Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt

My first centerfire handgun was an 4 5/8" Old Model Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt, bought by my momma in 1973. It was a fine shooter. In the '90s, I bought a 4 5/8" New Model Blackhawk convertible in .45 Colt/.45 ACP.

Due to having a supply of free ACP ammo at the time, I seldom shot it with the Colt cylinder installed. It will group in the 1-1 1/2" range at 25 yards.

As another poster has said, there are two different frame sizes. The 1st .45 Colt Blackhawks were built on the .44 Magnum frame. Ruger brought back the original Colt sized mid sized frame for the .357 Blackhawk in 2005. The larger frame is capable of handling .44 Magnum level loads.
 
Ruger made the 3 screw version from '71 til '73. I have one in 4 5/8 that Turnbull did the frame in Case and high polish blue. It has some old stags on it and it is a workhorse. You will like it. Ruger guns are like me..not very pretty but work forever.
 
A 45 Colt Blackhawk is a great gun to have. I had a 4 5/8" convertible for several years. I like the heavier loads in the Blackhawk but didn't like the smaller grip when shooting them. I was going to replace the grip frame with a Bisley type, but after pricing out the project I replaced it with the stainless Bisley Blackhawk. For shooting heavy 45 Colt loads it's perfect. Of course now I miss the lighter convertible Blackhawk, for it's carrying ease.... :)
 
I have a 4 5/8" Blackhawk and a 5 1/5" Old Vaquero in .45 Colt. Love the caliber, love SA revolvers, and I love these two Rugers. These are two of the last guns I would ever get rid of. The only thing I would do differently is perhaps get a convertible because .45 ACP is much more common and usually cheaper.
 
I'm pretty sure that the current NM Blackhawk is not the revolver Ruger made smaller in '05. That was the fixed sight Vaquero model. The current Blackhawk remains able to handle hot .45 Colt cartridges. The Buffalo Bore site even has a disclaimer that states, "These heavy .45 Colt +P loads are NOT intended for the New Model Vaquero (Small Frame)." The New Model Blackhawks are built like tanks...see the excerpt from the Buffalo Bore website below:

Heavy .45 Colt +P Ammo - 300 gr. JFN
(1,200fps/M.E.959 ft.lbs.)
50 Round Box
(Big Game up to 800 lbs.)

These Heavy .45 Colt +P loads are safe in all LARGE FRAME Ruger revolvers. (includes Blackhawk, Super Blackhawk, all pre-2005 Vaquero, Bisley, Redhawk) Please read the following linked techinical article to know more about Ruger revolvers and 45 Colt +P ammo.

Ruger Revolvers and 45 Colt +P Ammunition
These loads are also safe in all modern Model 1892 leverguns as well as all Winchester & Marlin 1894's. Please read the following linked technical article to know more about 1892s and all variants or copies of the 1892.

1892’s & All Variants/Copies

These loads have an Overall Length of 1.585" and can be used in Henry Lever Actions.

Loaded to shorter length 1.585 inch specifically for Freedom Arms Model 97

These Heavy .45 Colt +P loads are NOT intended for the New Model Vaquero (small frame).
 
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Over the years I've owned three .45 Colt Blackhawks. I liked the Bisley version the best.
Love the cartridge, but the SA grip just doesn't get along with my hands. Especially now that I'm developing a bit of arthritis in them. The back of the trigger guard beats the hell out of my knuckles. :( So I ended up selling them all.
They're great guns, the problem was me. :rolleyes:
I still love the .45 Colt. These days I'm shooting them out of S&W Model 25-5s. ;)
 
I bought a BH 7 1/2" 45/45acp when they first came out. This
was the 1st adjustable sight 45 that I owned. This is the gun that
got me interested in 45 Colt cartridge. At the time I had at least
one of every Ruger on the market, and had been shooting 44mg
Right away found the 45 more pleasant to shoot and capable of
good accuracy. I did shoot a few 45acps, but once I got the gun
tuned to hand loads it was strictly 45colt use. It went down the
road when I purged Rugers and went to S&Ws. They were nice
guns but not a M25.
 
The best thing about getting the convertible is that .45 ACP brass is cheap and plentiful.

I do most of my plinking with the .45 ACP cylinder and my home cast reloads. Very cheap, around 9 cents a round.

If you don't reload the price difference between .45 Colt and ACP is huge.
 
Friend, I havea 5 1/2" Bisley model Blackhawk and a 7 1/2" Blackhawk with the Super Blackhawk grip frame. The .45 Colt is a wonderful cartridge, and I suggest you read a some of John Taffin's writings as well as joining Single Actions .Com for some terrific information. The .45 Colt is a handloaders dream. I don't have a 4 5/8 model yet, it is next on my list - with the full frame not the flat top.
 
I much prefer to shoot 45 colt in my convertible but is is nice to have both cylinders. I reamed the cylinders and have been very satisfied.
 
This Ruger Blackhawk has been my companion on just about every pack trip I've taken for the past thirty-five or more years. The areas where I took the pack string is one of the more heavily populated black bear areas in the lower 48, and I never ever worried about not having "enough gun."

I love the .45 Colt caliber because it packs enough wallop without begin objectionable to shoot.
005_zps27a3abc1.jpg
 
Mule Packer said:
This Ruger Blackhawk has been my companion on just about every pack trip I've taken for the past thirty-five or more years. The areas where I took the pack string is one of the more heavily populated black bear areas in the lower 48, and I never ever worried about not having "enough gun."

