Super Blackhawk Hunter 45Colt or 41M?

[Northern Pike]

I recently stumbled across two SBH Hunters, Standard SBH grips, 7.5" bbls SS with rings.. NIB both. One was in 41 Mag and one in 45 Colt. I did not even know they made them in anything other than 44 Mag. I went home and looked on line...it is not the best time for me to spend the cash ...But, well I do have that little wad stashed away for such an emergency....Decided I would like to have one or the other. I reload for both 41 and 45, and have (2) 41Mag Blackhawks now, and one 41 double action. I really like the 41M caliber, But I thought it would great to have a 45Colt to hunt/target with since I have two USFA SAA's in that caliber. I am a little leary of the RBH in 45 colt since I have previously owned a Bisley SS 5.5" a few years ago that was very inacurate due to what I am not sure; oversize Cyl throats? or Bore ...not sure. My other Rugers have all and do all, shoot like champs.

Any thoughts or opinions as to which one of these would be the better selection? Does anyone have the 45 Colt SBH Hunter model?

Anyway, thanks in advance, and would love to hear any opinions or advice here.

Pike

 

[seeemmiss]

Never shot a 41 mag that was not accurate. I have about ten 41 mags but my next hunter model purchase will be the 45 Colt. I know this does not help much. I want the 45 Colt so I can shoot those big 325 gr gas check bullets through it. I have a scoped 41 redhawk and a scoped 44 mag but no 45 so that is another reason I want it.

 

[Tommy Kelly]

I agree the 41 mag is a great gun but the 45 is a lot better in my opinion. If I were to have to choose I would go 45 colt in a heartbeat over the 41.

 

[Quarterbore]

What were the prices?

Look at the frame if you go back and is teh frame marked "New Model SUPER Blackhawk" or "New Model Blackhawk" --- if it lacks the SUPER I am very interested and I'll send you a finders fee of $100 if it is one of the two I need :wink:

The two I need:
41 Bisley Hunter WITHOUT the super!
45 Colt Hunter WITHOUT the super!

Find either, ask them to put it on hold and that you have a buyer and just send me the phone number! I'll send you the $100 for your time assuming they are not insane in their asking price as I am likely one of only a very few idiots that care!

As for the guns, I have the 45 Colt Bisley Hunter that is my hunting and shooter. The gun is far more accurate then I am and it is heavy enough that even very heavy loads are comfortable to shoot. I have a buch of 41s too, just never shot any of them (darn safe queens you know!).

See: http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=29409

 

[MK111]

Never owned a 41 mag and never will. I got a 45LC combo this year and took a whitetail deer with it this week with the 45LC. First iron sighted deer out of 21 with a handgun. The other 20 deer were with the .44 Mag.
I quess I found a new caliber as I never needed a 45LC before the combo came out. I am glad I did get it.
Go with the 45LC as it will do everthing much better than the 41 Mag.

 

[32magfan]

Pike,

I was once in the dark about SBH Hunters, Bisley SBH Hunters, 44Specials from Lipseys, 8-shot BlackHawks in 327Fed and about 6 or 7 other such beasties that have drifted into my gunsafe while $$ drifted out of my checking account :shock: . This section of the Forum is the WRONG place to be if you want to continue in ignorant bliss with your savings intact!

However, it is a great place for information. :D I just bought the 41 Mag Bisley SBHH about 2 months ago. I have not shot it much but I can confirm it is as accurate as I can shoot off hand or from a rest. I bought the 45 Bisley SBHH first and the 44Mag next. Both of these are scoped and really reach out and get 'em. 8)

If you reload already for the 41, by all means that is a valid option. You can do 90% of what any 44Mag or 45 Colt can do. If not, grab the 45 Colt. Ammo is more available, more components are available if you reload and its the classic Single Action chambering. It will do anything us mortals need done with a handgun.

I have seen 2 SBHH (standard grips) in 44Mag and 45 Colt for about $525 each in a shop in Rossville, GA. Hope that helps with the pricing on what you are looking at.

Good luck and safe shooting,

32Magfan

 

[Chuckbuster]

Buy them Both

I hate making decisions

 

[G2]

The .45 is the hardest one to find. ~600 made in SBH,
~300 if it's a Bisley SBH.

There have been a few runs of .41.

 

[Greebe]

cleaning up :mrgreen:

 

[Northern Pike]

Thanks so much for the informative replys. I have had the 45 on hold since Monday and now I feel that was the best choice. Lots of good advice.

Quarterbore, I do believe both of those SBHs Said Super on them. I will be glad to contact you with any more info I may have when I go to pick mine up, I have to drive quite a ways to get the gun and wont be for a few days. Please send me a message if you want, (no finder fees necessary) I will be glad to help if i can.

Great response 32magfan, the price is in the $590 range, a little higher than what you had seen but I personnaly do not feel it is especially high for what I am getting.

Great comments, I look forward to getting the weapon, loading up for it, and putting some lead down range to see what i can do with it.

Thank you all

Pike

 

[JimMarch1]

Here's a tip: look for the "lawyer's warning label" on the barrel. If it's UNDER the barrel, the gun was made recently enough that it has a bunch of engineering changes - esp. in how the cylinders are made. For starters you're much more likely to get uniform throats and chambers, and the chamber specs will likely be tighter.

Esp. in 45LC.

The above applies to the large-frame series. All of the mid-frames from the first NewVaqs forward have similar improvements. The only side-barrel-warning large frame that I know of with the improvements is the original 50th Anniversary Blackhawk 44 (not the Super).

 

[Knuckles]

Tough choice... they're both a little hard to find these days. I chose a Hunter in .45Colt

 

[KWYJIBO]

As for the accuracy concern, no one can say for sure why your stainless Bisley had problems, but its throats were most likely too tight, not too loose. This has traditionally been a problem with Ruger 45 Colts. Their throats are undersize and inconsistent. The good news is that they're easy to fix with a reamer. And as JimMarch said, the newer ones are better.

I wouldn't be worried about the .45 in terms of accuracy. Most of us have good luck with them, at least once the chambers are reamed. I think you should get the Hunter in the caliber that YOU prefer. You already load and shoot both, and there are good hunting loads available in each. Do you see yourself as more of a .41 or a .45 man?