Single action .45's!

[WonderNine]

I'm interested in the Ruger Blackhawk in .45 because of the ability to shoot high powered loads out of them without any problems. But I also like the Colt SAA's. Can anybody tell me how strong the frames on the Colt's are and how well they will stand up to high powered hunting loads and defense loads? I can't decide what I want! A Colt would be nice though!

I'm not interested in Ruger Redhawks or most of the double action .45's other than the Anaconda.

 

[WonderNine]

Ugh....I just looked at the price on some .45 Colt SAA's....

They aren't givin' those things away, are they?

 

[Nightcrawler]

The Ruger Blackhawk will easily eat many loads that will destroy a Colt SAA or similar clone. From an engineering standpoint, it is a superior design in terms of strength and longevity.

If you're feeling very nostalgic, go for the Colt (better yet, you can get an identical SAA clone from companies like US Firearms Company for a lot less but are just as good). If you want strength for hunting loads, go with the Ruger (not to mention the adjustable sights).

If you want strength and nostalgia, go for the Vaquero!

 

[Jim March]

Here's what you do:

First, ya get a Ruger . Vaquero or Blackhawk, whatever you want.

Second, get a SuperBlackhawk or Bisley hammer to drop the cocking reach with the thumb down to something sane. The Ruger frame is a bit on the tall side compared to a Colt SAA. Brownell's has these cheap - less than $30 if I recall right, been a while since I looked. www.e-gunparts.com usually has 'em.

Third, if ya REALLY wanna get trick, go to www.powercustom.com and under "revolver parts", drool over that replacement grip frame that gives you a 100% Colt SAA size-and-shape grip frame for your Ruger . Like that SAA feel but want Ruger strength? It's $200 away . Plus you'll need any two-piece Colt SAA grip panel set. (NOT one-piece, won't work on the Power Custom frame.) In basic wood, those are fairly cheap ($50ish).

Plus $17 for a spring kit (might as well if yer gonna have it scattered gutted across the kitchen table anyways!) and $20 for a set of gunsmith-grade screwdrivers for Ruger SAs and you're still WAY under half the price of an SAA so long as you assemble it yourself. And the Power Custom instructions are pretty good. Splurge another $35 for a Power Custom Freewheel Pawl (cylinder spins both ways with the gate open for faster loading!) and $21 for a Belt Mountain replacement base pin to tighten the whole thing up and you're still under $700 with some careful shopping for the base gun.

There's other neat funky options for Ruger SAs, they're like AR15s in terms of parts availability . See also:

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80872

The Rugers will take factory "+P" loads that will simply detonate an SAA with one shot. Bufallo Bore has a 325grain hardcast loaded to 1,300fps, that's the hottest factory load I'm aware of. DO NOT stick that in an SAA unless you like seeing $1500+ go "blewy".

 

[Jim March]

Oh ya: if you do this, give some thought to starting with a Bisley/Bisley Vaquero as the base gun. You'll be starting with a low-slung hammer, and when you take the Bisley grip frame off to put the Power Custom SAA part on, the Bisley grip frame will be worth decent money (at least $100) on the used parts market .

And you MIGHT like the Bisley grip for major-recoil control and just stick with it.

 

[Majic]

Find one of the Limited 5.5" Ruger Bisleys. They really are nice.
Before you get the Power Custom grip frame check around to see if you can find an old model Blackhawk grip frame (essentially the same thing) from some of the other boards. You will get a better deal if you find one.
If you get a Ruger, send the cylinder off to get the chamber throats opened. The Throatdoctor does a fine job with a quick turnaround at a good price. Add a spring kit and a Belt Mountain base pin and you will be all set.
If your pennies stack high enough skip all this other fooling around and get a Fredom Arms. Their .45Colt models come in 2 different frame sizes.
I also have an Anaconda in .45Colt and it is a very good shooter with the correctly sized bullets. Few are out there these days with decent prices, but shop around as I tend to see them from time to time.

 

[Jim March]

Majic is sorta right, in that the very first Ruger grip frames for "old model" (3 screw) frames was VERY close to the Colt SAA frame. That was known as the "XR3" grip frame; the grip frame used today on the Vaqueros and Blackhawks (and 4.68"/5.5" SuperBlackHawks) is the XR3-RED (for "redesigned").

HOWEVER, that old XR3 grip frame needs significant modifications to work with the New Model (2 screw) action. Still home-brewable but not easy. The trigger return spring is totally different in a New Model.

Second problem: most 3-screw Rugers had an XR3-RED - the 2screws (New Model) came out in 1973 but the Old Models switched to XR3-RED circa 1962/63. I forget exactly. Point is, the supply of original XR3s (almost all of which were aluminum) is drying up, which is why Power Custom came out with that grip frame in the first place - it's basically a steel XR3 pre-converted to the New Model lockwork.

More info on ALL this:

http://www.gunblast.com/Hamm_Ruger-SA-GripFrames.htm

Re: Freedom Arms. Yes, the quality is high as hell. The Model 97 in 45LC is almost as strong as a Ruger, a little bit smaller, but it's a five-shooter instead of six. The 83-frame is a MASSIVE womping big thing made for the 454Casull, also a five-shooter. Accuracy and quality of both is simply jaw-dropping. The '97 in 22 (sixgun) has been recorded as doing sub-one-inch groups. At 100 yards . The larger calibers are almost as accurate. I personally drool over the '97 as a six-gun 357. Prices start at around $1,300 and go WAY up from there.

Majic is also right about getting a Ruger 45LC cylinder getting a throat job. Ruger throats are notoriously undersize...it's the only consistent quality problem but at least it's an easy, cheap fix.