Single action for self defense.

[jdb]

So let's say your only hand gun is a ruger Blackhawk in like .357/44 special/.45 colt. Would you comfortable using it as a ccw?

[Ridgeratt]

Yes I can't remember the last time a wheel gun Jammed. That's why my wife carries a wheel gun in a panic moment it runs.

Myself guns scare me so I carry a large thermos of Chai Tea!!

[ghosthunter]

A few months ago I went from a semi auto to a Bond Hand Cannon.
Just got a double shoulder holster rig for it so I am looking for another Bond.

Single action is fine. Just practice.

[Fl0und3rz]

Yes.  If I could find a 5.5" 45 colt stainless bisley blackhawk, I'd have a hard time not going full cowboy with spurs and all.

[theleo]

If there was a comfortable way to carry it 100+ degree weather, sure, but I don't no of such a setup to allow me to do that wearing shorts and a short sleeve shirt. I already carry such a 44 special when kicking around in the woods because it strikes my idea of balance between weight, recoil, and fire power, but it'd be a bit portly for an IWB gun.

[300rum]

Use what you have.   

[Special T]

Dance with the Gal you brought to the party!

[Fishstiq]

So let's say your only hand gun is a ruger Blackhawk in like .357/44 special/.45 colt. Would you comfortable using it as a ccw?

Single action?   . So, a concealed carry gun, presumably for self defense, where you have to manually cock the hammer before every shot?

If it was my only choice, I would practice my butt off making it second nature.  With enough practice, sure, you might get "comfortable" with it, whatever that means to you personally. 

If I were in that situation though, a far better option (for me personally) would be to sell the SAO and purchase something more suitable for the task intended.   

Just my opinion, YMMV.

[buglebrush]

So let's say your only hand gun is a ruger Blackhawk in like .357/44 special/.45 colt. Would you comfortable using it as a ccw?

ccw? Sell and buy something better.   Great for a hip carry in the woods though.   

[CP]

So let's say your only hand gun is a ruger Blackhawk in like .357/44 special/.45 colt. Would you comfortable using it as a ccw?

No.  Use the right tool for the job.  If the BH is your only handgun then you need some more.

[Cougartail]

Talk to somebody who has actually been in a situation to use a firearm for self defense. Your training and mindset is far more important than what weapon as long as the weapon is accurate.

I believe I read somewhere the average shots fired is 2.2 in defensive situations.

How you handle the stress of someone trying to kill you and you having to kill them will most likely be the determining factor.

Concealed Carry would be my biggest concern.

[jdb]

How many of you who have double actions  practice double action?

[jdb]

So let's say your only hand gun is a ruger Blackhawk in like .357/44 special/.45 colt. Would you comfortable using it as a ccw?

ccw? Sell and buy something better.   Great for a hip carry in the woods though.   

by better do you mean more compact?

[Firedogg]

The BH for home protection, sure. Concealed carry, nope. Too bulky and there is no comfortable holster (perhaps a shoulder holster) to really carry it concealed. Look for something more compact to conceal carry all the time.

[buglebrush]

So let's say your only hand gun is a ruger Blackhawk in like .357/44 special/.45 colt. Would you comfortable using it as a ccw?

ccw? Sell and buy something better.   Great for a hip carry in the woods though.   

by better do you mean more compact?

Yes.  The point of a concealed carry is to always wear it and keep it concealed.  Hard to do with a .44 revolver.   

[jdb]

For the record I have two snub nose revolvers I just want to talk about guns

[MountainWalk]

I've seen some SA guns I'd surely pack. The shopkeeper models and replicas a small frame with a birds head grip seem agreeable.

  A little while ago I started a similar thread because I was towing cars and doing some repos and wanted to pack. I like SA. It's what I shot most and best. Still ended up with a DA ruger 357. It was cheap enough. But I couldn't hit very well or at least as well as my .36.  using the DA trigger.  It's no kind of carry gun (least now days) but I'm pretty BA with it. It's like pointing your finger and a big lead ball comes out of it.
   I like to think about the Old West and those crusty guys who lived back then. Some of those towns implemented no carry laws. But if you had enemies or self respect your weren't going to totally un heel themselves.  They still were still able to get into action and shoot. Lots of those guns modified SA army models or buy the various other types of Colts available. . Just some thoughts.

