Question from the Dark Side...

I have a 10 year old Blackhawk, and the caliber is on the frame, not the barrel. My GP100 caliber is on the barrel, but the caliber on my MKIII is on the receiver, not the barrel or the frame. I don't know the law, but I imagine Ruger does.

Thanks for the reply...it just seemed odd to me. Rugers that I've seen seem to have their barrels plastered with all the disclaimers and warnings and this barrel was devoid of all markings except the underside and then partially covered by the ejector housing.

It's certainly possible that the stamping on your particular gun was misaligned, but if I'm not mistaken all the single action Rugers have the caliber on the frame.

ETA: All Ruger revolvers now have the "billboard" on the underside of the barrel. I think they finally caved to all the complainers (I was one). It really did spoil the looks of their guns.

That's a good move...it really did look bad covering one side of the barrel. I'm sure their lawyers made them start it to begin with. They should just delete it like most everyone else does. You can't fix stupid with such warnings...if a buyer won't read an owners manual they don't care what it says on the barrel.

My Vaquero Birdshead in 45ACP seems to be the same way. I don't see anything on the barrel (from the photos I have saved, anyway).

Q: Super Blackhawk? Carbines were on the standard Blackhawk frame. I know this because I failed to buy one!

Owned one back when they were three screw and it's the loudest handgun you will ever shoot. Have fun.

459459 said:

Owned one back when they were three screw and it's the loudest handgun you will ever shoot. Have fun.

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If the range is just a little too crowded, just whip one of those out with about 10 boxes of ammo and space to either side will open right up.

po18guy said:

If the range is just a little too crowded, just whip one of those out with about 10 boxes of ammo and space to either side will open right up.

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A very sharp crack and a great muzzle blast.... My first centerfire revolver when I was about 19. Inlaw had to buy it for me and he was teaching me reloading. Wish he really knew how.:bang_wall:

I had one for a very brief time about 25 years ago. I think my ears are still ringing. It went down the road in a traded after a few months. Still have part of the original box of ammunition I purchased with the gun. The right handload might tone it down some. Good luck.

My Blackhawk in 30 Carbine is caliber marked on the frame and also has the warnings on the underside of the barrel. Its a great shooting revolver and I really enjoy shooting it. I reload for it using a Hornady soft point with a stout load of Enforcer powder and it's proven to be a very accurate and fun revolver to shoot.

If I remember right, Ruger made a limited run of Blackhawks in .30 Carbine with an extra .32/20 cylinder.

Ohio Buckeye special.

Colt75 said:

If I remember right, Ruger made a limited run of Blackhawks in .30 Carbine with an extra .32/20 cylinder.

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It was 32/20 & 32 H&R Mag cylinders .
The Buckeye run was also made in 38/40 & 10mm .

Sold a few of both back in the day .

A 10mm revolver would be pretty bad a$$.

All ruger Blackhawks/Super Blackhawk/Vaqueros I have have the caliber is stamped on the frame. I'm not aware of any Federal requirement stating the caliber must be stamped on the barrel. Same is true for most Government Model Colts I've seen, which have the caliber on the slide.

Rifles are chambered for a specific caliber, revolvers may use the same barrel for different calibers?

Bob Wright

Many years ago at a gun show I seen a Ruger BH with a barrel clamp for a vice, about three different barrels and maybe four or five cylinders. The guy wasn't asking a lot for it for that era and I came close to buying it.

Colt75 said:

If I remember right, Ruger made a limited run of Blackhawks in .30 Carbine with an extra .32/20 cylinder.

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There are such guns, but I think they are from a custom 'smith, not a Ruger offering.

The .30 Carbine was built on the .44 Magnum frame, so the effect of a compact .32-20 is lost in such models. I've always sort of thought I'd like to have a 7 1/2" .32-20 on the Colt New Frontier frame. Seems to me to be a good varmint combination.

Bob Wright

It is possible to safely fire .32-20 ammo in a New Model .30 carbine Blackhawk.Certainly makes it more pleasant to fire.There is thread on that on the Cast Bullet Association forum.