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Post by taffin on Sept 12, 2022 9:13:43 GMT -5
All of the New Model .41 Magnum Blackhawks use the XR3-RED grip frame while the Ruger black plastic grips as far as I can remember were only found on the XR3 grip frames. So I am wondering what you really do have! The current production is shipped with plastic grips, for at least the past few years anyway. Probably cost-saving measure. Rough texture too. Thank you for clearing that up! This shows you how much experience I've had with standard Blackhawks since the return of the Mid-Frame Flat-Top in 2005. I have tried to acquire one of each of those offered as well as the .327 Single-Six Models. The only full -sized Blackhawk, except for the .454 and .480 Bisley Models, I have had experience with since 2005 has been the 50th Anniversary .44 Magnum Flat-Top. Here is a list of some things I've learned. Notice number one especially. SOME THINGS I HAVE LEARNED IN MY FOUR SCORE + YEARS 1. 70 years ago I knew everything; now not so much. 2. There is no such thing as a free lunch, or breakfast or supper. 3. I now know the difference between a chocolate pie and a cow pie. 4. I know most public servants, aren't. 5. Most of those in authority who say they are there to help us, don't. 6. Things cannot bring happiness. 7. The most important things in life are Faith, Family, and Friends. Add in Firearms and Freedom and everything is pretty well covered. 8. The older I get the busier I keep my guardian angel. 9. I was not put on this earth to be anyone's judge. 10. If someone gave me a dollar for every good thing I did I would be in debt. 11. If someone gave me a penny for every dumb, stupid, or any sin against God, I would have enough money to buy a deluxe 2022 4 x 4 pickup and have enough money left over to buy gas for the rest of my life. 12. I don't have all the answers, I don't have many answers BUT I know Jesus is The Answer. |
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Post by contender on Sept 12, 2022 10:13:39 GMT -5
Love the post John! At 64 years old,, I find myself relating to #1 a lot more & more nowadays. And I can say that all the rest of those things rings very true here too!
And John is correct,, you can't put an OM XR3 g/f under a NM w/o serious modifications. But,, you CAN put a NM g/f under an OM with a simple modification.
But I doubt that this is the case here.
Back to trying to help.
Get a set of wood grips that are a bit more hand filling to begin with. The plastic ones are thinner, AND are cheaper to produce,, so it helps Ruger keep the expenses down.
A simple set of factory woods is a start. Then, maybe a set of customs where the base isn't tapered,, but flush with the g/f. And even a bit thicker in the right places.
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Post by bisleyfan41 on Sept 12, 2022 13:03:51 GMT -5
The current production is shipped with plastic grips, for at least the past few years anyway. Probably cost-saving measure. Rough texture too. Thank you for clearing that up! This shows you how much experience I've had with standard Blackhawks since the return of the Mid-Frame Flat-Top in 2005. I have tried to acquire one of each of those offered as well as the .327 Single-Six Models. The only full -sized Blackhawk, except for the .454 and .480 Bisley Models, I have had experience with since 2005 has been the 50th Anniversary .44 Magnum Flat-Top. You haven't missed much. Not that Ruger quality has changed necessarily, it's just the full size NM line is same old, same old. Not bad, just the same. They did produce some pretty cool models at one point though, including one I missed out on. A few years ago, Jason at Lipsey's sent out a link to a survey, with something along the lines of...."If Lipsey's could make a production run of something, what would it be?" Of course my answer was simple, offer both the 4 5/8" and 6 1/2" 41 magnum Blackhawks in stainless. Other than the 5.5" Bisleys and the Hunter models, Ruger had never built stainless 41s. I wanted a 6.5" model as it seemed to me it would make just about THE perfect deer hunting revolver. I remember an article you wrote where one of your friends (I believe he was a pastor. I can't remember his name, but I think you referred to him as the Pistol Packing Preacher???)had a 6" or 6.5" stainless 41 Bisley custom-built that he used to hunt quite a bit with. That started the itch. Well as it so happened, some time later, Lipsey's offered them! There they were, listed by one of the dealers over on the Ruger Forum!! Only problem, the motor in my wife's minivan had just given up the ghost and it needed rather expensive repairs. Well by the time I got back around to being able to afford one, they were gone. Never seen another one. Oh, how I'd love to be able to have gotten one of those! I do like to think my little survey submission led to those being made though  |
