Help me choose between two Ruger SAs.

[ontarget]

Vaquero Bisley in 44 Mag 5.5 inch or Blackhawk in 41 Mag 4.6 inch barrel.
Same condition and same price.
Yes I will be handloading for either.
Help me out here folks, I can't decide.
I could buy both, but I don't want to right now because neither was on my radar. I have other guns I want first.
Thanks.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I think such a short barrel kinda wastes much of the .41s potential so I vote Vaquero.

 

[bigpower491]

+1 with @NIGHTLORD40K

 

[J-Bar]

I like adjustable sights so the Blackhawk would get my nod, plus I am one of those for whom the Bisley grip just feels weird.

 

[.308 Norma]

I'd go for the Blackhawk for the adjustable sights, but mostly because I just like 41 Magnums.

 

[ontarget]

So 2 for the Vaquero, and 2 for the Blackhawk.
Dang, you guys are alot of help! LOL.

 

[bigpower491]

Well, there's a lot of good pros and cons to both matey. The 41 would be better in a 5.5 , but it does have the better sights. The Bisleys have a different feel to em. I've got the Blackhawk Bisley in 45 Colt, not a bad revolver, but it took me a bit to warm up to the grip. Probably why I don't shoot it as much as the others.
Knowing you, you're probably getting a damn good deal on either, as usual, so I'll revise to toss up.

 

[jstert]

i am not a handloader and don’t have either caliber but i vote for 44, since it could handle both special and magnum rounds.

i have a beloved ruger blackhawk convertible 45lc/acp, by far i shoot mostly the latter (cheaper) round.

 

[ontarget]

i am not a handloader and don’t have either caliber but i vote for 44, since it could handle both special and magnum rounds.

i have a beloved ruger blackhawk convertible 45lc/acp, by far i shoot mostly the latter (cheaper) round.

I would love to find a 45 convertible. Thats actually on my list.

 

[Targa]

Tough choice for sure, good luck. I will say that I like the look of the Vaquero a bit more than the Blackhawk plus the .44 is the cats meow in a revolver cartridge in my opinion anyway. As for the .41mag, I won’t even begin to sound like I know what I am talking about, I have never shot or even seen one out in the wild.

 

[medic68]

Vaquero Bisley in 44 Mag 5.5 inch or Blackhawk in 41 Mag 4.6 inch barrel.
Same condition and same price.
Yes I will be handloading for either.
Help me out here folks, I can't decide.
I could buy both, but I don't want to right now because neither was on my radar. I have other guns I want first.
Thanks.

Is the 41 mag an older 3 screw or a "new model"? If the .41 is the older model it would be a no-brainer decision over the Bisley 44 Mag in my opinion. I've owned a three-screw 4 5/8" 1967 Ruger .41 mag since it was new and it's more than enough gun loaded with the right ammo for the job.

 

[CraigC]

I 'almost' have both but both 4 5/8" guns. The .41 had to be converted to a Bisley. The Vaquero was born that way. The .44 is still my favorite.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I'd be more inclined toward the Vaquero if I could be sure it shot to the sights. Fixed sighted SAAs always seem to be a crapshoot in that regard.

 

[ditmo]

Bisley grip does nothing for me. I already have blackhawks in 41 mag with 6.5 and 4.6 bbls. That's my vote. 41 Mag all the way.

 

[WisBorn]

I would prefer the Bisley, but love the 41mag cartridge.

Buy both problem solved!
THR enabler sorry I wasn't much help!

 

[Mark_Mark]

+6 for the Voquaro!

 

[CraigC]

Another factor to consider, the large frame Bisley Vaquero isn't made any more. The .41 Blackhawk is still catalogued.

 

[doubleh]

It would be a pass on both for me. I am not a fan of the Bisley grip or fixed sights on center fire revolvers. The BlackHawk would be OK except for the caliber. I have never seen a reason for the .41. It has always seemed like a solution looking for a problem IMO. 357, 44 mag, or 45 Colt I could live with. You have the power if needed and each is easy to neuter with hand loads to be very pleasant as a plinking round.

 

[drobs]

I would pass on both. Neither caliber is of any interest to me.

 

[375supermag]

Vaquero Bisley in 44 Mag 5.5 inch or Blackhawk in 41 Mag 4.6 inch barrel.
Same condition and same price.
Yes I will be handloading for either.
Help me out here folks, I can't decide.
I could buy both, but I don't want to right now because neither was on my radar. I have other guns I want first.
Thanks.

I have multiple revolvers in both calibers and would happily buy another .41Magnum and never regret the decision.
I handload for both calibers and many others so ammunition cost/availability is of no concern to me.

 

[Sacramento Johnson]

What would your plans be for either one?
Either can be used for plinking or wild animal self defense, among other duties.
44 mag also gives one the option of shooting 44 special loads, whereas "41 special" brass is difficult to find; I only know of Starline making them rarely.
As for the Bisley Vaquero, does the grip fit your hand? That grip style tends to elicit strong positive and negative views with little in between. (For full power loads, some prefer the Bisley grip as it doesn't roll as much in one's hand; also its design can be easier for one handed shooting.)
Fixed sights may require some kentucky windage for casual plinking; is that something you don't mind doing?
Like CraigC mentioned, that Bisley Vaquero is discontinued while the 41 mag is still available; is that relevant to you?
Is the Bisley stainless steel? If so, better for humid/wet climates if it is to be carried outdoors.

Will be interested to see what you go for!

 

[.308 Norma]

44 mag also gives one the option of shooting 44 special loads, whereas "41 special" brass is difficult to find; I only know of Starline making them rarely.

As a handloader, loading 41 Magnum brass to so called "41 Special" specs is no problem whatsoever. Almost all of the ammo I use in my 41 Magnum (a Taurus) is 41 Magnum brass loaded to so called "41 Special" specs.
As a matter of fact, most of the ammo I use in my 44 Magnums is just 44 Magnum brass loaded to 44 Special specs. I do the same thing with my 357 Magnums - 38 Special (or 38 Special +P) loads in 357 Magnum brass. Just because my pickup-truck will easily go 80mph, (the speed limit on the Interstate highways here in Idaho) doesn't mean I have to drive it that fast.

 

[.308 Norma]

The .41 Blackhawk is still catalogued.

I'm still hoping, but I'm starting to become rather "jaundiced" towards what guns Ruger still "catalogs." Ruger still "catalogs" a stainless 44 Special "Bisley" too, but I've had one on order for going on a year now and haven't seen it yet.

 

[.38 Special]

I'd go with the Vaquero, mostly for the grip frame - the ".4" Magnums get uncomfortable for me with the standard "plowhandle" grip.

I'm also turned off by the short barrel on the Blackhawk.

Yes, the sights on the Vaquero might need some tweaking - but often they are close enough that, at most, the load might need to be adjusted to bring it to POA. (And I've had several Vaqueros that were spot-on right out of the box, needing only the face of the front blade flattened and/or serrated to cut down on glare.)

<edit> I'd also pass on both. Like the OP, neither is anything I'm excited about, and I'd rather put the money somewhere else.

 

[KansasTrapper77]

I’m real partial to the 4.62” Blackhawks and adjustable sights. But as CraigC mentioned you can no longer get a Bisley Vaquero .44 Mag. So thats cool.