44 special flatop...........

[rugerguy]

OK guys, you like and do all these "new models" whats the story on one of these.......

guy just brought it over to me, got it Friday, shot it on Saturday and does NOT like it ( feel) at all..............I have NOT seen any of these at the shows or in the shops around here, thought Ruger didn't make these, see so many that are "custom "conversions" ( like Lee Martins 'project gun'!!!
Anything "special" about them ?? :roll:

 

[Knuckles]

:? I'm confused!

 

[Hammerdown77]

The Blackhawk 44 Special flat top is a regularly cataloged gun in Ruger's lineup now.

Used to be, you had to have a custom conversion done to get a 44 Special Blackhawk.

No more.

 

[princeout]

They've been available as distributor's specials and as cataloged items in both blued and stainless, Bisley and XR3 gripped. The black plastic "cheese grater" grips probably contributed to your friend's "not liking" it. They can be a bit rough. I've got a few of them and like them a bunch.
Tim

 

[Jimbo357mag]

What's not to like? :shock: :shock:
.

 

[Rclark]

Very nice revolvers and very accurate and built on the 'medium' frame.

Here is a review for you to come up to speed with: http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-44Flattop.htm

After the Lipsey special run, Ruger made it a regular cataloged item. If he doesn't like it ... send it to me .

See Ruger here : http://www.ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkBlued/models.html

As the above poster says ... what is not to like????

 

[rugerguy]

Thanks guys, like I said its a "new model" and I really do not follow them enough, and did not recall ever seeing one,certainly none came by the table for sale "used"...it feels and looks pretty good to us, and I like the caliber....

 

[flatgate]

As the above poster says ... what is not to like????

I respect your opinion. Me? I just cannot get along with the XR-3 grip
frame on a "big bore". For some reason I just can't get a comfortable hold..... so I end up making a few changes.....

It's a 50th Anniv. .44 mag. with a slightly modified Super Blackhawk grip frame that needs bluing.....

flatgate

 

[Lee Martin]

They're great guns and one of the best Ruger models of the past decade. Right up there with the Acusport Bisleys in my opinion.

 

[29aholic]

I have one of it's shorter brothers and it is absolutely FANTASTIC!!!! I shoot 6grs of 700X with a 250gr Keith 429421 not a hot load but decently warm. It'll will shoot one hole when I do my part.

I haven't been as excited by a gun as I am about this one in a LONG time!

 

[Rclark]

flatgate ... I just cannot get along with the XR-3 grip

That is why they do make different grips .... Personally, I don't mind any of them. Only grip that feels kind of 'odd' to me is the Bisley. I've loaded up to the .44Spec Keith Load (17g of 2400 under 240g SWC) and have no beef with the XR-3 grip frame.... Also up to 1300fps with the .44Mag 50th anniversary flattop and no problem other than a bruised knuckle of course. But feel? feels good in the hand. Got short stubby fingers ... maybe that has something to do with it... and left handed .

like I said its a "New Model" and I really do not follow them enough

A Ruger guy but doesn't follow the whole SA line of Ruger? .

 

[Chief_10Beers]

flatgate ... I just cannot get along with the XR-3 grip

That is why they do make different grips .... Personally, I don't mind any of them. Only grip that feels kind of 'odd' to me is the Bisley. I've loaded up to the .44Spec Keith Load (17g of 2400 under 240g SWC) and have no beef with the XR-3 grip frame.... Also up to 1300fps with the .44Mag 50th anniversary flattop and no problem other than a bruised knuckle of course. But feel? feels good in the hand. Got short stubby fingers ... maybe that has something to do with it... and left handed .

like I said its a "New Model" and I really do not follow them enough

A Ruger guy but doesn't follow the whole SA line of Ruger? .

I took the SBH Hunter GF off of my 50th 44 Mag and reinstalled the XR3 GF, learned to shoot with Pinky under Bottom Strap, no more bruised knuckle............................

 

[steamloco76]

I lucked out last week and found a 'used' New Model .44 Special Flat top in a local dealer's case. It was one of the first 2000 made, about 1000 numbers higher than the one Mr. Quinn tested on Gunblast! $383 out the door and it had never been fired.

