Another Bucket List Gun Checked Off!

[Bullthrower338]

After years of trying to acquire a Ruger Hawkeye 256 Winchester Magnum single shot pistol, I have one in my hands. The blue book says there were 3043 manufactured in 1963 and 1964 only. Some things I have read say there were a few more than that made. I have seen double digit examples and this one is 3099 which leads me to believe there is at least that many. This model was a very slow seller when it came out, leading to its demise and ultimately its value to collectors. Not being a collector but more of an accumulator of things that I like, this one was priced right as it had no box and such and honestly it doesn’t bother me. I bought it to shoot and shoot it I will.
My good friend @ActionBob brought me some ammo while he was down a few years ago to enable me to pull the trigger on one of these handguns! @Glenn Slaven found me 200 pieces of new brass for it and The Bull Shop in Montana is going to make me 65 grain gas checked bullets to throw out of the barrel. All set and can’t wait to shoot it! Hope it meets my expectations after all this time.
Cheers,
Cody

 

[BnC 04]

Nice snag Cody!

 

[Bullthrower338]

Nice snag Cody!

I just called the gentleman I bought it from and talked his damn ear off telling him how happy I was with it. He told me he shot it exactly 12 times. Haha. I told him not to worry, it will get shot plenty!

 

[Randy F]

Wow nice Cody! Congrats!

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I’m puzzled as to how it works. Could someone explain it to me.

 

[Bullthrower338]

I’m puzzled as to how it works. Could someone explain it to me.

It is basically a Blackhawk frame but rather than a revolving cylinder and a forcing cone at the rear of the barrel the Hawkeye incorporates a rotating breach block and the barrel contains the chamber like a rifle or a single shot pistol such as a contender or XP-100 would. The button on the left hand side of the gun is depressed allowing the breach block to rotate counter clockwise to chamber a round, the breach block is rotated back clockwise to lock up. After firing the breach block is once again opened and the spent case is extracted by use of the ejector rod under the barrel.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Thanks. I wondered if the chamber was in the barrel.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Thanks. I wondered if the chamber was in the barrel.
Indeed! Gun retailed for around 80 bucks new! Flopped hard for ruger. The 256 to the best of my knowledge was only factory chambered in the Hawkeye, Marlin carbine, Universal M1 ferret and TC Contender.

 

[ActionBob]

Rumored to be a 400 yard capable target pistol. My eyes are not good enough for that even with the period correct scopes on my two

I really need to take one to Kansas and try it on coyotes

 

[ActionBob]

My good friend @ActionBob brought me some ammo while he was down a few years ago to enable me to pull the trigger on one of these handguns!

See it does work to bait in new and special guns with ammo Just like bears to honey

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Great snag Cody! That is one cool gun. I have heard about them but never seen one in person. Congrats!

 

[AZDAVE]

Nice find! I shot a contender years ago in that cal, but could never talk my buddy into selling it. have fun with the new acquisition.

 

[YancyW]

Very nice find, enjoy it.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Nice find! I shot a contender years ago in that cal, but could never talk my buddy into selling it. have fun with the new acquisition.

I actually bought a 10” octagon barrel for my T/C the very day before I found this one.

 

[Challer]

I'm a fan of necked down handgun rounds. Sounds like a winner

 

[BLJC30]

Beautiful! Congrats

 

[Shootist43]

Cody, that is a unique handgun to say the least. Being "revolver styled" I expect it is / will be a lot easier to handle than a TC Contender. IMHO the Contender especially with longer barrels is the most difficult firearm to shoot accurately offhand.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Cody, that is a unique handgun to say the least. Being "revolver styled" I expect it is / will be a lot easier to handle than a TC Contender. IMHO the Contender especially with longer barrels is the most difficult firearm to shoot accurately offhand.

I agree, they are not a gun that lends itself to offhand shooting. I’ve had the best luck using a sling to help support the gun if no rest is available. Most of my contender shooting is supported by a bog pod or a pine tree if one is handy.

 

[Rubberhead]

So, is it a double action single shot? Or, a single action single shot?

 

[Bullthrower338]

So, is it a double action single shot? Or, a single action single shot?

Single action