Originally Posted by
stalkingbear
Get your friend's .45colt and load it up with a good medium to upper power level hollow points. Stay away from the low power cowboy loads except to practice. The Ruger will safely handle any .45colt loading. The .45colt Ruger will serve you just fine with some practice.
This is what I would do. Only because you said you could get the blackhawk at a good price.
You could then get a lever action in the same caliber. Nice to have both guns using the same caliber. I have the Marlin 1894 and Ruger both in .45.
Like mentioned, you need to purchase or load for it. All of the local stores around me only carry the cowboy action crap. I don't even practice with it. It's so low powered compared to the stuff I use, it has a different point of impact. I buy from Corbon or Buffalo Bore. I prefer the latter.
Good luck.
P.S. For the pack of dogs, I'd have used my lever gun anyway.