Ruger Aluminum frames

[kctgb]

Back in the late eighties I owned a blackhawk in 45 long colt, I'm quite sure it had a steel frame. I shot many very hot loads in it with no problems with the gun handling it. I moved away and sold it, now I have a problem with bears at my summer cabin and have all the reloading equipment for reloading the 45 colt.

I'm thinking about buying one in 45 to carry with me while out in the woods, it would be loaded with some very hot loads.

Will the new ruger blackhawks withstand a steady diet of hot loads with the aluminum frames? I looked on Ruger's web site and they list all 44's with steel frames and 45 colts with aluminum frames.

Should I buy a 44(with steel frame) or stay with the old 45(aluminum frame). If I go with the 44 I will have to buy reloading dies and bullet molds, I have all the molds and dies for the 45 along with a good assortment of bullets.

Any help is appreciated,

 

[427mach1]

I believe only the grip frame and ejector rod housing are made of aluminum and they should be strong enough to take years of abuse. Also, I believe only the Super Blackhawk has or had a steel frame - others can correct me if I am mistaken. Honestly and realistically, how often are you going to shoot it? I can't imagine you will want to shoot hot loads all the time anyway. You will probably, like most of us, have some milder rounds for target practice and heavy loads for woods duty. I say go with the smaller grip frame 45 and save a few bucks on having to buy new reloading equipment.

 

[Hondo44]

427mach1 is correct. The aluminum refers only to the grip frame and ERH. It's exactly like your former 45 BH.

The 44 Mag Dragoon style and smaller round trigger guard frames, and the mid-sized frame NM Flat Top BH have steel grip frames and ERHs.

Of course you could always replace the alum grip frame with a steel version. However, breaking an alum grip frame is extremely rare.

 

[chet15]

All Blackhawk ejector housings since at least 2010 are steel also.
Chet15

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

Yup,main frames are steel on all Ruger BlackHawks and Super BlackHawks. They will handle Ruger ONLY loads as listed in several load manuals.

 

[rugerguy]

...the bear doesn't care what frame you got on your gun, go with what you got and know how to use.

 

[Bob Wright]

Of course you could always replace the alum grip frame with a steel version. However, breaking an alum grip frame is extremely rare.

Reminds me of a story...............

A couple of years ago my gunsmith called me and asked me it I had any grip frames for a Ruger Blackhawk. I did, I told him. He asked me if I would sell him one, which I was glad to do. He needed one to replace one a customer had broken.

"How in the world did anyone manage to break a grip frame?" I asked him.

My gunsmith told me the man had disassembled his Ruger Blackhawk, and in the re-assembly, had tried to put the grip screw into one of the holes to replace the grip frame to the cylinder frame. Since it didn't work too well, he had to use considerable force to remove the stuck screw, thereby breaking the grip frame.

Gunsmiths meet a lot of interesting people.

Bob Wright

 

[GA Cracker]

Of course you could always buy a Bisley 45 and then you will have a steel gripframes. Try one you might like it. Bisley gripframe is not for everyone but it may make you smile.

 

[dakota1911]

Might add if you have a SS gun then the grip frame is obviously SS. I carry a blued Blackhawk in 45LC when I boony bang. The first two chambers have shot shells for snakes for a lot of the year and the rest are Ruger only handloads for two and four legged bad things.

 

[Bob Wright]

Might add if you have a SS gun then the grip frame is obviously SS. I carry a blued Blackhawk in 45LC when I boony bang. The first two chambers have shot shells for snakes for a lot of the year and the rest are Ruger only handloads for two and four legged bad things.

You "boony bang?" Is that legal, or moral?

Bob Wright