Bisley grip frame swap on a Hunter

[kelbro]

What's involved in switching out the grip frame on a SS SBH Hunter from the original to a Bisley? Parts required? Can it be done without having to send it to a smith?

 

[pvtschultz]

Easily accomplished, they are direct replacements as far as I know. Go to the link below for a step-by-step breakdown of what is involved.

http://www.privatescustomgrips.com/How_ ... frame.html

 

[G2]

What's involved in switching out the grip frame on a SS SBH Hunter from the original to a Bisley?

Parts required? Complete GF, Trigger, Hammer & not totally necessary but the back 2 GF Screws change from screw heads to Allen.

Can it be done without having to send it to a smith?

I would say NO, One needs to be at-least a homeboy/kitchen table gunsmith. If the Donor GF has been installed before the job is probably a bit easier, if its "New" there is a fair amount of material removal to get it fitting correctly.
Then fitting the Hammer/ Trigger , , , , ahhhh best to get, read and understand; Ruger Single Action Revolvers: A Shop Manual, Volumes 1 & 2 by Jerry Kuhnhausen. ~ $40

Yes it can be accomplished.

another project that needs to happen,

PS, I might be interested in your SS Hunter GF if you decide to part w/it.

 

[pvtschultz]

If you don't sell it to him, I'll buy it from you.

I should have mentioned that all holes will line up, but you may need to remove material by file and then abrasive paper. Switching the hammer and trigger is optional; I love the SBH hammer myself.

 

[Quarterbore]

I have bought three of the kits to convert Blackhawks to Bisleys and I have a list of the parts you needed listed in this thread:

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=26133

Note they are in/out of stock all the time so you might need to be patient or back order some of them. Brownells will also have them and you can get them from ruger when they have them in stock too.

Now, I did start a conversion a while ago of a 7.5-inch 45 Colt Stainless Blackhawk to a bisley. Idiot me broke his wrist moving a TV so I stopped working on it hand put the original grip back on it for now but it was close to being done and I just need to get some quality times with the metal files and various sand paper and scotch pads. The photos of my process are here:

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=27725

Note as well that Ruger has made some changes to the way they make the XR3 grips and the gun I used had a very short Blackhawk grip drame that required removing a LOT of material. I think most Hunters do have more material so you will not have to remove as much as I did.

I have a 45 Colt Blackhawk Hunter that I swaped the grip frame from a Used 44 Bisley Hunter that I got at a good price. The fit is not perfect and some day I will take files and sand paper to it to make it perfect but it works fine as is. I don't have photos of my converted 45 but I do have photos of the 44 that now has the Hunter grip frame and you can see just how close they were.

With my 45, the grip frame is just a little wider on the sides and taller in the back then the frame. The photos make it more noticable then it is in reality but it is there...

Now, when you convert your grip frame, note that there is variations with the grips so you may need to try a few to find a set that fit. I have a set of Stags I bought thet do not fit my Stainless grip frames but I am trying to find the blued steel grip frame I have (darn organization skills suck) and I hope to use them on that. The only blued Ruger Revolvers I have are Redhawks, Bearcat, and Single Sixes so I need to decide what to use the grip frame with if I go that route but a nice 4 5/8 Blued 45 Colt comes to mind.

Good Luck!

 

[45Colt_Man]

Here is the problem I ran into when I converted mine. It was made in 2003 before they came out with the Bisley Hunter configuration. As you can see the gripfame was way to tall for the gun.

Dana

 

[kelbro]

Thanks for the info. So it sounds like all of the 'fitting' is done on the grip frame. If so, I will still be able to swap the old gripframe back on, right?

 

[mohavesam]

great question for the "Ruger-smithing" section. Most info on grip swaps has been posted there a few times...

:wink:

 

[mohavesam]

great question for the "Ruger-smithing" section. Most info on grip swaps has been posted there a few times...

 

[tek4260]

The only blued Ruger Revolvers I have are Redhawks, Bearcat, and Single Sixes so I need to decide what to use the grip frame with if I go that route but a nice 4 5/8 Blued 45 Colt comes to mind.

Good Luck!

Here's one!

Wow I need to work on pics :?

 

[Quarterbore]

Thanks for the info. So it sounds like all of the 'fitting' is done on the grip frame. If so, I will still be able to swap the old gripframe back on, right?

If you buy a Bisley grip frame new and unfitted it will be oversized and as long as you only modify the new grip frame you will be able to swap back. If you buy a used grip frame or try swapping from another gun then you may find it necessary to modify the gun frame like Flategate showed in the following thread:

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=27725

Stainless conversions are not that hard while blued grip frame jobs add a challange to blue the fitted grip frame to match the color of the gun when done.