Ruger SA convertibles?

[Gabe]

I'm interested in a Ruger SA 45colt/45acp convertible. Problem is I really like their Stainless blackhawk with the unflueted roll-stamped 45colt cylinder, but that model does not come with a 45acp cylinder.

So could I just get a Vaquero 45acp cylinder from the aftermarket and install it, or is the convertible revolvers built differently from the rest?

 

[Checkman]

I don't know. I don't have an answer. but after a year of no answers I figured I would boot this up again - just to see if somebody can help out. Anyway it's fun reading the reactions to threads brought back from the dead.

 

[Old Fuff]

Ruger Single Action cylinders are individually fitted to a frame, and for that reason they don't sell cylinders unless they are installed "in house." A cylinder that was fitted to another revolver might or might not work, the most probable problem being excessive end play. I have known of cases where a spare cylinder dropped in and worked fine. On other occasions this didn't turn out to be so. A good pistolsmith could face off the front of a cylinder than then bore out the base pin hole in the center to take a bushing. The bushing can them be fitted to the new frame.

In short, this could be something that was easy, or it might take some skilled machine work. But in the end you'd have what you want.

One other option: If a blued cylinder was fitted to your stainless gun it could be beadblasted and satin chromed to match the rest of the revolver.

 

[steveno]

I have a SST Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt. I bought a blue 45 acp cylinder from a friend and it works just fine. heck it might even be a little more accurate than the 45 Colt cylinder. you might check at a gunshow for one and take along your gun so you check to see how well it works before giving out any money

 

[targetshootr]

I contacted sellers of convertibles and made offers on the 45 acp cylinders until I landed one and promptly never used it. But it seems to fit ok.

 

[BlkHawk73]

I really like their Stainless blackhawk with the unflueted roll-stamped 45colt cylinder

This would be one of the Acusport Bisley models. Approx 1200 were made a year or so ago. If you have any interest in it, buy it now as they don't show up very often anymore. Got two of 'em and they're great guns.
As mentioned, some cylinders will just dop in a work fine. Others may require timing/fitting issues to be resolved. Keeping the cylinder holes and the bore in perfect alignment is important.

 

[Roland of Gilead]

I have a SST Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt. I bought a blue 45 acp cylinder from a friend and it works just fine. heck it might even be a little more accurate than the 45 Colt cylinder

Got some calipers? I bet that the mouths of your .45 ACP cylinder are a tiny bit smaller (.452") than the ones in your 45 LC cylinder (.456"). That will make the .45 ACP a little more accurate out of your pistol. This is usually the case with 45 Convertibles. The 9mm cylinder on my 357 Convertible is a tiny bit tighter than the .357 cylinder as well.

 

[Cortland]

Ruger once made SS .45 Blackhawk convertibles. I like my blued version, but really wish I had it in SS!

 

[steveno]

Just for giggles I decided to measure the chamber mouths of the blue 45 acp cylinder and the SST 45 Colt cylinder. the 45 Colt cylinder measured .452 and the 45 acp cylinder was .455.

 

[JoeHatley]

Interesting... I measured the cylinder mouths on both cylinders for this .45 Bis-Hawk. All 12 holes are right at .450.



Shoots great!!

Joe

 

[unspellable]

Ruger cylinders

Ruger does not have a reputation for correctly sized chamber throats.

I am in the process of fitting a 9 mm cylinder to my Blackhawk with a view to having it bored out to the 357-44 B&D once fitted. The cylinder appeared to be unused and unfitted to another revolver. The over all length was excessive so we shaved the neck. This brought the over all length to the correct value but I then had too little barrel gap. I should have taken the metal off the rear of the cylinder. I could shave the rear and put a spacer in the fron but I have another frame with a shorter cylinder distance so I'll just fir it to that one.

So, you have to reduce the overall length to fit but be carefull which end you take it off so the barrel gap will come out right. (Can't monkey with the barrel as it's (hopefully) already correct for the original cylinder.)

If there is a chamber misalignment problem it's been my experience that the cylinder is wrong, not the frame or bolt hole.

 

[Old Fuff]

The situation "unspellable" encountered is the reason Ruger doesn't sell cylinders.

If you have an occasion to fit a cylinder to a different frame, metal should not be removed at the back at the ratchet because this can mess up the headspace (clearence between the breechface and the cartridge rim).

Presuming that one has access to a lathe (or a qualified gunsmith with one) the front of the cylinder can be faced off to increase the clearence between the cylinder and barrel if the barrel itself can't be modified. If the barrel/cylinder gap is correct but the hub at the front is too long it can be shortened. If "homefitting" a cylinder is done uncorrectly you may end up with excessive cylinder end-play (back and forth movement) which can cause a number of unhappy things, including having two cartridges go off at once.

My point: Things are not always as simple as they might seem.