Flattop 45acp/45Colt
I’m looking to buy a Blackhawk soon...as in a couple days after I get to the bank to deposit some cash that I got for selling a boat motor today. I WILL be buying a ruger Blackhawk. And it will be one of 3 options on caliber... all the same setup, look, and price. The three options...
.30 Carbine
.357 Mag
.41 Mag
Added .45 Colt because they have a convertible to 45acp for $50 more.
Each has its own merits and I’m somewhat equally drawn to all three.
I already reload .30 Carbine and .357. I’m better supplied for .357, but that’s not really here nor there because I have been meaning to buy more components for my 30carbine anyway. I have no reservations whatsoever of adding another caliber to the bench as I’m already loading or tooled to load about 40 calibers.
I already have a couple 357s including a buntline single action, and a contender pistol barrel. I do not, have not ever had a .41 mag but I have been on the lookout for one for a while and was pleasantly surprised to see the Blackhawk .41 available.
I already have a Marlin model 62 .30 carbine and want to put a .30m1c handgun with it, but being the odd rifle it is I always figured I would put a contender barrel in the mix for it.
So... price, barrel length, configuration are all identical. Which one do I order once the money gets to the bank account?
And I LOVE your gun, but I’m not dumping money into that grip frame... they think highly of that piece of metal.I believe my (most recent purchased) NM BlackHawk CarryHawk .45LC/ACP convertible is based on the standard (larger) BH frame. So then my stainless flattop is not rated for Ruger only loads, but this CarryHawk is.(?) At least that's what I'm gathering from the other posts. Sorry for the OT.
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It looked really cool but I didn’t care for how it felt in the hand or how much the gun rolled when firing.
I have fired a vaquero birdshead 45. I liked the gun and I liked the grip but didn’t think it appropriate for a powerhouse round. Honestly, I don’t like plow handles either but finding an affordable Bisley is like finding an affordable Rolex.... at least to find a standard Blackhawk Bisley. You can find vaqueros and SBH all day but a regular reasonably priced Bisley BH is elusive. The cost of the grip frames all by themselves are enough to make me have a slight bad taste for ruger single actions. I already dislike Ruger DA revolvers plenty.If you like the Birdshead Grip I highly recommend you try to get your hands on one and shoot a gun with that grip. I thought I wanted one years ago and the Ruger Birdsheads were pretty hard to come across. I bought one from a guy in Texas and had it shipped to me.
It looked really cool but I didn’t care for how it felt in the hand or how much the gun rolled when firing.
yes, as driftwood johnson indicates, the 45 cal. blackhawk large frame was offered back in the seventies. the way to tell the difference is by cylinder diameter.Ruger has done both. I have owned a large-frame .45 Convertible since 1995. I'm not sure what year they switched, or if they still offer the .45 on both frame sizes. But there are bound to be a lot of them out there still.
i just went to the ruger website and noticed they have been busy with creating new blackhawks. thanks for the correction. i might put that 45 cal. convertible on my want list. i like 45 super!They have recently made convertibles on both frames. Correct, that the flat tops can't eat the hot stuff, but the large frame will.
They were made not only in the '70s. As noted, I bought my New Model .45 Convertible new in '95. According to Ruger's website it would have left the factory in '91 (s/n 47-40XXX).yes, as driftwood johnson indicates, the 45 cal. blackhawk large frame was offered back in the seventies. the way to tell the difference is by cylinder diameter.
All 7.5" barreled versions? I might lean to a flame thrower cartridge. Is the .30 Carbine a flame thrower cartridge in a revolver?
i'm learning about ruger offering the convertible in the large frame (with the ears on the top strap) again. so, the flat top frame is the "mid frame" and the old-style frame with the ears on the top strap is the "large frame". got it.They were made not only in the '70s. As noted, I bought my New Model .45 Convertible new in '95. According to Ruger's website it would have left the factory in '91 (s/n 47-40XXX).
https://ruger.com/service/productHistory/RE-NMBhawk45.html
And yes, as further validation my .45 Convertible has a cylinder measuring .729" OD, as compared to my "mid frame" .357, which has a cylinder measurement of .669" OD.
OK, that was an error.
This is an old Three Screw Flat Top Blackhawk chambered for 44 Magnum.
Pay particular attention to the the profile of the top strap and the rear sight. Forget that this is a Three Screw and forget that it is a 44 Mag. Just study the top strap and rear sight.
View attachment 906037
This is my old 45 Colt/45 ACP Blackhawk. Notice the configuration of the top strap and rear sight. This frame has what are sometimes referred to as the 'ears' on the top strap that protect the rear sight from damage.
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Thanks , I had one of those old Flat Top .44 magnum Black Hawks many years and it was a swell pistol and never gave me any trouble BUT I see your point about the top strap ! The milling cut on it for the Micro sight certainy reduces the thickness ! I never thought about that before ! I'm glad my Colt New Frontier is in .44 special now !!! seriously !
Yeah, it doesn’t help that Ruger makes physical changes, but does not always change the name designation of the various models.i'm learning about ruger offering the convertible in the large frame (with the ears on the top strap) again. so, the flat top frame is the "mid frame" and the old-style frame with the ears on the top strap is the "large frame". got it.
i forgot about the three-screw 357 magnum blackhawks (i have a three-screw flattop 357 magnum on the mid-frame). now i'm more certain that the best way to tell the frame differences is by cylinder diameter.Also, not all mid-frame models are flat tops. I’ve got an OM .357 Blackhawk with “ears” which is on the mid-frame.
Changed my vote to .45 after the poll edit.![]()