Blackhawk conversion?

[Smee781]

I really want a 7.62x25 blackhawk but I know Ruger will never make one so I was thinking about how to get one made. I dont have alot of money so a custom build is out and then I started thinking about a 32 mag cylinder as a starting point. I have never dealt with the 32 so I dont know much about it but could that be used as a starting point for the conversion or is that already to big? What about the new 327 guns? I'm guessing that these cylinders are already to big to be used as a conversion because the head spacing for the round to head space on the shoulder of the round is already gone. What say you Smith's out there? Got any good starting pointers?

 

[mhblaw]

7.62mm = .308" so are you trying to reinvent the 30 Carbine round? that is already chambered in a Blackhawk?

 

[Aggie01]

A little quick internetting tells me that that round has a .31 dia bullet and an OAL of 1.3, with a pressure of 42K CUP.

Full size blackhawks in 30 carbine or .327 will have too big of throats and too long of chambers.

A six shot single six could not handle that kind of pressure once bored out for the round.

Methinks you are going to have to spring for a custom cylinder no matter which frame size you go with.

You should be able to get a 5 shot single six made that can handle it.
I think that's your best option. It would be neat. Won't have to open the loading gate up too much for the rimless round, either.

 

[tek4260]

I always liked the 7.62x25 but could never find a Tokarev with a good bore and didn't care for the bulky CZ-52.

I agree with Aggie01, that will take a Single Six apart unless its changed to 5 shot.

 

[Smee781]

Thanks all for the quick replys, tek4260 I to find the cz-52 to be a bit bulky and have not found a good Tokarev at a price I wanted to pay that was in good condition. Aggie01 thanks for the insight, if I did spring for a custom cylinder who do yall recommend and what barrel should I use? A single six would be neat but a blackhawk would be just as nice. mhblaw I already own a 30 carbine blackhawk but I have a liking to the 7.62x25 tork round and would not mind having a revolver set up for that round.

 

[Aggie01]

Ahh, so you already own a .30 carbine blackhawk?

Call Hamilton Bowen and ask him what it will cost to fit a second (custom)cylinder in 7.62 x 25 to that gun. The. 308 barrel should be fine with the 7.62x25 (confirm this). pressure should be zero problem in a full size 6 shot blackhawk.

It may seem like a lot, but it probably won't be much more than a new second gun. Unless you get carried way "while it's in the shop".

Of course, you can call other smiths (and should), but I'm betting H. Bowen is the best bet to have cylinders in stock and already have the reamer. Be prepared to be without your .30 carbine for a while.

 

[captainkirk]

There might be another issue as well. Bottlenecked cartridges and revolvers don't generally go well together. At a certain pressure point, the cases can "set back" in the cylinder, tying up the gun. Seems like Ross Seyfried did an article in his waning days at G&A where he had someone (likely Bowen) build him a cylinder in 500 linebaugh necked down to 475. He could not get it to equal 475 velocities before the dreaded set-back occured. This indicated he was better off just using the 475 as it was.

Didn't S&W make a rev for some bottleneck case back in the 60s and had no end of trouble with it? I know Taurus and maybe Magnum research have done them on the 22 Hornet and I think Reeder has the 41 GNR, but other have trod this ground before and had problems. I would defintiely take it up with the smith before going too far.

Maybe I am mis-remembering, perhaps someone else will chime in as well.

captainkirk

 

[Aggie01]

keep the chambers clean and oil free, and you should be fine.

Mr. Martin has done quite a bit of work with bottleneck cartridges in revolvers. Check out some of his articles.
http://www.singleactions.com/articles.html
Actually, check them ALL out. Good reading.

 

[captainkirk]

I guess I am well behind the times. You learn something new every day.

Thanks for the link.

captainkirk

 

[tek4260]

If you are going to use steel case surplus ammo, you might get set-back with this caliber.

Also, I couldn't stand the thought of shooting corrosive ammo in my high dollar custom

 

[edlmann]

I really want a 7.62x25 blackhawk but I know Ruger will never make one so I was thinking about how to get one made. I dont have alot of money so a custom build is out and then I started thinking about a 32 mag cylinder as a starting point. I have never dealt with the 32 so I dont know much about it but could that be used as a starting point for the conversion or is that already to big? What about the new 327 guns? I'm guessing that these cylinders are already to big to be used as a conversion because the head spacing for the round to head space on the shoulder of the round is already gone. What say you Smith's out there? Got any good starting pointers?

Bottleneck cases have a poor history in revolvers.

 

[Smee781]

"corrosive ammo in my high dollar custom" I'm not worried about the ammo, I clean my revolvers so that is not to much of a worry, Its the high dollar custom part that gets me worried

 

[edlmann]

Didn't S&W make a rev for some bottleneck case back in the 60s and had no end of trouble with it?

.22 Remington Jet - a necked-down .357 Mag case.

 

[captainkirk]

Didn't S&W make a rev for some bottleneck case back in the 60s and had no end of trouble with it?

.22 Remington Jet - a necked-down .357 Mag case.

That's the one!

captainkirk

 

[comanche]

I saw a Taurus revolver, Hunter Model 217 in 218 Bee at the local gun shop Saturday.
12" barrel 8 shot. Looked like big fun.

 

[flatgate]

Ruger tried this back in the early '60's when experimenting with the .256 Win Mag cartridge. Several test guns were made up on the .44 Blackhawk and .44 Super Blackhawk models.

Ruger decided the rotating breech block in lieu of the cylinder was the superior design. Voila' the Hawkeye was born and died a slow, miserable death......

John Dougan's fantastic book, Ruger Pistols and Revolvers contains the story and includes some great images.

flatgate