Homebrew modifications for Ruger SAs

Three more parts:

www.gunblast.com reviews a Brownell's cylinder throat reamer for .45LC guns, at: http://www.gunblast.com/Brownells_Reamer.htm

While not a Ruger-specific part, it solves a common problem in Ruger SA .45LC guns whereby the cylinder throat comes a bit tight from the factory. When this is an issue, and it often is, accuracy can be greatly enhanced by altering the throats and the Brownell's tool makes it easy for anyone to do their own. It'll cost less for the tool than to have a gunsmith do it, and you can probably sell the tool here on TFL and we can end up "passing it around" as needed :D.

Gunblast also reviews some Ruger grips by SK:

http://www.gunblast.com/SK_Custom_Grips.htm

Another grip that everybody should know about are the Eagle "Gunfighters" for the Vaquero/Blackhawk/SingleSix "plowhandle" grip frame:

http://www.eaglegrips.com/gunfighter.htm

While not recommended for monster loads, with "combat grade" or "Cowboy-spec" ammo it reduces the amount of "roll in the hand" effect you get, allowing faster follow-up shots. It has a widee following in the SASS/CAS circles.
 
Something you ALL forgot!

Ejector rods! Brownells had both Cressent head and Bullseye Ejector rods in stock as well as steel ejector rod housings. You can also get stainless housings if you like that two-tone look.
I havr the bullseye on one custom 41 magnum and plan to add it to all my vaqueros in the future. As well as my blackhawks iuts just works. A second option is the ejector assembly from a 357 maximum (which is longer than the standard one) for more complete ejection of fired cases.
You can also fit either the steel grip frame from a Vaquero of the longer one from a superblackhawk to a regular blackhawk. Another nice mod is to user a superblackhawk hammer on a blackhawk(when not using bisley parts) It would look good on a birdshead framed gun I think. :D
 
What about sights ? I have these Bowen sights on my .357 RBH; http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/parts.html
I ordered this sight for my .30 Carbine RBH;
http://hunting.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://oneraggedhole.com

All my Blackhawks, Single Sixes, and Super Blackhawks have the Belt Mountain Base Pins and steel ejector rod housings. I am working now on replacing all the sights with one of the ones listed above. I love the Bowen, and will have to see about the One Ragged Hole when I get it. I am also using grips from http://www.pistolgrips.com/Grip_Catalog/Ruger_Grips/Blackhawk/Oversize/oversize.html and from Hogue. I really like those oversized grips with finger grooves.

I have no interest in SASS or cowboy shooting so my choice of accessories reflects that bias.
 
Thanks Jim! I was searching for this very thread yesterday because someone was looking for advice on a Vaquero. I couldn't find it for the life of me, I don't think I went back far enough in time for the search.

I have done the "poorboy" trigger job on my Vaquero. It now has a very sweet and light pull.
 
What is a base pin...

the pin that holds the cylinder in the frame, and around which the cylinder rotates.
 
Thanks Fred,

That brings up my next question;
What do you gain by upgrading this?
I think someone mentioned tighter lockup?
 
You may get tighter lock up. If the pin is oversized and fills the hole in the cylinder better, you will have less wobble in the cylinder. It may or may not help align the cylinder with the barrel.
 
Exactly.

The biggest name in aftermarket base pins is Belt Mountain. Most of the people selling aftermarket base pins (incl. Brownells, Qualitas) are re-selling Belt Mountain stuff.

Most Belt Mountain variants have a small set screw through the head, that allows you to lock it firmly down so that it cannot pop loose under major recoil. Tightening that is recommended if you're going to shoot hot .44Mag, .45LC+P or custom chamberings like the Linebaugh calibers, .454Casull, etc.

Some Belt Mountain pins have nicer heads that are easier to get a grip on than the Ruger part.

Finally, they sell a "Sheriff's model" base pin that has an abnormally short head, which lengthens the ejector rod travel. Ruger has a base pin for their factory "Sheriff's model" 3.5" barrel guns that has an even shorter head, but it doesn't have the set screw - the Belt Mountain short-head pin still has a set screw.

That particular pin, the Belt Mountain short-head with set screw, is of particular interest to me. Now that I've *finally* got money coming in soon, a stainless 4.6" .44Mag Vaquero is in my future. Only reason for .44Mag is flexibility in ammo selection and flatter long-range trajectories. It'll give up a bit of peak power over .45LC but...that's OK.
 
The Colt SAA grip is basically smaller in every dimension, and in most cases thinner. It is similar to the very earliest Ruger grips.

Some of the CAS/SASS people are shooting expensive genuine SAAs or fixing up Italian critters of the same size because they're faster-handling. With this grip choice on a Vaquero, and a 4.6" barrel in .45/.44cal for less weight than a .357, you should be able to get something that handles VERY similarly, but much tougher and with the modern transfer bar for six-up carry.

Cost on a Vaquero with that grip and maybe minor additional mods (free spin pawl, poor-boy trigger job and a Belt Mountain basepin) would be FAR less than an SAA, and comparable with some of the high-end Italian guns that are tuned up by good US gunsmiths and sold that way, or you had it done. And the Vaquero could shoot over double the horsepower levels.

:cool:
 
I thought I'd put this in here as well, for the hell of it:

Gents,

As you know, I've been trying to figure out how to put a GOOD rear sight on a Ruger SA, one that doesn't overhang the rear and screw up hammer access.

Front sights are easy. Ashley sells a universal revolver barrel front base that takes a variety of heights of dovetailed front sights of whatever height and type you're into.

It's the rear that's tricky.

So:
vaquerorearsight.gif


Waddya think?

Inspired sorta by:

http://www.oneraggedhole.com
 
Homebrew modifications for Ruger s/a

I had to go with oversized grips on my new Blackhawk .45 conv. big, arthritic hands.) Now I can't reach the hammer with either thumb without changing my hold. I would like to install a Bisley hammer and free-spin pawl. How involved is fitting these parts?
 
Aligning the cylinder witht he loading gate problem

Anyone have any tips/tricks/part(s) info to help the cylinder better align with the loading gate on an "old" Ruger Vaquero???
 
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