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Post by taffin on Sept 12, 2022 14:08:11 GMT -5
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Post by harveylogan on Sept 12, 2022 14:11:46 GMT -5
The 41 Blackhawk OP has is a NM with the NXR3-RED, or what us old folk refer to as just the XR3-RED. A few years back, Ruger started shipping these out with the Black Plastic Grips (CHEESE GRATERS) with the new “R” Silver Medallion. They are just like the 50th Flattop Grips but in the XR3-RED profile. They are thin & kinda whimpy, especially for a Blackhawk. This is set is actually from a NM .41 Blackhawk (2016) that I thought they looked better on the Stainless Single Seven. I got somewhat aggressive and knocked down the surfaces with a green scotch pad.  |
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Post by harveylogan on Sept 12, 2022 14:40:08 GMT -5
The Black Plastic looked good but too thin for the heavy 327M loads, Punishing. They got changed out to thicker Laminates, comparison here to Gunfighters on a KNR4.    |
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wpeel
.30 Stingray
Posts: 201 
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Post by wpeel on Sept 12, 2022 15:26:59 GMT -5
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Post by crazycarl on Sept 12, 2022 17:16:13 GMT -5
… Well as it so happened, some time later, Lipsey's offered them! There they were, listed by one of the dealers over on the Ruger Forum!! Only problem, the motor in my wife's minivan had just given up the ghost and it needed rather expensive repairs. Well by the time I got back around to being able to afford one, they were gone. Never seen another one. Oh, how I'd love to be able to have gotten one of those! I do like to think my little survey submission led to those being made though I grabbed a 6.5”er, but snoozed on the 4 5/8”. One of the slickest, smoothest factory Blackhawks I own, but punishing with heavy loads. Picked up a take off SBH Hunter grip frame & hammer. Sent grip frame to Chigs for some Turkish walnut, whereupon he sent them to Bobby Tyler to fit the grip frame to my BH while he was scratching ‘er up & doing his accuracy package. Sadly, I haven’t yet shot it, but is awful pretty to look at in the meantime.  |
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Post by bisleyfan41 on Sept 12, 2022 17:29:18 GMT -5
… Well as it so happened, some time later, Lipsey's offered them! There they were, listed by one of the dealers over on the Ruger Forum!! Only problem, the motor in my wife's minivan had just given up the ghost and it needed rather expensive repairs. Well by the time I got back around to being able to afford one, they were gone. Never seen another one. Oh, how I'd love to be able to have gotten one of those! I do like to think my little survey submission led to those being made though I grabbed a 6.5”er, but snoozed on the 4 5/8”. One of the slickest, smoothest factory Blackhawks I own, but punishing with heavy loads. Picked up a take off SBH Hunter grip frame & hammer. Sent grip frame to Chigs for some Turkish walnut, whereupon he sent them to Bobby Tyler to fit the grip frame to my BH while he was scratching ‘er up & doing his accuracy package. Sadly, I haven’t yet shot it, but is awful pretty to look at in the meantime. View AttachmentLove it! I hope it's more enjoyable to shoot now. Looks great! I hold out hope in finding one someday. |
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Post by bisleyfan41 on Sept 12, 2022 17:34:28 GMT -5
That's it! Forgot until now that it had one of Bowen's ovate barrels. Very nice! Didn't this belong to somebody before Jim got it? Pinder rings a bell?? |
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Post by taffin on Sept 12, 2022 17:40:06 GMT -5
JACK PENDER: At some point in those years I got a phone call that I knew was coming but I hated to receive. My old friend Jack Pender had passed away. Jack was close with John Taffin and myself and before he died he requested that John and I come to Savannah and officiate at his funeral. We both were honored to do so. After it was all finished, just before we left to return to our homes, Jack's son came and handed each of us a pistol. He said, “Dad told me to give these to you.” We both received the gifts with thanks and sorrow. Conflicting emotions at a very emotional time.
The pistol he gave me was a Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum stainless steel model that had been fully customized by Hamilton Bowen of Bowen Custom Arms. The gun was now chambered in .41 Magnum and featured Bowen's excellent work including his own sights, an ovate rib barrel that tapered 3 ways, his own cylinder pin lock, and some interesting things on the lockwork, making it a “3 pin” Ruger instead of the factory 2 pins. The barrel had been Taylor Throated, a process my Dad had invented that increased accuracy.
