Ruger blackhawk convertable

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gunluver

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Hi there! I'm new as a member here, but I've been reading and lurking for quite some time now. Lots of very knowledgable shooters and gun owners here. I was hoping I could get a little feedback from you.
I shoot a little IDPA, but mostly shoot just for fun....and mostly handguns. I have always liked both revolvers and semi's, but lately have developed a much higher interest in revolvers. I currently own a Colt DS and a Ruger single six. I have also owned a Ruger LCR, S&W snub (forget which model it was), and a Taurus tracker in .357.
I shoot my 1911 quite frequently and have a love for the .45 acp. I am considering a Ruger blackhawk convertable in .45 long colt with the extra cylinder in .45acp. Does anyone own this combination? How do you like it? I would more than likely be shooting 80% .45 acp through it. How is the accuracy, feel, etc?

Any comments are appreciated, as well as suggestions.
 
The good news is that the 45ACP and 45LC are supposed to be shot through exactly the same spec barrel :). So accuracy on the 45ACP cylinder tends to be very good...better than the 9mm cylinder works in the 357Mag convertible.

The other good news is that starting around 2007 or 2008, Ruger upgraded the manufacturing process on the large-frame guns like the convertible you're looking at. The difference in out-of-the-box accuracy is noticable and there's fewer "bad monday guns" with the new process. You want the new process :). The best way to ID a gun having it on the large-frame series is to look at the "Ruger lawyer's warning label" on the barrel, aka "the billboard". It has stuff like "read the manual" and other such...Ruger is lawsuit-paranoid. If it's on the side of the barrel, the gun was made with the old process. UNDER the barrel, cool, that's the revised type. Again: this only applies to large-frames - all the mid-frames going back to the New Vaquero of 2004 also have the new process, Ruger pioneered it on those.

(Might as well note one exception: if you're into 44Magnums, the 50th Anniversary 44Mag Blackhawk Flattop of 2006 was the very first large-frame with the improved cylinder manufacturing process, and it has a side-barrel warning label.)

More good news: in 45LC the large-frame guns can deliver 44Magnum-class power. 45LC+P ammo from Buffalo Bore, Cor-Bon and others rivals or even exceeds most 44Mag factory loads.

Upshot: it's a really nice gun. But get a newer variant :).
 
Thank you, Jim for the response. That's the kind of information I am looking for. So, as long as the "lawyer" marks are on the underside of the barrel then I am getting a new process gun?
 
I have a stainless Bisley Blackhawk convertible 45LC/ACP, and I love it.

I ended up having the cylinders reamed to correct dimensions, and my accuracy was much improved.

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This is a combined 45LC/ACP target at 25 yards in admittedly "terrible" lighting which played havoc with my eyes and the black sights.

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I have the Stainless 7.5 Blackhawk .45 converter and love the fact you can shoot 45acp or 45colt which ever your in the mood for. I got mine new in 91 and got the 7.5 for some hunting. I'm thinking of getting another but going with a shorter barrel as I ain't getting any younger.

I think the 45 converter is one gun everyone should have,just pick your favorite flavor and go for it.

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The new process involves the cylinder. Older ones were done on machines that reamed all six chambers at once with six bit/reamer sets. The new machines do each cylinder bore one at a time with the same bit/reamer set in sequence.

The old system led to variances between chambers - not a good thing.

"Fortunately" Ruger also screwed up the 45 throats (the constriction at the end of each cylinder bore) during this period, setting them somewhat undersize. Sending the cylinder off to cylindersmith or another gunsmith doing the throats right sets them uniform, and uniform (and correct) throats fix 90%+ of the problems with cylinders made the old way. In other words, $50 per cylinder for minor tweaking solves the vast majority of the issues encountered - esp. in the 45 versions. In others, the throats can be hosed but you can't go larger, so your best bet ends up being a caliber conversion - turn the 44Mag cylinder for example into a 45 with correct, tight, uniform 45 and swap barrels.

