4 5/8 Super Blackhawk too short?

[gotboostvr]

I recently picked up a 4 & 5/8's 45LC/ACP Convertible Blackhawk for $500 new still in the wrapper.

It might be the most well rounded, utilitarian, versatile and just generally handy pistol I've ever had the pleasure of handling.

I had a 5.5" 357 a few years ago. "the Cadilac of 357's" I refered to it as. But I just felt it was "too heavy for a 357" as in if I felt like hefting something that big, it might as well be in a equally heavy caliber.

Enter my 7.5" 41 Mag Blackhawk about a year ago.
I bought it as a hunting gun here for Ohio. It was very nice and handled pretty good. It defenitley had a better power to weight ratio.
I ended up getting a good deal on a 6" 629 that happens to shoot my hunting load for my 16" 44Mag carbine just as well... one ragged hole for 5 rounds at 50yrds for the carbine, and 25 for the Smith all freehand standing.
Then someone offered me more than I payed so it moved down the road.

But I really liked those Blackhawks!

Just those particular ones handled poorly for me for one reason or another. I liked the shorter barrel of the 357 (5.5") and having more torque on tap in my 41.

I already bulk load 45acp for my semi's and a 625 and don't particularly like SBH grip frame, preferring the lighter alloy frames. The 45 Convertible was a no brainer, and I'm smitten with the 4 & 5/8ths barrel.

I finally found the Blackhawk I've been wanting all along. I just wish I would have known sooner!

 

[Drail]

I would be very happy carrying that gun with just a good .44 Spl load. A hard cast 220-240 gr. bullet @ 900 fps. is plenty of cowbell. .44 mag. would be good for signalling for help from rescue aircraft.

 

[double bogey]

After finishing a job on the other side of the metroplex from where I live, I stopped at a gun shop instead of sitting for an hour and a half in traffic, and there was a stainless 4 5/8 Super Blackhawk in .44 mag. Didn't have but one small scratch on it, and slightly more than half of the price of a new one. Had to have it, and love to shoot it. I load some medium magnum loads, and it is easy to handle. Heavy 310 gr. loads are a handful. If I had somewhere to plink, this would be my favorite shooter.

I have had the 10.5" Super Blackhawk for a year or so, but I dislike the dragoon trigger guard. No matter what grip, one out of 20 or so hit my middle finger knuckle like a hammer. So it has a different grip installed. I would like to have a 6" Blackhawk, but for now this 4 5/8 sure is fun.

 

[Bama Drifter]

Glad you found one! I want to lop 3" off my 7.5" SBH to make it a more packable piece. I do love it though. For a nice light .44mag load I find 240gr LSWC over 8grs Unique to be pleasant and accurate. YMMV, enjoy it!

 

[gunman5646]

4 5/8" SBH works well

A 4 5/8" barrel on the SBH makes for a great packing gun. Mine shoots well, has stout ,but controllable recoil. My 4 5/8" Flattop BH in 44 special gets far more use though, better balance, lighter weight, and if you reload will do 90% of what the magnum can do. The SBH due to its heavier frame feels much less balanced as they share almost identical barrels.
If reloading is not an option, stick to the SBH as it can use both specials and magnums in factory loads. Hope this helps!

 

[CraigC]

I have both and prefer the 4 5/8" over the longer barrels for the most part. I don't believe the longer barrels are softer on recoil and I don't seem to shoot them any better. That said, I have no problem carrying them either. Unless I'm going to be sitting. Pick the one you like best.

Converted my 4 5/8" to a Bisley:



No problem carrying the 7½" either:

 

[CraigC]

The shorter barrel .44Mag does lose some velocity and the .44Spl can match it with the Keith load but things change when bullet weight goes up. The .44Mag and .45Colt are much more efficient with heavier bullets and there's nothing the .44Spl can do to match the .44Mag with 300gr bullets and heavier. The .44Mag can get a 355gr LBT up to at least 1100fps in the shorter barrel.

The new Ruger flat-top .44Spl's are only an ounce lighter than their Super Blackhawk counterpart. The all steel guns are beefy. At 44oz, my Bisley flat-top .44Spl is only 1oz lighter than the above pictured .44Mag.




Where the .44Spl really shines is in the Old Models with aluminum grip frames like this Alpha Precision custom at 37oz.

 

[Hookeye]

Comfort level can be influenced by barrel length.
Depends on what load you are shooting and how you measure the shot (recoil, flash, concussion, noise).
The Ruger is kind of heavy anyway, looks best with 7.5" bbl.
Hate Bisley grips.
Dragoon and 5.5" is OK.
If you must go shorter, get a Smith 629 4".
Not a fan of launching 300grainers max'd. I'd stay under 265's.
In any .44 mag.

 

[CraigC]

IMHO, and this is shared by a few hardcore shooters and gunsmiths, the longer barrels not only yield more velocity, which also contributes to recoil but they have more leverage against the wrist. Which is why we concluded that the shorter barrels are actually more comfortable to shoot.

Hate or not, most big bore shooters find the Bisley the most comfortable with heavy loads.

You match your bullet to your purpose. For some purposes, a bullet 300gr or heavier may insure success or even save your life.

 

[Ed Ames]

The Ruger is kind of heavy anyway, looks best with 7.5" bbl.
Hate Bisley grips.
Dragoon and 5.5" is OK.
If you must go shorter, get a Smith 629 4".
Not a fan of launching 300grainers max'd. I'd stay under 265's.
In any .44 mag.

Amazing how different tastes can be.

My views seem to be exactly the opposite of yours about everything you just said (except the bullet weights where it is a matter of fitness to purpose).

 

[bannockburn]

CraigC

Love the look of the grips on your Flat Top Bisley. Would like to get the Bisley in .44 Special with the 5.5" barrel to go with my Blackhawk Flat Top in the same caliber.

