Looking for performance feedback...
I am thinking of getting a easy packing single action Ruger with a 4 5/8 or so length barrel.
Recoil, velocity, hunting performance etc.


Thanks guys....

I have the 4 5/8" SS Blackhawk in 45colt. It is a great packing gun and can be loaded with monstrous bullets. I put a Houge monogrip on mine and it tamed the recoil down considerably. I would vote for the 45 as you can always load lighter bullets in it, but try putting a 350-405 gn bullet in a 41mag.
You might also check and see if you can find one of the Stainless Bisleys in 45colt with the short barrel. 5.5"?

I assume that since you specify 4 5/8" barrel that it will be your back-up. In 41 Mag and 45 Colt loads that count the recoil will come up quicker in a short barrel. I would suggest a Bisley in either. I prefer a 5 1/2" barrel myself. It gives you the portability of the shorter barrel but you have that slightly longer sight radius. I know that a lot of folks think the Bisley is ugly but after you shoot a number of full loads in it you'll appreciate it more. Another thing that I do on all of mine is to slim down the grips to get rid of the bell shape towards the bottom and round off the corners. That gives you a more comfortable grip to hang on to.

I had a 41 mag ruger blackhawk with a 4 5/8 barrel.



I loaded 293 hardcast bullets at 1275 fps. Recoil stung a little.



I put one of these through a mooses head, the bullet went under the brain and through about 8inches of solid bone and out the other side. Broadside shot. Coup des gras.



A 45 colt might do that speed with a 330 grain hardcast bullet.

bout like comparing a 300 mag and a 375 H&H both will kill a deer but if somethings going to bite back i know which id rather have.

I have a 4 5/8" Blackhawk in 45 colt. Mine has the aluminum grip frame and ejector rod housing. Let me tell you that thing will jump out of your hands with full power loads!
Pretty fun though.
I have to agree with the folks on here that have suggested that you try to find a 5.5" Bisley. It will be just a easily carried and will be easier to shoot due to the increased weight, better grip shape, and longer sight radius.

If you do get a blackhawk get the 45 Colt. the 41 is good, but no where near as versatile as the Colt.

the 41 will also be operating at much higher pressures than the 45. More muzzle blast, too.

Check out www.sixguns.com and read John Taffin's comparison between the 44 and 45. 41 and 44 are very similar (.410 v. .429)

David

Sir:
IMHO, do try the .45 Colt it outruns both the 44 mag and the 41, I have three Vaquero's in 45 two 5.5's and one Reeder of 4 5/8, IF you round the butt off most anyone used to heavy recoil can handle it. 300 @ 1200fps is plenty.

Clarence

Sorry, I made reference to the wrong man and wrong website. I meant John Linebaugh, not John Taffin.
Here is the correct website for the comparison of the 44 with the 45. the 45 does out-perform the 44, and most will agree the 44 out-performs the 41 atleast by a small margin.

http://www.sixgunner.com/linebaugh/gunnotes.htm

David

S/S Ruger Bisley Vaquero 45 Colt 5.5" barrel with 335gr hard cast WFNGC @ 1220fps is my choice. Will do anything that the 41 or 44 mag will do with less pressure.
Cam

Cool article.

I have a 454 casull and am planning on getting a lighter 45 colt in a 4" taurus.

Get the 45 colt.

The 44 Mag is my favorite revolver ctg. Mainly because it was my first revolver. Between the 41 and the 45 I would definately pick the 45. Speer makes shotshells for the 45 Colt and they are very very usefull, for snakes and especially small game for the pot. My wife has made shots with the Speer shotshells in her 44 Mag on squirrels and Grouse that seem a stretch for a 12 gauge.
The 4 5/8" bbl would be my choice for a packing gun in a Ruger SA. I recommend a crossdraw holster, that way you can access the revolver with a coat on, seated or when carrying a pack.
I carry my 4" S&W 44 Mag in a DeSantis crossdraw. It is very comfortable.

