.45 ACP/.45 Colt convertible revolver

[bernie]

I am thinking about another big bore revolver and want a .45 Colt. It would be used for targets and for whitetail hunting. I could also cast my own bullets for it. I am thinking that it would be convenient to be able to use .45 ACP out of it. To me the obvious choice is the Blackhawk, but I have a problem with it. I am apparently the only guy in the world that does not like the plow handle single action grip. I had a Blackhawk in the past but sold it for that reason. I don't even like the Single-Six for the same reason. I understand why the grips are shaped like they are, but I prefer something that allows me to grip the pistol and have a more solid purchase on it. I went to a double action .44 so that I could get a grip that I like better. Do any of you have a recommendation for a Blackhawk grip that will give me a better control of the grip?

 

[tranders]

I also don't like the plow handle grip of single action revolvers. I installed a Hogue grip on my Blackhawk and it felt much better in the hand,but was an abomination to look at.
Another option would be to look at the Bisley grip frame.

 

[Airman Basic]

Pachmayr Presentations work for me.

 

[Armored farmer]

They say the bisley grip is real nice. I havent tried one.
I like the idea of the .45acp/.45colt.

 

[mcb]

I am thinking about another big bore revolver and want a .45 Colt. It would be used for targets and for whitetail hunting. I could also cast my own bullets for it. I am thinking that it would be convenient to be able to use .45 ACP out of it. To me the obvious choice is the Blackhawk, but I have a problem with it. I am apparently the only guy in the world that does not like the plow handle single action grip. I had a Blackhawk in the past but sold it for that reason. I don't even like the Single-Six for the same reason. I understand why the grips are shaped like they are, but I prefer something that allows me to grip the pistol and have a more solid purchase on it. I went to a double action .44 so that I could get a grip that I like better. Do any of you have a recommendation for a Blackhawk grip that will give me a better control of the grip?

Are you set on a single action? What about the Redhawk that is chamber for both 45 Colt and 45ACP without any conversion cylinder. Just drop 45 Colt in with or without a moonclip and 45 ACP with a moonclip and away you go.

 

[DPris]

Remember you'll get far better .45 ACP accuracy out of the Blackhawk.
Denis

 

[tbob38]

Remember you'll get far better .45 ACP accuracy out of the Blackhawk.
Denis

Could you clarify that? I'm interested in a 45 Redhawk, but not if they are inaccurate.

 

[Ru4real]

Just remember...convertible means change the cylinder and adjust the sights each time for hunting ranges.

 

[Monac]

On the cover of the 1981 edition of Gun Digest Annual, there is an N-frame Smith & Wesson with interchangeable 45 Colt / 45 ACP cylinder and crane assemblies. It was custom made, IIRC, not a factory item. I suppose it would be prohibitively expensive now.

https://www.gundigeststore.com/product/gun-digest-35th-edition-1981-digital-pdf/

PS: Considering Ru4real's comment above, it now strikes me as odd that the pistol on the cover has fixed sights. I don't know how the owner coped with that.

 

[Armybrat]

Check out the Ruger 0472 Bisley Blackhawk Convertible:

https://ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkConvertible/specSheets/0472.html

 

[cfullgraf]

Pachmayr Presentations work for me.

Pachmayr Presentations work for me as well. With wood, or some other "hard" material, the gun slips in my hand under recoil and the trigger guard wraps my finger fairly hard. Hence, center fire single actions are very unpleasant for me to shoot. I can grip the Pachmayrs such that the gun does not move and no bruised fingers.

Hogue rubber grips would work also but as already said, they just do not look right on a Single action.

They say the bisley grip is real nice. I havent tried one.
I like the idea of the .45acp/.45colt.

I did not find any difference in use with a Bisley grip frame versus the standard grip frame. The trigger guard still hit my fingers under recoil. But I learned that Pachmayr does not make the Presentation grip for the Bisley frame.

I did learn how to swap out a Bisley frame for a standard frame on a Ruger Blackhawk though.

Rubber grips are not the be all to end all for everyone but they work for me.

 

[mcb]

On the cover of the 1981 edition of Gun Digest Annual, there is an N-frame Smith & Wesson with interchangeable 45 Colt / 45 ACP cylinder and crane assemblies. It was custom made, IIRC, not a factory item. I suppose it would be prohibitively expensive now.

https://www.gundigeststore.com/product/gun-digest-35th-edition-1981-digital-pdf/

PS: Considering Ru4real's comment above, it now strikes me as odd that the pistol on the cover has fixed sights. I don't know how the owner coped with that.

