I've decided on a Super Blackhawk .44 magnum with a 7 1/2" barrel for my next handgun to replace the S&W 29 that I didn't like very much. I chose it over the Redhawk simply because I like the Super Blackhawk's longer dragoon grips and overall feel and I very rarely if ever shoot large revolvers double action.
So my question is whether to go stainless or blue. Any opinions on Ruger blueing and Ruger stainless? Any drawbacks to stainless? Advantages to blueing?
Also, is Ruger's quality still top notch? (I ask this because many gunmakers have really taken some shortcuts in recent years) Should I buy an older gun for better quality or are the new ones every bit as solid? My Rugers have been eighties manufacture and solid as rocks.
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"Would it make you feel better, little girl, if they was thrown outta windows?"-Archie Bunker
I love my Redhawk, I don't usually use the double action feature, but it is there IF I need it, And I can reload a lot faster with speed loaders because of the swingout cylinder, than you can clear and load a Blackhawk.Rugers are tough and Dependable, and that makes them a good choice.
Rich
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Reloading is the only drawback for me. Gate loading can be a bit slow.
The Super Redhawk I find ugly as sin, but that's just me.
The regular RedHawk is a good looking gun, but I just really like the way the Super Blackhawk sits in my hand. I feel like I have complete control with it. That's the best way to describe the Smith 29 for me - When I pulled the trigger, I felt like I had no control over the gun.
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"Would it make you feel better, little girl, if they was thrown outta windows?"-Archie Bunker
I have a blued Super blackhawk. Love it I use the factory grips. I have found that any of the rubber grips may absorb the recoil but you loose the "rock" that you have with the wood grips. I'd rather shoot my 7/2" backhawk then my dad KGP 100 4".
i get to clean both my super blackhawk hunter and my fathers old blued super blackhawk. i recommend buying the blued gun, cleaning stainless gets old after a while.
I recently reblued a friend's New Model Super Blackhawk .44. I don't own one but he brought me a box of ammo with it to put it through the paces after I'd put it back together. I have the S&W 686 .357. When I got done I took them both out and I really liked the Ruger. It shot almost as good as the S&W and I've done everything imagineable to mine. Everything's honed and custom fit. The Blackhawk is really a sharp looking gun and it feels great! I prefer the blued finish for that style handgun, mostly because it just looks like the old cowboy guns should look.
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I have both the blue ruger with the standard sights which I use for hunting in the thick brush of south alabama and a stainless mdl 29 s&w with a 2x scope for areas not quite as thick where I can get a longer shot. both are in .44 and both do the job on whitetail and hogs..just take time to wipe them down after the hunt and you should have no problem...good luck...
I have a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter in the 7 1/2" stainless, W/ Hoage mono-grip(rubber). It also carries a Millet 30mm reddot. Because of the wt, size, and grips, this is the softest shooting .44 I've ever fired. With a 429244GC 265grs with my alloy, over a lot of 2400 I get 1.25" 12 shot groups at 25 yards. These loads crono 1406 fps. average for the same 12 rnds(twice around)
My choice is stainless steel over blue, I think the Hunter only comes in stainless.
decisions, decisions, could not make up my mind so i picked up a stainless , and a blued 3 screw, both in 5.5 inch - now i would like two get them in 4/78" IT'S A SICKNESS ------
I have the Stainless 7 1/2" one. It is just so much easier to keep it looking good than a blued one. But went from the wood grips to the Hogue rubber to help me tame the recoil.
i get to clean both my super blackhawk hunter and my fathers old blued super blackhawk. i recommend buying the blued gun, cleaning stainless gets old after a while.
Huh? My stainless SBH is so much easier to clean than my blued Taurus 66, I've never bought a blued gun since.
I've decided on a Super Blackhawk .44 magnum with a 7 1/2" barrel for my next handgun to replace the S&W 29 that I didn't like very much. So my question is whether to go stainless or blue. Any opinions on Ruger blueing and Ruger stainless? Any drawbacks to stainless? Advantages to blueing?
As you can see, I own and shoot quite a few Rugers, in both Stainless and blue. It has taken me a while to get used to Stainless Steel, but now I much prefer it over blue. It's much more resistant to the elements, but it can rust. It's not like Stainless Steel tableware in that regard. Also it's very important to keep Stainless Steel mating moving parts well lubricated because they are more prone to galling because Stainless Steel is more "gummy" than blued carbon steel. When Stainless first came out in firearms they were considered to be a little less accurate than their blued carbon steel counterparts, but that isn't the case anymore. Stainless guns manufactured today are every bit as accurate as blued carbon steel guns. It's really a personal prefrence. One thing about the Ruger Blackhawk models is with the Stainless Steel versions you get a Stainless Steel grip frame. With the blued carbon steel guns the grip frame is made from Aluminium, except on the Ruger Super Blackhawk the grip frame is also made from steel on the blued guns. Bill T.
Drat, now I have to take it back. Found such a good deal on an FN Hi-Power in blue, I just had to have it. Traded in a Ruger KP89D and a hundred and some change. And whoo boy, is that FN accurate!
Are You set on a 7.5” barrel ?? If You have the opportunity to shoot a 9.5” You are to try it out, I sold my RH 7.5” and now own a SRH 9.5” This gun is more in balance with the .44 ammo, the recoil feels lighter and there is a huge deference in accuracy.
decisions, decisions, could not make up my mind so i picked up a stainless , and a blued 3 screw, both in 5.5 inch - now i would like two get them in 4/78" IT'S A SICKNESS 
