....will these models stand up to a steady diet of .357 magnum ?
Durability of the Old model Ruger Blackhawk....
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Outpost75
Member
Mine has.
Wapakfred
Member
My first handgun was a Ruger Blackhawk in .357, purchased in 1968. I still have it after a lot of shooting full house loads and it's still in great shape.
Glenn R. McMannly
Member
No.
If you want to shoot a truckload of hot magnums, then buy a Ruger Blackhawk… oh wait.
If you want to shoot a truckload of hot magnums, then buy a Ruger Blackhawk… oh wait.
Yes they will
AJ
US Veteran
Does the description "Build like a tank" mean anything to you?
Alpo
Member
You notice he specified old model?
The New Model 357 Blackhawk, like all other Blackhawks, is built on the 44 magnum frame. Certainly it'll stand up to any amount of 357.
But the Old Model 357 Blackhawk, unlike all the other Old Model Blackhawks, was built on the smaller frame. The "Colt size" frame. So I suspect that's why he's questioning it - because the physical gun is so much smaller in every way.
I don't think you have anything to worry about. I think the 357 Old Model will stand up to thousands upon thousands upon thousands of full power 357s.
The New Model 357 Blackhawk, like all other Blackhawks, is built on the 44 magnum frame. Certainly it'll stand up to any amount of 357.
But the Old Model 357 Blackhawk, unlike all the other Old Model Blackhawks, was built on the smaller frame. The "Colt size" frame. So I suspect that's why he's questioning it - because the physical gun is so much smaller in every way.
I don't think you have anything to worry about. I think the 357 Old Model will stand up to thousands upon thousands upon thousands of full power 357s.
OP
Yes...that's exactly why I was asking ...good call !
After wanting an Old Model Blackhawk for some time I finally found a very nice unconverted model about a year ago that was made in 1967. No box but showing minimal signs of use .
These replies basically confirmed what I already thought ....that they are very well built.
Wapakfred
Member
I had mine converted, but Ruger also returned all the original parts which I keep in the box. I put Herret stocks on mine for daily use and kept the OEM ones as well.
sousana
Member
My Blackhawk, purchased years back, according to its log has 68,539 .357rounds thru it along with 42,909 38 special mostly of the 130gr fmj variety. Bit back I sent it to Roger for a check up, called em later on said the changed out some parts, added new grips and for $120 offered to make a 9mm cylinder for that gun. Glad I paid the 120. Off topic, but I've since picked up a Cimarron 4 3/4" single action in dual cylinder .357/38 & 9mm. 9mm is a joy to shoot, and with the heft of the Blackhawk, like shooting a 22.
BigMuddy
Member
I have had parts break on every type of revolver I own with ONE exception. That is the Old Model Ruger Blackhawk.
Dan
Dan
Yes they will even though they're built on the medium frame. That's assuming some reasonable level of maintenance and proper handling of course.
In my experience it won't stop shooting. But if you live long enough to ever shoot it enough you might need to ream the cylinder center hole and insert a new bushing if the accuracy deteriorates. In other words cumulative wear.
Rarely a small part may break. But that has more to do with an imperfect part rather than shooting a lot of 357 mag.
The only part breakage I ever experienced was the plunger pin in the base of the hammer that actuates the cylinder stop. And it's the only breakage I've ever had on all my Blackhawks and single sixes in 63 years.
Easily one of the most overbuilt handguns ever manufactured. Feed it warm .357s all day…
I broke my old model .45 Colt - but not by shooting it - I was dry-firing it and the hammer broke in the middle - well into the new models, it was a real challenge to replace the old model hammer though it wasn't real expensive - then again, I only had about $50 in the gun since I traded for it around 1974 or 75.
I had an old Flat top .357 - it didn't seem any worse for wear when I traded it off than when I started shooting it. I don't figure a Blackhawk, even the new smaller flat tops, will suffer from hot loads.
These days, I might suffer but the gun should be fine!
Riposte
I had an old Flat top .357 - it didn't seem any worse for wear when I traded it off than when I started shooting it. I don't figure a Blackhawk, even the new smaller flat tops, will suffer from hot loads.
These days, I might suffer but the gun should be fine!
Riposte
It's what they were designed to do!
OP
Not everything does what it was designed to do ....that's why I was asking.
lightstar_actual
Member
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My 41 Mag has a bazillion rounds through it and ZERO hicccups. My Model 19-4 is just as reliable. They've handled all my "hot" reloads for a long time now. Bought 'em both new.
AJ
US Veteran
I have a Ruger New Vaquaro in .45 Colt. It seems as solid as a Super Blackhawk that I had and foolishly sold. It started life as a Birdshead gripped model. I changed the grip frame to a plowhandle style. Wonder if it will last like the Blackhawks?
Jim Watson
Member
Ought to. When it came out, I said it was just a Blackhawk with fixed sights.
A friend wore out a Blackhawk .45. When the transfer bar broke, he filed the hammer to hit the firing pin like an old model. But when the forcing cone cracked, he had to send it in with payment figured from the parts list. They sent it back with all new parts in his frame... and $10 change.
sousana
Member
As good as semi's are, nothing beats a revolver
Outpost75
Member
If Commander Jean Luke Piccard of the Star Ship Enterprise were to beam me down to my own virgin planet, rich with game and I was limited to one gun and all the ammo I could carry, it would be a .357 Blackhawk.
Alpo
Member
This is another "smaller gun question". He says it's a New Vaquero. The New Vaquero is not built on the Super Blackhawk 44 magnum frame. It is built on the Single Action Army size frame.
If you shoot 45 Colt - and I'm not talking about "cowboy loads", I mean standard 255 grain bullets at 900 ft per second - through it it'll last forever. If you feed it "Ruger-only 45 Colts" you'll probably break it.
AJ
US Veteran
Since I am only punching paper with it, I tend to stay on the lighter side of thing. My days of souped up hot loads are long past. Hands with arthritis and after being pounded with many thousands of rounds of .45 ACP in M1911's, do not like hot loads.
I have a Ruger New model 50th Anniversary Flattop in 357 which is the smaller size model. It's all steel so it's heavy but it's great for hunting purpose. I have been shooting heavy 180 gr SWC-GC @ 1,220 fps out of that revolver for past 15+ years and nothing ever broke. It take a licking and keeps on ticking.
True, the Ruger only 45 loads are not recommended for the mid size frame. However it's larger than the Colt and allows a cylinder diameter .060" larger in diameter than a Colt cylinder. Even so, a lot of 45 Ruger only loads could result in cumulative stress. And the weak point is the chamber wall over the cylinder stop notch.
If you want to shoot hot 45 loads in a mid size Ruger, get a 5 shot cylinder for it. That places the cylinder stop notch between the chambers which will eliminate the weak point of the 6 shot cylinder of the mid size frame Rugers.
The New Vaquero 41 and 44 mags are built on the larger Blackhawk/ Super Blackhawk frame. So for a 6 shot NV that stands up to 45 Ruger only loads the solution has been to use one of those NV mags rebarelled and rechambered to 45, or even 454.
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