ruger blackhawk convertible

[Ian's Dad]

looking at the ruger blackhawk convertible in .45 Colt and .45 acp.. am i correct that the .45 acp would require moon clips? if so, woudl the same ones used in my Smith and Wesson work?

 

[Landric]

No, it doesn't require moon clips. Single action revolvers like the Blackhawk eject empties one at a time through the use of a fixed ejection rod mounted under the barrel and slightly offset. Empties are ejected through the loading gate one at a time using said rod.

 

[Ian's Dad]

perhaps the dumbest question of all time..

completely forgot it was single action.. I"ll accept the award for dumbest question of 2010?


uhhhh yeah.. it takes moonclips.. you cut them up in little pieces and load them through the gate...:banghead:

 

[BullfrogKen]

It's a good field and fun gun. I own one.


Some folks find better accuracy with .45 ACP, but most seem to do quite well with 45 Colt. Typical of Ruger guns, it can be loaded hotter than Hades, and mine returns the best accuracy with 250 grain Hornady XTPs loaded at their hottest.

 

[CoRoMo]

I have the .357/9mm version. I love that friggin' revolver! I just don't know why SAA are all made left handed.

 

[nulfisin]

Sorry if this is going astray, but is it worth paying for the convertible option? I have Blackhawks in 357 and 44 and may add a 45 LC. Is there any reason to shoot the acp rounds out of this gun as opposed to, say, a 1911? Thanks.

 

[ClemY]

One reason to shoot .45 ACP in a revolver is because it is fun. Another reason is that it will shoot out of spec ammo that would choke a tight 1911. I burn up .45 ACP that won't gage up that would jam my 1911.

 

[RidgwayCO]

Plus that Ruger Convertible won't throw your .45 ACP brass all over the range...

 

[dagger dog]

The .45ACP cylinder is bored like a semi auto barrel and head spaces off the mouth of the case, so 6 moon clips are not needed.

 

[Ian's Dad]

dagger dog..

thanks for cleearing that up..

 

[brianr23]

Took a feral boar hog with one in .45 colt. Love shooting .45 acp in it. Probably (in my opinion) the most fun you can have with a revolver.

 

[Bula]

If you reload, I just don't see the point in the acp cylinder. If you don't reload, it is absolutely worth the money. I guess one could make the argument that the acp brass is more readily available. You can load any bullet in the 45colt brass to equal or WAY higher velocities. I load from 200gr SWC's all the way to 285g RCBS-SWC's--from 700fps to 1200fps. Great versatlility.

 

[nulfisin]

ClemY raises a good point. I do reload and my 1911 is the fussiest gun I own when it comes to ammo preference. It's gotten to the point where I'm considering using only a few brands of factory ammo. Running the excess brass through a revolver sounds like a good idea.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

I have the .357/9mm version. I love that friggin' revolver! I just don't know why SAA are all made left handed.

I have the same, love it. The answer to your question is they made it for guys like me. Right brainers.

 

[JellyJar]

I have a Blackhaws 45 convertible and only use the 45acp cylinder because I don't reload and I can't find any 45 colt ammo except the expensive SD loads. 45acp is common around here and fairly cheap.

 

[riddleofsteel]

I have read; The loading gate for rounds was on the right side as a nod to use on horseback. The user was supposed to hold both the reins and gun in the left hand and insert rounds with the right.

I love my 45 Colt/45 ACP convertible Blackhawk with a 4 5/8" barrel. It allows me to practice with cheap .45 ACP ammo and also to use the current crop of high performance 45 ACP ammo for self defense.

In the 45 Colt mode it makes an easily packable revolver that will throw a 270 grain Keith style hard cast SWC at 1100 without pain. That load ventilate any creature that walks this land.

 

[fastbolt]

I have an older 3-screw convertible Blackhawk with .357 Magnum/9mm cylinders and a New Model with .45 Colt/.45 ACP cylinders. The guns seem to offer reasonably decent accuracy with the 9mm & .45 ACP cylinders, but I really bought them for the primary calibers. I just felt having the option to use the pistol rounds might be handy for plinking or some practice now and again.

Good, solid revolvers.

The older ones, anyway.

Dunno about the last 15 years.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

A bit off track but how do you "date" a convertible Blackhawk ? I know mine is a new model but I'd like to find the year of manufacture.

Thanks

 

[NHSHTR]

76shuvlinoff A bit off track but how do you "date" a convertible Blackhawk ? I know mine is a new model but I'd like to find the year of manufacture.

Thanks

Go to the Ruger website and under Customer Service click on Product History, select your model and look up the date(s) for your S/N. That will get you an age range.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

thanks!

 

[robctwo]

I have the .357/9mm and the .45 Colt/ACP. I reload. One problem I have is with the conversions some of my brass doesn't want to fit. The rims are slightly out of spec from repeated extractions. It is frustrating to the point that I'm thinking of getting some brass to use with the revolvers exclusively. On the other hand I reload 200 gr lswc for both 45s and 158 gr lswc for the 357/38 special. May not need the conversions much.

I bought the conversions because they were available at the gun show, and I was impulse buying. My dealer tells me that the conversions sell used faster and for more $ if I ever wanted to unload them. Doubt that will ever happen.