Super black hawk question

[Poeschel]

I want a super black hawk in 44 mag that can handle the hot loads. What do I need to look for in a gun to know it can handle the ruger only loads? My lgs has some sbh so I wanna know what to look for, new model, old model? I just don't get it.

 

[Quarterbore]

Ruger only loads apply to the 45 Colt, not the 44 Rem Mag! The 44 Mag has a defined pressure and any gun marked 44 Mag can handle those pressures. The 45 Colt on the other hand has a relatively low pressure rating to allow the cartridge to be used in old guns or lighter made guns.

When you pick up a normal box of 45 Colt ammo they are quite weak compared to a load with near 44 Mag pressures. The heavy 45 Colt loads will be marked +p or Ruger Only to make it clear these rounds will not be save in your Grandfaters Colt peacemaker!

 

[dlhredfoxx]

Many of the niche/high end 44 mag ammo manufacturers such as Garrett, Buffalo Bore and Grizzly sell "Ruger only" or "+P" 44 mag loads and specifically state NOT to use them in "other" guns besides RH, SRH and in some instances SBH... so my understanding is that you can't safely shoot any 44 mag load in any gun marked 44 mag. Your SBH will safely shoot any 44 mag load made that will fit in the cylinder (OAL).... mine does.

 

[CraigC]

Yes but those loads are too long for other maker's guns, specifically S&W's and thus they can't be fired in them anyway.

However, if you can't do what you want with the .44Mag at standard pressures (250@1450fps/330@1350fps/355@1250fps), you need a bigger cartridge. All another 100-200fps (such as Garrett's load) is going to do is flatten trajectory.

 

[jimbo1096]

I want a super black hawk in 44 mag that can handle the hot loads. What do I need to look for in a gun to know it can handle the ruger only loads? My lgs has some sbh so I wanna know what to look for, new model, old model? I just don't get it.

To make it short and sweet - if it says Ruger and 44mag on it, you are good to go with anything you can buy across the counter. You just gotta decide how long the barrel needs to be.

 

[CraigC]

Actually Garrett's 330gr load is intended for the Redhawk/Super Redhawk and is too long for the Super Blackhawk. Which is really of no consequence because you can handload 330's to 1300-1350fps, at standard pressures, which fit the factory Super Blackhawk's cylinder. If you need to shoot loads like that, you need to be handloading anyway. Otherwise, you'll never be able to do enough shooting to become proficient.