Memories of a Favorite Sixgun

The year was 1972. I was at my Dad's house when someone said, "Here.. I've got something for you." My Uncle, whom I had not seen since I shipped out for the Far East nearly 6 years before, had just walked in the door. Holding out a package he called me over. I took the box and opened it. Inside lay the neatest pistol I had seen to that time. A Ruger Blackhawk single action with a 7 1/2" barrel. I picked the gun up and noted with satisfaction that it was in .45 Colt caliber, my favorite. "I wanted to give you something" he said, "and I figured you could use this."

I was speechless! I pulled the hammer back, rolled the cylinder around and noted there was something in the chamber that had been under the hammer. I punched it out with the ejector rod and into my hand fell a $50 bill! "Old-timers used to carry their burying money there" he said, "and I figured you could use a little cash.." Still more speechless, all I could do was give him a hug. I had just gotten married some months before and sure could use the money. The gun was a nice gift too as I had sold my 2nd Generation Colt SAA .45 not too long before to pay bills and purchase needed things. (Being newly married brought more bills than I thought it would!) Whether my uncle knew of that or not I did not know, but it sure was nice having a .45 again.

Over the next few months I shot the gun a lot. My standard load was the Lyman #454424 260 gr. SWC Keith bullet. Loaded over 18.5 gr. of 2400 this was about the only load I used for a long time. I cast the bullets using a cast iron skillet on the kitchen stove to melt the lead. I used a Lyman lead dipper to dip and pour the lead, and a hand-held Lyman bullet sizing die to size them. The bullets were lubed by standing them in a small pan and pouring melted lube around them, then cutting them out of the hardened lube with a Kake Cutter. I loaded all the cartridges using a Lyman 310 Tool. However I did full-length size them first with a Lyman drive-in die.

This was the gun I used in first working up loads with a 300 gr. bullet. All this was New Ground to me then. It started when I wrote Elmer Keith. He related to me how he had experimented with the 300 gr. Lyman #457191 .45-90 rifle bullet in the old .45 Colt Single Action revolvers. He had used black powder at first and then 2400 later on. I figured that since the Ruger was stronger than the Colt (larger diameter cylinder - better steel) that his loads for the Colt would be a good starting point. So I got a mold, cast some bullets and went to work. Over a few weeks I tried different loads and worked up to 20 gr. of Hercules 2400 with the Lyman #457191. The bullet was sized .452" and seated so as to crimp directly into the top grease groove. This put the nose of the bullet right out at the end of the cylinder.

I did not shoot too many of the 20 gr. load and backed the powder charge down to 18.5 gr. of 2400 with this bullet. Some years later when I finally got some loads pressure-tested (thanks to John Linebaugh and Hodgdon's) I found that the 18.5 gr. of 2400 load developed nearly 30,000 CUP. I am not sure what the 20 gr. load developed but I am sure it was way too hot. The 18.5 gr. of 2400 load however was shot in that gun for more than 20 years and did not beat it to death. I have used this load to do accurate shooting at extreme ranges. I used it for years as my primary game load with good results, giving it up only for a better bullet - the LBT-LFN.

Over the years this gun became my "Working Gun". When I went someplace it was the one I took along. I carried it in a home-made rig when I wore a belt holster and I stuck it in my belt when I didn't. Eventually I bought a Bianchi shoulder holster to use for hunting - which became one of my favorite hunting holsters. I used the gun to shoot targets, long-range rocks, dogs, cats, coyotes, fox, javelina, deer and burro's. Going on 30 years now, the Ruger has served me well. I have never had any parts break. The only mechanical problem it has ever had was a "jumping" base pin and a soft recoil bushing. Heavy loads pounded the original base pin and screw and eventually the pin started jumping out. I solved the problem by drilling through the end of the pin, threading the hole and putting in a set-screw. I still have that old pin.... but it has been replaced by a Belt Mountain pin. The recoil bushing was battered by the primer until the firing pin stuck forward and locked up. I replaced the bushing with a case-hardened bushing and it is still working fine.

The sixgun has been with me through thick and thin. It is one I would never part with. And I will always be grateful to my Uncle for it. Having it pulled me out of a couple tight situations. Having it once almost got me shot.

It happened this way. I was heading out into the hills with pack-burro on a lead rope behind me. I had the rope around the saddle horn and the cantankerous old burro was coming along behind. It cut back and forth to the left and right behind my horse. I did not think much about it as the burro was prone to do that. Riding along for about 10 minutes I happened to look down and there in my holster sat the Ruger .45 at full cock! Pointed right at the calf of my right leg. Loaded with the 260 gr. Keith SWC and 18.5 gr. of 2400! As far out in the hills as I was I don't know that I would have survived that one.

The lead rope had wiped the hammer to full cock while the burro was cutting back and forth. That durn old burro nearly shot me! It was the last time I wore a low-riding holster while in the saddle also. I went to a high-ride from then on.

But I couldn't let the burro get away with that.

So I ate it later.

I don't shoot the old gun much anymore. I've gotten to the point where my old wrists and fingers just won't handle the recoil of the heavy loads anymore. But I have another favorite or two in lighter-recoiling calibers. And I have great memories of days gone by!