Tried it out with some cast LRN bullets over 6.5 grains of Unique and it shot quite nicely. The trigger is among the best I've ever felt on a Ruger.The medium frame is great. Wish my 45LC/45ACP was on it instead of the regular larger Blackhawk frame. The stock plastic grips are awful- cheese grater comment in the earlier post fits. Mine now wears a set of ivory polymer Hogues.

The Ruger and Colt grip frames are a bit small for my large meathooks, so I've adapted to shooting with my pinky under the butt of the frame. Really helps save the middle finger knuckle. The technique only works for me on XR3 and Colt SAA frames. I replace the grips on the XR3 Red with larger target units from Herrett or Hogue to make a real handful.

 

[gak]

The Blackhawk 44 Special flat top is a regularly cataloged gun in Ruger's lineup now.

Used to be, you had to have a custom conversion done to get a 44 Special Blackhawk.

No more.

...And at the same time (actually followed up by a year+) Ruger came out with a distributor-only (Lipseys/dealers) same-frame New Vaquero line of .44 Specials in 3.75" Sheriffs and 4.62".

 

[Fox Mike]

Flatgate. Did that model come with the Bisley hammer or is that one of your mods?

 

[Rodfac]

From Keith's "the last word" SAA #5 to Skelton's S&W conversions in the 70's, I'd wanted a .44 Special. These offerings from Ruger were an answer to my prayers. I've got three of them now..both of the blued ones in each barrel length and the SS short barreled version as well. They shoot as good as they look. I'll predict that you'll come to love that gun and the great .44 Special cartridge as well. For me, it's the easiest of all cartridges to load, and to get truly exceptional accuracy. All three of mine will consistently produce sub-2" groups and they're not picky about the loads either...if it's a good bullet, they'll group 'em. Good luck Rod

 

[Rclark]

I've got three of them now..both of the blued ones in each barrel length and the SS short barreled version as well. They shoot as good as they look. I'll predict that you'll come to love that gun and the great .44 Special cartridge as well. For me, it's the easiest of all cartridges to load, and to get truly exceptional accuracy. All three of mine will consistently produce sub-2" groups and they're not picky about the loads either...if it's a good bullet, they'll group 'em.

+1 . My experience exactly. I have three Ruger .44Spec also. A Bisley 5 1/2, Regular 5 1/2", and a SS Sheriff shorty. All shoot anything you put in them well. Of course mine get the Skeeter load as the standard load.

Oh yeah, the sheriff .44 is much harder to get good groups because of the sights, but still can ping the steel out there at 77 yards (back of one of our handgun ranges).

 

[crooked creek]

I recently had the good fortune to pick up a Lipsey's Bisley Flat Top 44 special 5 1/2" for $370. The gun looks new, with box and all papers with a second set of white two panel checkered grips (don't know the manufacturer). The trigger "felt good" but was five pounds. Over the last 40 years I've installed quite a few trigger spring kits along with stoning and polishing the trigger and hammer sears, struts, and transfer bars on Blackhawks, Supers, and single Sixes. They all ended up between 1 1/2 to 2 pounds. This time, on the new Bisley, I tried the approach described elsewhere on this forum where the factory trigger spring is bent in two places.....on the "ears" and the front end where the spring contacts the trigger. The pull dropped from 5 to 2 pounds on the first try and feels pretty smooth (no creep). I have not had a chance to shoot it yet, but I'm happy with the result, and I didn't even have to remove the grip frame. Removed the panels only to access the spring and it took a total of about 15 to 20 minutes. Far better (IMHO) than the complete strip down and stoning and polishing the sears, etc. that I had been doing, and it didn't cost me a dime and the wait for ordering spring kits. This forum has some great advice and information !
To complement this new gun, I ordered and already received 500 pcs. of the callshot cfc 44spl brass covered in other posts. It looks great....and iI can't wait to try it out.

 

[M'BOGO]

Since one came home with me in April 2009, havn't gone to the range without one, and it always makes me look like I can shoot.