I have two step grand daughters but we do not call them step kids. Never have. They are as much a part of my family as me and our love is unconditional so with 5 GrandKids total our life is blessed and complete. This review is about one of my favorite Blackhawks. The 41 Magnum. The Magnum in the Middle if you will. I never set out to get a 41 but it is all Fetlas had in stock in 1970. People think this gun shortage thing is new. There was a waiting list for 44 Magnums. I am a right now kinda guy so I took the 41 home with me after several lay away installments and never looked back. It was then that I adopted this fine caliber.
The 41 Magnum develops some pretty good energy in the field. I have taken game, either won or placed well in Hunter revolver Matches, and busted the heck out of a lot of bowling pins with this cartridge. Most of my handloads push a 210 grain bullet around 1250 FPS. I use Hercules (Alliant Powder for Magnums and have a Unique load for milder work. This gun loves, lead, jacketed, hollow cavities, and even the Winchester 240 Grain Platinum tips. Quite easily, this gun spits them all out and in very good clusters. The enclosed target was shot today with various loads with no change in sight picture. Back in the day, I wore two Blackhawks out shooting IHMSA https://www.ihmsa.org/index.html at the steel animals. That was when Ruger used zinc instead of steel on the frame and ejector rod housing. However, I never had a Ram that wouldn't fall if I did my part on the 200 meter targets.
Now when you shoot a lot of heavy revolvers, things can start wiggling around on you. This is the case with the hinge pin on the rear sight assembly. I have had to replace it with a thicker steel pin or put a very slight bend in the middle of the pin before reinstalling it in its race. That does the trick and I have included a pic of how the sight pin can walk out if you do not tend to it. Again, the more you shoot, the more these things will need attention. The flat top model is near to my heart as I just love the looks and simple lines. Also, I fit my Rugers with the wide Super Blackhawk hammers as it is better for me in shooting. If you will notice the rear sight is all the way down on the frame and the front sight is regulated to shoot right down the middle. I will not own any guns that have misaligned sights. This operation gives me the utmost in elevation control for all yardages including 300 yards. I cant ring the gong every time but more often than not with this factory sight system.
Now since this model is an all steel alloy, it handles recoil very well. However, I replaced the original composite grips with hand fit Ivory and exotic wood panels all serial numbered to the gun. Pot metal, aluminum and plastic may be good for toy tractors, beer cans or credit cards but I prefer steel, wood and bone on my guns. I do like to crossdress my grips from time to time for a different look and feel for the field. Now I know there are custom gunsmiths that will enhance the heck out of your action, cylinder and sell parts you may not need, but this Ruger, like all my Rugers, shoot better than I can hold. When I get a new revolver, I thoroughly check it out by measuring the chambers and shooting the gun to make sure it is in spec. I have had a few that I had to send back but the factory fixed everything at no charge and within two weeks in most cases. This is a service they will do but many gun owners are not concerned with owning and or shooting a mis built gun.
Someday this round may become extinct but I hope it is after I am worm food. I do love my 44's and 357's but I can hold my own with a .41. Goldilocks said it best in finding something that is just right. Pretty good for a caliber that some would call a red headed stepchild.
See You on the Range
The 41 Magnum develops some pretty good energy in the field. I have taken game, either won or placed well in Hunter revolver Matches, and busted the heck out of a lot of bowling pins with this cartridge. Most of my handloads push a 210 grain bullet around 1250 FPS. I use Hercules (Alliant Powder for Magnums and have a Unique load for milder work. This gun loves, lead, jacketed, hollow cavities, and even the Winchester 240 Grain Platinum tips. Quite easily, this gun spits them all out and in very good clusters. The enclosed target was shot today with various loads with no change in sight picture. Back in the day, I wore two Blackhawks out shooting IHMSA https://www.ihmsa.org/index.html at the steel animals. That was when Ruger used zinc instead of steel on the frame and ejector rod housing. However, I never had a Ram that wouldn't fall if I did my part on the 200 meter targets.
Now when you shoot a lot of heavy revolvers, things can start wiggling around on you. This is the case with the hinge pin on the rear sight assembly. I have had to replace it with a thicker steel pin or put a very slight bend in the middle of the pin before reinstalling it in its race. That does the trick and I have included a pic of how the sight pin can walk out if you do not tend to it. Again, the more you shoot, the more these things will need attention. The flat top model is near to my heart as I just love the looks and simple lines. Also, I fit my Rugers with the wide Super Blackhawk hammers as it is better for me in shooting. If you will notice the rear sight is all the way down on the frame and the front sight is regulated to shoot right down the middle. I will not own any guns that have misaligned sights. This operation gives me the utmost in elevation control for all yardages including 300 yards. I cant ring the gong every time but more often than not with this factory sight system.
Now since this model is an all steel alloy, it handles recoil very well. However, I replaced the original composite grips with hand fit Ivory and exotic wood panels all serial numbered to the gun. Pot metal, aluminum and plastic may be good for toy tractors, beer cans or credit cards but I prefer steel, wood and bone on my guns. I do like to crossdress my grips from time to time for a different look and feel for the field. Now I know there are custom gunsmiths that will enhance the heck out of your action, cylinder and sell parts you may not need, but this Ruger, like all my Rugers, shoot better than I can hold. When I get a new revolver, I thoroughly check it out by measuring the chambers and shooting the gun to make sure it is in spec. I have had a few that I had to send back but the factory fixed everything at no charge and within two weeks in most cases. This is a service they will do but many gun owners are not concerned with owning and or shooting a mis built gun.
Someday this round may become extinct but I hope it is after I am worm food. I do love my 44's and 357's but I can hold my own with a .41. Goldilocks said it best in finding something that is just right. Pretty good for a caliber that some would call a red headed stepchild.
See You on the Range
Attachments
-
DSC_1402 (2).JPG2.4 MB · Views: 33
-
DSC_1404 (3).JPG2.5 MB · Views: 32
-
DSC_1406 (2).JPG919.6 KB · Views: 31
-
DSC_1407 (2).JPG1.6 MB · Views: 28
-
DSC_1408 (2).JPG1.3 MB · Views: 25
-
DSC_1409 (2).JPG1.3 MB · Views: 22
-
DSC_1410 (2).JPG1.3 MB · Views: 27
-
DSC_1411.JPG1.5 MB · Views: 30
-
DSC_1412 (2).JPG2 MB · Views: 27
-
DSC_1416 (2).JPG533.2 KB · Views: 28