Ruger Blackhawk 357 vs Uberti

There really is no comparison. The blackhawk is good for a lifetime of heavy loads, the uberti is not good for an afternoon of heavy loads. Aftermarket support is another factor. Ruger is not as true to original design but is more functional and can do anything you may ask of a saa type firearm. Ive had ubertis (cattleman), should have spent the money on a blackhawk. I would say to look at the 45 colt blackhawk, its a versatile tool that can grow with him.

It depends what he wants as to which is better.

If I wanted something to play cowboy with at the range, the Uberti is probably a better choice. A good handling, fixed sight, old school six-shooter. There's something to be said for that.

If he wanted a more precise, longer lasting, nuclear load eating wheel gun... The Ruger would take the cake.

They're both good for what they are, it just depends what itch he wants to scratch. I'd prefer the Ruger, but can't find fault with the Uberti.

Obturation said:

the uberti is not good for an afternoon of heavy loads.

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Howdy

That is incorrect.

Uberti revolvers are perfectly fine with ammunition that is loaded to SAAMI standards. Let's not forget that the 357 Magnum cartridge was first chambered in the Colt Single Action Army in 1935, shortly after its invention by Smith and Wesson. The cylinder for an Uberti or Colt has an outside diameter designed for the 45 Colt cartridge. So boring 357 diameter chambers leaves more metal between the chambers than with a 45 Colt. Current SAAMI maximum pressure for 357 Magnum is 35,000 psi, if memory serves. A Colt, or an Uberti chambered for 357 Magnum will hold up just fine with a steady diet of factory 357 Magnum loads. However because the revolver is relatively light recoil may be uncomfortable.

Yes, it is often said that Rugers are built like tanks. Standard Ruger Blackhawks are built on a larger frame than a Colt or an Uberti, which means the cylinder is even larger in diameter than a Colt or an Uberti. So boring .357 chambers in the Ruger cylinder will leave even more metal between chambers than with a Colt or Uberti. Also, Rugers incorporate a transfer bar, so they are completely safe to fully load with six rounds. The most recent Ubertis have a retracting firing pin in the hammer which should make them safe to carry fully loaded with six rounds. Not true with an older Uberti or a Colt, they must always be loaded with five rounds and an empty chamber under the hammer for safety's sake.

The other thing is just like a Colt Ubertis still use leaf springs, particularly for the split spring that controls the bolt and the trigger. It is not unknown for this spring to break, it has happened to me.

Ruger went to coil springs many years ago, even before they brought out the current transfer bar models in the 1970s. Coil springs are almost indestructible and almost never break. That is why Ruger went to them.

So you pays your money, you takes your choice.

If you want a revolver very similar to the old Colts, an Uberti is fine. If you want something a little bit heftier, go with the Ruger.

If you want adjustable sights, go with the Ruger Blackhawk.

If you want fixed sights, either the Ruger New Vaquero or the Uberti is the ticket.

I’ve been shooting cowboy action for almost ten years. We use single action revolvers and .38/.357 is the most popular chambering. Ruger revolvers, both Blackhawks and Vaquero/New Vaqueros, are very popular. I shoot New Vaqueros. The Uberti and Pietta reproductions of Colt SAA are also very common, so we see how these revolvers perform over time.

Rugers are famously rugged but they occasionally break. The Uberti/Piettas revolvers are reproductions of a 19th Century design. They occasionally break, perhaps more frequently than a Ruger, but they are usually pretty easy to repair. All these revolvers are made of modern steel and seem plenty strong enough to handle .38/.357 ammo.

I’d say either revolver is adequate for most uses. The adjustable sights of the Blackhawk are an advantage if you want to be able to dial in the wide variety of loads that a .357 revolver will chamber.

I have both ruger and uberti.
Go with a ruger for fireballs and recoil. Hot loads.

Go with the uberti for cowboy plinkers and authentic feel.

Driftwood Johnson said:

Howdy

That is incorrect.

Uberti revolvers are perfectly fine with ammunition that is loaded to SAAMI standards.

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I agree, i didn't intend to come off as bashing uberti. I know they're well made and modern quality materials, i forgot as i responded that we were talking about .357 magnum - which i haven't owned. I had matched cattlmen in 45 colt with a dull finish and a brass trigger gaurd, had to sell them pretty cheap when i moved from tennessee. My only complaint with either revolver was that i had a taurus gaucho that was better and i needed money. No, neither (uberti) revolver ever broke but they weren't shot much and i didn't put heavy loads through any of those revolvers. These days i would rather buy the ruger and not be concerned about (45 colt) loads in the 25k psi range (yes, i know thats above saami spec). In .357 magnum it would make less of a difference.
But, if you ever get bored with the blackhawk you can send it off to be converted by one of the masters. I dont think anyones converting ubertis . I know im slightly off topic but to me the ruger in either caliber would be my pick if it could be only one or the other.

