Super Blackhawk 10.50"

The Ruger Super Blackhawk is the epitome of the one gun solution for safe wilderness passage anywhere in the Americas. No, I didn’t say it is the optimal, primary North American big game hunting firearm, nor did I suggest it is right for concealed carry or home defense. What I am saying is that if you were hiking or fishing or around camp anywhere in North America, you could feel safe carrying a Ruger Super Blackhawk chambered for the 44 Remington Magnum. As an addendum to my characterization, very credible folks who are more proficient handgun hunters routinely hunt Brown and Grizzly bear with the 44 Magnum Super Blackhawk.

The Ruger Super Blackhawk has been a mainstay of single action aficionados almost since its introduction in 1959. Elmer Keith felt the Super Blackhawk incorporated all of the enhancements required for this type of firearm, enhancement he had been unable to get Colt to make to their 1872 model, despite a thirty year effort. Like the more modern example pictured above and below, the original Super Blackhawk had a raised frame, adjustable rear sight, 1/8″ wide Baughman ramped front sight and an unfluted cylinder. The pre-1973 Super Blackhawk also differed in a number of ways.

So what’s with the Yosemite Sam length barrel…  Dagnabbit?

The 44 Magnum is a hunting cartridge with an approximately 40 grain powder capacity, close to the 30-30 WCF rifle cartridge. While pinheads such as myself persist with 4.62″ barrels, shooting almost as much weight in unburned powder as projectile, the 44 Magnum really wakes up with longer barrel lengths.

Complimenting the long barrel Super Blackhawk’s significant velocity boost and subsequent increase in reach is the revolver’s long sight radius. I’ll leave longer ranges to younger eyes, but inside 2″ at 50 yards works for me for any deer or hog worth shooting. I am sure there is more accuracy to be found in the gun.

Overview and over and out…

I don’t know anyone who has gone through life without a Ruger Blackhawk or Super Blackhawk, just like I don’t know anyone who hasn’t had a set of Craftsman tools. There are some things that are so fundamental as equipment and so useful. They are built like a tank, they have a classic look, they are value priced for what they can do, and they are backed by a really good company.

For someone thinking about deer or hog hunting with a revolver, the 10.50″ barrel 44 Mag will make life easy and give the shooter a decisive edge in power and reach. For all others the Super Blackhawk is available in barrel lengths down to 4.62″ and balance to suit.