Ruger 6 1/2 Inch Flat Top Blackhawk 41 Magnum

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  • Trapper Jim

    Master
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    22   0   0
    Dec 18, 2012
    2,676
    77
    Arcadia
    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
     

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    tude

    Marksman
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Dec 16, 2012
    239
    63
    ohio
    Good write up. I have been afflicted with the 41 magnum disease for quite sometime now. Blackhawks, Redhawks, S&W 57 and recently a Henry. Blackhawks are my favorite, but I have never been fortunate to get my hands on a flattop.
     

    PlaysInTheDirt

    Plinker
    Rating - 100%
    5   0   0
    Dec 14, 2016
    118
    28
    Southport
    Nice write-up Trapper! Just picked up a early flattop in 357 with the 6.5" barrel. I hope it shoots as well as your 41! Any tips or tricks to maximize the potential?
     

    Noble Sniper

    Master
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    132   0   0
    Feb 22, 2010
    1,886
    113
    Anderson, Indiana
    Great write up. The 41 is definitely a less thought of cartridge and can do a lot of things the 44 can do without all the rocks and dynamite. Don’t believe me folks go ask Elmer…..
     

    700 LTR 223

    Expert
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Apr 5, 2008
    919
    63
    Nice review , I have to say the 41 Mag is one gun I have never fired in over 30 years of handgun shooting. It is refreshing to see good targets fired with a big bore magnum!
     

    Hookeye

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Dec 19, 2011
    15,039
    77
    armpit of the midwest
    I shot 3 screw .357, .41, 44 and 45s.
    Flat tops ,supers and blackhawks.

    Pops liked the .45s. I went .44.
    Never got into the .41s.

    Buds have, and say you dont need a .357 and a .44, a 41 can do it all.

    Since when is having one gun better than two?
     

    two70

    Master
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    19   0   0
    Feb 5, 2016
    3,724
    113
    Johnson
    I shot 3 screw .357, .41, 44 and 45s.
    Flat tops ,supers and blackhawks.

    Pops liked the .45s. I went .44.
    Never got into the .41s.

    Buds have, and say you dont need a .357 and a .44, a 41 can do it all.

    Since when is having one gun better than two?
    When is having two guns better than three? ;)

    I like the .41 mag, it replaces the .44 for me, at least in the Super Blackhawk Hunter, and Super Redhawk.
     

    Hookeye

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Dec 19, 2011
    15,039
    77
    armpit of the midwest
    Ive shot the 41. For me its a tweener.
    Dont find the .44 to be all that big, but big enough for me to stop there.

    Not a fan of SA revolvers really, but do like Supers over reg Blackhawks.
     
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