NewportNewsMike
Single-Sixer
Although I have a number of New Model Blackhawks, I had never owned an Old Model until recently.
My find was an OM Blackhawk 357 that dates (via Ruger S/N lists) to 1972. It has never been converted, but has a couple of items that need attention. It is a great shooter, although the trigger pull is an eye-opening - pay attention now that it is cocked - about 2-pounds, maybe a little less.
It has an XR3-RED alloy frame which (according to the info I can find) is correct for the 1972 time period. But I am not sure it is the grip frame it left the factory with – the current gripframe's "ears" are higher than the frame itself, and not a good flowing smooth interface.
All five of the gripframe-attaching screws are terribly chewed up. Looks like some one worked on it with a butter knife. The edges of sunken holes in the gripframe for these screws have also taken a beating. But nothing that new screws and a little gripframe touch up will not fix.
Another problem it had (which has luckily worked itself out) was that some previous owner had installed a trigger shoe (a Herters #5), and had evidently Loctited the screws. At some time in its life, someone had stripped the heads of the Allen screws holding the trigger shoe. My attempts to remove it were fruitless – and with it installed I could not strip the gun to inspect the inner workings. So, lets go shoot it and see how she does. About the 10th or so full 357 load, the trigger shoe just fell off during recoil. Good show, saves a trip to the gunsmith to have it drilled off.
Next challenge showed up while shooting it for the first time. (By the way, it is a "sweet" shooter, nice tight groups.) But the groups are not centered for my eyes and loads. The elevation adjustment works nicely but some previous owner had apparently Loctited the windage adjustment screw. It is impossible to turn. So a complete new sight of some sort is in order.
Now, with all that background, here are my questions to the group:
What are the downsides to having Ruger's conversion done?
If I decide to send it in, I would like to keep the original parts in case I want to change it back. What parts should I hang on to when I send it in?
Was the original trigger pull that light – 2 lbs or so? Or has some one worked on it? What the best guess what that work was? Springs? Changing angles on sear surfaces? Or something else? What do folks do to "tune" OM triggers?
What is the trigger pull like with the "conversion" in place? Most folks do not seem to like it. Is it really that horrible?
After the "conversion", what is the loading procedure – is still "load at the half-cock position" or is it the "load by opening the loading gate, like a NM"?
Any other questions I have missed that I, as a new OM owner contemplating conversion" should be asking?
Thanks for sharing your OM knowledge.
My find was an OM Blackhawk 357 that dates (via Ruger S/N lists) to 1972. It has never been converted, but has a couple of items that need attention. It is a great shooter, although the trigger pull is an eye-opening - pay attention now that it is cocked - about 2-pounds, maybe a little less.
It has an XR3-RED alloy frame which (according to the info I can find) is correct for the 1972 time period. But I am not sure it is the grip frame it left the factory with – the current gripframe's "ears" are higher than the frame itself, and not a good flowing smooth interface.
All five of the gripframe-attaching screws are terribly chewed up. Looks like some one worked on it with a butter knife. The edges of sunken holes in the gripframe for these screws have also taken a beating. But nothing that new screws and a little gripframe touch up will not fix.
Another problem it had (which has luckily worked itself out) was that some previous owner had installed a trigger shoe (a Herters #5), and had evidently Loctited the screws. At some time in its life, someone had stripped the heads of the Allen screws holding the trigger shoe. My attempts to remove it were fruitless – and with it installed I could not strip the gun to inspect the inner workings. So, lets go shoot it and see how she does. About the 10th or so full 357 load, the trigger shoe just fell off during recoil. Good show, saves a trip to the gunsmith to have it drilled off.
Next challenge showed up while shooting it for the first time. (By the way, it is a "sweet" shooter, nice tight groups.) But the groups are not centered for my eyes and loads. The elevation adjustment works nicely but some previous owner had apparently Loctited the windage adjustment screw. It is impossible to turn. So a complete new sight of some sort is in order.
Now, with all that background, here are my questions to the group:
What are the downsides to having Ruger's conversion done?
If I decide to send it in, I would like to keep the original parts in case I want to change it back. What parts should I hang on to when I send it in?
Was the original trigger pull that light – 2 lbs or so? Or has some one worked on it? What the best guess what that work was? Springs? Changing angles on sear surfaces? Or something else? What do folks do to "tune" OM triggers?
What is the trigger pull like with the "conversion" in place? Most folks do not seem to like it. Is it really that horrible?
After the "conversion", what is the loading procedure – is still "load at the half-cock position" or is it the "load by opening the loading gate, like a NM"?
Any other questions I have missed that I, as a new OM owner contemplating conversion" should be asking?
Thanks for sharing your OM knowledge.