Ruger Convertible

[StevenDale]

I am considering buying Ruger Blackhawk New Model Flat Top 45 convertible. Does anyone out there have any experience as to how well the 45 Colt and 45 ACP cylinders shoot to the same point of aim? Also information on likes or dislikes with this set up. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[dbmjr1]

My .45 Colt loads are a bit on the hot side. Out of my Ruger Blackhawk Convertable, 7.5", both .45 Colt and my .45 ACP are on the plates at 25 yards. I use a center hold for the .45acp and a six o'clock hold for the .45 Colt. So perhaps a couple inches difference in elevation .

One of my very favorite revolvers.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

Mine shoot the same for plinking. I've never put it in a vice to verify, but I assure you that you won't be disappointed in the Ruger convertible.

The diameter of the 45 colt and acp bullets should be exact in modern days, so the only difference in point of aim will matter because of the velocity.

I would gander that a 45lc of the same weight and velocity will impact the same spot as the 45acp.

Different loads may yield different results

 

[GarrettJ]

So I always thought my ACP cylinder shot more accurately. But had never benched the two side by side.

So I loaded three sets of loads, attempting to get to roughly the same velocity, and shot them at 25 yards. It turns out my gun has some preferences for one bullet in one case, and a different bullet in a different case.

You would have to try it yourself to see what your gun likes, but it makes for an interesting experiment.

See results below.

 

[ClemY]

Bullet velocity and bullet weight. Heavy bullets hit high.

 

[PapaG]

Have had one for quite a while. For a long time I used the ACP cylinder to burn up loads my 1911s didn't like. Then I discovered just how accurate it was. Now, except for deer season, either it, in ACP, or my Flattop 44 special are my farm companions.

 

[farm23]

I have gthe NMBH and it is my main hunting revolver. The 230 gn ACP shoot a little low but it is set up for 250 LSWC go that is understandable.

 

[robhof]

My 45 Acp cylinder split some cases leaving a brass ring behind the throat, the throats miked between .448 to .450, had Cylindersmith turn them out to .452 and problem solved, accuracy seems as good as the LC rounds with similar bullets, the shorter rounds; ACP's will impact somewhat different as they are traveling through a longer throat to get to the forcing cone, which means impacting the cone at a slightly higher velocity. Long range target shooters want their bullets practically level with the end of the cylinder for max accuracy. I know for a fact that with my 357Max, that the long/almost flush to the cylinder face bullets make the closest groups at 100 yds.

 

[ClemY]

When I got my .45 Colt NMBH's nearly 20 yrs. ago, they pretty uniformly had very tight throats. That was good, because while the tight throats were common across all of mine, they weren't uniform themselves; they had all kinds of interesting shapes, like oval, tapered, S shaped, etc. Fortunately they could be cleaned up with a .4525" reamer from Brownell's. Turned out to be very accurate. I had several with .45 ACP cylinders. One had oversized throats; the rest were undersized. The reamer fixed the undersized; the oversized didn't seem to care, it shot as well as the rest anyway.

It is a great way to burn up .45 ACP reloads that don't gage up.

I also had my .45 ACP cylinders modified so they can also chamber .45 AR. I prefer the AR cases in mine when I am using mouse fart range loads. They seem to cycle a bit more smoothly than .45 ACP cased loads.