Henry Rifle Forums

My very good friend’s son went to buy a new .44. He was after a Taurus. Turns out The site he was trying to purchase from was bogus and we were able to stop the purchase. He was a bit bummed because he really wanted a big bore and that one in particular. He asked me about it and I told him if it were me I’d get a Blackhawk and never look back. So by golly he found one - new in the box for a “reasonable” price. He ordered it, then came over to learn how to load some .44 magnum. Used one of BigAl’s recipes and loaded 44 rounds and sent six factory Winchesters along for an even 50. He came by today after work so I could take a look. Sent him home with a poster board with a circle drawn on it told him to take just a couple shots at 20 paces so he’d “know if he spent wisely”.

His first and only two shots so far….

Pretty close together for first shots. Hard to go wrong with a Ruger.

Tell him to check out bear paw grips for that Ruger. They make a world of difference

Not bad, not bad at all.
Blackhawk or Super Blackhawk?
Agree with Ernie, as I have a few myself.

RP

Great shots with a .44 Mag for first time! Were those mild or mid range loads?

Good job on getting him off to a great start. He's much better off with that Blackhawk. Ruger makes a fine pistol, that will last a lifetime. Taurus's quality is improved from past years, but I don't think they are up to Ruger's.

Paul

Good job on having him buy the BH. It will last a life time. Sure like mine. BTW, fine shooting right there!

It’s a standard Blackhawk. The load is a 240 grain Hornady XTP over 19.6 grains of 2400. Winchester standard large pistol primers - so while not “stiff” it’s a good load. He’s very happy with with the BH. Reported it to be smooth and easy to shoot. He was super happy with his first two rounds. We’ll get sit down in the very near future and get it wrung out some. He was patient and attentive when we sat down to load. Pretty sure he’s hooked. If he only had a Henry .44 lever then he’d be all set.

I have both an 8-3/8” Taurus Model 44 and a Ruger Super Blackhawk 10.5” Buntline I converted over to a Bisley. I only bought the Taurus as a project gun to tide me over until the S&W prices came back down out of the clouds. There is no comparison between the two. They do both shoot good though. I gave the Model 44 a facelift as soon as I got it.

After several hours of sanding and polishing and a new set of Hogue grips.
After the Bisley conversion and a new set of Hogue Cowboy Panels. My oldest (14) loves this gun.

How much of a change in felt recoil was there after you put the Bisely grip frame on the Ruger? Do you have large hands? I have a Ruger Blackhawk .45 conv. and a Colt S.A.A. .45 and had to put oversized grips on both. I don't know what Colt was thinking when they didn't put the army grip on the S.A.A. Army instead of the bigger grip from the 1860 Army .

That's better than I did with my first try with a 44 mag Super Blackhawk. Really had my doubts back then if I would ever be able to shoot that monster. Of course, that was back in the day when it was unheard of for a gal to even try to shoot a 44 mag handgun.

Not everyone prefers the Bisley on the hard kickers. Over years I tried more of the plow grip grip and Bisley Ruger SA 44 mags, but I actually preferred the old plow grip in the end. Took a while to develop a hold that worked for me with the plow grip, but I actually found it more comfortable than the Bisley when I did.

Travlin wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 01, 2022 8:04 pm

How much of a change in felt recoil was there after you put the Bisely grip frame on the Ruger? Do you have large hands? I have a Ruger Blackhawk .45 conv. and a Colt S.A.A. .45 and had to put oversized grips on both. I don't know what Colt was thinking when they didn't put the army grip on the S.A.A. Army instead of the bigger grip from the 1860 Army .

Sorry about not responding to this. With the Ruger Super Blackhawk, that gun has its own grip. It’s an extended version of Ruger’s interpretation of the SAA grip. The factory grips are squared off up where the grip meets the frame. On a shorter barrel 44, this isn’t a huge deal as the muzzle rise will absorb some of the recoil. With a long bull barrel like is on my Super Blackhawk Buntline, it’s very different. You don’t get nearly the energy dispersed raising the muzzle, it comes more directly back into your wrist. In addition, those squared off contours on the grip kind of dig into the side of the ring finger. Lastly, the dragoon grip frame is notorious for cracking knuckles off the trigger guard.

With the Bisley grip frame, the angle of the wrist is different. A better angle to help support the weight of the gun lower on the grip frame so it’s not resting against that squared off edge against the side of the finger. It also help straighten the wrist a little so the recoil coming directly into to wrist isn’t at a bad angle. The super Blackhawk grip frame puts the wrist at a more thumb forward position. The Bisley let’s the heel of the hand come forward a little bit. It also helps get the muzzle to rise a bit easier because of how low on the grip the resistance is. After I changed out the grip frame on that Super Blackhawk Bisley, my brother said it was like night and day. I agree. Also changed out the actual grips with a set that had a more curved radius where it rests against the middle finger.

An actual Colt SAA replica like a Uberti 1873 has a real Colt spec grip frame / grip, the whole feel of that frame is different. It’s not near as bulky as the Rugers grips. I have pictures of the comparisons I took while doing the whole conversion process, if you wish, I’d have to dig them up.

The squared off sides of the grips themselves The hand position on the Super Blackhawk grip
The hand position on the Bisley frame
Difference between the Bisley frame (right) and the Super Blackhawk frame (left)
Difference between the standard Ruger SAA plow grip and the Super Blackhawk grip

Thank you for sharing your experience in the single action grips. I think that if I could find and afford some of the oversized rubber finger groove grips for my Blackhawk .45 conv. I would be able to shoot it a lot better. I put a Super Blackhawk dropped spur hammer on it when it was new and before I ever shot it. That and an action job with a white outline rear and red insert front site.

Bear Paw grips Travelin check them out

Travlin wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 10, 2022 8:56 pm

Thank you for sharing your experience in the single action grips. I think that if I could find and afford some of the oversized rubber finger groove grips for my Blackhawk .45 conv. I would be able to shoot it a lot better. I put a Super Blackhawk dropped spur hammer on it when it was new and before I ever shot it. That and an action job with a white outline rear and red insert front site.

You got a picture you could share of the gun in question?

Re Bear Paw Grips, Very pretty but way above my pay grade and I am interested in a Houge type oversized with finger grooves. I have worked with nice lumber my whole life and my Rolling Block has a nice tiger stripe maple stock but for a working handgun function and fit for my big mitts is number one.

Sorry backyard but I have a flip phone and use an I-Mac so as of the present posting photos is not in my skill set. I would like to as my 1937 National Match .45 and the affor-mentioned Rolling Block may be of interest to some of you.

Travlin wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 11, 2022 7:50 am

Sorry backyard but I have a flip phone and use an I-Mac so as of the present posting photos is not in my skill set. I would like to as my 1937 National Match .45 and the affor-mentioned Rolling Block may be of interest to some of you.

Send me the photos Travelin and I can post them for you if you wish.