 

[CraigC]

Thanks! Those grips were actually fitted to the 7½" originally but they fit pretty good on the .44Spl. I've had the .44Spl for a year and shamefully, have yet to even shoot it.

 

[Hookeye]

I don't have fat or small hands. Just thin and not overly large.
Dragoon grip frame works great for me and I don't bump a knuckle. Never have (never shot 300's in one though).
Bisley frames aren't as pretty, and they don't feel as good before or during the shot.
I get down low on my SBH's and the gun does not slide. Pounds you over time, but you do get used to it and holding right, thumbing left, with no gun slip you can shoot fast followup shots.
Probably the most annoying .44 I had was an 8 3/8" 629-3. With 180's on WW296 pushed as fast as I could..........recoil wasn;t bad with the rubber Hogues (some folks said it chewed on 'em). But outdoors.........each launch felt like you were getting slapped in the face with a cookie sheet.
Buddy who shot tons of .44, heavy stuff............said he hated that load in that gun more than anything else.
In a 4" it wasn't as bad
For my eyes though, 4" is as short as I'd go, and even then 50 yard shots take more concentration/effort. 6" is better for me all around....good to 100.
Longer bbls I can do OK to 150. But then IMHO such a rig becomes a primary item, not a sidearm.
Older and more cranky, just dragging a handgun around when toting a rifle......is a PITA. I plowed a good chunk of field sneaking up on some deer way out in the middle (no cover). Python eating corn stubble and mud. I ended up rolling on my back and taking belt/holster and gun off and finishing my stalk.
Fishing, yeah take an iron. Bowhunting or gun hunting, I leave my handguns in the safe. Did the two gun crap for decades. Not anymore.

 

[Hookeye]

IMHO the Magnaport Predator (4 5/8" w Dragoon grip frame) is too short.
Do think there is a clean look to that bbl length, but it mandates a round trigger guard (on reg frame-non Bisley).

The Dragoon frame on a 5.5" looks fine.

Standard 7.5" w Dragoon also nice.
Longer.......me no likey.

 

[gamestalker]

Not at all. I actually like shorter barreled one;s and shoot them all the time, and I'm a very small man.

The only real difference you'll notice with a short barreled magnum wheel gun, and I'm talking short, which 4-5/8'" isn't, is muzzle blast, and recoil will be more to deal with. But if you should ever have to use it for SD, I can promise you the bad guy will probably get knocked over just from the shock wave alone.

GS

 

[DaisyCutter]

While not something you would try to conceal, have you tried carrying cross draw? With the exception of a couple shoulder rigs, that's how I carry anything longer than 4 5/8".

^That's what I do too. A conventional draw is not ergonomic with my 7.5" Super Blackhawk and I'm over 6' tall. Plus, the grip and frame crash into everything carrying that way.

With a cross draw, I kinda blade my body from the target and pivot my hips as I draw. Instead of accelerating and stopping that heavy metal beast, I'm moreso tilting it and using my hips to pull away the light leather/nylon holster. That's the fastest and most comfortable way to bring the big hog-leg to bear.

Also, on horseback the crossdraw is far superior to a standard draw is almost every way. Just don't pop your own pony between the ears. You never see a reference to that happening, but I know some old drunk cowpoke must've done it...

 

[JERRY]

I have a 4" Mountain Gun and a 7.5" SBH. I'd much rather shoot magnums in the SBH.

 

[MEHavey]

Someone's going to have to `splain to me how a 4-5/8" Super BH is gonna be harder to handle than [my] S&W 4" Mountain Gun in the same 44Mag.

That MtnGun is a perfect practical combo of weight/size/cartridge.
I see no reason the Super BH won't be exactly the same as a single-action.

(I would, however, consider putting some nice Hogue grips on it)




(Remember, the best weapon is the one you actually have with you at the time you need it.)

.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I have one built in 1976 with the 4 5/8" barrel. Neither me nor my wife have any trouble shooting it.

 

[MCgunner]

My 4 5/8 .45 Colt suffers naught from any longer barrels. It would pick up about 100 ft lbs in a 7" barrel with heavy loads, but I'm pushing 900 and not even loading to max with a 300 grain XTP. I'm shooting 2400, so I'd expect the .44 to suffer about the same. But, at 50-75 yards, a deer or hog ain't gonna know the difference. The added convenience of carry is worth it to me.

 

[Bama Drifter]

CraigC your photos are making me drool! Was the color case work done by Turnbull or somebody like that?

 

[CraigC]

Yep, thanks!

 

[farm23]

I have both 44mag and 45 LC in 4 5/8" and for me they shoot as well as my 6" & 7 1/2". I mostly carry the 45 LC on hikes because it is only 43 oz loaded with 250 gr and it rides well.

 

[codefour]

I wish Ruger would introduce a 4 5/8 inch barrel SBH in a Bisley frame. I do NOT like plow handles with heavy .44 Mag loads. I have shot many friends SBH in plow handle and I could never get comfortable with them. I have XXL to XXXL hands. In a single action, the 4 5/8 is hard to beat.

CraigC, is it hard to convert a plow handle to a Bisley frame and are the Bisley conversion parts difficult to locate?

 

[PabloJ]

I'm thinking of getting a Super Blackhawk in 44 mag. I would prefer a 4 5/8 barrel; easier and lighter to carry. And I'll be using 44 spl in it at the range. But I might want to carry it with 44 mag. Is that short barrel too uncomfortable to run 44 mag through?

Lets face it a .44 Magnum revolver is not CC piece. My findings were that barrel of 7.5" produces noticeably less flash than 4&5/8" one, so unless you're going to carry .44 Special cowboy loads in the gun longer barrel is the way to go.