One must remember the times when the Ruger Super Blackhawk came out. The .44 mag was young, the Blackhawk in .44 was designed and produced in record time. In order to do that the .357 Blackhawk was simply made bigger. The factory loaded .44 magnum of the time were a real handful in the Blackhawk. Especially mean were the sharp checkered black grips on an XR3 grip frame. Many used Supers were purchased from the original owners looking new and came with a full box of .44 mag rounds minus 6. (I could not help but laugh as a new generation learned about the XR3 grip frame with black plastic grips when the New Model Blackhawk Flattops .44 magnums came out!)
The Super was designed all new for the .44 magnum cartridge. Steel grip frame, an inch more of steel in the barrel, non fluted and bigger cylinder added more steel as well as much bigger cylinder frame. Big smooth grips on a frame (for what ever reasons Mr. Ruger and friends had) shaped after a Dragoon style. It was a huge improvement over the .44 Flattop Blackhawk. It was a a magnificent gun.
I shot me first Ruger single action, a Single Six convertible when I was 12. At 15 I shot my first Super Blackhawk. It was a handful of joy. A shinny blue blast of excitement. I was taught how to let it roll in my hands, not fully release right hand fingers, cock with left thumb, and not grip to too hard. My wife shot her first .44 magnum cartridge in the very same gun. She became very proficient with it and it was not long before we had to locate another one just for her.
It was a perfect gun for some, a good gun for many, and a poor gun for an unlucky few.
SATCOM