Won a $500 gift cert to a local gunshop at a Ducks Unlimited banquet a few weeks ago. So it's burning a hole in my pocket.

Think I've settled on a Ruger Blackhawk in 357. 5.5" brrl in Stainless. Regular one, not the Bisley. Looks like they're running $7-800

Like any redblooded American, I think cowboy guns are cool and the only single action pistol I have is a import single six knockoff I use as a trapline gun.

I've got safes full of guns, including multiple pistols and double action revolvers, so this is more of a want than a need. But to justify it, it'd be used as a woods rambling/chore gun when I'm at hunting camp.

Already have several 357s and 38s, so as much as I'd love a 45 LC, it only makes sense to get a 357 from an ammo standpoint.

Any negatives to the Blackhawk I am missing?

If it's cowboy you want, look at the small framed flat top/vaquero. Basically the same as the original flat top blackhawk before everything moved to the 44 mag frame. In otherwords more or less same size as the Colt Peacemaker.

Only issue with the smaller frame is in the 45 it can't handle the full power Ruger Only loads. It'll handle the mid range tier 2 loadings, though.

https://americanhandgunner.com/handguns/lipseys-ruger-mag-357/

Love my blackhawk, years of shooting the high pressure loads and still as tight as day one.
Get the .45 you won't be sorry

I have the .44 mag, longer barrel. It’s a tac driver. I load my own and they are moving fast 240 grains. I can’t remember what the crony at but it’s fast. Have killed a few cougars with it trapping predator jobs.

wws

does IA have some special laws pertaining to hand guns for hunting

WI did away with all of them. but even before they did a 5.5 inch Blackhawk would have met them , barrel length is decided muzzle to firing pin so you get to count the cylinder back when they had a rule on it.

I would make the 5.5 argument in that it is easier to find holsters for an carry often than a 7.5

it is very ammo depended but a lot of it is not making big gains after 5.5 inches not that would be substantial in another 2 inches of barrel

but holsters get harder to find in the longer barrels mostly because people who carry often , don't often carry long revolvers once you get past 6 selection goes down and the shot to shot variation and ability to aim.

my 7.5 Super Blackhawk was a pain to find the kind of holster I wanted for it they mostly stopped selling them at 5.5

i have a black hawk in 45 lc and have a 45 acp cylinder with it. i bought it from my cousin years ago when he was tight on money figured he would want it back becuse he liiked it so much. But he bought a Bisley and had lineball (sp) do his custom work to it instead. lineball would only build up Bisley models claimed it was better the way they rolled you hand on heavy load recoil.

I do like the look of my black hawk ut have only shot 45 acp cylinder out of it since I have never picked up long cold dies l to load for it. And lc ammo is high. I know it shoots well with long colt loads i shot it when it was my cousins deer gun but it not very accurate with the acp cylinder. my guess is the huge jump in the cylinder before hiting the forcing cone. but im not 100% sure.

If I was still im my hand gun hunting phase I would definitely be hunting deer with it.

I shoot cowboyaction shooting competitions and anything Ruger is the workhorse of them all. I have 3 sets of vaqueros and 2 black hawks and usually run 4 to 6k rounds a year through them. Never an issue. One of my blackhawks is in 44mag and I’ve not been nice to that gun and shoot 300gr top end reloads from it pretty often.

If you can find one the 357/9mm with extra cylinder is really nice!!

Deleted my post while you were typing I guess. I was thinking it was a 6" barrel limit, but its only 4".

I too shoot cowboy action, cant go wrong with the Blackhawk at all. Well built gun it is on the larger frame.

I have an older Blackhawk .357. It was bought new in 1979. Back then they sold for $169.95.

I've put a lot of bullets down range and killed a few deer with it. No regrets with the purchase.

For versatility, see if it comes with a 9mm cylinder.

I have owned a long barreled Super Blackhawk .44 mag for over 40 years. I used it for quite a few years as my only deer gun. I shot a bunch of deer with it over the years, plus a couple decent bear. I haven't carried it in years now. I know one thing......handgun hunting is NOT like riding a bike! Last time I carried it deer hunting I emptied it on a slow walking or standing buck inside maybe 50-60 yards and never cut a hair off him........ when it was my main deer/bear gun that would have been a pretty easy shot. Good luck, Erik!

Handgunning is a perishable skill.

I think I may had misspoke, mine might be a super Blackhawk. It came with scope rings but I have never put a scope on it. Always thought about it, maybe some day.
I would look but I’m on a job camping right now.
wws

DImond D Holsters out of Alaska has both leather and nylon you won,t find a better made one for a big revolver.

Absolutely nothing wrong with the BlackHawk, I would handle both the Blackhawk and Vaquero, if you don’t need adjustable sights, maybe the Vaquero will feel better. I have both and for some reason I am more accurate with the Vaquero.