I'm going to buy a single action revolver.

Adjustable sights are great for a hand loader. The Ruger Flat Tops are an excellent choice, the grip is a personal choice. My SBH gets plenty of exercise but mostly from .44 Special loads. The majority of .44 Mag is still lead 255 SWC at 1000 fps. Good luck and enjoy!

The FA is the Lambo of SA

Ruger Super Blackhawk is an amazing shooter.
I have a stainless, 4.6" barrel that I CAS with.

The .44 Spl is very nice, but the Mag will give you that extra, if you ever need / want it.

You also, got adjustable sights. A key point to me. I like my sights regulated to my ammo.

You have a choice grip styles; plow handle or Bisley. I like the plow handle, but that is me.

The Vaquero is SMALLER than the Blackhawk.
The Vaquero has fixed sights.

The Italian clones are good, but they aren't Rugers

"Cowboy" guns are solid, reliable, fun and addictive.

Here is a cost effective way to get high quality 44 Special revolver for about $2000; caliber conversion, using 357 Magnum SA revolver

- Ruger 357 Magnum SA: $800
- Bowen conversion RS05 from $1,095.00 http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/catalog/ruger_single_action_basic_caliber_conversions.html

Since you mentioned that revolver will be used a lot, I will ask for special block for a cylinder bolt(stop). Also, I would definitely ask for a #5 cylinder pin and a new pin lock from Belt Mountain. In that case no need for a screw to lock cylinder pin. Yeah, screw is the way to secure a pin, but any time you want to remove cylinder, you need screw driver or hex/allen key.

Nuthin’ wrong with the 5.5” SBH...

I am in agreement with many of the others in that if you can find a Blackhawk Flattop 44 special they are great. That said I would opt into a short barreled (5”)
BFR Bisley in 44 mag, if you have larger hands and with your budget also a grab an Italian clone just because. I can’t say enough about how much the BFR Bisley mitigates recoil and you might be surprised at what level you could shoot comfortably.

Ill throw out a different breed... Interarms Virginia Dragoon 44 mag. They are a 4 click, no transfer bar old style revolver. Big and hefty and quality construction. I love my Yorktown model from '81. Adjustable sights too.

Top, above an X-Frame.





This one at cabelas seems a tad pricey, but gun prices these days are nuts.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/101088372

For a brief period, I was .44 Special poor. Then came to my senses and started accumulatin' a few:



On the left, Colt New Frontiers, top right is an ex-.357 Magnum Three Screw Ruger Blackhawk, and a Cimarron Model P.

More recently, a Ruger Flat Top New Model:




And, my best one shot group:





Bob Wright

Lays potato chips

Armybrat said:

Nuthin’ wrong with the 5.5” SBH...

View attachment 1052983

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I agree!!!

Better yet, 5.5” SBH converted to Bisley :



Next steps are #5 (no screw) cylinder pin and cylinder pin stop from Belt Mountain.

As a matter of fact, I do have noted #5 cylinder pin and new cylinder pin stop, however, I found that factory pin is about .001" smaller than Belt Mountain one, so I have to sand new pin. Yes, new pin will go if pushed hard, but action became quite stiff. If you order new pin from Belt Mountain, check first what's size of factory pin. If you want larger than factory, go to better machine shop, ask them if they have a pin gauge set, and check if larger pin will go.

CoalTrain, I've had several Ruger single actions, a Colt SAA, and a Freedom Arms revolver, though mine is a model 83. The Colts are beautiful, Rugers are hard to beat all around, but since you mention "old bones", ( I have old bones too) if you choose a Ruger I'd definitely suggest one with the longer Bisley or Dragoon style grip frame. This, so you will have more recoil control, and room for your little finger on the grip, rather than kinda wrapped under it. I've not handled a FA model 97, but my model 83 has a grip frame long enough to get all three fingers on it. From photos, it appears that the model 97 has a similar grip frame.

BTW, I was initially surprised that $2000.00 might not be enough for at least a clean used FA gun. But I just checked GB, and it looks like FA guns have gone up like everything else. Much as I like the Rugers, I doubt you'd ever be disappointed if you were able to locate and purchase a FA gun at or near your budget. I have owned my .454/.45ACP FA revolver for a long time, and never regretted it's purchase.

CoalTrain49 said:

The only SA revolver I ever owned was a 5" Ruger Blackhawk about 50 years ago that I really liked but I sold it. Probably nobody has ever done that.

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I have sold every Ruger SA I have ever owned. I do not like Ruger lockwork. I traded a practically new(only been fired 12 times)Old Vaquero Bisley. I thought I might like the Bisley grip, I didn't. I traded it straight up for a NIB Uberti Cattleman.

I am looking at a Vaquero in 44 Magnum from Lipseys. It is still in the catalog but not sure if it is in production.

https://lipseys.com/itemdetail?itemno=RUKBNV-455-I

I was going to give another pitch for .45 Colt, but your mind is pretty well made up.
Love adjustable sights, but they look a little like alloy wheels on a Model T, and concur that you'll want to stay on the low end with your .44 loads in a plowshare-grip gun.
Really love the looks and feel of a traditional SAA, real or clone.
Have fun.
Moon

Rock185 said:

... if you choose a Ruger I'd definitely suggest one with the longer Bisley or Dragoon style grip frame. This, so you will have more recoil control, and room for your little finger on the grip, rather than kinda wrapped under it. I've not handled a FA model 97, but my model 83 has a grip frame long enough to get all three fingers on it. From photos, it appears that the model 97 has a similar grip frame...

Click to expand...

You are right about benefits of longer grips. Friend had TLA Groover #5 Improved and, even with my medium size hand, almost no place for pinky finger on a grip.

Regarding getting hit mid finger with trigger guard, here are grips for SBH and Bisley that solve the problem:



More about this in article "Ruger Super Blackhawk", by Jeff Quinn https://gunblast.com/Super_Blackhawk.htm

Also, here are Bisley grips (I believe made by Eagle Grips same years ago, not listed on their website):