20+ years of cowboy action shooting competition experience here. I have owned and shot Rugers, Ubertis, and Piettas.

Presently I only own and shoot Rugers.

For what it is worth.

If possible, I would tell him to handle each one and get the one that feels the best and speaks to him. Both are great, and are going to handle factory loads fine, as well as hand loads so long as you’re not going crazy with them.

.357 is not a round ro really worry about in either platform. The guns will both handle them fine. A .357 Blackhawk can routinely be found around here for around 325-375, the Ubertis are around the same. I personally would go with rhe Ruger.

The Ruger is a better revolver.



It will be up to your Bud to decide to pay more, and get an updated single action pistol, or buy something that looks like what Wyatt Earp carried.

Well, it depends.
A Cattleman can be made to have a Ruger lifetime. It may not handle "hot Ruger loads" but it can handle rather hot loads as well (they are proofed higher than SAAMI spec.). Other than that, they can run rings around a Ruger. Changing to a coil spring action, installing an action stop, a bolt block and a few "special" techniques will turn a Cattleman into a pretty much indestructible S.A. revolver (I've done quite a few . . , even a few Pietta's . . . ) As far as "converting" them, usually fitting a cylinder is all that's needed. I added a 45acp cylinder to my El Patron Comp., it shot that better than the 45C rounds!
I like Rugers too and have done many ROAs and 3screw BH's. Not to mention, Remington '58s, '75s and '90s can be converted to my coil spring actions as well !! It's by far the greatest improvement since 1890 !!!
I'd say, get what you want, they can ALL be improved on!!!

Mechanical accuracy is key to longevity . . .

Mike

The chambering makes a big difference and you'd be hard pressed to hurt either as a .357Mag. A common saying among folks who know who he is is that, "Paco Kelly hasn't blown his up yet".

I have dozens of each and can't really say that Rugers are "better". They are different. They are a more modern design using coil springs and more robust lockwork but to me that doesn't make them "better". Fit and finish will always be better on a Uberti and they are a fairly faithful copy of the Colt SAA. It's really a matter of what you want and why. If you just want a solid single action revolver, either will do. If you want the old Colt feel, only the Uberti will do. If you want adjustable sights and a bombproof action and a Ruger is "close enough", then it's a fine choice. Middle ground may be found in an Old Model Blackhawk, which has Ruger durability along with a Colt sized frame and Colt style lockwork.

Hi...
I own both Ruger and Uberti revolvers in multiple calibers.
I enjoy both for different reasons...the strength and durability of Rugers is well known and the nostalgic feel of the Ubertis is just aw well known.
I like and shoot both and after many thousands of rounds have not yet had any issues with Ubertis in .357Mag, .44Spl or .45Colt.
I think both are quality firearms and I have every intention of acquiring more of both.
As they say...Vive la difference!

45 Dragoon said:

Well, it depends.
A Cattleman can be made to have a Ruger lifetime. It may not handle "hot Ruger loads" but it can handle rather hot loads as well (they are proofed higher than SAAMI spec.). Other than that, they can run rings around a Ruger. Changing to a coil spring action, installing an action stop, a bolt block and a few "special" techniques will turn a Cattleman into a pretty much indestructible S.A. revolver (I've done quite a few . . , even a few Pietta's . . . ) As far as "converting" them, usually fitting a cylinder is all that's needed. I added a 45acp cylinder to my El Patron Comp., it shot that better than the 45C rounds!
I like Rugers too and have done many ROAs and 3screw BH's. Not to mention, Remington '58s, '75s and '90s can be converted to my coil spring actions as well !! It's by far the greatest improvement since 1890 !!!
I'd say, get what you want, they can ALL be improved on!!!

Mechanical accuracy is key to longevity . . .

Mike

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Very interesting, but your coil spring conversion adds what, about $225 to the price of the pistol? You probably do outstanding work, and your work does what you say, but it drives up the cost of the pistol.

I have an Uberti (Cimarron) in 45 Colt and bought it as I liked it being more authentic looking than the Ruger and it is a fun/range gun running bunny fart loads.

I also own Rugers (357) and use them for heavy loads. They shoot well but it's not the same.

Sort of like I own several semi-auto rifles but love shooting my lever action for fun.

Slamfire,

Yesir, it does add some cost to the revolver. But, $225.00 is an inexpensive way to make a $500-$600.00 (cheaper if you buy used) revolver into one that can compete (and more than likely best) a $1,500.00- $2,000.00 S.A. revolver. Remember, I can do the same for the Ruger and it will level the playing field (bring the Ruger up to the Uberti/Pietta at that point! Lol).

The Uberti/Pietta yeilds a lighter gun in the end, the Ruger will still be heavy . . .

Mike

I have both and like them both for different reasons. The Uberti gives me that "Old West" look and feel without ever having to be home on the range. The Ruger provides me with a great platform to develop loads with.and to take along on my backwoods hikes.

