Blackhawk 9mm loads

[oink]

Last year I bought a used stainless New Model Blackhawk 4 5/8" .357/9mm. I haven't even shot the .357 cylinder as it came with the 9mm installed and the .357 doesn't even look fired.

Just for grins I wonder if anyone has cooked up any special 9mm loads for the gun as I'd expect it to be fairly capable. It's a real *****cat with standard 9mm loads, which is nice, but I'm just wondering what the 9mm is capable of out of the Blackhawk.

And no, I don't have any middle finger knuckle busting issues with it. Of course I haven't tried any super hot .357s in it either.

Sorry, I haven't taken any pictures. It just looks like any other standard stainless Blackhawk.

At least it does have a rounded trigger guard but I think all of the Blackhawks do.

 

[squidsix]

I have the same gun, and found Fiocchi makes a 158 grain jacketed flat point 9mm round. This shoots beautifully in my Frankenruger and to the same point of aim as 158 grain .357 loads.
Perfect combo, in my mind.
I solved the knuckle problem with a stainless SBH frame.

 

[Rock185]

oink, I had a 4 5/8" Blackhawk and did chronograph some factory ammo in it. I didn't get around to shooting reloads in this particular gun. But having reloaded a bunch of 9MM since the '60s, I have little doubt that one could duplicate any of the following factory loads if one chose to. I'd say the 9MM in a revolver is more than "fairly capable"...

Some factory ammo produced the following results: Standard pressure Federal 9BP 115 JHP=1204 FPS, Federal 147 grain=1010 FPS, Winchester 124 grain NATO=1266 FPS, Federal 124+P HST=1289 FPS, Federal 9BPLE 115 +P+ JHP=1372 FPS.

I no longer have the 4 5/8" Blackhawk to test with, but the 158 grain IMI 9MM, not marked +P, averaged 921 FPS in a 3" revolver.

 

[fiasconva]

Rock185, do you think the 158 IMI 9MM would achieve any expansion at 921 fps?

 

[gwpercle]

Cast bullet , Lyman # 358477 - 150 gr. SWC - sized .357"
6.6 grains - Accurate #7 @ 1050 fps
Ruger BlacKhawk convertible , 6 1/2 " barrel
This is a 9mm Luger +P load ... no problem for the heck for stout RBH.
Gary

 

[merl67]

I am sure you could warm some 9mm loads up. Watch for flattened/pierced primers and split cases though. While the Blackhawk is a sturdy gun ANY gun can go KA-BOOM proceed with caution...

 

[Rock185]

fiasconva, No the IMI 158 is FMJ ball ammo. I just listed it as an example of 9MM ballistics that I believe would be easily achievable with this bullet weight, regardless if ball, JHP, etc...

 

[mtgianni]

http://www.castpics.net/subsite2/ByFireArm/Cast in the 9mm Blackhawk.pdf
I really like some of the loads in this article written specifically for casters.