New Ruger Bisley Blackhawk Question

Help Support Ruger Forum:

Joined
Sep 23, 2023
Messages
31
Location
Amarillo, TX
Hello,
Do the cylinder charge holes line up with the loading gate on the click in the new model Bisley Blackhawks? My older one over rotates just enough where you can't load the round.

Thanks
 
No they don't. Only the New Vaqueros, NM medium flattops, and the .44 Magnum 50th have the reverse indexing pawl. Unless Ruger has changed things lately of course....
 
I guess I'm a bit old fashioned.
I never had any other SA handguns,, before I got into Rugers. I learned easily how to align the chambers with the loading gate area easily & never thought of it as a "problem" or a "bad design."
I've never paid it any attention & was a bit surprised years ago when I first heard "complaints" about it.
As mentioned,, some of the newer ones do have a reverse indexing pawl so you can align things easier,, "(I guess.!") :D
 
I guess I'm a bit old fashioned.
I never had any other SA handguns,, before I got into Rugers. I learned easily how to align the chambers with the loading gate area easily & never thought of it as a "problem" or a "bad design."
I've never paid it any attention & was a bit surprised years ago when I first heard "complaints" about it.

I'm in complete agreement here.
And this "issue" apparently didn't annoy Bill Ruger much, either.
 
I guess I'm a bit old fashioned.
I never had any other SA handguns,, before I got into Rugers. I learned easily how to align the chambers with the loading gate area easily & never thought of it as a "problem" or a "bad design."
I've never paid it any attention & was a bit surprised years ago when I first heard "complaints" about it.
As mentioned,, some of the newer ones do have a reverse indexing pawl so you can align things easier,, "(I guess.!") :D
Same.
I've been shooting single actions virtually my entire life. Never had a problem with it.
 
Having owned Ruger SA's since the early 80's I also never gave it a thought as an issue or problem. Is a Power free spin pawl worth a $50 bill? Not to me, but neither are spending dollars on replacement base pin or spring kits. Now a Bisley hammer? Yes definitely.
 
again, another no issue until some one puts a bug in someone elses ear and has to make them ,think, wonder, and if you want, feel you need, and you have extra money in your pockets , then by all means go for it, in 70 plus years for ME, was NEVER an issue, never did any in any of the three shops we owned over years, as I said, was never an issue............:unsure::rolleyes:;)
 
Installing one of the Power pawls is a solution to a specific problem. If you have a Ruger that came with the factory free spin pawl, and you decide to change the grip frame, then the Power pawl eliminates the need to duplicate the groove machined in the original grip frame. The factory Ruger free spin pawl uses a precise groove in the grip frame as a leverage point to retract the pawl. The Power pawl uses the cylinder frame itself as its index/leverage point to retract. Personally I feel the Power pawl to be a much better designed solution.
 
I started with the .357 BH in the 80s. Got used to the cylinder not lining up and seemed natural -- didn't think much about it. But when I got the 50th .357 and 50th .44Magnum, I was sold on the click, roll back and insert cartridge. And of course when I finally got my hands on an SAA (clone) it worked the same way. So while I still don't have an issue with the general NM SAs, I do like the reverse indexing pawl feature in the New Vaqueros and flattops :) .
 
The very simplest and no cost chamber alignment solution for the new model Blackhawk and Single Six is to file or grind off the right side front corner at the top of the cylinder pawl leaving just a point on the left side. Not even necessary to disassemble the pawl, just remove the cylinder!

As said above; not needed on the New Model Flat Top Blackhawks and New Vaqueros which all have the factory RIPS alignment system. Also not needed on the Wranglers which all have a factory free spin pawl.
 
Last edited:
The very simplest and no cost chamber alignment solution for the new model Blackhawk and Single Six is to file or grind off the right side corner at the top of the cylinder pawl leaving just a point on the left side. Not even necessary to disassemble the pawl, just remove the cylinder!

As said above; not needed on the New Model Flat Top Blackhawks and New Vaqueros which all have the factory RIPS alignment system. Also not needed on the Wranglers which all have a factory free spin pawl.

I was just about to make that comment. It takes about 3 minutes with a file to make your OEM pawl a free-spin version.
 
OK I have a dumb question....I have had Blackhawks, currently only have a SBH but do have another one (45LC ) on the way. I'm very well versed on many firearms but not Blackhawks. I've changed out rear sights, grips and cylinder pins. All I know is that I really enjoy shooting and hunting with Blackhawks. I've never had an issue loading/unloading them.......is the free spin really needed? if the mod is done is there any negative to it? Is the benefit specific to a certain style of shooting or just a convenience to some?

Sorry that was more than one dumb question it was a few....I blame bourbon and back pain meds....
 
The only time I saw an advantage of a free spin cylinder in a Ruger was when shooting SASS. And they had a stage where you had to load a 6th round at some point. That's when it was quicker to get one aligned & loaded.
 
The free spin pawl is a great asset when dealing with big bores as well. Quick to top off a window filling cartridge like the 45,480/475, or any of the 50's where there's just not much room. I also like it for the center fire Single Six for the same reason. If you go too far, you don't have to go all the way back around with the cylinder.
 
Top