I love the .45 Colt caliber because it packs enough wallop without begin objectionable to shoot.
005_zps27a3abc1.jpg
Click to expand...

That's how a 45 Blackhawk was intended to be used.

Dan
 
What's not to like: A 45 Colt Blackhawk and a Randall Knife==I have a blued OM and a different knife (Yukon Skinner) but otherwise same rig! Been carried on elk trips in griz country several times and taken 200 lb pigs.
 
They still make mid frame .45 Blackhawks, like mine. It is a Lypsey's flattop convertible.

IMG_20160501_131710060_zpsqcqa2khj.jpg


These mid frame Blackhawks and Vaqueros aren't weak guns, they just won't handle the Ruger only loads. They can handle .45acp +p at 23,000 psi. Which is plenty for me, if I want more than that I'll be stepping ul to a .454
 
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Bonkers said:
Okay I see DISINFORMATION has crept into your reply stream.

The Blackhawk revolver is the SAME as it has always been....thus, if you buy a 4-5/8" barrel BLACKHAWK it is still "rated" to handle those hotter loads.

The VAQUERO models started out as "rounded" Blackhawks, then Ruger decided to make them more closely aligned with original 1873's and so they are NOT the same as Gen-1 Vaqueros' nor Blackhawks!

The BLACKHAWK was, and is built to handle super-stout loads of .45 ACP. This is NOT to be confused with VAQUERO models built on a slightly smaller frame spec.
Click to expand...

You are right about one thing; DISINFORMATION has crept in
and your post is a good example. Yes the Vaquero is a rounded
version of the Blackhawk frame but the new model flat top
Blackhawks are absolutely not the same size as the older new
model Blackhawks. This isn't a matter of opinion it's how it is
and one phone call to Ruger should serve as a reality check.
As far as being "rated" for hotter loads Ruger has never
"rated" any of their guns for loads exceeding factory pressure
levels for the cartridges chambered AFAIK nor will any
manufacturer. The "ratings" you refer to usually come from
good gunwriters like Brian Pearce and others who are in
touch with manufacturers and in the business of developing
handloads and writing about them. The only rating from
Ruger regarding .45 convertables, whether Vaquero, new
mid size or older large frame Blackhawks is for the hottest
factory load available, +P 45 acp at 23,000 psi. The older
large frame Blackhawks will handle more but you won't
get Ruger to approve it. Do just a few minutes of research
and you can avoid adding to the spread of disinformation.
 
For answers to this question, go to the unquestioned master

The UNQUESTIONED master of this discussion is John Linebaugh. Read his articles, the data, research and conclusions that he bases his livelihood and reputation on. I have first hand knowledge that his knowledge of this subject is extensive and his advice solid.

Linebaugh's Custom Sixguns - The .45 Colt - Dissolving the Myth, Discovering the Legend

Linebaugh's Custom Sixguns - High Pressure Loads

Linebaugh's Custom Sixguns - Heavyweight Bullets

Keith
 
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Thanks for all the responses folks. I do reload and have already started looking into adding 45 Colt dies and scanning through my reloading data. I would really like the convertible, but the price on the used gun looks pretty good. I do appreciate all the info and input.
 
palmetto99 said:
Thanks for all the responses folks. I do reload and have already started looking into adding 45 Colt dies and scanning through my reloading data. I would really like the convertible, but the price on the used gun looks pretty good. I do appreciate all the info and input.
Click to expand...

Often times, you can find and fit a .45 ACP cylinder at a later date. The most important measurement to know is the overall length of your .45 Colt cylinder. You want a ACP cylinder that is the exact length or slightly lomger than your Colt cylinder. There is usually very little fitting to be done in the way of timing the new cylinder.
 
Bonkers said:
Granted Ruger doesn't "rate" anything beyond SAAMI spec...WE ALL KNOW THAT! At least those of use older than 40 who aren't on here trying to make a name for ourselves!

When the term "rated" is used in conjunction with a RUGER REVOVLER the reference is based on what HANDLOADERS have been doing for well over a half-century!

IF the revolver is a "BLACKHAWK" model then it's capable of handling loads well above SAAMI...and this in in reference to the .45 COLT ONLY which is factory "rated" to an amazingly LOW PSI!

The world is FILLED with "wannabes" looking to grab onto anything someone posts to egrandize themselves...they were born yesterday, read a few loading books, and now jump to the forums to make their bones. I am SO impressed. Except I'm NOT....quoting "data" isn't the same as LIVING data....

But such is the state of affairs that the world is filled with WANNABES always trying to inject some technical detail to make a point to make THEMSELVES look important when everyone who's been hand loading for the RUGER .45 Colt for the last 50 already KNOWS....
Click to expand...

As far as your reference to age goes I am waaaay over 40
and in rather poor health and if I worried about my "image"
I wouldn't have time to think about anything else. But ratings,
loads and pressures are not the significant issue here. I don't
know what it takes to get through to you that you are posting
incorrect information on Ruger frame size. The new flat top
Blackhawks in .45 Colt are built on a smaller frame than the
older large frame new model Blackhawks. Instead of exposing
your thin skin and getting insulting why don't you swallow
your ego based pride and make a single phone call to Ruger.
Then let's see if you can man up and post the results of your
call here.
 
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