[ulflyer]

Thinking of getting a Ruger Blackhawk in 45Colt and trying to decide whether to get the 45acp cyl with it.
Does the Acp require moon clips?

Also, in looking at the ads I see them referred to as "new" and "old" style. Does this mean, essentially, 2 screw and 3 screw? Any diff in size/weight?

Are there problems with cylinder and or bore sizing?

[The Lone Haranguer]

A .45 ACP cylinder for a Blackhawk will not require moon clips. The chambers have a shoulder upon which the case mouth rests for proper headspacing. The ejector rod goes through the chamber to push the case out. Also, it will take some effort to find the cylinder, plus fitting and timing, if the gun was not originally equipped with it.

"Old models," or "three-screws" have three action screws on the right side of the frame. To rotate the cylinder you place the hammer on half cock. New Models have two pins. You just open the loading gate to turn the cylinder.

[MMCSRET]

I have and enjoy a 45/45 convertible and no clips are not required and no, there is not clearance to use 45 auto rim . I did have to ream my cylinder throats, but I didn't do it until I had determined exactly what I had. Old vs. new? I suspect they are talking New Model as opposed to Old model, with out full context its hard to tell. Good shooters!!!

[Darkness]

The important difference between new and Old model Blackhawks is the transfer safety bar. Some Old models have been converted, some have not. Basically, the transfer bar allows for carry of 6 rounds, while an unconverted Old model should always be carried with the hammer down on an empty cylinder. On these Old models, a blow to the hammer (dropping it, etc) will cause the firing pin to strike the primer, setting off the round. The New model transfer safety bar corrects this condition. Though some people may jump on me for the term 'corrects.' The Old models are popular because they have the traditional loading style and the distincitve 4 clicks when cocking the hammer, much like the old six shooters of the Wild West.

My Blackhawk is a .45 Colt with the 4 5/8" barrel, New Model. No ACP cylinder, but I load my own Colt rounds. I couldn't ask for a better gun.

[madcratebuilder]

I have a NMBH Bisley in stainless that came with the 45lc/45acp cylinders. No clips are required, could not use them it loads through a loading gate. It shoots both rounds fairly accurately, with the LC maybe a little better. If you don't reload then shooting bulk 45acp can cut your cost of shooting.

[ulflyer]

Madcratebuiler: You've got exactly what I want if I can find one. As to "moonclips" ...guess I didn't have my brain in gear early this morn. Getting confused with S&W 625 in Acp.

MMCSRET: Could you explain why you had to ream the throats? Don't quite understand that? I've read a couple times about throats being too big, but not too small.

[ClemY]

I use the .45 ACP cylinder in my .45 Colt NMBH a lot more than I use the .45 Colt cylinder. I also had the cylinder trimmed so I also use .45 AR. I load the .45 AR for both the NMBH and a S&W 625.

[MMCSRET]

My cylinder throats were widely varied in diameter, all too tight. Ranged from as tight as .442 up to .450, my bore was .4515. I bought the tooling from Brownells and reamed all 12 throats to .4525. I cast my own bullets and size to .452 for both cartridges. This was some years ago and I have heard rumors that Ruger was doing a better job on their cylinders, but, you hear rumors all the time, in fact if you don't hear one by 9 in the morning it is your job to start one.

[ulflyer]

Ordered the stainless 45 convertible Bisley model today. Will keep my fingers crossed for a reasonable throat size.

Not this one which is outrageously priced, but one like it:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=118773463

Does anyone know about when, and how many, of these were built? Read somewhere that initially Ruger only made 250 of the Bisley in 45 cal but the article was undated so they may well have made more since that was written.

[Dienekes]

My Convertible (about ten years old) needed to have the .45 Colt throats reamed; had them taken out to .4525. My old Keith style bullet molds cast .454 bullets and they work great--absolutely no leading and very accurate. Don't know how the newer .452s work but I am sticking with .454s. Also had the ACP cylinder throated out to the same dia. but it made no difference in accuracy and I get more leading than I like with cast bullets. Jacketed are fine.

Bought a New Vaquero .45 about a year ago and all 6 chamber throats were dead on at .4525. Same results as above but no action required on my part.

My daughter picked up a NM .45 Blackhawk from about 1974. Not sure as I have not measured the throats on that one but suspect throat reaming will be in order.

GREAT guns, in spite of needing that tweak. :)

[76shuvlinoff]

You guys make me wonder about my Blackhawk .357 convertible choice. :uhoh:

[corpsmanup!]

u flyer it's because it's engraved on the cylinder- but she surre is puuurdddyyy.

[madcratebuilder]

What's up with that price of that gunbroker Bisley? I think I paid $450 nib for mine. It has become a favorite to shoot, the Bisley grips are very comfortable.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d37/madcratebuilder/PICT0012Medium.jpg

[ulflyer]

Madcratebuilder: I think that GB seller is trying to take advantage of the buying craze, figuring some sucker would take it. I shopped for several days off and on on the internet and the best price for NIB was $515 for the convertible with close to $600 being about avg. Of course there arn't many of the 45 Converts on the market that I could find. Thats why i asked above if anyone knows how many were made, and what period of time. Forgot to ask
the seller of mine how long he'd had it.

[ulflyer]

Found on the Ruger site some good info on build dates by model. For the Blackhawk it only lists 2007 but going by
that date, mine and all those now listed on GB are 2008 years.

http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/PS-SerialNumberHistory-RE.html#

[Leadhead]

Uflyer, Where did you order it from?
I didn't realize Ruger was making that model at this time...

[RPCVYemen]

Thinking of getting a Ruger Blackhawk in 45Colt and trying to decide whether to get the 45acp cyl with it.

