44 Flat top

[Dobetown]

Picked up my 4 5/8 Lipsey Bisley, reddish brown laminate grips. Nice polish job and a even dark blue. Trigger and action better than my older stainless Bisley started out. Sn #520-219XX. the chambers look smooth. I'll find my trigger scale and do some shooting in this weekend. Heathan that I am I would buy a 357 or 45c.

 

[flatgate]

I agree, the quality of the products has "picked up"!

flatgate

 

[Beaver Creek]

I agree, the quality of the products has "picked up"!

flatgate

Everytime I think it has, it hasn't. I continue to receive Rugers for resale that never should have never passed inspection and left the factory. If there is a final inspector he takes a lot of naps. On a scale of 1-10 most are in the 9 range but these 5's & 6's still arrive from time to time.

 

[batmann]

IMHO, that latest group of Flattop's are among the best Ruger's I have bought. In fact, the cyl gap on my .44 Spl is almost to tight.

 

[Sheriff]

I think so, too!

 

[Bucks Owin]

Has anyone heard of anybody rechambering to .44 mag with the "new" Flattop? Don't see why it shouldn't be fine with a little common sense as to dumping powder in the case...My "real" fluted .44 FT had many thousands of full boogie .44 mag digested and didn't seem any worse for wear....Just musing...Certainly, there more cheap brass available with the "correct" headstamp!

 

[flatgate]

Not advisable!!!! The .44 Special Flattop is built on the '55 vintage cylinder frame design. Proof testing in 1956 resulted in one failure with a .44 magnum cartridge and the introduction of the larger framed .44 cal. Blackhawk cylinder frame.

I'd strongly recommend following the advice of one Elmer Keith when loading for the Ruger .44 Special and leave the "warm" loads for the larger framed revolvers.....

Or, you could be the "first guy on your block" to blow one up!

flatgate

 

[Cholo]

"Everytime I think it has, it hasn't. I continue to receive Rugers for resale that never should have never passed inspection and left the factory. If there is a final inspector he takes a lot of naps. On a scale of 1-10 most are in the 9 range but these 5's & 6's still arrive from time to time." Beaver Creek

Your rating scale must be a lot different than mine. A 9 is darn near perfect. A 5-6 is average to a bit above. Quite a few new Ruger SA's I've handled would rate maybe a 3. I don't buy 3's. I think the average Ruger SA is a 5. If someone gets one that would rate above that I believe they've found a real keeper. My mid 90's Bearcat I'd rate a 9 on fit, finish and accuracy. I havn't handled a newer Bearcat, but the Single Sixes today? The ones I've handled were not even close and I'd recommend to anybody to buy a nice used older one.

As usual my opinion only and YMMV.

PS: A NM 44 mag on a mid frame? I'll watch you shoot it while I capture it on video for YouTube and TRF :wink:

 

[EDK]

Elmer Keith blew up 45 Colts, so he shifted to 44 Specials. They didn't have magnums in the 1920s or early 30s, so he loaded hot. The 44 magnum came out, with Elmer and others' help, in 1956 and we all know what Elmer shot thereafter.

Look at Brian Pearce's loads in HANDLOADER and you can achieve 99% of your needs with SAFE 44 Special loadings.

I've still got most of the 2500 nickel plated 44 Special casings I bought on closeout several years ago. They work real nice in my Original Size VAQUEROS and MARLIN Cowboy rifles...and it's an easy color code on practice versus serious ammo.

I've got an original 44 FLAT TOP I really like, BUT I don't push it very hard before the recoil tells me to go get one of my three screw SUPERS instead. Use those lighter frame guns like an Arabian horse, not a Clydesdale!

 

[Dobetown]

I wonder how Ruger distribution works? It seemed like the Bisley specials showed up Midwest, East and South first. Do sub guality guns go to a specfic area? I looked at a new 7 1/2 inch 44 mag Bisley in Casper that looked very good as far as fit and finish. I couldn't play with the action. If I did not already have one I would have grabbed it.

 

[flatgate]

Do sub guality guns go to a specfic area?

Now, that there is funny.......

flatgate

 

[M'BOGO]

Has anyone heard of anybody rechambering to .44 mag with the "new" Flattop? Don't see why it shouldn't be fine with a little common sense as to dumping powder in the case...My "real" fluted .44 FT had many thousands of full boogie .44 mag digested and didn't seem any worse for wear....Just musing...Certainly, there more cheap brass available with the "correct" headstamp!

Right after the NV's and 50th anniversary .357's came out, there was a writeup on Hamilton Bowen's creations from them. He had built a 5 shot .44 mag out of a NV, but ammo choices were dictated by the length of the cylinder.