Single action vs. double action balance?

[tguil]

All of my Ruger revolvers are double actions -- a 6' GP100, a 7 1/2' Redhawk, and a 2 3/4' Speed Six. Been thinkin' about adding a single action to this group. I shoot them all pretty well. My question.... Is there much of a difference in the balance between a double action and a single action revolver of comparable barrel length.

 

[Rodfac]

tquil...great signature line...wish I'd'ah thought of it.

I don't own any Ruger DA's but have 8 Ruger SA's, and 13 S&W revolvers.

For balance:
The Ruger Flat Tops (Steel Frame) SA's in 4-5/8" length balance as well as S&W N frame in 4".
The Ruger SA's with an alloy frame in 6-1/2" are noticeably muzzle heavy when compared to a Smith of equal length.

HTH's Rodfac

 

[Ruber]

For me, the 6.5" old model blackhawk handles similar to my 4" GP100 with the 6" GP100 seeming much more muzzle heavy. If I want a little bit more length for a better sight radius and for slower powders, I'll go with the Blackhawk.

 

[J Miller]

Balance is subjective. It's different for everybody.

That said, here is my choice for best balanced double and single action revolvers.

DA: S&W Mdl 25-5, .45 Colt, 4" heavy barrel

SA:
A; Old Mdl BH .45 Colt, 4 5/7" barrel with the aluminum ERH and grip frame.
B; Colt style SA, .45 Colt, 4 3/4" barrel, all steel.

These three disperse the weight right were needs to be for the best balance ... for me.

For other calibers which I rarely shoot I'd have to say a 4" L Frame S&W .357 or a GP 100 with the 4" barrel.
And a Ruger OM BH 4/58" .357 with it's aluminum parts, or the new FT 50th Anniversary with it's steel components.
Each weights differently, but the weight is dispersed well for good balance.

For yourself you'll have to handle and shoot a lot of guns till you decide.

JMHO

Joe

 

[VAdoublegunner]

Balance with a SA is subjective, and also depends on a lot of factors with the gun's design. My two favorite SAs for balance are a 4 5/8" Flattop Lipsey's 44 Special, and a 5.5" 44Mag Vaquero. I don't know why, but they just feel great!

The 4 5/8" SS Super Blackhawk feels a little "chunky" compared to the 5.5" 44Mag Vaquero (heavier frame perhaps?) but is a very solid feeling gun. A 5.5" SS Vaquero in 357 feels front heavy to me, but oddly enough a 7.5" one if 45 Colt doesn't feel all that bad at all, especially when compared to a comparable barrel length Blackhawk.

And while I wouldn't say it is a case of balance, exactly, my Birdshead Sheriff's Model Vaquero in 45 Colt is certainly the liveliest SA I own. It requires a good bit of concentration for me to keep groups tight at distances beyond 15 yards. It feels a lot different when loaded up with a full cylinder of 282gr 45-270-SAA handloads than 200gr loads.

Also, it should be obvious but empty weight will be different for balance than loaded weight, although over a modest amount of time that balance will change as the cylinder empties :wink:

 

[Old Judge Creek]

That question is FAR too subjective.

Frankly, I believe nothing balances better in the hand than a Colt's SAA with the short barrel...

 

[tguil]

Yep, I knew the question would be a LITTLE subjective. :lol: I just wanted some subjective information. I'm sort of leaning toward a stainless .357 mag 4 5/8' New Model Blackhawk.

This will be just a fun "knock around" gun...the reason for choosing a .357 mag.

Tom

 

[Old Judge Creek]

Tom,

IMO it'd be hard to beat a 357 Black Hawk!

 

[c.r.]

My question.... Is there much of a difference in the balance between a double action and a single action revolver of comparable barrel length.

My first centerfire revolver was a 4" GP-100. My Next centerfire revolver was a 4-5/8" SBH.

To me they did/do balance differently. The balance wasn't such a big deal, but adjusting my grip to the SA gripframe did take some effort and time.

which do i enjoy more? Can't say for sure. I have way more SA's than DA's. SA's feel more comfortable NOW, but that could only be because I shoot the SA's much more.

i don't think you'll go wrong with your decision to buy the .357 and I much prefer the short barrels to the longer barrels

 

[VAdoublegunner]

... I'm sort of leaning toward a stainless .357 mag 4 5/8' New Model Blackhawk.

