Henry Rifle Forums

Here's the last of the new, unfired Old Model Ruger single actions we purchased (financed by selling off some other guns). This OM Blackhawk is kind of an odd duck in the single action world, given that win it is chambered in 30 Carbine, a rifle round. Back in the late 60s, Bill Ruger thought it would be great to chamber a Blackhawk in the 30 Carbine because ammo was so plentiful and cheap. Should make a fun and unique single action to shoot.



It's also odd in that it's a Blackhawk with a long 7 1/2" barrel, a length usually reserved for the 44 mag Super Blackhawk, the idea being to better handle shooting a rifle cartridge for the sake of burning more powder. No doubt about it, this is one big, heavy Blackhawk.


In doing research on this unusual Blackhawk (still in production, by the way), I encountered a lot of negative comments by the "experts" who decried the idea of shooting a rifle cartridge in a single action. I also found it interesting that Ruger collector's have shied away from it, possibly for the same reason. On the other hand, I was floored by all the owners that said, yeah, maybe not too practical, but we love it and no way would we sell it. It's just too darn much fun to shoot.

And fun it is ... and loud ... lots of bark. Recoil, though? What recoil? Yup, exciting, but oh so sweet to shoot. And, it's accurate.

Here's my first shot, ever, out of a gun that has been sitting, unfired, since 1973, the last year for the three screw Old Model Blackhawks. A little high. Adjusted down a few clicks, put 5 in the black and to make it an even six, loaded one more and put it with the rest. (I never sight in a revolver off a rest, since I never shoot a revolver off a rest.) Great start for this classic Ruger SA.


50 yards? Why not. Didn't want to re-adjust the sights, so had to do a little trial and error on the hold, but once I had it down, managed six in the black. Can't ask for more than that.


Yup, this one I do shoot. No regrets ... not a one.

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Real nice revolver and shooting! 50 yds in the black superb!
I can't hit a 4x4 sheet of plywood at 50 yds.

nice, first time I've heard of on in 30 cal .... kudos for being able to adjust your sight based on firing a single, off hand round .... to me that's impressive

Beautiful and impressive NCG. Very interesting post!!

You handled that odd duck perfectly! And you said it's "big and heavy." Current production NM (#0505) BH on Ruger website shows weight at 2.88 lbs. Is your 1970s revolver similar weight, or heavier yet? Also I know it doesn't make that much difference, since you're always on target. Curious to find out, what size are the ones you used?

Glad it's an accurate shooter, and good to know it's being shot by a sharp-shooter, too!
No regrets is a summary. I know you'll continue to enjoy it. Have much fun.

PT7

P.S. What does Bill think about this new OM?

Very cool revolver and very good shooting! I have heard of these and only issue other than the blast is sometimes the brass might want to stick
in the chamber. Great back up gun for a M1 Carbine??

In doing research on this unusual Blackhawk (still in production, by the way), I encountered a lot of negative comments by the "experts" who decried the idea of shooting a rifle cartridge in a single action.

This was due to the fairly high pressure the original .30 Carbine ammo was loaded to. I guess some thought it could be problematic in the gun but never has been.
Well while technically a rifle round it has more in common with handgun ammo and reloading really gives the .30 carbine versatility and the Blackhawk chambered in it has always had a dedicated following.

Nice NCG and I have always wondered about getting one of those but I just never did pull the trigger on one.

Love the long barrel and great shooting at 50 yds. Impressive.

Sweet, and some nice shooting.
I'll bet it is one loud son-of-a-gun.

RP

To answer some questions:

The Old Model Blackhawks weighed no more or no less than the New Models, given the same configuration. It's the lockwork that changed. The Old Models (three screw) had a 4 click Colt action with no transfer bar or other built in safety mechanism, so you must carry the gun with 5 loaded, leaving the hammer sitting over an empty chamber. This has been SOP as long as there have been Colt single actions.

When Ruger changed to the New Model in 1974 (after losing a lawsuit), they incorporated a transfer bar safety to the action so that you can safely carry the gun with the hammer over a live round. However, no more four click Colt action and, in general, not as nice triggers, right out of the box. Ruger will still convert your Old Model to a transfer bar safety, even after all these years, but an Old Model with this conversion will not have as nice a trigger and will not hold its value, unless the original parts have been kept with the gun.

The important point to remember, here, is that those of us who love and collect Old Models, now, do so precisely for the sake of them being Old Models. It's that action we want and also the better fit, finish and polishing that Ruger did with the old stuff and, make no mistake, you cannot buy a current New Model Blackhawk with the same polishing, bluing and excellent out of the box trigger, now. New Models are still great guns - have some - but those Old Models were made in a day when Ruger was a different company.

When the 30 Carbine was chambered in the Blackhawk, the 45,000 pressure of the 30 Carbine was considered pretty extreme for a revolver cartridge, but that's actually the same pressure used in some modern revolver cartridges like the 327 magnum, and Ruger has not only chambered the NM Blackhawk for a time in the 327, but, even today, chambers the 327 in their smaller Single Seven with no problems at all. That one is really a non-issue.

30 Carbine Blackhawks have had a rep for poor ignition/light strikes and sticky extraction. The poor ignition issue can be averted by inspecting for endshake on the cylinder before buying. My OM has almost zero endshake and was giving me heavy indentations on the primers. No problem on this one.

The sticky extraction issue is tough to predict via an inspection, but using the Wisconsin Cartridge Company ammo, extraction on my OM was silky smooth, the way it should be on a single action.

And fun it is ... and loud ... lots of bark. Recoil, though? What recoil? Yup, exciting, but oh so sweet to shoot. And, it's accurate.

A buddy had one and let me shoot it in about 1977. It had the worst muzzle blast I'd felt/heard up to that time. Convinced me to start using ear protection. I had not gotten into T/C Contenders yet.

It had the worst muzzle blast I'd felt/heard up to that time.

Yep - this is undoubtedly the .30 Carbine Blackhawks' most 'mentioned' attribute!

Given that I've been shooting rifle cartridges in a Contender for decades, many a lot worse than the 30 Carbine in terms of muzzle blast and noise, that's not an issue for me.

Given that I've been shooting rifle cartridges in a Contender for decades, many a lot worse than the 30 Carbine in terms of muzzle blast and noise, that's not an issue for me.

And we of course are all using hearing protection.

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WHAT? 🖐

Mistered wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 18, 2019 9:29 pm

... And we of course are all using hearing protection.

Oh, yeah. Even when shooting 22s, I use ear plugs AND muffs. Doubly important when shooting revolvers.

North Country Gal wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 19, 2019 10:26 am

Oh, yeah. Even when shooting 22s, I use ear plugs AND muffs. Doubly important when shooting revolvers.

YUP! Wish I had more smarts when younger as I now have significant Tinnitus in my left ear.
I always double up now.

Like many I didn't start using hearing protection until later in my shooting 'life' but I had the advantage of always shooting in the open woods which provide a level of natural sound absorbtion and that is what probably saved my hearing.

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I sometimes forget. That first shot is a startling/jolting reminder.