What is it with Hunters?

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Back to the original thread topic, namely the centerfire Hunters. How are the .44 SBH Hunters to shoot? Does the extra weight of the rib help with recoil? I originally came here because of the rimfires, but now I am looking at the centerfires.
Additional weight on the barrel from length, thickness or both on any handgun with a good grip will attenuate felt recoil and muzzle rise. How do they shoot? I like them enough to have three :)

About the Hunter rib. I've wondered what motivates Ruger Blackhawk owners to want to customize them and have Smith and Wesson barrels installed. Is it appearance? Help with recoil? Both? It seems like a Hunter barrel pretty much does the same thing as the S&W barrel (but with "unappealing" scope ring cuts) without the expense of customizing the gun?

On the down side for target shooters, the extra weight may be taxing on the muscles if you shoot a lot but the days of dumping a couple of boxes of stout .44's at the range are long gone for me.

Anyway, I'd like to see Ruger Hunter variations with a different scope mounting scheme, porting and different barrel lengths.
 
About the Hunter rib. I've wondered what motivates Ruger Blackhawk owners to want to customize them and have Smith and Wesson barrels installed. Is it appearance? Help with recoil? Both? It seems like a Hunter barrel pretty much does the same thing as the S&W barrel (but with "unappealing" scope ring cuts) without the expense of customizing the gun?
Being completely new to the "Hunters" I had to do a quick google search on that. Initial returns seem to suggest it is to reduce the length of the barrel, but I'm just guessing based on a couple of threads. I guess we would need to hear from someone who has done this to know for sure.
 
Back to the original thread topic, namely the centerfire Hunters. How are the .44 SBH Hunters to shoot? Does the extra weight of the rib help with recoil? I originally came here because of the rimfires, but now I am looking at the centerfires.
I have 2 Hunters in 44 mag one is the bisley , one is the regular plow grip . I bought both to decide for my self which one I liked best .
But I do know the rib on the hunters help with recoil , but there is also a tippiness too because of it . And I know for a fact the bisley grip frame is better for helping with recoil .....instead of the flipping up feeeling , it has a tendency to push more straight back .
My conclusion on the hunters is this , the rib helps with recoil ,
But the Bisley grip frame helps alot more . I should have bought 2 bisley's .. I hope this is helps ...
 
Being completely new to the "Hunters" I had to do a quick google search on that. Initial returns seem to suggest it is to reduce the length of the barrel, but I'm just guessing based on a couple of threads. I guess we would need to hear from someone who has done this to know for sure.
Barrel length reduction is a function of the fact that the barrel stub needs to be removed on a Smith barrel and new threads cut before it can be screwed into a Ruger frame. There is also the need to remove the underlug portion of the barrel, plus recontouring and polishing. It gets spendy. Anyone simply wanting a shorter barrel can have the factory supplied unit chopped to nearly any desired length by a competent gunsmith. The use of Smith & Wesson barrels on Ruger single actions is primarily for aesthetic reasons, although the added weight does help mitigate recoil to a degree. Another benefit is the integral front sight base on a Smith DA barrel, which can be set up to receive user replaceable front sights if one desires.

Aesthetics play a large roll in many a custom gun. Look at the abundant use of case coloring (not hardening), exotic wood grips, and engraving. Functionally, these add little to the shootability of the single action (although proper grips are a thing).

The main benefit of the Hunter models is the ease of mounting optics, which can be a game changer in the hunting fields. Additional weight reduces felt recoil, which most find beneficial as well. But hip carry is nearly impossible with such a rig. With all things there is a trade off...

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I find that the Hunter model is a good variation of Rugers offerings.
I like the rugged scope mounting system.
The design may not be ideal for hip carry with a scope but there are options.
The balance is nice and if hunting, you should always try and use some kind of a rest to assist with accuracy.
Looks be derned, I prefer performance.
For many, the Bisley g/f design does help reduce felt recoil. But each person has a different feel and fit so the plow handle is an option.
Many of the serious big bore kicking custom guns that are USED by their owners have a Bisley g/f.
Porting is not a super popular option due to the noise and muzzle flash that many don't like. Using a proven aftermarket company like Magnaport allows that option. And their method of doing it works quite well.
Barrel length for field use is always a hot topic. But most serious handgun hunters prefer a longer barrel. Especially if they scope a handgun.
Now with the ever increasing popularity of red dot optics, the option for that is sadly all over the map. Too many different base designs to where you have no uniformity to allow for a gun to easily accommodate different brands of dots. Building a gun with a base design for one type of dot, will quickly make people complain that they can't use their favorite type of dot. So an aftermarket base that can fit the Ruger scope ring design or the rear sight footprint is the best option there.
I'm just glad that we have the option of a Hunter model that can be easily modified for so many.
Remember, we could go back to the days where there were much fewer options. Or, gosh forbid, no SA handguns from Ruger.
 
I'd like to know what you consider the right platform. I've always wanted a .454 I'm torn between a Freedom Arms and a Ruger Alaskan.

