Used blackhawk 44 mags not worth much anymore?

[Rpg]

I got out of the 44mag single action handgun’s year ago Too big. Too heavy for anything beyond a range gun.

I figure handguns are supposed to be handy. These things aren’t.


Once you get larger than a 4” 29-2 its too big

 

[stansdds]

I understand why single action revolvers chambered in 44 Magnum are not that popular. My introduction to the 44 Magnum was with a Ruger Super Blackhawk, blued, 4 5/8" barrel, shooting 210 grain JHP full power loads. I fired 5 rounds and the web between thumb and index finger hand a nice, bleeding cut in it. I proceeded to fire 10 more rounds just to prove to my friend who had invited me to this range that I was not only tough, but stupid enough to repeatedly prove how tough I was. Yeah, young, tough, and stupid, those were good days.

I expect there are plenty of shooters who buy one, fire a few cylinders full, then use it as trade fodder. That's just my opinion and rambling musings and worth exactly what you paid for them.

 

[Hairtrigger]

I have a Super Blackhawk that started with 10” barrel. Sent to Magnaport for an action job and porting. Cut the barrel to 8 3/8”. Love the gun. Accurate and smooth.
I also have a 5” 629 but prefer the Ruger

 

[Farmer17]

I love the looks and the nostalgia of a single action cowboy gun and have owned several but never kept them. The grip doesn't really fit my hand and the slow lock time bugs me but just looking at them now makes me want a Colt SAA or copy in .45 LC. I just have a feeling I wouldn't shoot it much but no way would I want to shoot a .44 mag with that plow handle grip!

 

[cracker57]

A group of friends that I was going hog hunting with all went out and bought redhawks ans blackhawks to shoot pigs with. I wanted one so bad but could not find one in time for this trip so I settled on a Taurus raging bull in 44 mag.
when shooting with these guys I found shooting six rounds to be painful with the Rugers, yet I could shoot 50+ rounds easily with the Taurus

 

[Valmet]

Great revolvers but IMO they’ve never been worth that much anyway. They’ve been making them for nearly 70 years with very few changes. Don’t get me wrong, I like them, when I used to handload .44 Mag I’d use a 7.5” SBH but they don’t have much of a collectible following.

 

[dmn57]

I proceeded to fire 10 more rounds just to prove to my friend who had invited me to this range that I was not only tough, but stupid enough to repeatedly prove how tough I was. Yeah, young, tough, and stupid, those were good days.

LOL, been there, done that, much more than I care to admit!

 

[murphydog]

I understand why single action revolvers chambered in 44 Magnum are not that popular. My introduction to the 44 Magnum was with a Ruger Super Blackhawk, blued, 4 5/8" barrel, shooting 210 grain JHP full power loads. I fired 5 rounds and the web between thumb and index finger hand a nice, bleeding cut in it. I proceeded to fire 10 more rounds just to prove to my friend who had invited me to this range that I was not only tough, but stupid enough to repeatedly prove how tough I was. Yeah, young, tough, and stupid, those were good days.

I expect there are plenty of shooters who buy one, fire a few cylinders full, then use it as trade fodder. That's just my opinion and rambling musings and worth exactly what you paid for them.

Yes, when I was in my teens and just starting out I fired one full .44 Magnum out of a 7.5 SBH. Still remember it 45 years later...

 

[erikpolcrack]

I have a 44 Mag SBH and a 41 Mag BH. Both are just about perfect for handgunning whitetails here in rural PA. Have never even considered selling or trading either one. I did, however, get a set of those oversize wooden grips that cover the back of the trigger guard on the SBH.

 

[Liftrat]

My 44 Ruger is a Bisley. I actually used to enjoy shooting Magnums out of it, but have since toned it down to Specials. Fun guns, but I can understand why they don't have as much appeal in the present day. Not interested in getting rid of mine at present, but not in the market for another, either.

 

[LVSteve]

I have a 5" Redhawk that I rarely shoot because I nearly always go to indoor ranges. The management isn't always happy with you frightening the tourists. So why do I have this gun? It was bought from a former family member who "didn't need a gun" given her temperament. I have no idea if it would fetch anymore than the Blackhawk in the OP. It's a heavy beast that I've only carried once on a late night trip to do some astrophotography in Mountain Lion territory.

 

[Doug M.]

If one is honest, a .44 Magnum at full power is a niche load and weapon. Very few really find utility in such.

