44 mag on 357 frame

[Rodney4469]

I'm needing some help with a ruger Blackhawk I recently traded for it a 44mag on a 357 frame it says 357 on the side but is 44mag cylinder and barrel it is a old model 3 screw it is timed well I shot it and there was no lead shooting out the side from where it would have hit I just don't no if it was done by ruger or what and if it is worth anything and can I convert it back to 357 any help is greatly appreciated thanks

 

[2 dogs]

Are you sure its chambered in 44 magnum? Did you shoot 44 magnums in it or 44 specials?

 

[Rodney4469]

Yes it is 44 mag i shot 44 out of it the older man I traded for said he had it done by ruger in the 50s but i contacted ruger and they said there records don't go back that far the barrel has no Id by ruger though so I dought it was done by them

 

[exlogger]

The old man could be telling the truth. Things were different back then. You didn't get sued for a million dollars for accidentally spilling coffee.

 

[TiteGroups]

Sounds ridiculous. I wouldn't shoot anymore out of that thing if it really is a 3 screw until you figure out what you got there. The old 357's were built on a smaller frame which mandates a smaller diameter cylinder that wouldn't be safe to shoot 44mags out of. Can you post a pic?

 

[Rodney4469]

I can't do a pic but it is a 3 screw I'm not an expert on Blackhawks but have some knowledge of them and I was Leary on shooting it so I put it in a vise and it shot ok but just don't no about it could I convert it back to 357 with a new cylinder and barrel I dont have very much money in the gun and the frame is in exc condition

 

[DA_TriggR4Ruger]

I could see a .357 shooting .44 by facilitating the use of a 5 shot cylender instead of a 6 shot. How many shots do you get? Didn't mean to quote an old song. Lol

 

[EDK]

I wouldn't shoot it as is. The un-marked barrel...and 357 rather than 44 frame markings...make me think it was a home or gunsmith alteration rather than factory. It MIGHT also be an experimental gun that left the factory in some one's lunch box! Since you mentioned "not having much money in it," I'd be inclined to see what the various collectors here would offer for it. Sell it for a curio and get enough for a three screw 44 FLAT TOP or SUPER BLACK HAWK that was designed for the magnum chambering.

In SIXGUNS, Elmer Keith mentioned RUGER test firing 44s on 357 frames and blowing them up..later finding that they got water in the bores from firing into a water filled testing pit. Thus, the 44 FLAT TOP and SUPER BLACK HAWK came into being.

The 44 magnum on a 357 frame would be a little bit too much fun for me. I wouldn't consider this a safe or comfortable gun to shoot, but that's just my take.

 

[2 dogs]

I have to agree, that thing might just let go on you shooting 44 mags in it. The heat treatment in the 50s wasnt up to the pressure the 44 mag put on those old guns.

If you insist on shooting it, at least use lighter loads or 44 specials. I'd be interested to see a picture of it.

 

[FlyerTom]

I don't believe Ruger would have done a caliber change at the factory. Back in '69, I purchased a 6" Blackhawk in .41 Magnum, and I quickly became dissatisfied with the caliber choice, as ammunition supplies were difficult to find, and there was only a choice of 2 bullet weights (170 & 210 gr.) to choose from for reloading. I sent the gun to Ruger to have them re-barrel and ream the cylinders to .44 Magnum, and they returned it undone along with a letter explaining that they couldn't do work like that since the frame serial number wouldn't allow it. HOWEVER, they also provided a list of gunsmiths that specialized in caliber changes such as I requested. I decided on sending the gun to a Robert Snapp in Michigan, who re-barreled to 7-½" and reamed the cylinders for $90. You'll have to keep in mind that the original gun cost me $130 back then, and I was, and still am, extremely satisfied with the work that he did. The Sorta-Super Blackhawk shoots to 1-½" groups at 50 yards with a red dot sight, and I've shot some honker loads (25 grains of 296 under a 240 gr. bullet) out of it will no ill affects.
As an aside, when I was working up those 296 loads (around 1973), the Bushnell 2.5x scope that I had on it stripped out the front scope mount screw and lost the internal reticle while shooting them. I actually put some 26 grain loads through it, but had a hell of a time ejecting the brass, and the primers had absolutely no radius. Talk about extreme pressure! Perhaps this is a testament to the quality of the Ruger material, and I still love shooting this gun, albeit I use 24 grains of 296 under the 240 gr. bullets these days.

 

[flatgate]

A quick measurement of the diameter of the cylinder would solve the "re-chambered cylinder" or original "Ruger Factory" .44 mag cylinder question.

The .357 cal. Old Models utilized a 1.671" diameter cylinder.
The .44 Magnum calibre single actions used a 1.730" diameter cylinder.

Data from H.W.Ross's A Blacksmith Guide to Ruger Flattops and Super Blackhawks.

flatgate