I used to keep a 6" barreled Blackhawk in .41 Mag in a Bianchi Ranger holster when in the southern deer woods. Wasn't too bulky though the 4-5/8" would be nicer. It recoiled less than my .44, but when loaded hot, it was a handful for a new shooter. I would have to admit you could probably find more commercial loads and components for the .45 Colt.

I have uesd both on game and to compare them you must compare like bullets.

Using jacketed hollow points, neither is a good choice for a backup gun, but both have some use when hunting thin skinned medium game such as deer and smaller critters.

When using jacketed soft points, both work better but the 45 does much better with its 300 gr class bullets such as the Speer uni-core SP which is the best jacketed hunting bullet for big game I have found yet for the 45 Colt/Ruger handgun.

When comparing the heavy hard cast bullets, I feel the Colt wins hands down, yes one can get the 255-265 gr LBT's for the 41 but for a fight stopper, there is nothing much better then the colt driving a 330-360 gr LBT to 1100-1200 fps.

I carry a stainless Ruger 4 5/8" Blackhawk with Pach. grips and while recoil is stiff with max loads with the 360 gr bullets, it is controllable with practice. Also the gun has the best weight to power ratio that I have found without going totally custom.

Get the Colt and you will not be sorry, just load it correctly with modern loads.

Good Shooting!!!

50

I added a fourth 45 to the family. She is a 5 1/2 Black Hawk non stainless.
I was concerned with the galling I have seen on the stainless. The bisley hammer was to low for a weak thumb pull. My strong hand was in the way.
I will shoot and see how recoil is with the Black hawk grip frame before making any changes.
Thanks for the info guys�
To much fun�

Did you get the exta cylinder for 45 acp? I just bought the same gun and love it, it is now my favorite firearm I can't wait to take it hunting.

I did not have the option, the only 45 colt/acp package they had in stock was not working properly. Looked to me as if the timing was off. It would skip the lock on two if not three chambers. Did not want to take a chance.. Had to settle on the non ACP version..
I left it to another handgun purchase required....

What did you give for your Ruger, if you do not mind me asking,,, I paid $359. remember, I live in California, I think the acp version was around $50 dollars more....

Regular blackhawk (blued)- $325
Convertible 45/45acp Blackhawk (Blued)- $366
Bisley model (Blued) - $375

Mauserkid, with the light colt loads you really do not need the acp cylinder. This way you can acumulate one type of brass.
BUT if you do want an ACP cylinder you can send it to Ruger & they will or atleast they used to install it for you for $60-70.

For your situation, I would go with the 45 Colt because it is lighter for packing compared to the 41 magnum. Peformance wise for a 6-shot sixgun of these two calibers is debateable and it is just a matter of opinion which is better.

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Looking for performance feedback...
I am thinking of getting a easy packing single action Ruger with a 4 5/8 or so length barrel.
Recoil, velocity, hunting performance etc.


Thanks guys....

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I paid $379.00 for mine with the extra cylinder but I had to wait for them to order it in. The ability to shoot acp loads that I already have to reload for was the main reason that I chose the 45colt The nice thing about the acp cylinder is if you don't reload you can buy acp ammo a lot cheaper, and if you do reload you can just keep on pumping out the acp while you are setup instead of switching over to the colt. Also with the acp cylinder you can shoot all of the fine self defense loads out there. For me I think I will be shooting mostly my acp reloads for practice and mixing in some hotter colt loads for fun, and then hunting with colt loads obviously. I can't wait until next weekend too shoot it some more, it's a major kick in the pants isn't it?

My back country packer is a 4 5/8" SSBH in .45colt. I like the .41mag but it isnt' available in SS & I just like those big 300-350gr LFP bullets. You can easily get 1000fps from them w/ control, recoil is there but very managable. I recently tested some hardcast 300grLFP in wet phone books & penetration was 19"+. That will do, plus you have factory shot carts. available & you can load 200gr "plinking" loads if you like.