The under-barrel warning tells you it was made the new way, as long as it's a large-frame and not the 50th 44 which is an exception as noted.

When I was buying a Ruger SA in 2005, I went with a New Vaquero because I knew I was getting the new process. I would have preferred a 357/9mm convertible but it was using the old process at the time.
 
awpk03s....that is one BEAUTIFUL gun!! I wish you could still get a convertable in stainless or in bisley trim. Unfortunately, you can only get them blued now, and with those god-awful Ruger plastic black grips!
 
Yes, the "cheesegrater" grips suck. No two ways about it. There's a ton of good sources of grips though, or make your own :).
 
I have a super blackhawk, which is just a blackhawk with a larger grip. The finish is excellent. I used to own a double action revolver from ruger, and I enjoy the single action much more. It really adds to the shooting experience.

I cannot comment on the 45colt/45 acp cylinder from experience unfortunately, but I think its a great option to have. Its not all that uncommon to find 45acp brass at your local range if you reload.
 
as well as suggestions
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I suggest you get one :D . Sounds like it will work well with your .45 ACP . If you were not into .45 ACP already, I'd just suggest the regular BH or Bisley in .45 Colt. As Jim said they'll handle mild to wild loads so you wouldn't be giving up any power (when needed). Buffalo Bore does make some Ruger Only Loads if you are not into reloading and need the extra punch. FYI, there is such thing as an 'official' +P designation for .45 Colt.
 
28 years and still well loved...

I got a 7.5" .45 convertable in 1983, with the idea of not having to scrounge in the weeds to find my .45ACP brass. Made one small mistake. Shot a box of .45 Colt loads through it first. The original factory load that is. Wimpy cowboy stuff wasn't on the market then.

Fell in love with the .45 Colt. Don't think I have put 300rnds of .45 ACP though the gun in the last 20 years.

Be warned!

I actually bought a second one about 10 years ago, and leave the .45 ACP cylinder in it. Don't shoot it much, though. Love my .45 Colt Blackhawk!

If you don't reload, get ready to, as you will definately not want to pay factory price for a lot of .45 Colt ammo.

I don't know if I just got lucky, or the chamber/forcing cone problems came along after, but my favorite Blackhawk will put 5 shots in one ragged hole and one right next to it, offhand, at 50ft (indoor range) groups well at longer ranges too. Although, at 200yds, the one chamber that is a little off is off by several feet.:D I'm happy enough with that.
 
A .45 convertable Blackhawk is on my list of guns to get, but won't be added anytime soon, unless I find a screaming deal I can't pass.

Anyway, if you shoot IDPA and the like, consider getting a DA revolver instead of the Blackhawk. A Redhawk in .45colt can be cut for moon-clips to enable the use of .45ACPs. I did this with a 625 Mountain Gun and love it. Mark at Pinnacle did mine; top notch.

Its not the same fun as a good SA revolver, but might be a bit more practical if you think you might want to shoot IDPA with a large-bore revolver.
 
Thanks for the great replies and advice!

To the Great Mahoo......I understand about a DA revolver for IDPA instead of a SA. I don't shoot IDPA often, but when I do I shoot my Glock 19 or my Kimber .45
I just like SA revolvers and the .45 round ! :D
 
The SS Bisely SS 5.5" convertible was a distributor (Accusport) special run. There may be some more of them around!
 
Are all the stainless steel 45 convertables a distributer gun? My 7.5 SS Blackhawk was a 500 or so run by Davidsons.

I know I don't see many SS converters around here most all are blued. I was thinking of getting SS in a shorter barrel lenght, but if they're distributer guns only that might not be so easy.
 