I bought the convertible, and the 45 ACP was a waste of money. I have shot exactly one cylinder full, and then I put the cylinder back into the little baggie. I never expect to use it again. But I also started reloading about as soon as I got the Blackhawk.

Mike

[ulflyer]

Leadhead: Theres a Convertible on Gun Broker for about 599 and I was about to grab that one but found mine at:
http://www.onlinegundeals.com/Items.htm
Theres several out there without the ACP cyl if you'r not interested in that. I reload both calibers so thot I'd give em both a try but I expect I'll be like RPCV and not use the ACP much. Heres some I had selected out to watch. Couldn't make up my mind to get a BH or VAq. Went BH because my tired ole eyes function better with those sights:


View RUGER BLACKHAWK 45 COLT LOWER RESERVE Bid
118299471 Buy Now! $425.00
$0.01 $0.01 1 0 16h 6m +


View Ruger Blackhawk 45LC 4.63" SS NIB $15 Ship Bid
118525247 Buy Now! $449.99
$449.99 $449.99 1 0 8d 2h +

View NIB - Ruger New Model Blackhawk .45 LC 45 12/20 11:35 AM
118529721 $475.00 $475.00 1 0 Auction has Ended

View RUGER BISLEY BLACKHAWK 45ACP/45COLT STAINLESS 12/19 12:01 PM
118610066 $599.00 $599.00 1 0 Auction has Ended

View Smith Wesson S&W 625-9 45 Mountain Gun 12/18 10:29 PM
118049453 $600.00 $600.00 1 0 Auction has Ended

View RUGER NEW MODEL BLACKHAWK 4 5/8 STAINLESS IN BOX 12/18 6:59 PM
118280138 $439.00 $439.00 1 0 Auction has Ended

View Ruger New Vaquero 4.63" SS 45LC NIB $15 Ship 12/18 8:30 AM
117682008 $458.99 $458.99 1 0 Auction has Ended

View Ruger KBN44 Blackhawk .45 LC 4 5/8" Stainless 45 12/17 10:05 PM
118664724 $470.00 $470.00 1 0 Auction has Ended

[Leadhead]

Thanks Ulfyer,
I thought maybe Ruger was making these as a regular item....I picked one up last year here in Canada where they are not so common......very happy with both cylinders!

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b358/Candown/Bisely45.jpg

[ulflyer]

Leadhead: Yours has the nice wood grips which I prefer. Mine will have these:
http://shopruger.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10051&categoryId=19071&productId=30206&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=19057&lastCatId=null

Maybe someone out there would like to trade?

[BlkHawk73]

ALL stainless Bisleys (the Hunter mdoels excluded) are 5 1/2" models and were contract runs for AcuSport. A handful of recent .41 mag ones were done as a clean-up and went elsewhere it seems. They are NOT regular production models.
ulflyer, those are the grips found on all current stainless Bisleys (Hunters included) They're now a darker color rather the the lighter grey/black ones shown on the sight. The first four models of the Acusport models had the rosewood grips. Starting with the .357 mag models they had the darker black laminates.

[ulflyer]

Blkhawk73: Thanks for feedback. Heres the gun I bought...grips look a bit darker than ones currently shown on Ruger sight. I might like them fine. If not, theres some cocobolo grips at various sites for sale.

http://www.onlinegundeals.com/ItemDetails/726606146/RUGER_BISLEY_BLACKHAWK_STAINLESS_45ACP_45COLT_CONVERTABLE_5_5_BARREL_W_ADJUSTABLE_SIGHTS_NEW.htm

[BlkHawk73]

Got a very nice revovler. Have at least one of each from this series and the .45 LC one is my favorites. I prefer the black lamiantes myself and proberly have extras of the rosewood if you do indeed want to swith those out. A trade perhaps if interested. PM

[ulflyer]

Blkhwk73> re trade...mite take u up on it after I get mine and see what they look like in person. Dealer said they would ship monday if my FFL emailed them a copy but he's sorta slow moving. Gonna give him a ring tmr to see if its done yet. He only charges $10 for the transfer and thats hard to beat. I'll get back at you later. Thanks.

[ulflyer]

Lady called few mins ago to say they were ready to ship my gun and she had opened the box to check it out first and found it had cocobolo colored laminated grips rather than the gray type show on thier web page and wanted to
make sure this was ok with me. Of course it was, and I can't imagine many dealers bothering to call. Same lady responded to an email I sent the other day asking for any background on the Acusport Bisleys. Her prompt reply was
that Ruger is now providing these to "Williams" and that they had been selling quite a few, with a new shipment coming. Apparently, based on todays call, mine is one of the newer group made for "Williams" (assume they are a distributor) which prob accounts for diff grips being used.

With this kind of feedback and service, I have to give "The Exchange" and big attaboy. :) Their web page is listed above in case any of you want to take a look.

[ulflyer]

Got home with it awhile ago. Did a quick clean & oil, checked the cyl throats and all were consistantly .452. Looks like Ruger has got that issue sorted out. Had to pop a doz thru it before dark shooting at a twirley gig thing and it seemed to be sighted pretty good. I liked the fact that just by holding the gun up and turning cyl the cases fall right out. I'll try to post some pics after I've had a chance to shoot it some more. :)

[ulflyer]

Got in 48 more rounds this evening. Didn't take much to
zero it in. Now, if only I had the eye and steady hand to go with it. :uhoh: Love the bisley grips. Earlier, we were talking about grips; this one has the laminated "cocobolo". Not real enthused about the color but at least they are fairly impervious to chemical cleaners. I like better, the ones Leadhead showed above in his pic. If anyone has a set they'd like to sell, PM me.