Blackhawks frame sizes

Acorn

Hunter
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Sep 10, 2006
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Stupid question
I've heard people refer to "large frame" Blackhawks so I assume there are "small frame" Blackhawks. How do you determine which is which?
I know, I know, one's bigger.
 
I posted the same question about the Williams Shooters Supply .45 Colts a few weeks ago so if your question is stupid, count among the stupid. Here's what members offered.

Black Hawks have been made with two cylinder frame sizes, mid-frame and large frame. .41 and .44 magnums have only been made in large frames. .44 specials have only been made in mid-frames. .357s and .45 Colts have been made in both sizes. Among old model center fires all mid-frames were .357, all .357s were mid-frame, and all larger calibers went in the large frame. Mid-frames were discontinued along with old models so originally New Model .357s were large frame. Mid-frames were reintroduced as Flat Tops then utilized as New Model Vaqueros. However, even in those models .41 and .44 magnums require large frames. The question of which frame size a BH is most often is asked about .45 Colts. Generally adjustable sighted .45 Colt large frames have the standard sight and adjustable sighted .45 Colt mid-frames are Flat Tops with Micro sights. The most reliable way to distinguish mid and large frames is mid-frames have 3 digit serial number prefixes and large frames have two digit prefixes.

Counting the small rimfire/.32 center fire Single Six frame there are still only three cylinder frame sizes. Grip frame shapes are another story.
 
Only .45 Colt large frame Blackhawks and original large frame Vaqueros are good for "Ruger only" (tier 3) loads. Mid frame .45s are only OK for tier 2 loads.

.357 mid and large frames are both OK for "Ruger only" loads.
 
Hondo44 said:
Only .45 Colt large frame Blackhawks and original large frame Vaqueros are good for "Ruger only" (tier 3) loads. Mid frame .45s are only OK for tier 2 loads.

.357 mid and large frames are both OK for "Ruger only" loads.

so there is a difference between the 357 mid frame and the 45 colt midframe?? I have a OM 357 1972 and a OM 45 1971.
 
The Old Model .45 Colt was a large frame. Only the .357 was on the medium frame back then. They all went to the large frame when the New Model was introduced in '73... Now skip ahead to the 50 Anniversary .357 (2005) and the New Vaqueros where we are back on the medium frame. The New Vaqueros were the first Ruger .45 Colt revolvers built on the medium frame. Then along came a special Lipseys run of Ruger .45 Colt/.45 ACP flattops also the medium frame. Ruger NEVER had a cataloged .45 Colt BH on the medium frame and still doesn't. All the .44Special Flattops and New Vaquero revolvers from Ruger are on the medium frame.... Got it? Hah!
 
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FLUndertaker said:
so there is a difference between the 357 mid frame and the 45 colt midframe?? [...]

No. “For Ruger only” loads don’t belong in mid-frame .45 Colts because their chamber walls are thin. Cylinders are the weak link in the chain, not frames.
 
FLUndertaker said:
Hondo44 said:
Only .45 Colt large frame Blackhawks and original large frame Vaqueros are good for "Ruger only" (tier 3) loads. Mid frame .45s are only OK for tier 2 loads.

.357 mid and large frames are both OK for "Ruger only" loads.

The term "Ruger only loads" only add to the confusion -- there's no such critter in .357 or .44 mag. "Ruger only" applies only to.45 Colt, and refers to loads heavier than the standard SAAMI-spec loads. For these loads, only the large-frame Ruger Blackhawk and Vaquero revolvers are safe. Smaller-frame Rugers are suitable for SAAMI-spec loads in whatever cartridge they are chambered for, be it .357 mag., .44 mag., or .45 Colt.
 
The medium frame .45 Colt flattop/New Vaquero is good for Tier 2 loads, not just Tier 1. Yes, Tier 3 is 'off limits' for the medium frame as stated above. What does Tier 2 buy you? .45 Colt to .45 ACP pressures (23K). Gives you a lot more flexibility!

Misnomer above... .44Mag is NOT chambered ever for the medium frame.
 
Rclark said:
Misnomer above... .44Mag is NOT chambered ever for the medium frame.

I mis-spoke. You are correct, as .the smaller frames are not chambered for the round.
 
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