[JJB11B]

So let's say your only hand gun is a ruger Blackhawk in like .357/44 special/.45 colt. Would you comfortable using it as a ccw?

Single action?   . So, a concealed carry gun, presumably for self defense, where you have to manually cock the hammer before every shot?

If it was my only choice, I would practice my butt off making it second nature.  With enough practice, sure, you might get "comfortable" with it, whatever that means to you personally. 

If I were in that situation though, a far better option (for me personally) would be to sell the SAO and purchase something more suitable for the task intended.   

Just my opinion, YMMV.

did you see how fast Doc Holiday drew cocked and fired killing Johnny Ringo? I wouldn't be able to beat that drawing a semi auto from a IWB

[theleo]

Guy's like Doc Holiday didn't carry full size peace makers IWB. That was saved for Bird Head models and guns like the lightning.

My only hiccup with the OP's premise is that he specified Black Hawks, they're just to big. Something like a shortened Single 7 in 327 Fed would be much more suited to the task of a CCW.

[JimmyHoffa]

I think a single action would be fine.  It can be drawn, cocked, aimed and fired in a short amount of time.  Sure there's some limitations, but some advantages over autos and everything else.
I've never really heard of the perfect carry-self defense handgun....if you say .45 then people will say you don't get the mag capacity of a 9, if you say 9 they tell you about energy of a 45, a revolver and you get to hear about needing fast reload, full size they tell you about comfort, compact you hear about capacity and control, on and on. 

[CP]

Just hope that you don't have to reload that Blackhawk while under fire.

[theleo]

Just hope that you don't have to reload that Blackhawk while under fire.

If 6 shots of 240 grain bullets going 1,000 fps (or a little faster) won't get me out of any situation that I might encounter with a 2 legged varmint, then I have bigger issues in my life than the capacity of my revolver.

[buglebrush]

For the record I have two snub nose revolvers I just want to talk about guns

Gotcha.  Snub nosed would be a different story.  My replies were to your original question regarding only having a Ruger Blackhawk.

[jdb]

Here is my thoughts on the subject. My guess is that about 80 percent of carry guns get shot less then 20 shots a year. Now if a fella with say a single six .32 reloads and is running several hundered rounds a year through it he is immeasurably better armed than a guy with a high cap 9/40 that only shoots once in a blue moon.

[theleo]

I'd venture to guess that even a Single 6 in 17 HMR would make a pretty nasty wound. The 327 is 7 shot, plenty to be pretty wicked.

[jdb]

Imagine a bear cat shop keeper in 17hmr!

[Fishstiq]

Here is my thoughts on the subject. My guess is that about 80 percent of carry guns get shot less then 20 shots a year. Now if a fella with say a single six .32 reloads and is running several hundered rounds a year through it he is immeasurably better armed than a guy with a high cap 9/40 that only shoots once in a blue moon.

Your analogy assumes 2 different people, 2 different firearms and 2 different methods of training and education, and that makes the comparison inaccurate to your original question.  IMO, a better analogy would be the following...

If a fella with a single six .32 reloads and runs several hundred rounds a year through it, but that same fella also has a Hi cap 9/40 and reloads and runs several hundred rounds through that gun as well, then witch gun do you think he will be more effective with in a self defense situation?

Given equal time and training, I believe most people will be more effective with a "proper" carry gun than with a SAO Doc Holiday cowboy gun.

[HighlandLofts]

My oldest son shoots handguns alot, he is more accurate with his semi 45 caliber 1911, m other son who shoots just as much is more accurate with with the revolvers. Every one is different as far as shooting goes.
My self I prefer a revolver with enclosed hammer, S&W 642 for front pocket carry. Pocket litter (dirt, lint & other material) doesn't get in to the internals of the gun to jam it up.

As far as single action only revolver goes they are fine in you are comfortable with them. Most single actionsare on the larger size and would make it harder to conceal it.

On the average most self defense situations are less the three shots so any gun with a 5 round capacity would fill the bill most of the time, not all of the time, but most of the time.

For carry purposes sellect your gun and "PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE"
Buy some ammunition and go shooting, become familiar with your carry gun.