Who does this customization for Ruger?

[19-3Ben]

On another forum the topic of customized Rugers came up and I thought of a gun that I know I've seen here. It was called something like a "Big GP-100" or "Super GP-100" or something like that. I think it was a Super Redhawk frame but with a Redhawk barrel on it that made it look like an overgrown GP100.
I was pretty sure it was a Bowen job but I can't seem to find it on their website. Any thoughts?

 

[20nickels]

Bowen is known to put L frame style barrels on Redhawks if that helps you
any.

 

[19-3Ben]

Oops. nevermind. I found it here:
http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/NEW/Projects.htm#The_Real_Super_Redhawk

Thanks for the tip 20nickles.

 

[DPris]

Ben,
The three shots on the right are my gun, the first Alaskan .454 Bowen converted to the "Super GP44" .44 Magnum.
Money well spent.
Denis

 

[19-3Ben]

No way. That thing's beeeyyooootiful!!!!! The Bible says not to be jealous, but damn you make it tough.

 

[DPris]

Way!
It's my heavy artillery for the high timber.
Bowen did an excellent job with it, as usual.
Sell one of the kids & go for it!
Denis

 

[Rover 'n Rugers]

GP44 vs. 4" Redhawk

Denis,

I think somewhere you mentioned when you tested a new 4" Redhawk the double action was a bit lighter than on your GP44. How does the single action of the GP44 compare to the new 4" Redhawk? I would think your GP44 would be lighter and possibly down in the high 3's.

 

[DPris]

Rov,
You're pretty nervy, asking me to walk all the way down into the vault & dig 'em out to compare!
Denis

 

[DPris]

Rov,
OK, you owe me! (Too early in the day to be getting energetic enough for a trip to the vault. )

Interesting contrast-
New Redhawk 4-Incher at slightly under 6 pounds SA.
Bowen GP44 4-Incher at a very nice 3 pounds SA.
Both DAs off my 8-pound scale, but the factory 4-incher is markedly lighter.

One of these days I'll probably ship the factory 4-incher off to Bowen & have him do the firing pin & some work on that SA pull, possibly add his Rough Country rear sight. It was bought as a backup to the two Bowen Reds.

Denis

 

[Rover 'n Rugers]

Thanks Denis. Somewhere else I had read the new 4" Redhawks had a single action pull not much lower than double (Jeff Quinn??? or ?). I think in the article it claimed a double action of about 8.8 and single was around 7 based upon my poor recollection. I would see no reason the single could not be brought down around 4 or so pounds [Magnaport claims their Redhawk tune could get it to 3.5 or so]. On the other hand due to the double spring design of the SRH I figured (and had hoped) it would be what you claim. 3 pounds is downright super decent.

It would be interesting to play with Wolff mainsprings in the SRH to see if the double could be lightened somewhat. At least one would find out yea or nay.

I would say you are in the best of both worlds having a specimen of each and the SRH is superb. Enjoy.

Rover (dreaming of some new projects)

 

[DPris]

Rov,
I'm very fortunate in being able to work my way into a superior tool every once in a while, and the Bowen guns is definitely them.
Lightening mainsprings in either Redhawk can end up in misfires, that's why Bowen replaces the factory firing pins with his extended pins. More money well spent.
Denis

 

[19-3Ben]

That's a darn good idea. Some day I'll get something from Bowen.
Right now though, the only Ruger tuning/customization that I plan to do is send in my SP101 to Grant Cunningham for a complete work-over. Even then, it's not in the cards for right now.

 

[DPris]

Grant did a great job on a Colt DS for me this year, I have a major Colt revolver project in mind for him next year. He do good work!
I suspect you'll like your SP when it comes back.
Denis

 

[Rover 'n Rugers]

"Lightening mainsprings in either Redhawk can end up in misfires, that's why Bowen replaces the factory firing pins with his extended pins. "

You are quite correct at least for the RH. I have been through 4 of them with 4 different
gunsmiths. The lightest mainspring of Wolff to work reliably in double action was the 14 pound. Interestingly enough, the double action pull came out about 10.5 which is in the range Clements and Bowen claim. The last also had the Bowen firing pin, minimal endshake and 0.063" headspace. The single action came out about 4.2 or so pounds. I recall contacting Magnaport (who did not do any of the 4) and being certain they would set single at 3.5 pounds. Perhaps the sear angle is changed.

It would be interesting to see what Ruger did to get the double action down around 8.8 or 9 or so pounds. I see Jeff Quinn in the writeup of the new .327 SP-101 had one with a double action of about 9.375 pounds when they used to come out of the factory (SPs) at about 14. Somewhere I recall reading Ruger was going work on getting better trigger pulls in their revolvers about a year ago. That might be an interesting article for a gun mag.

 

[DPris]

It might be, if Ruger would cut loose with any info. All I was able to get out of them when I asked about the trigger on the four-inch Red was "New machinery, paying more attention to details".
denis