I know you weren't asking me, but I'd like to toss my 2 cents in. :) Rather than an Alaskan, I'd suggest that you consider the Super Redhawk Toklat. It has a 5" slab sided barrel so you gain more velocity over the Alaskan, without the size and weight of the 7.5" SRH. I think it's the Goldilocks.
 
I know you weren't asking me, but I'd like to toss my 2 cents in. :) Rather than an Alaskan, I'd suggest that you consider the Super Redhawk Toklat. It has a 5" slab sided barrel so you gain more velocity over the Alaskan, without the size and weight of the 7.5" SRH. I think it's the Goldilocks.
I REALLY like the Toklat, now if Ruger would make an Alaskan with a 4" barrel (an Alaskan is NOT a Toklat or SRH) which doesn't have that unnecessary scope mount, I'd get one in every caliber they made!
 
I got one of the ones in .45 long colt. 1st thing I did was toss the factory grips in the trash and put on some Hogue rubber finger grooves. Put a 2x Nikon on it.

Thing is accurate as hell.

I don't load for it but have found Underwood 250gr +p ammo to be super accurate and it puts the hurt on deer.

Funny, I was looking for a .41 at the time and saw this one sitting in a gunshop I don't noramlly go to. They had 2, one was a .44 and this one where the tag was flipped over. They were so busy cuz it was when Obama was gonna take everyone's guns. Place was jammed, phones ringing off the hook. I didn't feel like waiting.

Got in my truck, headed home, figured I would call them and wait on hold while driving home.

20 min later a lady came back on and said it's not a .41 it's a .45 long colt.

Turned around and went back and bought it.

$589
 
I know you weren't asking me, but I'd like to toss my 2 cents in. :) Rather than an Alaskan, I'd suggest that you consider the Super Redhawk Toklat. It has a 5" slab sided barrel so you gain more velocity over the Alaskan, without the size and weight of the 7.5" SRH. I think it's the Goldilocks.
Toklats are nice, but hard to find.

I ended up getting an Alaskan.454 and a .44 mag Super Blackhawk 10-1/2 in barrel today.
IMG_7348.jpeg
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And for good measure I bought a S&W 329 PD Air Lite .44 mag
IMG_7349.jpeg

Was disappointed the factory grips weren't included, but I just realized these are Ahrends grips and the significance of that.
 
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Toklats are nice, but hard to find.

I ended up getting an Alaskan.454 and a .44 mag Super Blackhawk 10-1/2 in barrel today.View attachment 57027View attachment 57028

And for good measure I bought a S&W 329 PD Air Lite .44 magView attachment 57029
Was disappointed the factory grips weren't included, but I just realized these are Ahrends grips and the significance of that.
I'm sorry that I missed your question about platform ... looks like you found what you were looking for , I hope you have good luck with them......
Nice looking guns , be sure and let us know about the Alaskan .
I have alot of 44's , the casull is a different animal , My XVR handles it easily , I dont know if my wrist could handle the Alaskan .
Platform for me = SRH with 7.5 " barrel , something I could run a few cylinders through , I don't even know if my wrist could take the Hunter . It is an awesome performing cartridge , That Alaskan would make you feel good about yourself in the High country Would it not ? Before I go I would really very much like to say I have always found those Alaskan revolvers to be very attractive and impressive revolvers , we'll talk to you Ladds later .
 
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I wanted to skip over the .44 and go right to .454 but figured I needed to work my way up to it anyways. Plus I want my son to do the same. Definitely going to start him on .45 Colts then .44mag, He may not be up to the .454

I'm super curious about the recoil on the scandium AirLite S&W .44 mag.

They were all used and all priced ok. I was trying to choose just 1 but couldn't even narrow it down to 2. Lol. 😂

A .454 has always been a grail cartridge to me, I remember reading about it's development when I was a kid. It seemed to be outrageously powerful. Still hard for me to believe it has been eclipsed by even more powerful cartridges.
 
I wanted to skip over the .44 and go right to .454 but figured I needed to work my way up to it anyways. Plus I want my son to do the same. Definitely going to start him on .45 Colts then .44mag, He may not be up to the .454

I'm super curious about the recoil on the scandium AirLite S&W .44 mag.

They were all used and all priced ok. I was trying to choose just 1 but couldn't even narrow it down to 2. Lol. 😂

A .454 has always been a grail cartridge to me, I remember reading about it's development when I was a kid. It seemed to be outrageously powerful. Still hard for me to believe it has been eclipsed by even more powerful cartridges.
I am so glad that you decided not to over look the 44 , it will become your daily driver so to speak and the casull will be your random walk down thrillseeker road . If I was speaking to a young man wanting to explore the 44 , I would say to him that the two 44's I would start with would be these two , it may be the only two you will ever need . A 6" 629 classic and a 7.5" super red hawk .
It will save you money trying this and that . Just get my two best 44's right off the bat . Your son can always shoot specials .
I would like to add I shoot double action revolvers way more than single action revolvers these days and I don't see that changing .
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