Current Blackhawk .357s

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Bought my wife an Anniversary edition .357Mag a few years ago. Fit and finish perfect. Great shooter.
Will
 
If you can get a Flat Top Blackhawk in .357 Magnum that is a better choice for a .357 Magnum. The Blackhawk currently made is made on the .44 Magnum frame and is therefore slightly overbuilt and heavy for the .357 Magnum round.


Bob Wright
 
kookla said:

in all the years I've been haunting gun shops in the state, I've yet to come across a three screw Ruger centerfire. I've seen plenty of three screw Single Sixes, but never one of the big boys.
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Barry the Bear said:

Ya know I second that notion, I see pictures and read all sorts of notes either from taffin,keith, and Skelton and even the more knowledgeable people in this forum but I have never seen a three screw up close.
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Maybe so if I posted a photo of mine:

100_0213_zps6w0hgvfc.jpg



Hope this will ease your lack of viewing somewhat. It the least I can do.


Bob Wright
 
in all the years I've been haunting gun shops in the state, I've yet to come across a three screw Ruger centerfire. I've seen plenty of three screw Single Sixes, but never one of the big boys.
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Ya know I second that notion, I see pictures and read all sorts of notes either from taffin,keith, and Skelton and even the more knowledgeable people in this forum but I have never seen a three screw up close.
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Howdy

Where do you boys live? I used to feel the same way, until I started looking hard. Last count I think I have three 3 Screw Single Sixes, 3 Three screw 357 Blackhawks, and 1 Three Screw 44 Mag Blackhawk. I came across most of them in local shops and gun shows, I think the 44 was the only one I bought at auction. They're out there, you just have to search. Now I have to do a group photo like BobWright's
 
Thanks!

So let me get this straight...the flat top 357s are built on a smaller frame than normal .357 Blackhawks?

PS: anyone know of any "John Wayne yellow" grips that will fit said gun?
 
Coldill

You might try Tru-Ivory grips by Bar-S Grips. They use to have Antique Yellow and Ultra Antique colored grips that would probably give you the look you want.
 
Howdy Again


Three Screw group photo.

Three Single Sixes on the left, then 357 Mag Flat Top, 357 Mag, then 44 Mag Flat Top. With the exception of the 44 Mag, all were found at local shops or shows. Most within the last few years. Keep looking, they are out there. I have come across a couple of Three Screws that have been converted to the transfer bar system at the factory, but I have not bothered with them. They do not work as nicely as the originals.

Three%20Screw%20Rugers%2002_zpsamurn7bf.jpg
 
These three screw pics are killing me...

Driftwood, I'm in CT. Could just be the area around here.
 
I hope that someday, God willing, I'll be able to put my Ruger up here to add to the "single-action porn" that inevitably seems to show up when anybody starts a thread like this! :D

Bannockburn, those look very good. I'll keep that outfit in mind.
 
Here is the youngest one. It is about four years old and is the only one I bought brand-new. I have never had any problems with it. It is a 45acp/45 colt "convertible". It is very accurate with either round.

The other day at the range I managed to put four out of six shots into one ragged hole with it. My friend noticed that and wanted to try his luck. I watched him shoot and not one of the six even made the largish hole any larger. I patted him on the back and complimented his shooting. He started laughing hysterically, because he'd been shooting at a different target! :)

RugerBlackhawk45_zps07fdb39d.jpg
 
Here is the 357. I really wanted one, but I am cheap. After several months I won it for a $300 bid on Gunbroker. It has been shot quite a bit and the finish is worn, but it functions perfectly. It is a sweet shooter. Finally I have a 357 that can rival my FiL's GP100 and Dan Wesson.

