Confused... Again

[Lance0812]

I contracted the SA virus just about a month ago and thought I could treat it with just a small dose - a Heritage Rough Rider in .22lr/.22mag.

Just when I thought I had things under control, I attended a gun show and was again taken all over feverish. Symptoms were strong enough that I knew I needed a larger dose, so I treated them with a NM Blackhawk SS in .357.

So far so good and both guns performed well at the range, but...

Next weekend we have another gun show and I'm already feeling feverish.

So my question is this:
In looking for the greatest versatility and greatest availability of ammo, what calibers will work in a Blackhawk .44SP and what calibers will work in a Blackhawk .45LC?

Never mind discussing different loads: in my small apartment, reloading is not an option.

 

[slowrider]

So my question is this:
In looking for the greatest versatility and greatest availability of ammo, what calibers will work in a Blackhawk .44SP and what calibers will work in a Blackhawk .45LC?

Never mind discussing different loads: in my small apartment, reloading is not an option.

Those are the only cartridges you can fire in those guns. For versatility you can get a BH in 44 mag. It will also shoot 44 spl out of the same cylinder, just like you can shoot 38 spcl out of the 357 mag cylinder. Or, you can get a .45 convertible. It comes with two cylinders. One will shoot 45LC and the other will shoot 45 auto. Of all these cartridges the 45 auto will be your most easily found and cheapest.

 

[Danjet500]

Blackhawk .44 Special will shoot .44 Specials. If you get a convertible .45 you will be able to shoot .45 Colt and .45 ACP. If you get a .44 magnum Blackhawk or Super Blackhawk you can shoot .44 Specials and .44 magnums.

 

[Jbrown75]

A .44 Special will fire .44 Colt and .44 Russian in addition to the Specials. .45 Colt will also fire the .45 Schofield round. The .357 you already have is also capable of firing .38 Specials.

 

[Rclark]

But.... you are not going to find .44 Colt, .44 Russion, .45 Schofield on the 'shelf' :) . .44Spec and .45Colt is even hard to come by. Really .44Spec and .45 Colt are reloaders calibers. The one exception the .45 Colt/.45 ACP convertible BH. .45ACP is much more common.

Best bet is to stick with .357 and .44Mag for best ammo selection. Therefore you are limited to .44Mag Bisley, .44Mag SBH series, and any .357 you find which will also shoot .38s.

 

[Dale53]

>>>Never mind discussing different loads: in my small apartment, reloading is not an option.<<<

Not to belabor the point, but I have successfully reloaded in a tent. You can SUCCESSFULLY reload in a very small space - it is not just a stunt, either!

Dale53

 

[JWhitmore44]

Not trying to force you into reloading, but if you think you may not have room you might want to take a look at http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=77047&highlight=room+closet and the 11th post down on http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=77047&highlight=room+closet

 

[32magfan]

Lance0812,

I have almost gotten over the fever. I have gotten about all the different calibers I care to own and I still get a little sweat on now and then. I just don't hav any more $$$$$$$$. :(

Seriously, I do hope you enjoy the new guns. I would second the thought on reloading being possible in an apartment. I did it with a Midway protable relaoding stand and a RCBS PiggyBack press for several years in one bedroom apartments (of course I was living alone then). You just need to stick to the basics.
:wink:
Good luck,

32Magfan

 

[Sacramento Johnson]

Howdy!
I agree, both those calibers are best served by reloading. To buy factory made would be very expensive. The type of factory ammo in each caliber is fairly limited as well (self defense vs hunting vs plinking etc.).
For versatility, why not look for a 9mm cylinder to fit to your 357 blackhawk? That would give you access to some fairly inexpensive factory ammo. (Your blackhawk could handle probably any commercial 9mm out there.)

BTW, I see your avatar is a 51 colt; wait till you get around to trying one of those SAs!

