First range outing with my new Ruger "Silver Hornpipe"

[oregon45]

These KS411N Ruger Super Blackhawk's are somewhat thin on the ground, but my entrepid local gunstore was able to find one for me. I've begun competing at local IHMSA matches and rather than wait for a Freedom Arms (which everyone else has and is the standard for the game), I decided to acquire a "Silver Hornpipe" instead. I figure if this revolver made the 40x40 possible back in 1981 it ought to be able to do so again today. One thing is for sure: I won't be shooting a 40x40 anytime soon, but I've got plenty of brass and bullets to help get me there

This SBH is really nicely finished, and Ruger's decision to move the warning up underneath the barrel makes for a very sleek and purposeful look. Out of the box the trigger was slightly heavy, but not gritty and had a crisp let off so I'm leaving it alone for now. I removed the pretty good looking factory laminate grips and put on a pair of Pachmayr's. They seem to have been the IHMSA standard for this gun and they remove any chance of the square-back trigger guard hammering my middle finger. Ruger is putting out some really nice guns these days and this one is no exception: flats are flat, the brushed finish is evenly applied and the lettering is all crisp. The new style rear sight with Ruger Eagle has positive clicks, though I'm looking into acquiring a Bomar/Bond rear/front setup sometime in the future.

Had it out to the range this morning. The load was 22.7gr of Hodgdon Lil' Gun under a 240gr Nosler JSP in Hornady brass with Winchester LP primers. Recoil was stout but muzzle rise was negligble, accuracy from standing off-hand was decent (6" at 50 yards for 5-shots) but I have no doubt the gun can do better. I didn't shoot much from Creedmoor because my homemade blast shield, while protecting my leg from the blast itself, still let the force of the blast get through. Felt like someone was snapping my leg with a huge rubber band It had me flinching after two rounds, so I called that off. Likely going to layer in some quilted material between the leather sheets of my blast shield to help dampen to force of the blast.

All in all a good day at the range. I'm looking forward to the next silhouette match in October.

[awp101]

Now THAT'S a revolver!

Nice!

[maxcactus]

Awesome! If it doesn't shoot you can pole vault with it! Really nice score.

[frankenfab]

Very nice!

[bradshaw]

Oregon45.... Ruger introduced the first 10-1/2" Super Blackhawk in 1979. I made a principled argument to Bill Ruger, Sr., for the 10-1/2" barrel----not a 10-inch. Ballistically the half-inch difference is meaningless, by IHMSA had adopted Production category rules which would accommodate the Remington XP-100 .221 Fireball with its barrel somewhere around 10-3/4". Production (closed breech----a.k.a. single shot) and Production Revolver shared 4 pound weight limit and barrel length rules. In writing up the S410N and predicting its bright future on steel, I dubbed it the "Silhouette Super." Ruger took no offense at the appellation. The 40x40 (Dave Whitman) and 80x80 (Claude Kinnard) Revolver Records were shot with the S410N "Silhouette Super," which features a tapered 10-1/2" barrel with ramp sight screwed to a standard SBH. (The 60x60 record was shot with a Dan Wesson M44 VH8.)

As development of the .357 Maximum progressed, Bill Ruger, Jr., made up a pair of prototype stainless SBH's with 7-1/2" and 10-1/2" barrels. Both had tapered barrels, standard ejector in stainless, and soldered-on ramp front sights. We already had prototype .357 Maximums with untapered barrels and ejectors one-inch longer than standard BH/SBH. This shooter suggested same treatment for silhouette version of the stainless SBH. With these changes the new SBH became the KS411N. It was released in 1983. On its inaugural match, the KS411N entered all four categories of competition----Production, Revolver, Unlimited, and Standing. After 160 rounds of .44 Magnum had been fired, 140 silhouettes lay on the ground. Rams were set at 205 meters and two of the muddy goats had refused to fall. The sun was low in the sky as a competitor approached to ask, "What's that revolver?"

