love! These guns are about as good as you're gonna get in a "generic gun." and for the price they are a gift.

Next step up is Freedom Arms in the $1800-2000 range.

Randy

[Trey45]

Trey, those are really nice grips. Did you make them?
I wish I could take credit for those grips. However Bearpaw made them. surprisingly enough he can only be found on ebay.

[sixshot]

These guns were made right & they shoot great. I've taken deer with mine using the Skeeter load, 7.5 grs of Unique & the Keith #429421. My everyday load is 5.5 grs of 231 & the same bullet, I wouldn't hesitate to use that load on deer at decent distance. Wonderful sixguns, they just need some Barranti leather to snuggle them & you're good to go. Many of them shoot high with the rear sight all the way down, I build mine up with JB weld then dress it down to the correct height. On the stainless guns you can just replace the front sight, mine's blue. I also have one in a 5 1/2" Bisley, its even better.

Dick

[Lefty SRH]

My .44spl is the 5 1/2" blued Bisley version. I love it! I recently found "THEE" load for it....its in the +P range but man does it shoot! Its pushin the MiHec clone of the H&G #503, 260gr Keith.

[35 Whelen]

I bought one earlier this year in 5 1/2" and man, do I love it. Shortly after acquiring it I went into my usual rabid-load development load. Mine shot too high too, but instead of messing with the front sight I just relieved some off the bottom of the rear sight. The gun shoots pretty darn good:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Ruger%20Flat%20Top%20Blackhawk/50ydgroup-ed_zpscd29143e.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Ruger%20Flat%20Top%20Blackhawk/50ydgroup-ed_zpscd29143e.jpg.html)

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Ruger%20Flat%20Top%20Blackhawk/50ydgroup-1-ed_zpse29ecae1.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Ruger%20Flat%20Top%20Blackhawk/50ydgroup-1-ed_zpse29ecae1.jpg.html)

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Ruger%20Flat%20Top%20Blackhawk/50ydgroup-2-ed_zpsccf94f33.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Ruger%20Flat%20Top%20Blackhawk/50ydgroup-2-ed_zpsccf94f33.jpg.html)

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Ruger%20Flat%20Top%20Blackhawk/P1010061-mod_zps18892e62.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Ruger%20Flat%20Top%20Blackhawk/P1010061-mod_zps18892e62.jpg.html)

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Ruger%20Flat%20Top%20Blackhawk/429421100yds-ed_zps11ec5c24.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Ruger%20Flat%20Top%20Blackhawk/429421100yds-ed_zps11ec5c24.jpg.html)

As you can see 6.5 grs. of Unique has been a very good load. It runs around 850 fps. 7.5 grs of the same powder shot well too and ran a 260 gr. SWC around 950 fps. The real sleeper powder though is AL 20/28. Load wise it's almost identical to Unique giving velocities 2.5% - 3% higher with identical charges, but meters MUCH better and is MUCH cleaner burning. Loads with 20/28 are every bit as accurate as identical loads with Unique.

Enjoy your new pistol and be sure to post pics when it comes in!

35W

[Trey45]

AL 20/28 noted! I can appreciate the better metering qualities and so will try AL 20/28. Excellent tip thank you. Also, it's nice to see the venerable 44 Special getting the kind of attention it deserves.

[jlchucker]

I love mine. Note that the Ruger 44 Specials are built with steel frames, so they weigh in at 42 ounces.

A few months ago I bought one of those 44 specials with a 4 5/8 barrel. I haven't shot it too much, but it seems to like the 429421 Lyman boolit just fine. When I first got it, I had my gunsmith buddy look this gun over before I did anything else. Each chamber measured exactly the same, and he advised leaving the trigger alone for now. It seems that Ruger really is taking pains with their quality these days. I'd never had a 44 special before--and now I wonder why not. This one's a keeper for sure.

[historicfirearms]

Found one at a local gun shop. It's the blued 5.5 inch model. They have $480 on it, is that a fair price?

[Trey45]

That's the going rate for new ones where I live. Buy it quick!

[Lefty SRH]

You won't regret it at that price!

[Lefty SRH]

This is the latest target from my BH Bisley .44 spl. It's a 7" plate.

[oscarflytyer]

Have the NM Flattops in 44 SPC an 45 Colt/ACP conv. Both 4 5/8" bbl, custom Claro grips. Shoot nothing but lead, MiHec Keith in the 44 SPC. Likes pretty much whatever I push it with - Unique, 2400 and Power Pistol. They carry great!

[jlchucker]

Have the NM Flattops in 44 SPC an 45 Colt/ACP conv. Both 4 5/8" bbl, custom Claro grips. Shoot nothing but lead, MiHec Keith in the 44 SPC. Likes pretty much whatever I push it with - Unique, 2400 and Power Pistol. They carry great!

Yup. My own 44 special, during my lifetime, will probably never see anything but a cast boolit, Unique, and 2400. I'm open to trying some other powders though, but for now I don't see any need to. Those 4 5/8 inch Blackhawks sure do carry great.