This will be just a fun "knock around" gun...the reason for choosing a .357 mag.

Tom

A good choice for the reason you stated. I had a pair of those I used for cowboy action for a while and found them a little rear weighted "chunky" so traded for 5.5" Vaqueros which I found pointed better for me when shooting Gunfighter style (I can't begin to speculate why). I still have a 4 5/8" blued 357 Blackhawk that I enjoy shooting. It definately balances differently. The alloy vs. stainless steel gripframe does make a difference.

 

[steve b]

Balance is a nearly useless term, but its commonly used, so be it. Balance, just were is the point at which it balances ? Where best for the application, should it balance ? Etc.. I say, forget that term. Define the niche YOU wnat the firearm to fullfill. What caliber will fill the niche for you ? Will it have to be concealed, hence barrel length is defined. to hunt ? Again barrel length a factor, possible to meet legal quals.. Weight ? To be carried all day, or in a rug to the range ? Etc.. I'm an upland bird hunter, a shotgun has a balance point, that again is a highly subjective thing, but here we have two hands and a shoulder upon the weapon, and were the balance point effects how it swings and tracks. The term balance, is something gunstore commando's like to use when they wave a handgun around, to sound knowledgeable to the less knowing. Why this here pistola has a good balance ! Um, yeah... I think , blance, when talking handguns, should more correctly be termed bulk. How much bulk, and/or weight, do you need for that gun to fulfill its role for YOU ? steve b

 

[steve b]

A P.S. kinda thing. I don't expect my opinion to be popular. The whole balance thing is too deeply ingrained. So be it. Pretty is, as pretty does. Another handheld commonly used tool is the chainsaw. You pick the motor size you need, the bar length you need. Nobody is talking balance here. Git 'er done. steve b

 

[Quarterbore]

I really like the balance of the 5.5-inch Bisley Blackhawks and I tend to find the 7.5-inch a bit nose heavy BUT shooting the longer barrels with heavy loads is certainly less of an issue if you like potent loads.

You really need to handle and shoot a few to see what you like. I like the 5.5-inch Bisley Blackhawk and 5.5-inch Redhawk quite a bit more then my longer revolvers of the same types.

 

[WESHOOT2]

Just like a hammer, I find handguns have a 'balance', whether it's a 3oz peen or a 3lb sledge.

So I prefer and own 4" GP100s, and a 5.5" 44 Redhawk, and a 7.5" 357 Redhawk (kept for its balance, different from the 5.5" version I bought then sold due to ITS balance).



PS I find value in the word. But I don't hang around gunshops much....all my guns are carry guns.

 

[sunday bill]

Durability makes Ruger my favorite single actions. Accuracy and aesthetics makes S&W my favorite double actions.

When it comes to balance, the 5 1/2" .45 Colt's SAA is the show pony among plow horses. In my hand, nothing else comes close.

 

[Pointshoot]

That question is FAR too subjective.

Frankly, I believe nothing balances better in the hand than a Colt's SAA with the short barrel...

Yep, my best handling & balanced sidearms are 4 3/4" barrel SAA guns in 45 Colt. And nothing points better & more naturally IMHO.

 

[Pinecone]

Balance is something I never gave much attention to as I have owned, worked on and shot so many "different" handguns that I learned early on to adapt my hold regardless of what handgun I was handling. One day at a gun show about 14 years ago, I picked up a Bisley 5.5" barreled Vaquero in .45 Colt and immediately felt a definite "presence" of good balance in my hand. Even the old Colt Bisley never felt that good in my hand. I left that show with the Bisley Vaquero and still have it. Since that time, I have paid more attention to evaluating balance in a handgun!..................Dick :wink:

 

[J2X]

Agree with much of what has been said and will add that the Blackhawk is very easy to change around and adjust the weight/balance.
You get a very different feel between aluminum, steel, and brass gripframes. You can also change between aluminum and steel ejector rod housings.