A storied blackhawk

[Whiskeyhotel2020]

I grew up hearing stories of my Great Grandfather who, was an avid hunter. I met the man one time unfortunately I was too little to remember him. My dad used to tell this great story about when C.G. decided to try handgun hunting. He bought himself a Ruger Blackhawk in 44 mag and had a bushnell phantom handgun scope milled to the receiver.

Now C.G. being a rifle hunter didn't understand pistol eye relief. A lot of you will see where this is going and sadly you're right. One round and Great Grandpa leaves the range with a cut brow. Once his stitches came out he took that 44 back out determined to sight it in. Once again one round fired and back to the Dr.s office for more stitches. I should mention this man is a very stubborn Irishman. His third trip out he figured out how to solve the problem. He brought a stocking cap and a piece of tin to the range with him. He folded the tin into the stocking cap and proceeded to sight his ruger in.

This story had me in stitches every time i would hear my dad or Grandpa tell it. I asked if C.G. kept the Ruger. And the response was yes he did in fact he hand loaded for it. Blew the cylinder apart and had to have ruger repair it.

When Grandpa passed dad got his guns. Amongst those was the storied Ruger and a box of C.G.'s hand loads from 1968. Neither one of us were gutsy enough to try the reloads. Dad passed last year and I have the Blackhawk now and pass the story on to my kids.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

It's a good thing to have firearms passed down the generations. They seem to hold more sentimental value than other things. Our family is lucky to have several guns that have great stories and history. Now those handloads on the other hand..........!!!

 

[Ru4real]

Good story to go along with a fine revolver!

Another BH, but without a funny story like yours.

 

[ontarget]

Now let's be honest here. How many of us have been scope bitten?
Granted mine was with a M700 in .270, not a Blackhawk.
It was the persistence of your Great Grandpa that made me laugh, and I wasn't surprised to read that he was Irish.
Great story OP. Made my evening.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

My scoped 7.7 Arisaka, with that short butt-stock, got me a few times.

 

[Armored farmer]

Great story.
Blackhawks are great, strong guns.
Now go dismantle those old dangerous handloads. Recycle the bullets and brass, but dump the powder in the yard.

 

[gotboostvr]

I got scope-kissed by my old PSL about 75% of the time. It was just by the little rubber cup, but still a bit off putting.

Got more than kissed by my buddies 300WM once. That was alot off putting!

 

[BullRunBear]

Love the story and the humor. When I helped my best friend teach his little boys about guns and safety we used some guns brought into the family by their great grandfather. Even at that young age, they thought it was 'cool' to use guns their ancestors shot and hunted with.

Jeff

 

[Whiskeyhotel2020]

The reloads are in a special place and I'll keep em just because they're part of the legacy. Box has been marked with giant letters DO NOT SHOOT!!!! I have the paperwork from when the gun was sent for repair as well.

 

[Catpop]

I surmise he was not using a long eye relief scope.

I saw my dad fire a SBH 44 mag one day. The front sight likin to have frapped him between the eyes! It was his first and last experience with the SBH.
All he said was “Good Gawd” and handed it back to my friend!

 

[Whiskeyhotel2020]

I had a similar experience with a 454 blackhawk. I didn't get smacked but after 2 rounds I put it down.

The scope is a long eye relief pistol scope.