45 Dragoon said:

But, $225.00 is an inexpensive way to make a $500-$600.00 (cheaper if you buy used) revolver into one that can compete (and more than likely best) a $1,500.00- $2,000.00 S.A. revolver.

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You need to show me that Uberti with $225 worth of mods that's going to "compete" with a Freedom Arms ...

I’d rather have the Ruger any day.

Well, Apuesto, which Uberti would you like to see? There's a whole Instagram feed with pics of pretty much every model Uberti or Pietta makes/made and the good folks here are plenty gracious to allow me to tag my posts with that information. Not to mention there's a website listed as well. Since you mention Freedom Arms, it was that very company that I got my specs and clearances from. In fact, the coil action that I developed for my service is rather close to the FA action (which I saw for the first time last Nov.).

Pat Riot, The Ruger has it's "gremlins" as well which is why most competition guns are upgraded as well. The Ruger's I send back don't have the propensity for "throw-by" (cyl over rotation) like the factory offerings do. The trigger return spring and plunger (directly behind the trigger) is replaced with a direct acting torsion spring mounted in the frame (as it should be) which gives a much better trigger action and much smoother operation.

A look through my posts on this forum would go a long way towards a description of what my service entails such as, arbor length correction for all open top revolvers as well as cap posts, the installation of bolt blocks in every revolver (Rugers too!), the premium service involves replacing the flat springs with torsion and compression springs for life of the revolver service. Many proprietary things that enhance the operation of and life of the action parts. Individual setting of the tension for each action part since they are now individually sprung. An action stop is also installed in all revolvers (the Ruger too. The only adjustable stop available . . . mine) to protect the action from unnecessary wear. The timing corrected as well. That's not a complete list but its a list of most of the things that the factory revolvers don't come with (Freedom Arms or Ruger) that are definite upgrades to any and all S.A. revolvers. In all, I've brought roughly 13 items to the table to enhance most S.A. revolvers. Probably the biggest step for any particular S.A. is the ability to coil spring the action of the Remington pattern revolvers. They are virtually unbreakable and rival a Ruger in durability. The Remington would be my choice for SASS competition for that reason along with the fact that it is a much lighter S.A.

Thanks for asking guys!! I'm sure there are some new folks that are reading some of this for the first time.

Soon, there will be some High Power Cones (nipples) available (my design) as well as a Gated Conversion for ROA's (a first!) These have been on the back burner for some time but I believe I've found a manufacturer for production purposes.

Mike

In something like .45 Colt and for CAS shooting, the Uberti Cattleman is a fine choice and IMO more worth the money than a Colt. For any other purpose I'm not a fan of the traditional SAA sights on a single action revolver because they are not as easy to see or be accurate with over a Blackhawk.

The Ruger Blackhawk is the best single action revolver you can buy today for under $600 by far.

TTv2 said:

In something like .45 Colt and for CAS shooting, the Uberti Cattleman is a fine choice and IMO more worth the money than a Colt. For any other purpose I'm not a fan of the traditional SAA sights on a single action revolver because they are not as easy to see or be accurate with over a Blackhawk.

The Ruger Blackhawk is the best single action revolver you can buy today for under $600 by far.

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The first single action revolver I bought to shoot "seriously" was a 5 1/2" Flat Top Blackhawk .44 Special, 8 or so years ago. Not long after, I bought a couple Uberti Hombre's in .357 to use in CAS. As @CraigC alluded to, a direct Blackhawk/Cattleman comparison is mostly invalid because the two revolvers different. The only real advantage the Blackhawk has over a Cattleman is the sight picture since the Blackhawk has larger, easier to see sights. Other than that, by comparison, the Blackhawks are clunky/heavy in comparison (My Blackhawk .44 Special is nearly 1/2 lb. heavier than my 5 1/2" Cimarron .44 Special) and as other have said have their gremlins, of which undersized cylinder throats and thread choke in the barrel are the most common. I'm 56 years old and so far I can see the traditional SA sights well enough for effective shooting to at least 75 yds. and lately have been pestering a 12" gong that hangs on my 100 yd. target stand.

I've bought three new Uberti's over the last year, all of which were produced within the last 2 years, and the fit, finish, but especially the accuracy, has been nothing short of remarkable. The only thing I've done to them is replace the trigger/bolt spring so as to shave about 1 lb. off the trigger pull.

FWIW, my Ruger has sat in the safe gathering dust for several years now while my Uberti's are the revolvers I carry and with which I take our annual supply of venison.

Most shooters, self included, buy Blackhawks just assuming they're better without ever trying a Colt-style SA. So @gunlaw I'd suggest if possible your buddy try each, if at all possible.

35W

45 Dragoon said:

Well, Apuesto, which Uberti would you like to see?

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I don't have a stutter. My post was very clear; the Uberti that supposedly competes with a Freedom Arms revolver.