Shooting a SuperBlackHawk

[Ray B]

Years ago I bought a SuperBlackhawk for my dad. He shot it a few times and complained that the trigger kicked his finger. I shot it and had no problem. A while back I had occasion to shoot a nearly identical SBH and found what my dad was talking about. on recoil the lower part of the trigger would snap against my finger. Evidently the recoil pivots the gun so the the portion of the trigger that is curved forward is coming up and bites into the finger. Has anyone else noticed this? If so, can I avoid it by changing grip/finger position?

 

[R eight]

Years ago I bought a SuperBlackhawk for my dad. He shot it a few times and complained that the trigger kicked his finger. I shot it and had no problem. A while back I had occasion to shoot a nearly identical SBH and found what my dad was talking about. on recoil the lower part of the trigger would snap against my finger. Evidently the recoil pivots the gun so the the portion of the trigger that is curved forward is coming up and bites into the finger. Has anyone else noticed this? If so, can I avoid it by changing grip/finger position?

I haven’t owned a Super Black Hawk in over 40 years. I couldn’t shoot more than 10 rounds in a session before I started flinching from a bruised finger. I could never find a fix. Sold the gun and bought a model 29. Sold that soon after as I reckon full house loads were too much for the gun to handle. The only 44 mag handgun that I liked shooting with full house loads was the Red Hawk.

Good luck in solving the issue.

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

Options I can think of:
1) If not a Bisley Frame then several factory grip options including oversize grips that may help alleviate this problem. Bisley grips limited unless custom built.
2) Phone Ronnie Wells at RW Grip Frames, Phone: 832-581-3901, Ronnie offers custom frame modifications.
3) Phone Gary Reeder, Dustin Linebaugh, Hamilton Bowen etc for their input. That is a common problem that certainly has engineering solutions.

The single action revolvers offer the largest caliber in the smallest most packable package. They are worth the effort.

 

[Ruraldoc]

I much prefer the Ruger Bisley frame for shooting comfort with heavy loads.

I have stainless Bisleys in 41 mag, 44 mag, and 45 colt.

I have regular Black Hawks in 41 mag and 45 colt. The Bisley design is much more comfortable to shoot.

Keep your Super Blackhawk original and find yourself a Bisley for magnum loads in my experience.

You can always comfortably shoot 44 specials in the original gun.

 

[JimP]

My Super Blackhawk 44 was stolen 40 years ago so I can't help you with the 44 mag but I do shoot my Old model 45 LC and 41 mag quite often and haven't had that problem.

But you might try some rubberized grips such as Pachmayr. They may stop the roll of the pistol when it is fired.

 

[Trogon]

I had a Ruger Super Black Hawk .44 mag previously, same issue with the middle finger getting rapped when firing it. I purchased walnut stocks from Herrett's Stocks, sent a traced outline of my right hand. Their design fills in the area behind the trigger guard. I believe these are still made as a custom item by them.

 

[Mekaniks]

I had a Blackhawk that would hammer my middle finger... It was miserable to shoot. I hated that gun.
I eventually bought a Super Redhawk with rubber inserts in the grip that was manageable to shoot.
Then I bought a S&W X frame....MUCH Better and will never go back....

 

[MauserDuff]

Try the Hogue grips. I shot lots of heavy SBH loads with them with no problem.https://www.hogueinc.com/overmolded...-blackhawk-long-barrel-super-blackhawk-hunter

 

[ftrovato]

Years ago I bought a SuperBlackhawk for my dad. He shot it a few times and complained that the trigger kicked his finger. I shot it and had no problem. A while back I had occasion to shoot a nearly identical SBH and found what my dad was talking about. on recoil the lower part of the trigger would snap against my finger. Evidently the recoil pivots the gun so the the portion of the trigger that is curved forward is coming up and bites into the finger. Has anyone else noticed this? If so, can I avoid it by changing grip/finger position?

In my experience:
- Lock your wrist as if there is no joint there. This happens before you bring the pistol up to your eye
- Work with a grip strengthener to improve grip strength.
- Rubber grips certainly are easier to hold onto under recoil.

Last practice with 44 special loads until you get everything working.

If your wrist breaks under recoil, you're off to a bad start!

 

[Northview902]

The Super Blackhawk, especially in .44 Magnum, generates massive recoil. The design of the square backed trigger guard is the primary culprit.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I have two of them. And find the grips to be a little small. It can be hard to get a proper grip.

 

[ftrovato]

I have two of them. And find the grips to be a little small. It can be hard to get a proper grip.

I have to agree with your observation.

I've owned several 44 Mag over the years including the Super Blackhawk in 4 5/8" and find the rubber grips helpful.

Yet I keep the wood on the 4 5/8 cuz it's worth the challenge of handling recoil to me for aesthetic purposes.

The squared off trigger guard is supposed to help in preventing a busted knuckle. I don't know if it works but I've yet to have one busted.

 

[West_Texas_Bull_Shooter]

The first pistol I ever purchased was a Ruger Super Black Hawk with a 7.25-inch barrel. Shooting 240 grain factory ammo, it kicked like a Missouri Mule. I change grips, started reloading 180 grain Sierra hollow points and did a lot of practice. I even got to where I could put 18 shots out of 24 on paper at 100 yards laying on a bench. I finally figured out hauling it around was almost like carrying a rifle. I traded in on a S&W 629.

 

[coyote wacker]

I have a Super Blackhawk in 44 mag. built into a Mag-na-Port Stalker. Had the pistol built in the 80's when Michigan first allowed pistols to be used in Zone 3 for deer hunting. Just happened one day to stop by the shop to talk to Larry Kelly about building me a Stalker that day Bill Ruger was visiting Larry, Bill and I talked. Bill asked me what serial number would I like to have to build a Stalker. I told him 44 if it was possible. Several weeks later Larry call me and said to stop by the shop, he wanted me to look at something. That day he showed me a Stalker with serial number 4444 he had built for me. That gun shot a nice 8 point on the first season in Michigan that a handgun could be used in Zone 3 and has shot many animals over the years.

Around 18 years ago I had a accident and cut off on my right hand middle finger at the middle joint. With the work of a very skilled surgeon, I still have a middle finger but not 100% useful, only able to bend it around 50% of normal, but I still have it. Its impossible to grip a handgun and shoot it the power of a 44 mag. But with practice my left hand has taken over the duties of the right hand and now I can do most thing with both hands.