I would love to have a fixed sight N-frame.

TK Custom will convert a 45 Colt S&W Model 25/625 to also fire 45 ACP for $150 No separate cylinder required.

 

[farm23]

I have hunted with a NB Blackhawk 45/45acp for many years (with the 45lc cylinder)and with the standard plow handle with good success. The Bisley is a good grip but I have never been moved to change. I did have the hammer converted to the Bisley hammer so I could reach it more easily.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

The trigger guard still hit my fingers under recoil.

Howdy

I learned a long time ago that with a revolver I need to leave about 1/4" of space between the rear of the trigger guard and my middle finger. If I don't the trigger guard whacks my knuckle every time.

My solution is not trying to cram my entire hand onto the grip. By curling my pinky under the grip, my hand shifts down enough so that I get the 1/4" space between my knuckle and the trigger guard.

Think of a 1911 or just about any other semi-automatic. The orientation of the grip and the trigger guard makes it impossible top get a finger behind the trigger guard.

Gripping a revolver with my finger curled under the grip, my knuckle never gets whacked, even with my full house Black Powder 45 Colt loads.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

I would love to have a fixed sight N-frame.

You mean like these?

 

[DPris]

Multiple threads on the convertible Red, a much discussed issue.
It uses one hybrid cylinder and ACPs are quite variable in accuracy from load to load.
The BH uses a dedicated cylinder for each caliber, with much better ACP performance across the board.

And you'd have to be changing sight adjustment back & forth with it between the two calibers, too.
Denis

 

[cfullgraf]

My solution is not trying to cram my entire hand onto the grip. By curling my pinky under the grip, my hand shifts down enough so that I get the 1/4" space between my knuckle and the trigger guard.

Thanks for the suggestions.

I'll keep this suggestion in mind if I buy another single action Ruger. Sounds like it may make the revolvers more pleasant to shoot with stocks that look better than the rubber grips.

 

[Tallball]

1) Curl your pinky under the grip.
2) Let it roll in your hand a little with the recoil, as it's supposed to.
3) profit

 

[tbob38]

Multiple threads on the convertible Red, a much discussed issue.
It uses one hybrid cylinder and ACPs are quite variable in accuracy from load to load.
The BH uses a dedicated cylinder for each caliber, with much better ACP performance across the board.

And you'd have to be changing sight adjustment back & forth with it between the two calibers, too.
Denis

I have had a Blackhawk convertible some years ago, both cylinders very accurate (was superbly accurate with match ACP ammo), should have never gotten rid of it. Are you saying ACP ammunition is quite variable in accuracy? I don't quite understand what you are saying here. Do you have actual experience or are your comments from internet posts. (Not a criticism just would like to know)

Regarding sights, they often have to be changed for different loads anyway regardless of being from a Redhawk or Blackhawk.

I have found NIB 4" 45 Colt Redhawks on line (Gunbroker.com), but checking the Ruger site, I only see the convertible model currently available.

 

[bannockburn]

bernie

A friend of mine has a Super Blackhawk for which he got a pair of slightly oversized target style grips that made a world of difference in the how the gun felt in your hand. He has large hands while I have small hands but these grips worked great for both of us in making the gun so much more controllable and comfortable to shoot. Unfortunately the company that made them is no longer around (Mustang Grips), but if you can find grips that look like this pair it may give you the control and comfort you're wanting with a Blackhawk grip.

 

[DPris]

Thought I'd put it clearly.

The Blackhawk uses two cylinders, each with chambers cut for the appropriate caliber.
Accuracy in a Blackhawk .45 ACP cylinder is fine, because the chambers are cut short for the shorter cartridges, for the bullets to immediately enter the restrictions in diameter at the chamber mouths.

The convertible Red uses one cylinder for both calibers, with chambers cut long for the Colt-length rounds.
That means, when you fire shorter ACP rounds, the bullets have a section of "freebore" jump before they encounter the step-down restriction of the chamber mouth.

That affects ACP accuracy negatively.
It varies from load to load, and you can get decent ACP accuracy, but it may take trying several loads to find one that shoots as tight as most Colt loads do.