Blackhawk20357_zpstt55vpkx.jpg
 
Life isn't fair. I finally decided to replace my ancient SAA replica in 44 magnum with a Super Blackhawk. Since I am careful with my money ("cheapskate", according to my wife), I watched them on Gunbroker for months until I won this one for a $400 opening bid. It only had a few pictures, but looked to be in good shape. When it got to my LGS I opened the loading gate and couldn't understand why the cylinder didn't turn. "Because it's a three-screw, you dummy!" my friend behind the counter told me. It wasn't advertised as such, and the pictures didn't show the place where the actual three screws are, but that's what it is. It has an outstanding trigger! :)

Super20Blackhawk_zps8zdsf02x.jpg
 
So let me get this straight...the flat top 357s are built on a smaller frame than normal .357 Blackhawks?
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Yes, they are built on a smaller frame. In .357 that makes no practical difference in terms of strength. Nothing to be concerned about. Re weight: the weight difference between the regular .357 Blackhawk and the slightly smaller Flat Top is largely offset by the fact that the common blued regular Blackhawk convertibles have aluminum alloy frames and both blued and stainless Flat Tops have steel frames. Don't remember exact numbers, but the weights are close. I have blued Blackhawks and stainless Flattops and either version is a great revolver. I don't have a blued Flattop but they are gorgeous.
 
Re weight: the weight difference between the regular .357 Blackhawk and the slightly smaller Flat Top is largely offset by the fact that the common blued regular Blackhawk convertibles have aluminum alloy frames and both blued and stainless Flat Tops have steel frames.
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Uuuummmmm.... Correct me if I'm wrong, but all my Rugers have steel frames. They have aluminum grip frames, but the frame that the cylinder sits in is steel. Just confirmed that with a magnet on a whole bunch of Rugers including a bunch of old Three Screws. For what it's worth, when the Vaquero first came out it had a steel grip frame. Which surprised me the first time I picked one up, because I could tell it weighed more than a Blackhawk of similar caliber and barrel length. The New Vaquero has always had a steel grip frame too.

But I would be very surprised if Ruger has started building center fire single action revolvers with aluminum cylinder frames.
 
Driftwood, you are correct, of course. I inadvertently omitted the word "grip". I did mean to type "grip frames". My larger point stands. The alloy grip frame of the larger blackhawk largely offsets much of the weight difference between the larger Blackhawk and the Flattop.
 
I think Ed Jaws stole my Ruger! Oh, wait, mine has custom mesquite grips now.

Mine is a few years old now and has been flawless other than a gritty trigger when brand new. I'm sure it would have worn in but I disassembled it and lightly stoned things. No more gritty trigger.

The blackhawk is a heavy gun in 357 because of all the metal it retains with that small caliber. That makes it very recoil friendly with full house mag loads and kind of a popgun with 38 special loads..
 
Got a surprise when I won a 357 BH on Gunbroker. Turned out to be a pre-warning New Model. Looked brand new. Barely a scratch on the cylinder. Good price too. Let's see. They started the New Models in 73, I think. Not sure when the warnings started on the barrel.
 
I like .357 magnum for MY PURPOSES.

Here in Kansas, not much a .357 won't stop. It's also a lot cheaper than the .45 big boys because I'm not a reloader. With a 9mm conversion cylinder, it's cheaper to shoot than anything except rimfire but has a lot more punch.
 
.
This thread is great! If it weren't for the fact that the New Model Flattop Convertible linked here in Post #16 has the transfer bar system... I might have jumped on it (one of the three available). But then there's also the fact that my next loose 600 bucks is earmarked for half the remaining balance due on a Springfield MC Operator and the fact that I've just started reloading for my 3-screw .41 Blackhawk, so I'm all tied up at the moment!

I do very much want both an early .357 Magnum and .44 Special flattop Blackhawks...

Good luck in your searches, gentlemen!

:)
 
200Apples

Here you go...an early .357 Magnum Blackhawk though not a Flattop, and a newer .44 Special Blackhawk which is a Flattop.

Both are great examples of Ruger's build quality over the years.

070_zpstavluvdw.jpg

001_zpsooafjamp.jpg
 
I shoot both of the Blackhawk convertibles but nly in 445 ACP and 9mm. I've loaded those two cartridges for years so that is what these get fed. While out shooting in the woods the ejector, spring and housing flew off of the barrel as the retaining screw came loose and all that stuff is now rusting away in the palmetto bushes. Didn't notice the loss until I went to reload about a hour or so later. Called Ruger service. They sent a box and picked it up a day later. The revolver was back home within 8 or 10 days.. Great service.

My only gripe about both is that hear you have two very nice handguns but Ruger apparently thinks those crappy black plastic handgrips are wonderful. They really cheapen the overall appearance of thepieces.
 
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