Have used a RBH Convertable 45 Colt/ACP as my around the farm all purpose gun for the last 8 yrs. Very happy with it . I shoot mostly 45 Colt with my loads of 200gr SWC bullets. About 925fps. Almost all 230 hardball in the ACP cyl. shoot to point of aim with my reloads. Nice that it worked out that way. The 45Colt loads are slightly more accurate than ACP ammo but not by much. I won't be selling this gun. see ya, Bill PS CCI shot loads are better suited to the Colt cyl. The ACP shot loads tend to stick a bit in the ACP cyl. Both take snakes out to about 8-9yrds. Barrel lenght 4 5/8.
 
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The SS Bisely SS 5.5" convertible was a distributor (Accusport) special run. There may be some more of them around!
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After the Accusport Bisleys ran dry, there were some of the same guns available from Williams Shooters Supply but I don't know if they still have any or not.

WILLIAMS SHOOTERS SUPPLY INC.

1813 Quintron Way
Quincy, IL 62305
Tel: 217-222-4195 Fax: 217-222-1061
Website: www.willshoot.com
 
I have a blued going on 30 years of age.
The 45 Colt is amazingly accurate, but not quite as good as 44 AMP, but the ACP is very poor.
I shoot lead only and I found that the 45 colt likes .455 diameter bullets best. 4 inch groups are VERY easy at 25 yards offhand.
Since most factory ACP is .451 and most cast lead for ACP are .451 you’re not going to get the best accuracy out of the Ruger. I tried some .454 230 GR round nose from Penn bullets and the thing shot very well.
This is the only thing I found negative about the twin cylinder Ruger.
One thing to remember about the Ruger Blackhawk, it is a reloader’s dream gun no matter what caliber.
 
Ozzieman: none of what you're describing is specific to the dual-caliber models. The funky throats and other such issues are absolutely common in the cylinders that were bored all-six-at-once. The new solo-bit/reamer setup from about 2007 forward on the large frames (and all the mid-frames) solves a lot of these issues.

There's nothing inherently problematic with the 45 dual-caliber guns. The problem was Ruger's cylinders. The chambers were loose, the throats were tight and it was all too often uneven between bores. If you have a 45ACP cylinder that won't shoot right, do some measurements - odds are you'll find mis-matches between chambers.

You are condemning your problems as stemming from the fact that you've got two cylinders. Nope. Problem is you've got a gun with one or both cylinders substandard. Same issues can occur on a solo-cylinder model of that era and for some unknown reason these "birth defects" happened more in 45 than any other caliber.

Ruger has fixed all that. Look for an underbarrel-warning gun in the large frame to ID a fixed one.

There IS something funky about the 357/9mm version in that factory 9mm loads are .355 wide instead of .357. At best, accuracy in the 9mm will be at least a little bit off but still usable for practice. You can of course handload "semi-wildcats" with .357 projectiles in 9mm cases but the throats might still be wonky. Even here, an "underbarrel warning" gun (or a mid-frame regardless of where the barrel warning is) will be (at least on average) better off.
 
Jim I’m going to have to disagree with you on that one. With my gun.:)
I have had the cylinders measured by a very competent gun smith and they are all the same. The problem is that the gun is a 45 Long colt that is made for diameter bullets made for 45 LC and why I said that the gun is extremely accurate with 455 lead and this causes no leading at all.
Standard sizing for lead ACP is .452 and my gun has poor accuracy with that size.
You are condemning your problems as stemming from the fact that you've got two cylinders.
And I don’t know where you’re getting that from. I am not “condemning” it to having two cylinders, I am stating that it’s a bullet selection that makes the gun have less than stellar accuracy.
Ruger’s are also known for liking larger bullet diameter for accuracy when shooting lead.
I own 4, two in 45 LC and two in 44 special. They all like lead bullets of larger diameter.
And as I said One thing to remember about the Ruger Blackhawk, it is a reloader’s dream gun no matter what caliber.
An added note.This fall I took a friend out that just got out of the military and let him shoot my dual cylinder Ruger.
With factory hard ball ACP the gun would only hold groups of about 5 inches at 15 yards. With hand loads and larger bullets he was able to cut a jagged hole at 15 yards.
 
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