Gunsmithing Ruger Single Actions

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BBOB662

Bearcat
Joined
Feb 22, 2015
Messages
58
Location
North MS
I just bought a current production RUGER BISLEY FLATTOP 44 SPECIAL, MDL #: 5236. Is the cylinder heat treated to enable it to be reamed to fire 44 Magnum loads?
I have 1000 rds of HSM, Cowboy Action, .44 mag, SWC Hardcast, 240 Grain cartridges left after trading my magnum that I'd like to use if possible.
 

mohavesam

Hawkeye
Joined
Jan 4, 2004
Messages
5,847
Location
Rugerville, AZ
meshugunner said:
I am just getting started on this gunsmithing thing. Right now I pay other people to do trigger jobs for me...Thank you.

Indeed, if the only thing tech manuals (such as Jerry's books) are used for is so that a novice like me understands when to STOP and get the machine to a professional; then it is worth the price!
 

ThreeEyedWilly

Bearcat
Joined
Dec 26, 2016
Messages
3
Location
Spring, Texas
The you tube videos from Randall Power/Grand Master - Power Custom are extremely helpful. Not only that, but if you have a problem, you can call them.
 

mwhite49

Bearcat
Joined
May 7, 2018
Messages
25
Location
Ventura county calif
I just tried to purchase it on Amazon. Their head is in the sand, since is says 2 volumes they wanted to charge me double. Just ordered from Midway.
Great books
 

ElrodCod

Single-Sixer
Joined
Jan 17, 2007
Messages
105
Location
Rogersville, Tennessee
BBOB662 said:
I just bought a current production RUGER BISLEY FLATTOP 44 SPECIAL, MDL #: 5236. Is the cylinder heat treated to enable it to be reamed to fire 44 Magnum loads?
I have 1000 rds of HSM, Cowboy Action, .44 mag, SWC Hardcast, 240 Grain cartridges left after trading my magnum that I'd like to use if possible.

That's a medium frame gun. Best to stick to 44 specials in that one. If you want a magnum you should buy one.
 

Hondo44

Hawkeye
Joined
Apr 3, 2009
Messages
8,041
Location
People's Republik of California
Bisley is on large frame I believe. Vaquero to be more specific.

The 44 Special is only made on the New Vaquero (and Flattop Blackhawk) mid-frame, (although the 44 special is only marked Vaquero w/o the "NEW" because they weren't made on the original Vaquero large frame, so it's not a new version of an earlier 44 Spl model). Therefore not recommended or safe to ream it to shoot 44 Mag.

Although all the cyls are heat treated, they can be reamed and w/o having to re-heat treat them.

The Cowboy 44 Mag is relatively mild and doesn't approach the maximum 44 Mag pressure limit. So If you can obtain the pressure they're loaded to from the manufacturer, compare it to the maximum 44 Special pressure max which is 15,500. (Even though you can stretch that to 20,000 in a Ruger), I doubt that even the 44 Mag Cowboy loads will be that low of a pressure. Plus you'll have a cylinder that someone else might stick in and shoot full load 44 Mags! So a very bad idea, although I know it's been done by some.
 
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AK375DGR

USMC 1st Mar/Div 7th Engr's VietNam 69-71---SFi
Joined
Mar 4, 2023
Messages
24
Location
Palmer, Alaska 99645
Ok, here's alittle bit of work I did, back a couple yrs ago now, and all is still as it should be,,,,, Shoots Lights Out, currently sighted in @ 25 yards,,,,, ie.... my Red Zone, which = Pulling the Trigger,,,,, if and when it's needed..... :ninja:
 

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Joined
Apr 9, 2006
Messages
1,294
Location
Wi USA
Ok, here's alittle bit of work I did, back a couple yrs ago now, and all is still as it should be,,,,, Shoots Lights Out, currently sighted in @ 25 yards,,,,, ie.... my Red Zone, which = Pulling the Trigger,,,,, if and when it's needed..... :ninja:
that looks just like what my older Brothers wants to have done to his 41 mag Hunter, did you do the work yourself ? or send it to some one ?
 

AK375DGR

USMC 1st Mar/Div 7th Engr's VietNam 69-71---SFi
Joined
Mar 4, 2023
Messages
24
Location
Palmer, Alaska 99645
that looks just like what my older Brothers wants to have done to his 41 mag Hunter, did you do the work yourself ? or send it to some one ?
Hawk, Yea did all of the work myself, less the Mag-na-Porting and Front-Sight Cut-in, as well as cutting the Bbl and re-crowning accordingly, this was all done while at Mag-na-Port, take a look at my attachment Write-up...... :ninja:
 

Yoter

Bearcat
Joined
Mar 5, 2023
Messages
90
Location
AZ
The book by Jerry Kuhnhausen on "Ruger Single Action Revolvers Volumes 1 & 2" is an excellent shop manual. Midway had the best price.

Larry Crow's DVD, "Ruger Vaquero Dissassembly, Reassembly, Cleaning and Maintenence" is another good reference along with AGI's DVD, "Technical Manual & Armorer's Course on Ruger Single Action Revolvers"..
 

AK375DGR

USMC 1st Mar/Div 7th Engr's VietNam 69-71---SFi
Joined
Mar 4, 2023
Messages
24
Location
Palmer, Alaska 99645
Yea,,,,, I've seen that Video, it's pretty good,,,, but I've got the "RUGER SA Bible, with Photos" Written by Ron Power..... :cool:
 
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