About a month and a half ago, I saw something pop up in distribution that I’d been waiting on for years. A Ruger Blackhawk .30 Carbine. I work in the firearms industry and have access to distribution channels, so when I saw it listed, I grabbed one. Haven’t seen them come back through since. This gun has been on my list for about 10 years. Not because it’s practical or because I needed it for anything specific. I’ve got an M1 Carbine, and the idea of a revolver that shares ammo with it and shoots fireballs has always appealed to me. When the opportunity finally showed up, I wasn’t going to pass it up.
Specifications: Ruger Blackhawk .30 Carbine
The Ruger Blackhawk in .30 Carbine has been in the catalog for decades, but new ones seemed nonexistent for years. Dealers would list it as available, but nobody could actually order one. Now they’re showing up again, at least in limited numbers. Whether this is a permanent return to production or a limited batch, I have no idea. I just know I got one while I could.
- Caliber: .30 Carbine
- Barrel Length: 7.5 inches
- Capacity: 6 rounds
- Action: Single-action only
- Overall Length: 13.38 inches
- Weight: 46 oz
- Frame: Alloy Steel, blued finish
- Sights: Adjustable rear sight, ramp front sight
- Grips: Black checkered hard rubber
- Grooves: 6
- Twist: 1:20″ RH
- Safety: Transfer bar system
The MSRP of the Ruger Blackhawk in .30 Carbine is $879.00. That’s a lot of money for what is essentially a novelty revolver. You’re not buying this because it’s the best tool for any particular job. You’re buying it because you want a .30 Carbine revolver and nothing else will scratch that itch. The Blackhawk platform itself is solid and proven, and the build quality is what you’d expect from Ruger. Whether it’s worth the price depends entirely on how much you value having something this unusual.
“Traditional western-style, hand-filling grip has long been acknowledged as one of the most comfortable and natural pointing of any grip style.
Target-grade accuracy with ramp front and adjustable rear sights.
Transfer bar mechanism and loading gate interlock provide an unparalleled measure of security against accidental discharge.
Variety of caliber, barrel length, grips, finish and weight guarantees a model to meet the needs of today’s single-action shooters.
Cold hammer-forged barrel results in ultra-precise rifling that provides exceptional accuracy and longevity.”
First Impressions: Ruger Blackhawk .30 Carbine
The gun comes in a hard case with a cable lock, manual, and two Ruger stickers. Out of the box, this is a good-looking gun. The finish quality is par for the course for modern Ruger production. Nothing fancy, but solid. It doesn’t have the old-school personality of the wood-gripped Blackhawks, but it’s still a handsome revolver. If you’re looking closely with nitpicking glasses, you might find some minor machining marks, but nothing that matters. The timing is solid, cylinder lockup is exactly what you’d expect from a Blackhawk.
The black hard rubber grips are functional. They feel good enough in the hand, but I’ve been looking at some Altamont grips with finger grooves that would be more hand-filling. The standard grips have a certain void of class to them, but at least they’ve got the look. I’m torn because swapping to aftermarket grips would make the gun less classic-looking overall, and I don’t shoot this thing every day anyway. More of a want than a need at this point.
Balance with the 7.5-inch barrel is very nice, though it’s slightly front-heavy. The sight picture is blocky and easy to acquire. I’m not usually a fan of adjustable sights on single-action revolvers, kind of ruins the aesthetic, but for this gun it makes more sense given what it is.
Range Time: Ruger Blackhawk .30 Carbine
I took the Blackhawk out to an outdoor range under a canopy and ran about 70 rounds through it. I brought both Federal American Eagle 110gr FMJ factory loads and some of my own reloads. My reloads use H110 powder and 110gr FMJ Berry’s bullets, running around 1900 fps. I originally loaded them as plinking rounds for my M1 Carbine.
The factory Federal stuff kicks noticeably harder than my reloads. There’s more snap to it, more authority. My lighter loads are pleasant to shoot and the factory ammo isn’t punishing by any means, but you can definitely feel the difference. The weight of the gun soaks up recoil well either way. The trigger broke consistently at 3 pounds, which is right where it should be for a factory single-action.
The muzzle blast is dramatic. Every shot produces a significant flash and enough noise that you’ll want good ear protection. This is a rifle cartridge being fired out of a 7.5-inch barrel, so that’s expected. It’s loud, it’s flashy, and honestly, that’s part of the appeal. I set up at 25 yards and shot for groups. I was getting around 5 inches with both the factory loads and my reloads. It was hard to tell if there was any real difference in point of impact between the two. This is not a precision instrument. The sights are easy to pick up and the trigger is good, but this gun isn’t built for tight groups. It’s built for fun.
The .30 Carbine is a rimless cartridge, so it headspaces on the case mouth in the cylinder. I’ve shot the Smith & Wesson 350 in .350 Legend before and ran into sticky extraction issues with that gun. The Blackhawk had none of that. Spent brass falls right out when you open the loading gate. No issues at all.
So what’s this gun actually for? The .30 Carbine Blackhawk is not practical. It’s not a hunting gun unless you’re in a state with specific straight-wall cartridge restrictions, and even then there are better options. It’s not a self-defense gun. Ammo is more expensive and harder to find than .357 or .44 Magnum. What it is, though, is fun. If you love revolvers and you appreciate oddball guns, this is for you. If you’ve got an M1 Carbine and want to share ammo, this is for you. If you just think it’s cool, that’s reason enough.
Final Thoughts: Ruger Blackhawk .30 Carbine
I’m glad I grabbed this when I saw it. The .30 Carbine Blackhawk has been in Ruger’s catalog for over 50 years, even if new production has been sporadic. There’s a small group of people who want one, and apparently, that’s enough for Ruger to keep making them in some capacity. I don’t know if this recent batch means regular production or if it’s just a one-time run. Maybe Ruger produces small batches every few years. Maybe they’re testing demand. Either way, if you see one available, don’t wait. They’re not common.
This gun is plain. It works well. It’s not accurate. It’s loud and it’s fun to shoot. It shares ammo with my M1 Carbine, which was the whole point. At $879 MSRP, you’re paying a premium for something that doesn’t make much practical sense. But if you’re the kind of person who wants a .30 Carbine revolver, you already know that. I wouldn’t buy a second one, but I’m happy to have this one.
What do you think? Have you shot a Blackhawk in .30 Carbine? Seen any in stock recently? Let us know in the comments below. We always appreciate your feedback.
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