Joined the SA crowd finally

[cobra357]

Made a deal today on a NM Blackhawk in .357, my first SA. Haven't had it to the range yet but can't wait. Don't know much about it either so feel free to educate me.

 

[COR]

A pinto...If that is a steel frame you done good. If it's a polished alloy one it still looks cool but the steel frame was one someone added. I just like the steel frame myself because the balance feels correct. That extra weight makes the .357 a reall easy shooter in that platform too. Have fun!

 

[nilsjohan]

The one thing you're gonna learn is that the recoil from a SA is something totally different from a DA. Enjoy it!

 

[Nard]

You did good! Have fun with it.

J.B.

 

[flatgate]

I see that a previous owner has "tinkered" with the gun.

As mentioned in the others' posts, the grip frame has been "enhanced".

If the gun feels "nose heavy" then it's a polished out aluminum grip frame. If it's more balanced then the grip frame is either un-blued steel or stainless steel.

Still confused? Remove the grips and look for markings on the grip frame. The letter A signifies Alloy Steel whereas the letter K means stainless steel.
No material markings? Aluminum. Some grip frames will have their design numbers molded in. XRN-3RED, NXR3-RED are aluminum. Most marked XR-3 with a viseable long trigger spring up near the top are steel.

Welcome to Ruger Single Actions!

flatgate

 

[cobra357]

Thanks for all the information. Pulled the grips and the frame is marked XRN-3RED with a 6 below it. I assume that means the original frame was replaced. I like the way it looks so.... I also don't think I made a bad deal. Traded away an extra Keltec P11, a mag, and some ammo.

 

[BlackEagle]

Thanks for all the information. Pulled the grips and the frame is marked XRN-3RED with a 6 below it. I assume that means the original frame was replaced. I like the way it looks so.... I also don't think I made a bad deal. Traded away an extra Keltec P11, a mag, and some ammo.

I think that may be the correct/original aluminum frame with the black cleaned off. I can't tell from your picture if that is a Flat Top or not. If it is then I think it should have a steel gripframe(I could be wrong) . If you want a steel one or a black aluminum one you can post a "Want to Buy" ad in the classified section. A stainless steel gripframe would look very similar to the one that is on there now. Some of us like brass gripframes too. I am looking for 2 XR3-RED type (they are aftermarket) brass gripframes right now, they are hard to find, but look very nice. I think Ruger single actions are the best hand guns around. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine.

 

[cobra357]

I think that may be the correct/original aluminum frame with the black cleaned off.

It does appear that the black was cleaned off as there is a residue of black on it. As to Flat Top, not sure I know enough yet to tell.

 

[nn]

Nice looking

 

[TiteGroups]

Nice looking piece there. I'd trade my keltec for a blackhawk any day. The recoil is really different from that of a double action.

 

[flatgate]

Flattops have a "dead flat" top strap.

Above image shows two Flattops. One is a 1955 vintage example and the other is the 2005 example. The top straps are FLAT!




flatgate

 

[Bear Claw Chris Lappe]

Nice one, I had the same model that I picked up in a trade, that had wear on the black frame, so I had a relative sandblast the rest of the black coating off the grip just like that.

I think it look great!

 

[DGW1949]

Looks like regular BH with the grip-frame polished. If that's so, it'll probably have an aluminum ejector housing also. Nothing wrong with that, Ruger has built them that way for years.
As a group, the big-frame BH's are one of the strongest, most reliable 6-guns you can get. It'll still be shooting long after that keltec you traded is in the junk pile.....Not a bad choice for your first SA. Perty grips on that one too. 8) .

You did good.

DGW

 

[cobra357]

Thanks everyone. I'm excited with it and isn't that all that really matters.