Question about rugers 45acp 45 colt convertable

colt 45 /ACP

Had my Blackhawk a few months and love it. Using 8.3G Unique pushing a 250 RNFP it holds 3 inch groups offhand at 20 yds.Velocity is averaging 800FPS and its a nice recoil! Had fun last week knocking down Clay targets at 25 yards.
When I switch to the ACP cylinder it uses my standard load of 4.4G of WST behind a 230 Gr LRN. Moving at about 850FPS average.
I have quite a few other handguns but this one is growing on me more and more, its fast becoming my second favorite range gun. My 6" SW model 19 will always be the fav, but that BH is catching up fast!

I use all cast and swaged Lead bullets and .452 is the diameter I use for both the Colt and the ACP, Great accuracy
Roger

YES IT COMES WITH BOTH CYLINDERS and changing them is not as smooth as I would have liked but getting used to it, the pin seems to bind in the cylinder when resetting in to the cylinders. Yes I do rotate the cylinder the quarter turn as recommended but its still a hassle.

If the 45 colt and the 45 acp don't work in the same cylinder then how did S&W pull off the Governor?

1/3, 1/2 or full moon clips hold the rimless ACP cartridges in place.

Without these clips, the round would fall into the chamber.

If the 45 colt and the 45 acp don't work in the same cylinder then how did S&W pull off the Governor?

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They certainly will if a revolver is cut for moon clips. How do you suggest we use the moonclips with the single action revolver is the only question.

I've had two 45/45 Blackhawk convertibles since the 1970's. They both shoot to point of aim with any load I care to put through them. That is why they have adjustable sights. One of the guns is a 4 5/8" gun and it is very handy to carry and I have used it for CCW on several occasions. The other is 7 1/2" and has taken several mule deer and various varmints.

I have a 45 Colt Vaquero Sheriff's model that I would love to have a 45 acp cylinder for but I can't seem to find one.

The Ruger 45 Colt can be loaded with light loads or frightening loads and can equal the 44 mag. The 45 acp is a good defensive cartridge even if you don't own a 1911 or similar semi-auto. If you do own a semi and shoot enough, you will find a load that your semi doesn't like and the Ruger becomes a great garbage disposal. If you don't reload, the 45 acp is much cheaper to shoot even if you have to tweak the sights a little.

I think the new convertible is being offered on the smaller Blackhawk frame, so hot .45 Colt might not be in the cards.

^ Huh?

Actually, there are both. The standard Blackhawk is still on the large frame. There is, however, a special run of mid-frame flat-top convertibles also available at present. Don't remember if it was through Lipsey's or what.

BCCL said:

^ Huh?

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This gun, the Lipsey's Blackhawk Flattop 45 convertible, uses a smaller frame and cylinder than a standard Blackhawk 45 convertible. Because of this (mostly the smaller cylinder), you cannot use the 30k+ PSI "Ruger Only" 45 Colt loads listed in many manuals for the standard Blackhawk.

http://www.lipseys.com/itemdetail.a...wk+Flattop&type=Revolver&action=Single+Action

These flattop 45 convertibles are limited to the same loads that the smaller frame/cylinder of the New Vaquero is, namely low 20k PSI.

I have a brand new Stainless Vaquero Birdshead chambered for .45 acp.
It has a 3 " barrel and it's balance is a beautiful thing. The cylinder mechanics are a great piece of engineering. The cylinder will back up and lock in perfect position to load your cartridge.

And boy is it accurate !! It will shoot more accurate than I can hold. The heavy nature of a stainless steel revolver makes shooting the 45 acp a pleasant experience. It is quickly becoming my most favorite handgun to take to the indoor range. I thought the "single action only" would turn me off ; being an automatic owner for years; but for some reason this well balanced, small revolver takes hold of you. I even thought the primative sights would be an issue, but Ruger has designed the front blade to give the illusion of a small drop of silver sitting on top of the rear groove - to give you a POI like with a target pistol.

J.F.

Thanks for clearing that up for me. Now I see why the 2 cylinders for the SA Blackhawk.

OK, had not seen the Lipsey Special. Now I want one!

I looked at one of the Lipseys guns, and they ate a nice handy frame size for a bigbore.

a LGS, has/had a Lipsey, 45/45 converstion BH in 4- 5/8" barrel.. $619. I only had $200 in my pocket. I don't know if I escaped or was a fool for not running to a cash machine.

Greg528iT said:

a LGS, has/had a Lipsey, 45/45 converstion BH in 4- 5/8" barrel.. $619. I only had $200 in my pocket. I don't know if I escaped or was a fool for not running to a cash machine.

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That's kind of high, although it may be right for your area. I've seen the blued versions on sale for $500, and the stainless for about $25 more. I think one of the dealers on the Ruger Forum was selling them for that much.

Local prices are as I've found.. Cabela's $629 for a Vaquero, any size, metal. A LGS further away, $540, where I bought my 45LC 5.5" SS Vaquero. The shop that had the BH is 20 miles the other way of the other 2 and is usually higher. I thought $619, for 2 cylinders sounded reasonable, considering $540 plus a 2nd cylinder. Granted this was a BH not a Vaquero, but when I was shopping for the Vaquero, the best price I could find at Buds was just over $519, but by the time I paid shipping and transfer fee at the FFL, I'd be at the $540 price point, so I supported the LGS.

With the limited run Lipsey's guns, you might have to just take what you can get. They ain't exactly growing on trees.

I just paid $493 OTD for a stainless 5.5" bisley blackhawk 45c/45acp at my LGS.

wnycollector said:

I just paid $493 OTD for a stainless 5.5" bisley blackhawk 45c/45acp at my LGS.

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Now that was a good deal! Those are hard to find, too.

I had one a few years back. Wonderful gun that shot both rounds with great accuracy. Full house 45 long colt loads are a hoot to shoot and will take a large variety of North American game. I sold mine and have regretted it ever since.

I just paid $493 OTD for a stainless 5.5" bisley blackhawk 45c/45acp at my LGS.

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If I had seen that price I'd laid the $200 on the counter to hold it, while I went to the cash machine.

If I had seen that price I'd laid the $200 on the counter to hold it, while I went to the cash machine.

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Greg528iT that was the second stainless 5.5" bisley blackhawk 45c/45acp I ran across locally in the past week. It was NIB (mine is used in excellent condition) for $589. PM me for the stores name if you are interested.

I guess you guys don't want to hear that I paid $125 for mine in 1975. Of course that was a lot more money then than it is now.

Being a dumb kid, and not having any use for the 45 ACP cylinder back then, I asked if I could buy it with just the 45 Colt cylinder. It was brand new in the box. The dealer said, no, I had to buy the whole gun. It was a lot of money for a kid in his twenties, but I am always glad he made me buy the whole gun.

It was NIB (mine is used in excellent condition) for $589. PM me for the stores name if you are interested.

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Good price, but after shipping, and FFL transfer, I'd be back at the $619 I saw in driving distance. If not over that.

I bought both my convertibles in the mid to late 70's and I paid $125 for one and $100 for the other. A total of $250 for two of the better guns I have ever owned. I guarantee you there have been at least as many 45 acp down range as 45 Colt. Part of the reason is cost but mostly availability. It has been very difficult to find 45 Colt in anything but cowboy loads. They are great for practice but very week for anything else. My two guns love Winchester ST, but it is hard to find.