I had never messed with the .41 Magnum and began working up some loads for the new-to me pistol. I suddenly discovered one of the most accurate sixguns that I had ever used. With full power loads I fired 5-shot groups at 25 yards that measured 5/8 of an inch, center to
center. And not once in awhile. I did not do it every time but the groups were repeatable. Sitting in my pasture with my back against a fence post, resting my arms on my knees and using a two-hand hold, I fired a 5 shot group at 110 yards that measured a little over 3 ½
inches. With iron sights. The .41 was amazing. And it did not pound my hands. I began working up a hunting load and finally settled on the 210 gr. Hornady XTP at about 1450 fps. This load was good for a 6 o'clock hold at 50 yards and dead on at 100 yards. If a deer was within 100 yards and if it stood still for a bit, it was mine. In 2014 I used the .41 Magnum to take a cow elk at about 90 yards. The XTP bullet stopped in the hide on the off side. When I saw the bulge in the skin I got my knife and popped the bullet out. It held together really well and penetrated almost completely through the animal.
After I had the gun for some time I had it “Bisleyized” with a Bisley hammer and gripframe. I don't really care for the big Super Blackhawk grip and the Bisley grip to me handles recoil much more comfortably. Milt Morrison of Qualite' Pistol and Revolver did the work. I had Gary Reeder of Reeder Custom Guns install his “Set Back” trigger, a modification so the trigger stays to the rear of the trigger guard like they are supposed to instead of coming so far forward like the New Model Rugers are intent to do. Paul Persinger (Persinger Grips in El Paso) made the grips. They are of Ebony and hand checkered 32 lines to the inch. This gun is now my “Go To” gun when it comes to handgun hunting or long range shooting. At 76 years of age I don't shoot the heavy recoiling guns any more, but I like the .41 Magnum. I know that some like to go to heavy cast bullets in the .41 and for the younger guys, that is fine. I just do not enjoy or tolerate heavy recoil any more. The .41 Magnum with a good bullet will do about anything I want to do with a sixgun. And I remember my friend Jack Pender when I take it out.
Sitting around talking one day someone asked me, “Jim, what is your favorite single action?” I thought about it for awhile and then said, “I guess it would be whatever one I happen to be holding at the time.” I have quite a few favorites. I really like the old 1st Generation Colts. And that first custom .45 Ruger by John Linebaugh. Jack Pender's gun rates real high on the favorite list. I have some single actions given to me by people I really respect and those guns are very favorite. But if I had to pick one above all the others I would have to be the Ruger Single Six that my Dad gave me.
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lobo
.327 Meteor
Location: SE Mississippi
Posts: 552
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Post by lobo on Nov 1, 2023 18:24:55 GMT -5
Amen to #12 Mr. Taffin.
Chris
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gnappi
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,607
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Post by gnappi on Nov 2, 2023 8:14:03 GMT -5
I just do not like shooting the stock Ruger "plow" handle, I never did, never will and I do not have large hands. Having my pinkie partially off the grip feels like walking on railroad ties with my feet not fully on wood. It doesn't bother some, but I'll never own (for very long) a plow handle again.
On my .357 BH I found a super blackhawk "dragoon" style grip frame and for my .45 Colt BH I got a Bisley, and I like them both better than the originals. Neither BH's are hard kickers but many with larger hands than mine do not like the Dragoon type as the trigger guard whacks their middle finger.
For hand filling, a fatter grip will help you, but if the pinkie is uncomfortable for you, maybe it won't. Another option could be an RW frame AND grips. Folks here like RW grip frames a lot.
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skeen
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 85
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Post by skeen on Nov 2, 2023 9:14:22 GMT -5
Texas Extended Grips made by Henry Lance should give you enough room to add your pinkie finger to the grip. I tried 'em but personally, I didn't like 'em. I much prefer to wrap my pinkie underneath.   texasgrips.com/extended-grips-info/ |
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gnappi
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,607
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Post by gnappi on Nov 3, 2023 0:10:22 GMT -5
Dang Skeen, they're a whole lot easier and less expensive than R&R a grip frame, nice idea. I'll keep their link, I just may buy a set to play with for my next BH until I can have a frame made.
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