 

[Bucks Owin]

>>>Never mind discussing different loads: in my small apartment, reloading is not an option.<<<

Not to belabor the point, but I have successfully reloaded in a tent. You can SUCCESSFULLY reload in a very small space - it is not just a stunt, either!

Dale53

10X pard. I currently live in a 30' travel trailer with wife, son and 120 lb wolfdog, my daughter lives in my camper outside. (Yeah, times are tough at the moment, lost the house :? ) In the summer I bolt my press to a picnic table outside, in the winter it's mounted in a rental storage unit as is my casting stuff. Where there's a will, powder will be burned.... :wink:

(BTW, I've also made many a round with a Lee hand tool... :wink: )

 

[DanChamberlain]

"So my question is this:
In looking for the greatest versatility and greatest availability of ammo, what calibers will work in a Blackhawk .44SP and what calibers will work in a Blackhawk .45LC?"

Lance

The real answer is: In the .44, you can reasonably expect to be able to shoot .427 to .430 caliber. In the .45, you can expect to be successful shooting .452 to .454 caliber.

Caliber is not the same thing as "cartridges" which I believe is your actual question. Not trying to nit-pick. Just trying to update your vernacular for future questions. Everyone has to start somewhere and this is a great place to start.

"Never mind discussing different loads: in my small apartment, reloading is not an option."

I have successfully reloaded on the couch in front of the TV using a hand tool. Reloading is "always" an option.

Dan

 

[Tommy Kelly]

I have several of both calibers mentioned. My favorite is the 45 colt. I have 3 of them and one is the convertable. I have never even installed the acp cylinder in mine. Ammo is harder to find in stock for the 45 colt but just about any gun store can get it fast in any load range you want from mild cowboy loads to buffalo bore heavy loads. The 44 mag. I have 5 of them and ammo is easier to find for them and they are great guns I just prefer the 45 personally. I reload for both and shoot the 45's probably 3 to 1 to 44's. I can out do the 44 mag with the 45 colt reloading for both.

 

[DGW1949]

A manual press, a set of LEE dippers, two C-clamps, the edge of a table and a magazine to pad under the press will solve your reloading issue. I did it that way for a few years myself.

I'm mostly a .45 LC guy. An auxilary 45ACP cylinder is a nice thing to have. On the other hand, a 38/357 will kill a can just as dead and is cheaper to shoot, reloading or not.

DGW

 

[Jbrown75]

As far as reloading goes the lee dippers and a hand press will get you by, you don't need anything more than that really. The larger presses are nice, but not absolutely necessary. And you could keep everything in a space the size of a shoebox when not loading.

 

[DakotaElkSlayer]

As far as reloading goes the lee dippers and a hand press will get you by, you don't need anything more than that really. The larger presses are nice, but not absolutely necessary. And you could keep everything in a space the size of a shoebox when not loading.

I have a house, and this is still what I use in addition to a RCBS Little Dandy....it works GREAT!

Jim

 

[louiethelump]

If space is really the reloading issue, take a look at this handy little rig:

 

[Lance0812]

Listen guys, I really appreciate all the tips and workarounds for reloading when space is at a premium and I'm sure current non-reloaders who read this string of posts will benefit from them.

However, I should have added some info to the original post: Not only is space at a premium but I live in a posted apartment building - if management knew I had even one gun on the premises it would be grounds for eviction, so imagine their consternation should they drop in unannounced and find me with a few hundred newly loaded rounds hanging up to dry (just kidding about drying ammo).

However, I've learned something valuable from all the replies: I've always thought fellow gun enthusiastists were among the world's best groups for sharing knowledge and expertise and now I think the subset known as reloaders is even more so.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[maxpress]

Off the shelf versatility would be the 45 blackhawk convertable. 45 colt can be had from cowboy loads in the 700fps range clear up to Bufalo bore 300gr bullets at 44mag velocity. Then the acp will get cheap plinking loads all the way up to heavy self deffence loads.
The SBH will allow the same range. Except its harder to find 44spl loads. At least around here.