Different trigger guards on SBH

[CLP]

Why is there a difference between the fully round trigger guard on most Super Blackhawks except the long-barreled 7.5" one which has a 90 degree bend near the grip?
There's something about it that I always found aesthetically displeasing. Are trigger guards interchangeable between all SBH's? Could one take a fully rounded trigger guard from a shorter barreled SBH and install it on the long barreled revolver?

 

[Varminterror]

Yes, all of the Ruger grip frames are interchangeable, at least within the same vintage. The rear bosses/ears of pre-1998 grip frames are shorter than the post-1998 frames, so a pre-98 frame cannot be transplanted onto a post-98 revolver. The opposite can be done.

Specifically, however, the long barrel SBH comes with a "Dragoon" grip frame, which is the longest plow handle Ruger makes, but with a square trigger guard. The short barreled SBH's come with XR3-RED grip frames, which are a slightly shorter grip and a round trigger guard. A better transplant would be to use a Hunter grip frame, which has the same grip profile as the Dragoon, giving better control over the longer barrel, but with a round trigger guard.

If you really want to pursue this conversion, you'll be somewhere around $150, sometimes as low as $100 into take off parts, which may not perfectly match up to your revolver. Factory new parts are available, but the grip frame is virtually a raw casting, so it needs a bit of elbow grease to get running, and you'll be in it about $125.

Shoot me a PM if you're interested in getting this done.

 

[FROGO207]

I have a 45 LC Vaquero that is modified with the Dragoon grip and serrated SBH hammer. It is set up for CAS competition and works well for that purpose.

 

[CraigC]

As VT posted, the 4 5/8" and 5½" Supers have the standard Blackhawk grip frame, which is shorter than the square-backed Dragoon grip.

 

[BobWright]

A number of years ago I set some .45 Colt Rugers with the XR-3RED, the Dragoon and the Bisley grip frames, and with barrel lengths of 4 5/8" and 7 1/2" and ran some very stout .45 Colt handloads, using a 350 gr. cast RNFP bullet. My own observations concluded that the Dragoon style tamed recoil best for me.

Here, two of my .45 Colt Rugers:



For Ruger Single Actions, except the Bearcat, the screw patterns for the grip frame are identical.


Bob Wright

 

[Varminterror]

My own observations concluded that the Dragoon style tamed recoil best for me.

That's pretty much the reason I suggested the OP should NOT convert from the Dragoons to the XR3-RED of the short barreled SBH's, and instead switch to Hunter grip frames. Same grip, same great control, but round trigger guard instead. Out of the plow handle grip frames from Ruger, the Hunter & Dragoon sized grips offer the most real estate, and give the greatest control. It's not too uncommon for guys who let the revolver roll to prefer the recoil with a Hunter/Dragoon to a Bisley, but when you're talking about the 3 plow handle grip sizes, XR3, XR3-Red, and Hunter/Dragoon, the Hunter/Dragoon is the king for recoil. I've been shooting XR3-RED 44mag Vaqueros for a long time, none of them behave as well as my Dragoon/Hunter gripped revolvers.

Take-off Hunter frames are like hen's teeth, but Brownells, Midway, and Ruger sell the raw castings. I'm always happy to help guys get them lined out on their revolvers, if it means they'll get more enjoyment out of them, even if it is just an aesthetic change like the trigger guard shape.