Got my from Lipsey’s. The price was a lot less than converting a three screw Blackhawk. Hamilton Bowen’s conversations are highly regarded, however Mr. Bowen wanted $800.00 for converting a 357 three screw to a 44 Spl, and I would have to furnish the Blackhawk.
I don’t like the looks of the 4 5/8” barrels, so I got mine in 5 1/2”.
While “Flat Topping” the frame makes this piece unique, in my opinion, it is a retrogressive step . The sight protector wings of the “New Model” frame protects the rear sights from knocks. Some ideas of the past are better left buried in the ash heap of history.
I appreciated that the typical Ruger barrel warnings are on the bottom of the barrel. The piece just looks better without the text.
The manual comes with a Flat top insert.
I shot my piece with what used to be factory equivalent loads. With the dumbing down of reloading data these day, I have no idea if a 240 LSWC and 6.5 grains Unique is considered over pressure or not. I also shot the revolver with 6.2 grains Unique and a 240 L.
I previously chronographed these loads in another 5.5” revolver and measured these results:
The Ruger flattop is a relatively heavy single action and recoil was mild. Most cases just fell out of the chamber. I am going to experiment with some heavier loads, loads that would probably blow the top strap of a Charter Arms Bulldog (so I won’t provide the load) , but ones that I have fired thousands of times through my N frame M624 Smith and Wessons. The heavier reloads are going to push my 240’s just above 900 fps.
When you push a 240 at 900 fps in a 44 Spl, the performance of the round is hardly distinguishable from a 255 L at 850 fps in a 45 Long Colt.
That is a good thing.
I have no desire to duplicate 44 Magnum velocities. I have a Super Blackhawk. I hardly shoot it now. Of course the 44 magnum is a much more powerful round, but so what. If I need rifle cartridge performance, I am going to use a rifle. I don’t care for the blast and the recoil of the 44 Mag. After 50 rounds of full power 44 magnums, I am shell shocked and my elbow hurts. I was able to shoot over 100 rounds of 44 Spl in this pistol without developing a flinch, and then I continued shooting another 100 rounds in a 45 LC. If I had shot a 44 Mag, I would had to quit after shooting the 44 Mag.
The trigger on this Ruger was not exceptional in any way. Ruger factory triggers are not the equal of Smith and Wesson factory triggers. An average S&W trigger releases without prior movement. It is the exceptional and rare Ruger trigger which releases without movement. With this pistol, I could feel the movement of the trigger before final release. This hurt my accuracy when shooting this revolver bullseye style. It took a lot of work, shooting bullseye style, to keep my shots on a 12” 50 yard gong target. (I was doing better than 50%) However, when shooting two handed, I was able to hold longer, and the Flat top shot very well at 50 yards. Even at 50 yards, with mild factory equivalent loads, a 44 Spl still provides a lot of on target punch with its big heavy bullet
I am thinking of a trigger job, maybe a more powerful mainspring to reduce locktime, and that will be that. The revolver is pretty good as is.
Overall I had no malfunctions, the piece is accurate, the recoil mild, and I think it is about time that Ruger made a single action in 44 Spl.
I don’t like the looks of the 4 5/8” barrels, so I got mine in 5 1/2”.
While “Flat Topping” the frame makes this piece unique, in my opinion, it is a retrogressive step . The sight protector wings of the “New Model” frame protects the rear sights from knocks. Some ideas of the past are better left buried in the ash heap of history.
I appreciated that the typical Ruger barrel warnings are on the bottom of the barrel. The piece just looks better without the text.
The manual comes with a Flat top insert.
I shot my piece with what used to be factory equivalent loads. With the dumbing down of reloading data these day, I have no idea if a 240 LSWC and 6.5 grains Unique is considered over pressure or not. I also shot the revolver with 6.2 grains Unique and a 240 L.
I previously chronographed these loads in another 5.5” revolver and measured these results:
Code:
[B]USFA SAA 44Spl 5.5” barrel
240 LSWC 6.5 grs Unique Mixed Brass WLP
10-Jul-05
T = 80 °F
Ave Vel = 837.9 866.7 851.5
Std Dev = 30.57 22.22 32.07
ES = 129.3 90.47 141.8
Low = 890.8 910.8 888.5
High = 761.4 820.4 746.7
N = 18 24 18
240 LSWC 6.25 grs Unique Lot 6/21/93, Mixed Brass WLP
6-Apr-07
T = 48 °F
Ave Vel =835
Std Dev =19.87
ES =95.46
High = 874.7
Low = 779.3
N = 32[/B]When you push a 240 at 900 fps in a 44 Spl, the performance of the round is hardly distinguishable from a 255 L at 850 fps in a 45 Long Colt.
That is a good thing.
I have no desire to duplicate 44 Magnum velocities. I have a Super Blackhawk. I hardly shoot it now. Of course the 44 magnum is a much more powerful round, but so what. If I need rifle cartridge performance, I am going to use a rifle. I don’t care for the blast and the recoil of the 44 Mag. After 50 rounds of full power 44 magnums, I am shell shocked and my elbow hurts. I was able to shoot over 100 rounds of 44 Spl in this pistol without developing a flinch, and then I continued shooting another 100 rounds in a 45 LC. If I had shot a 44 Mag, I would had to quit after shooting the 44 Mag.
The trigger on this Ruger was not exceptional in any way. Ruger factory triggers are not the equal of Smith and Wesson factory triggers. An average S&W trigger releases without prior movement. It is the exceptional and rare Ruger trigger which releases without movement. With this pistol, I could feel the movement of the trigger before final release. This hurt my accuracy when shooting this revolver bullseye style. It took a lot of work, shooting bullseye style, to keep my shots on a 12” 50 yard gong target. (I was doing better than 50%) However, when shooting two handed, I was able to hold longer, and the Flat top shot very well at 50 yards. Even at 50 yards, with mild factory equivalent loads, a 44 Spl still provides a lot of on target punch with its big heavy bullet
I am thinking of a trigger job, maybe a more powerful mainspring to reduce locktime, and that will be that. The revolver is pretty good as is.
Overall I had no malfunctions, the piece is accurate, the recoil mild, and I think it is about time that Ruger made a single action in 44 Spl.
