I love .41mag. I love my S&W 57 but the one I have is just too collectable to mess up the finish by putting it into a holster. The reason I bought it was to have a bear defense gun when camping with more "umph" than my .357s. So, I was going to pick up a more beat up M57 or Taurus Tracker to go with my nice M57. However, even the beat up M57s are pretty expensive. The used Tracker in .41mag I wanted got sold to someone else, and new they aren't cheap around here. So, I went online and saw some great prices on quite a few used New Model Blackhawks in .41mag (some decent prices new too).
Basically what I know about these is that they are basically SA Vaqueros (old model) with adjustable sights. I guess SA would be OK for bear defense. The guns seem nice, and as Rugers they will be strong. I'm barely resisting bidding on one (I need to wait because I am waiting for the seller of the best looking one to get back to me on an email question I had for him).
I'm considering either a 4 1/2" or a 6 1/2" barrel. I think I'd prefer the 4 1/2" since .41mag out of a shorter barrel won't be too bad so I don't think I need the longest possible barrel for bear defense like I would in .357mag and the shorter barrel would carry much easier. Heck, when in a CCW state in the winter I may even be able to conceal the monster.
So, what do all the Ruger owners and experts think about this gun? How about the shorter barrel for bear defense (the bears around MD, VA and PA are mostly small and medium sized black bear and so far as I know there are no brown/grizzlies around here)?
Basically what I know about these is that they are basically SA Vaqueros (old model) with adjustable sights. I guess SA would be OK for bear defense. The guns seem nice, and as Rugers they will be strong. I'm barely resisting bidding on one (I need to wait because I am waiting for the seller of the best looking one to get back to me on an email question I had for him).
I'm considering either a 4 1/2" or a 6 1/2" barrel. I think I'd prefer the 4 1/2" since .41mag out of a shorter barrel won't be too bad so I don't think I need the longest possible barrel for bear defense like I would in .357mag and the shorter barrel would carry much easier. Heck, when in a CCW state in the winter I may even be able to conceal the monster.
So, what do all the Ruger owners and experts think about this gun? How about the shorter barrel for bear defense (the bears around MD, VA and PA are mostly small and medium sized black bear and so far as I know there are no brown/grizzlies around here)?
), then it should be OK. I find them a bit on the bulky side, but they are built like tanks.