"This here is the Ruger Silver Hornpipe."

Bill Ruger, Sr., did not take kindly to the revolver's unofficial handle, but it caught on with steel shooters. George Wilson supplied Ruger barrels in those days. The SBH .44 was broached rifled to the standard 1:20" twist. Ruger moved single action production from Southport CT to Newport NH in 1992. The barrel of your KS411N was hammer forged in the Newport factory.

Please let us know how it shoots.
David Bradshaw

[oregon45]

Bradshaw: It's shooting well, so far, though I'm sure I'm the limiting factor. It's interesting you mention Dave Whitman, I shot next to him at a silhouette match earlier this month. He was taking down targets with a Dan Wesson .357 SuperMag loaded with 200gr spire-point bullets. He's a nice guy and I've learned a lot watching him shoot.

Any suggestions on how I can position the revolver and blast shield so the blast doesn't "thump" my leg? Or is it just an unavoidable by-product of shooting out of Creedmoor?

[jsh]

I myself tried several different blast shields. I now use a piece of conveyor belting. I have seen leather, canvas, denim and rubber mudflaps used for blast shields.
Make sure and use the blast shield when getting sight settings as it can and will change your POI. Maybe I am a bit superstitious? But I used the same shoes and pants for a long time to shoot creed more. Pants finally gave out and the boots had the inside of the soles worn off at odd angles. Well pants may have actually shrunk, lol but the shoe soles did wear out.
If you use a leg guard be careful not to rest the gun on any "ledge" that may get formed into it. We have had issues off and on over the years with this type of artificial rest.
If you are in Oregon, you have a fine bunch of folks out there to help you get along.
Jeff

[oregon45]

I'm in Oregon, been shooting at Douglas Ridge in their monthly matches. I recently added another layer of leather to my blast shield, will try it out this weekend and see how it works.

[jimluke]

Sept 20, 2014 21:42:51 GMT -5 maxcactus said:

Awesome! If it doesn't shoot you can pole vault with it! Really nice score.

X 2

Nice looking gun...if it just had a little more barrel.

[bradshaw]

oregon45.... layers of ballistic nylon or Kevlar make a flexible blast shield for shooting creedmoor. I came up with the idea while struggling to hold single shot pistols to account before we finally established the production Revolver category. Both the reclining creedmoor and the dead frog positions extend eye relief, critical to maintain precise sight alignment over long strings of fire.

Wrap the ballistic nylon or Kevlar in suede or other soft leather to prevent synthetics from catching fire. Industrial nylon belting----as pictured in one of my recent reports----also works.
David Bradshaw

[bradshaw]

oregon45.... Dave Whitman must have an original 1:14" twist barrel in his Dan Wesson, since the later 1:16 failed to stabilize the Hornady .358 200 grain Spire Point. However, 1:16 works fine for the Hornady and Sierra .358 200 Round Nose. Believe last barrels for M40/M740 Dan Wesson Super Mags came with 1:18-3/4" twist, not what the doctor ordered.
David Bradshaw

[Joe S.]

Mr. Bradshaw
What in the world is the dead frog position?

[bradshaw]

Joe S.... to assume the "dead frog," sit on the ground, bend your knees and cross your legs. So-called campfire sitting. Lean back. Rest revolver barrel on leg just below folded knee. Muzzle must extend beyond any part of your anatomy. Reach off hand behind head to touch ground between shoulder blades, forms headrest. Elbow of gun hand rests lightly on ground. (If your arm is short and your torso long, elbow is off ground.)

A blast shield is necessary to shoot Creedmoor or dead frog.

Creedmoor and dead frog extend eye relief and "ear relief"----two important advantages over prone.
David Bradshaw

[Joe S.]

Ahh I got ya! I think one of your pictorials had a picture of a man coaching his daughter and she was in this position. Seems like she was shooting a small caliber bolt action handgun... Maybe.