The Blackhawk ACP cylinder with its ACP chambers will shoot tighter across the board than the convertible Redhawk will in shooting ACP though its .45 Colt chambers.
.45 Colt accuracy on both guns will probably be about equal.

I can't put it much plainer.
And this is not Internet gossip.
I did extensive testing with 19 different loads between the two calibers in TWO sample convertible Reds, and published the results.
Denis

 

[huntsman]

View attachment 785728 Big grip for big hands.I chose this gun specifically because I don’t reload, .45cp is cheaper than the cheapest.45C

 

[CraigC]

Hand size has little to do with it. Forgive me if I'm wrong but it seems to me that most complaints about the plowhandle sixgun grip are either due to unfamiliarity, or that folks are trying to cram all their fingers onto the grip frame. Tuck that pinky under and you'll have a more harmonious outcome. The grip frame should not be rolling 'in' your hand but should remain steady and fixed. You can't run them fast if it's sliding around in your hand.



Grip high with the support hand to put your weak thumb in position to manipulate the hammer.




Both the Bisley and Super Blackhawk grip frames have enough room for all your digits. If you're having trouble with knuckle contact, custom grips that are thicker or thinner will shift those knuckles around and can make a huge difference. I have large hands but even the .500 doesn't beat up my knuckles because the grips fit me. Ruger factory grips suck anyway. The shape is all wrong and they're square where they should be round.



The Super beats my knuckle with the thin & crappy factory grips but these stags are thicker and completely alleviate the problem. Comfortable even with Buffalo Bore 340gr +P+ loads.

 

[tbob38]

Thought I'd put it clearly.

The Blackhawk uses two cylinders, each with chambers cut for the appropriate caliber.
Accuracy in a Blackhawk .45 ACP cylinder is fine, because the chambers are cut short for the shorter cartridges, for the bullets to immediately enter the restrictions in diameter at the chamber mouths.

The convertible Red uses one cylinder for both calibers, with chambers cut long for the Colt-length rounds.
That means, when you fire shorter ACP rounds, the bullets have a section of "freebore" jump before they encounter the step-down restriction of the chamber mouth.

That affects ACP accuracy negatively.
It varies from load to load, and you can get decent ACP accuracy, but it may take trying several loads to find one that shoots as tight as most Colt loads do.

The Blackhawk ACP cylinder with its ACP chambers will shoot tighter across the board than the convertible Redhawk will in shooting ACP though its .45 Colt chambers.
.45 Colt accuracy on both guns will probably be about equal.

I can't put it much plainer.
And this is not Internet gossip.
I did extensive testing with 19 different loads between the two calibers in TWO sample convertible Reds, and published the results.
Denis

Thank you. That makes sense.

 

[mcb]

Thought I'd put it clearly.

The Blackhawk uses two cylinders, each with chambers cut for the appropriate caliber.
Accuracy in a Blackhawk .45 ACP cylinder is fine, because the chambers are cut short for the shorter cartridges, for the bullets to immediately enter the restrictions in diameter at the chamber mouths.

The convertible Red uses one cylinder for both calibers, with chambers cut long for the Colt-length rounds.
That means, when you fire shorter ACP rounds, the bullets have a section of "freebore" jump before they encounter the step-down restriction of the chamber mouth.

That affects ACP accuracy negatively.
It varies from load to load, and you can get decent ACP accuracy, but it may take trying several loads to find one that shoots as tight as most Colt loads do.

The Blackhawk ACP cylinder with its ACP chambers will shoot tighter across the board than the convertible Redhawk will in shooting ACP though its .45 Colt chambers.
.45 Colt accuracy on both guns will probably be about equal.

I can't put it much plainer.
And this is not Internet gossip.
I did extensive testing with 19 different loads between the two calibers in TWO sample convertible Reds, and published the results.
Denis

Why is 45 ACP fired in a longer 45 Colt Chamber** any different than 44 Special in a 44 Mag or 38 S/L Colt or 38 Special in a 357 Mag or and of the 32 cartridges in a 327 Mag? I can't say I have ever hear about accuracy issues with the other short cartridges in longer chambers.

**assuming we are talking modern firearms and ammo where bullets in both cartridges and the throats and chamber are all sized for .451 diameter bullets not the older .454 diameter 45 Colt.