Ruger Forum

BradKincaid · June 19th, 2012, 09:01 PM

Hi all,

I just wanted to make sure that all new production .44 special Blackhawks are built on the medium sized frame. For example, if I ordered a .44 special Blackhawk from an online retailer, and it didn't specify if it was a Lipsey's limited edition, would it be a mid sized frame simply because that's how all of them are made?

Secondly, if this is the case, is the .44 flattop a limited run or is it now a staple of the Ruger catalog (i.e. do I need to worry about being too late to the party if I can't buy right now).

Thanks

Ruger41 · June 19th, 2012, 09:59 PM

The .44 Special Blackhawks whether Lipsey or not are built on the midsize frame. Lipseys is one reason these Ruger's are being made..they have been big sellers. Some of the Lipsey versions are being made in limited quantities. It took me 6 weeks to get one of the 4 5/8" Flattop Bisley Blackhawk from Lipseys and I'm glad I did.

rclark · June 20th, 2012, 06:38 AM

All Ruger .44Spec BH and New Vaquero revolvers are on the medium frame as Ruger41 pointed out.

weldernewt53 · June 20th, 2012, 01:29 PM

Very nice. I have a Lipsey 44 spl 5-1/2. Very nice gun, very nice finish. Shoots 1-1/2 to 2'" groups at 25 yrds . I shoot 200 gr RNFP Missouri Bullets with 4.3gr Trailboss or 5.4 gr Titegroup. Can not say enough about how much fun they are to shoot and how accurate they can be. I set my steel ram swinger at 50 yrds and slam it every time.

rclark · June 20th, 2012, 01:44 PM

Quote:

is the .44 flattop a limited run or is it now a staple of the Ruger catalog

It is a Ruger cataloged revolver 'right now'. Wait to long though and it could disappear. If you 'really' want one .... I would think about getting one sooner ... not later! That is my take on it. I waited to long on the Old Army for example and wasn't able to latch onto a 'used' one until last year....

weldernewt53, you just got to load 'er up with Skeeter load (7.5g of Unique/Universal behind a 240g bullet)! The revolver was made for this load

. Accurate and guaranteed to swing your target at 100Yards

.

terry_p · June 20th, 2012, 01:56 PM

Lipsey 44 Specials now are new Vaquero's and hence small frame. The Ruger NM Blackhawk 44 Specials are on the standard Blackhawk frame which is the large frame.

Right now all the distributor exclusives for Blackhawks are either 357 Mag or 45 Convertibles.

rclark · June 20th, 2012, 01:57 PM

Quote:

The Ruger NM Blackhawk 44 Specials are on the standard Blackhawk frame which is the large frame.

Not true. The cataloged NM .44Spec BH is the .44Spec flattop BH identical to the Lispey special run

built on the medium frame.

http://www.ruger.com/products/newMod...ed/models.html . As you can see they have NVB-444 and NVB-445 designation and if you cursor over them, you find them correctly shown as flattops ... and my first 5 1/2" .44Spec was bought as a cataloged revolver (I missed the initial Lipsey run

) . Buy 'em while ya can!

Really kind of neat. When Ruger introduced the .357 in '55, they planned on introduction the .44Spec and .45 Colt on the same 'medium' frame. Along came the .44Mag Flattop on the large frame in '56 and the .44Spec and .45 Colt versions were shelved.... Who needs a .44spec or .45 Colt when you have a .44Mag? Then Ruger introduced the .357 50th Anniversary flattop (medium frame) in 2005 ... Wahoo the medium frame was back. Then along came the .44Spec from Lipsey! Wahoo, the .44Spec on the medium frame

. An then Ruger cataloged em!!!! And finally we have the .45 Colt medium frame flattops.... A good time to be alive! To shoot/own the guns that should have been, but never were! As Taffin said "Victory at Last" . Only unfortunate think is they are New Models with an internal lock

.... sigh.... But can't have everything

.

weldernewt53 · June 21st, 2012, 03:51 AM

I agree with rclarck. The time is now to start looking for one of these fine revolvers. They are well balanced and some of of the nicest revolvers out there . Good luck. To rclarck I just happen to have some 240gr. Missouri bullets and some Unique on the loading bench. Time to try that load out. Thanks!

Izzoquazzo · June 24th, 2012, 01:10 PM

I have 2 Vaqueros and a Bisley flat top. All are the medium frame.

Tobie · June 29th, 2012, 11:48 AM

Just bought a Bisley from Lipsey's with 4 5/8 barrel. Shooting 240 swc at about 900fps- it shoots about 6 inches high at 25- with the sight adjusted all the way to the bottom. I'm hesitant to send it back because it shoots really good groups. Anybody have any ideas? I spoke with a Ruger customer service guy and he advised calling them back after July 9 due to a scheduled plant shutdown. He also said that are two different sights that could be installed by the factory. He read the spec sheet for my gun and said that the sight listed on my gun is the shortest of the two. I asked him why Ruger doesn't treat the blued guns as they do the stainless since they have the front sight blade pinned in and would make blade changes fairly easy for the user. He was a nice guy but couldn't offer any suggestions other than to send it back. Having read some mixed reviews of the time involved with this process, I wonder if I shouldn't have a local GS mill off the blade and mill the base for a replacement.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.