When you’re looking to hunt in bear country, and not necessarily for bears, you’re going to need a sidearm for protection. While there are some who say that .357 caliber handguns are enough for protection against most predators, when defending against bears I prefer a .44 Rem Mag caliber for its outright stopping power. That’s why when Ruger introduced the New Model Super Blackhawk, I wanted to get one into my holster and walk out to my range so I could practice drawing and firing on a bear-sized target.
Sponsored by Ruger
Ruger sent me a New Model Super Blackhawk, Model 876, in 44 Rem. Mag. Fiocchi sent me several boxes of ammunition, Defense Dynamics 240 grain, jacketed hollow point, and I had some practice loads of .44 Special.
Why would I want a gun as iconic as this one? I love history and this one brings a rich past. Sturm, Ruger and Co. introduced its first-ever revolver in August 1955, named – you guessed it – the Ruger Blackhawk. Supposedly, post-World War II gun aficionados wanted this type of revolver. It came chambered in .357 Mag. The gun acquired its name from one of Bill Ruger’s favorite cars, the Stutz Blackhawk.
The next year, in 1956, Ruger released the Blackhawk in .44 Rem Mag, which required a different, larger frame to accommodate the increased pressure from a .44 Rem Mag cartridge.
The Ruger gun coincidentally came out around the same time as Smith & Wesson’s first .44 Rem Mag handgun was released. Since development of the new cartridge was secretive, there are speculations about how Ruger was able to produce so quickly a gun in the caliber. One features a Ruger employee who might have found a casing for the .44 Rem Mag and the rest is history. However, the demand for handguns in the caliber was great, and Ruger answered the call.
The Blackhawk resembled an old Colt Single Action Army revolver of 1867, except with a modern flare in regard to materials that went into the gun to lighten it up and the resilient coil springs Ruger used throughout the gun. It came with a standard 4 5/8-inch barrel, similar to the size of the one that I have.
The “Bisley” Grip
I researched the Bisley grip on the Ruger Forum. Named for the well-known British firing range, Colt developed the Bisley grip for the purposes of competition at a world match in 1894. The grip includes a flatter trigger and hammer, along with a longer grip. At first, according to “SpareParts” at the forum, it was referred to as “Colt’s Bisley,” and then, when other manufacturers started to use the design, it was called solely “Bisley.” There is a back-and-forth on the forum regarding the merits of the Bisley versus the plow handle grip, another type of grip found on single-action revolvers.
I found the Bisley grip offered a learning curve that would take me a fair amount of time with the gun to master. Bisley aficionados have memorized how their hands must hold the curved grip for correct trigger finger placements and recoil management. However, with a Bisley grip on a stoutly recoiling handgun, I had the tendency to let my trigger finger lie against the grip frame on follow-up shots after the gun moved in recoil. Being right-handed, the result was some fliers to the left. Nevertheless, using a bench rest I managed to hit the center of the target a few times and got pretty close to the center on others at 10 and then 25 yards. At 50 yards, whether from the seated benchrest or off-hand, it became obvious that I would need more practice to master the correct grip. Obviously, before I trust my life with this gun, I will put in the time to develop the muscle memory necessary to shoot the Super Blackhawk accurately.
I have a Galco holster for another revolver, and this one fits the Ruger just fine. I wanted to practice a draw as well, to see just how long it would take me to get on a target, so I practiced by dry firing the handgun after drawing several times.
If, like me, you aren’t used to firing a gun with a Bisley grip frame, you’ll definitely need to put in range time with it. Gee, what a burden – having to spend time practicing with and firing a well-crafted, iconic gun! Given its handsome styling and the fine craftsmanship displayed by the gun, it’s also a great addition for a collection.
Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk Specs
MSRP: Around $849 to $1049
Visit Ruger to see this gun and others. The line of New Model Blackhawk revolvers includes blued, convertible, stainless and Bisley handguns.
Publisher/Editor Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets. Her bylines are found at several top hunting and shooting publications. She also is a travel writer, and you can follow her at https://www.ozarkian.com. View all posts by Barbara Baird
