I've seen some nice examples of lightweight revolvers (including Long Shot's most excellent short barreled Vaquero with the S&W rear sight and the scalloped hammer) and would like to put together my own lightweight big bore gun.
To start, I am thinking about getting a Ruger Montado (45 LC with the 3.75" barrel) and swapping out the grip and ejector housing with factory alloy components. eventually I'd like to get a titanium cylinder fit to the gun, but for now I'd settle for the factory steel cylinder.
I have some questions about this proposed conversions. Where can I get an alloy Blackhawk grip frame? I saw that Brownell's and MidwayUSA have the all steel versions, but I couldn't find the alloy parts. Do I have to order this from Ruger directly? Also, what other parts do I need to switch out if I am removing the factory steel grip frame from a New Vaquero and replacing it with an alloy Blackhawk frame?
Also, I would like to switch out the steel ejector housing with an alloy one. Does anyone sell a shortened alloy housing that I could install on the Montado (with its 3.75" barrel)? If not, what would be the best way to shorten a standard factory aluminum housing? Unfortunately, I don't have access to a machine shop - can this be done with hand tools? I figure I could cut the housing with a hacksaw, but I'm not sure how I'd round the end off to make the end of the housing fit in the hole the the frame.
Thanks in advance!
To start, I am thinking about getting a Ruger Montado (45 LC with the 3.75" barrel) and swapping out the grip and ejector housing with factory alloy components. eventually I'd like to get a titanium cylinder fit to the gun, but for now I'd settle for the factory steel cylinder.
I have some questions about this proposed conversions. Where can I get an alloy Blackhawk grip frame? I saw that Brownell's and MidwayUSA have the all steel versions, but I couldn't find the alloy parts. Do I have to order this from Ruger directly? Also, what other parts do I need to switch out if I am removing the factory steel grip frame from a New Vaquero and replacing it with an alloy Blackhawk frame?
Also, I would like to switch out the steel ejector housing with an alloy one. Does anyone sell a shortened alloy housing that I could install on the Montado (with its 3.75" barrel)? If not, what would be the best way to shorten a standard factory aluminum housing? Unfortunately, I don't have access to a machine shop - can this be done with hand tools? I figure I could cut the housing with a hacksaw, but I'm not sure how I'd round the end off to make the end of the housing fit in the hole the the frame.
Thanks in advance!