I tend toward getting revolvers in .357 or .44 as Magnums, not because I care about the ballistics, but because in a pinch they can use more types of ammo than the .38 special/.44 special variants. I have a 629MG but it is loaded and shot with Specials. I don't do anything where the additional power is of value to me. For the hunters, there is little that a decent .44 special load won't take adequately. IIRC, Dave Keith has written about taking elk with a special. Deer? EZ peazy.

 

[GypsmJim]

My Dad carried a 12 Ga. classic Parker double for 50 years. Finally, it was too heavy for him to carry afield, even though I built him a stand a mere 30 yards from camp.

He went to the gun shop and wanted to buy a .44 Mag revolver that he could carry on his hip. The dealer convinced him to buy a Model 57 instead. It has a good kick to it for sure.

MY favor has always been a .45 Colt. My Ruger-Only handloads rival the .41 and the specs show pretty close to a factory .44 Mag load.

Dad never got a deer with his 57, but that handgun is now my favorite choice at the range.

 

[rednichols]

My dad bought a Super Blackhawk in the late 60's before he headed to Alaska , kept it until the mid 80's . I asked him why he got rid of it after so long and he told me it had had so many heavy loads shot through it that you couldn't keep the screws tight even with Loctite. I'd as soon have the .44 Special Flattop that I got loaded with Elmer's load as anybody's big bulky magnum. Had a 4" 29 for a while but just never could like it, too heavy.

Well acquainted with the Super Blackhawk .44 Mag, never heard of a Blackhawk in .44 Mag, nor did I find one with the help of Mr. Google. Words matter.

The cowboys of the late 19th century had the same problem with frame screws loosening, so fell into the practice of riding their horses complete with saddlery and wearing their pistols, into the nearest river to rust the screws into position. Well documented. Did you try that with your Ruger? Ha ha

 

[mtgianni]

I am a former super Blackhawk owner. I have also owned Redhawks and Smiths in 44 Magnum. I currently have Blackhawks in 32 H&R, 357/9mm. 44 Special and 45 ACP/45 Colt. They do several things very well. Ruger makes a ton of them and they sell them all. There is no market change, and they are plentiful enough to keep the new price at not much more than the $500 you saw used.
They aren't the 3 1/2" model 27, the RM or the Model 16's. They are still turned out by the millions with the factory seeing no need to curtail, sell its ownership or significantly degrade the way it is made.

 

[alwslate]

I think the original three screw Supers are worth a bit more than the later guns with the transfer bar system. Overall fit and finish seems to be better. I have one I bought new back in 1973 right before the design change was made. At the outdoor shooting range I used to use I have been asked if my old model Super had been polished after I bought it. Recoil is nasty with full power reloads and the screws do get loose after only a few rounds. I am no longer able to hunt Deer so I will only shoot light cast bullet loads in it from now on. I don't know what the market price is and don't care. Mine's not for sale.

 

[DWalt]

The original .44 Magnum flat top Blackhawks were made only during 1956-63. About 30K were made. I had one of the earliest, with a 7-1/2” barrel, which had a low 4-digit SN and was probably first, possibly second, year of production. I bought it used, ca. 1964-65. Punishing recoil and muzzle blast with factory loads, kept it only about three years. Quite desirable today among Ruger collectors.

 

[pantannojack]

I've had a few Blackhawks, both Super and not. The best shooter was a .41 Mag 6.5" New Model with Art Jewell Eagle Claw grips; Loved it. Why do we let things go? Also I had a "Made in the 200th Year of American Liberty .357 6.5"; Loved that also. And I had a stainless Super Blackhawk 7.5", with similar Eagle Claw grips, but the Super grip frame was just enough larger that it did not fit me optimally. A .45 Colt 4 5/8" crossed my years until I traded it for a 686 snubby, then a blue Super 7.5" 44 Mag. Yes heavy, but STRONG. My only complaint is that many times the base pin would go flying forward upon firing because the retaining system just not adequate. That reason is enough to avoid them now.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Have owned and shot several.
Not that anxious for another Blackhawk 44 mag,
But the early 357 , micro sight, Purple Loading Gate!
OMG! Why did I sell that gun?

 

[LostintheOzone]

I had the opportunity to shoot a Colt Anaconda once. Not my cup-o-tea.

The market is pretty soft right now for revolvers, especially 44 mags. The caliber is right but the cartridge is wrong for most shooters today. I would bet there are more 45 Colt single action revolvers being sold than 44 Mags because that's what cowboys want these days. Yippee-ki-yay.