Finaly !!

[Johnch]

When I got home tonight
The answering machine was blinking
It was the gun shop telling me to show up Tue with $$
As my 4 5/8" Ruger Black Hawlk in 44 spec was being delivered

I hope I have time to shoot it before dark
Or I will have to run to the range

I have had it on back order for what seems like a year

John

[69daytona]

if you reload and need some brass let me know, I got around 100 piece mixed in with a bunch of 44mag brass I bought.
They are yours for the cost of shipping if you need them for your new gun, think of it as a gun warming gift..: )

[targetshootr]

I have a couple of old model 44 spl flattops. I hope yours is as sweet as mine!

[Dale53]

I have a .44 Lipsey Special (5½") and am totally enamored of it! Extremely well made, accurate, and the only thing it needed to make it near perfect was a trigger job.

In addition to the normal desires in a centerfire Single Action such as the all steel frame, steel ejector rod housing, excellent adjustable sights, and just general good handling with it's medium size frame, is the Pawl. You can load and unload this revolver in the dark it is so positive. I consider that a REAL improvement over fifty years of "turn the cylinder too far and you have to back it up a full turn to proceed". I don't know why it took them so long, but I sure celebrate the improvement.

Dale53

[Johnch]

It looks great
But the club had something going on at it , so no chance to use the indoor range

So I sat a target in front of the wood pile and steped back to the 50' bench
I had 2 loads to try
But as I was standing in knee deep snow , so the groups suffered .....Yep I will blame the groups on the snow

I had 8 gr of Unique behind a 200 gr cast boolit sized to .430 for about 800 fps
The 2 - 6 shot groups were both about 4"
First group looked like a shotgun pattern , might have still had some oil in the barrel
#2 group 4 were in about 2" with 2 shots pulled to the side ( ME)

I also had 6 gr of surpluss HP38 behind the same 200 gr cast sized at .430
This load I hope was around 700 fps
First 5 shots in the first group were just over 1 1/2" with shot #6 a called flyer opening the group to 3"
Group 2 ......3 shots touching #4 opened the group to 2"
The other 2 shots were a pull and a jerk , opening the group a lot :holysheep
No leading , but with these loads I didn't expect any

I love the balance and feel of the pistol
But I dislike the hard rubber grips , I will have to find a set of decent wood grips


I hope to slug the barrel and cyclinder mouths later in the week to see what size I should be loading

John

[dualsport]

Congratulations John, I hope you enjoy your new baby. Dale, you got me wondering, would you say the Lipsey Specials are more nicer(?) better finished than a standard new Ruger? I know where there's one new for $495 I was kinda thinking about. I agree the new pawl is a great idea, they should offer a retrofit kit for the rest of us.

[Dale53]

Rugers can sometimes be an individual thing regarding finish. Mine and the one my shooting buddy has were both nicely finished. They are not "bright blue" but a bit subdued. What's more important is that the "flats" are flat, no dished screw holes and the "rounds" are round.

Equally important to me is that the cylinder throats are correct in size and everything mechanical was just excellent. The only criticism I could make (and this pretty much applies to ALL Rugers) is they all needed a trigger job.

I have rather large hands so fitted a pair of Colt SAA Pachmayr grips. I am EXTREMELY happy with the way that they feel and handle recoil. The sights are well regulated and have plenty adjustment for 200 gr bullets with light target loads up through rather heavy "Keith" loads with a 250 gr Keith SWC. I cannot imagine a better revolver for general field use as well as deer, hog, and black bear hunting. Here's mine:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/DalesPistolsRevolvers4Selects-0388.jpg

As soon as the weather breaks, I will be checking out these home cast hollow point bullets. Life is GOOD!;

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/MiHecCramerStyleBulletMould-3207.jpg

FWIW
Dale53

[9.3X62AL]

Gun and boolit porn! Oh, the humanity.......

John, that new 44 sounds like a keeper for sure. I know that since my S&W 624 x 6.5" got here, the Ruger Redhawk has suffered from a bit of neglect. The 44 Special has that effect on many.

[txbirdman]

Dale,

I fitted a set of those grips to my .44 50th Anniversary. It makes quite a difference in shootability for the .44 Mag.

[GLL]

I have one of the new Bisley .44s on order ! May be a very long wait !

Jerry

[Dale53]

Jerry;
I think that you might be pleasantly surprised. I look for these to be readily available within the next month or so - MAYBE sooner...

I have been playing and comparing the .44 Lipsey Special Flattop with the 50th Anniversary .44 Magnum. They are both FINE revolvers. However, there is NO denying, by any objective standard, that for general use the .44 Special handles better. The difference in frame size makes an almost astonishing difference. Having both is a plus. However, if I had to pick one, it would definitely be the .44 Lipsey Special.

I plan on shooting the .44's a LOT this spring and summer.

FWIW
Dale53

[GLL]

Dale:

Here is the .44 Special Bisley Model I ordered. I am going back tomorrow and see about the 5 1/2" as well ! :)

Jerry

http://www.fototime.com/A0C488A2AB49589/standard.jpg

[Dale53]

I'll be keeping my Lipsey Special, regardless. However, MY ideal would be a stainless one with 5½" barrel.

Even if they produce one, I have already become so enamored of the one I have that I will NOT be replacing it. It works THAT well.

Dale53

[hammerhead357]

Jerry where did you get the 44 special Bisley? That is my idea of a perfect singel action...Wes

[AnthonyB]

Wes, my local shop has a 4 5/8 stainless and 5 1/2 Bisley in stock. PM me if you want contact info.
Tony

[GLL]

Wes:

My order is in but it has not arrived ! That is Lipsey's photo !

I hope they make the 4 5/8 Bisley in stanless !

Jerry

[dualsport]

Those are very nice looking guns you guys have. I am a big Ruger fan, have several, (5). Now I'm buying a very nice old Mark 1 .22 from a gentleman here on the forum. I sold mine years ago in a pinch, needed diapers and alfalfa more than the gun. Finally getting a replacement. There's a picture or two of it over in Swappin' and Sellin' thread. Gonna spend some time with the .22s this year.

[hammerhead357]

Tony and Jerry thanks for the replies I think I will hold out for a blue 4 5/8 in Bisley when I can find one. I just hope I have the $$$$ when I find one....Wes

[AnthonyB]

Wes; I am very happy with mine. It needs a trigger job, but that should be about it. Good luck in your search.
Tony