Dual Cylinders

[Revolver-Time]

I really, really like shooting my MN Blackhawk 45colt/ACP. I reload both cartridges so I shoot it a bunch. The Colt round gives a nice mild push and makes big holes in the target that I can see down range. When I shoot the acps, I don't have to sweep up my empties when I finish shooting. I tricked myself into thinking I might wear it out so I bought two more.

 

[yankee7809]

I own two dual cylinder .45s, one a regular Blackhawk and the other one of the Acusport models. Even though I am a .44 Magnum shooter at heart these guns are really flexible. The ACP cylinder really does add a lot to the worth of the setup. If only I can figure out how to keep my .45 Colt reloads from looking like a snake that ate a gopher!

 

[contender]

I own a few of them, both OM's & NM's. Quite fun guns.

yankee, you need to look at your resizer & your bullet expander die vs the bullet diameter. Some brass has thicker walls, and some expanders do not match the bullets. Check out some of the posts in the reloading section about this. Do a search there.

 

[yankee7809]

I own a few of them, both OM's & NM's. Quite fun guns.

yankee, you need to look at your resizer & your bullet expander die vs the bullet diameter. Some brass has thicker walls, and some expanders do not match the bullets. Check out some of the posts in the reloading section about this. Do a search there.

Thanks, Contender. I will look carefully at those posts. I realize it's mostly a cosmetic issue but you want your reloads to look professional anyway.

 

[Tommy Kelly]

I own 3 rugers with convertable cylinders. I have only used one of them the 9mm cylinder in my 357. My 22 l.r. is the only one I have used on my single six and the 45 colt is the only one in my 45. I buy them as convertables but never change them. It's nice to have the option but as far as using it I just don't. I have 3 45 blackhawks 2 4 5/8" and a 7.5" I also have 5 1911 45acp's so if I want to shoot acp's I use a 1911instead of changing the cylinder out on one of my blackhawks. I may be kind of strange because I like the 38's in my 357 guns and keep several thousand 38's loaded for them and only have a couple of boxes of 357 ammo that I keep them loaded with also on my 44 mag guns I never use the 44 specials they work fine but I never use them. I only load 44 magnums only I don't want to reset the dies. The only 45's I reload for is the colt I don't even own acp dies. Personally I don't think the convertables are worth the difference in price for the convertable compared to the regular non convertable gun but I paid it for the 45 convertable I already had bought a regular 45 colt then went back and ordered a convertable with the same bbl length the only way I can tell them apart is by the serial #. I think it was almost $100.00 more for the convertable and I have never even put the cylinder in the gun. I bought the convertable 357 and have never shot 357 ammo, only 38's and a few 9mm's just to try it I like the 38's better so it will probably never be used again. The option is great to have but I hardly ever use it. It's like my 475 linebaugh that will shoot 480 rugers but I also have a 480 only redhawk the 454 alaskan will use 45 colts interchangeably but I only use 454's in it having 3 45 colt blackhawks I see no need to interchange calibers in the alaskan the sights are set for 454's so why change.

 

[DeletedMember275]

If only I can figure out how to keep my .45 Colt reloads from looking like a snake that ate a gopher!

Stop full-length sizing your brass. Just size the case mouth and the portion that covers the bullet. That, or look for an older steel sizing die. Alternately, if you have too much money, Redding offers a Dual Ring sizing die for straight wall revolver cartridges that is supposed to eliminate this problem: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/943821/redding-dual-ring-carbide-sizer-die-45-colt-long-colt?productnumber=943821[/url]

 

[Yermo]

Funny, I was seriously considering the convertible version of a Bisley Blackhawk 45 Colt/45 ACP. My friend has one, and it's one fine looking gun.
But today in a spur of the moment I changed my mind. I went on GunBroker, and got myself a regular 45 Colt only model. Hopefully I should get it in a couple of weeks, and then pictures will be posted.
I don't own any semi-automatics, and a thought of getting into a new caliber for reloading wasn't appealing to me. I already reload 38sp, 357 Mag, 44 sp, 44 Mag, 45 Colt and 480 Ruger. No, not another set of dies...

 

[Swampman]

I don't see the appeal to the convertables unless you have acess to free 9mm or free 45ACP ammo. Or you have a bunch you just want to burn up.

 

[Revolver-Time]

I don't see the appeal to the convertables unless you have acess to free 9mm or free 45ACP ammo. Or you have a bunch you just want to burn up.

The appeal for me is in several areas. I have quite a few 1911s that I shoot every week at an indoor range. Each week I lose 20 or so empty cases that end up infront of the firing line where I can't retrieve them. Also, the indoor range that I shoot at is ALWAYS busy with all of the lanes full. If I don't get the far right lane I am peppering my fellow shooter with empties . I also use my Blackhack ACP cylinder when I am developing a new load for my 1911s, Smith and Wesson 25 and !917.

I can reload my ACP loads cheaper than the Colt loads and if I had to buy them the ACP is lots cheaper than the 45 Colts. It is sort of when I was young and could buy 22 shorts for less than 22 longs, and long rifles.

 

[ftlupton]

I got the convertable because if things get tight again the acp rounds have always been available or at least the brass. Have access to lots of brass now(acp) but have to order the long colt brass in. I sent my acp cylinder to cylindersmith, he did good, .452's push through real nice now.

 

[DGW1949]

I can shoot the same stuff out of my OM Blackhawk that I shoot out of my Browning HP....plus, the BH deposits it's empties right into my hand....not scattered in the grass.

Comparing prices for Federal ammo in my area;
9MM is $19.97 per 100 VS $35.94 per 100 for .38SPL's.

Works for me.
DGW

 

[Swampman]

I don't shoot commerical ammo unless it's free.

 

[DGW1949]

I don't shoot commerical ammo unless it's free.

Yeah, I caught your drift the first time.... but you aint me.
I'm a bit over 62 years old.
I've been reloading since about 1970.
It aint fun for me no more. It's a job.
I haven't done any competitive shooting in close to 5 years, so I don't have a big need to reload hundreds of rounds every week.
Yeah, I could save money over the cost of commercial ammo by reloading. Thing is though, the money I'd save VS the time involved means that I'd be working for $4.00 an hour just so's I can shoot cheap ammo at cans and stuff.
My time is worth more than $4 an hour to me...So, if it's all the same to you, I'd rather spend that hour shooting.

Just sayin'.....we aint all the same here.

DGW

 

[Tommy Kelly]

Wow I have a pile of 38 special brass and just started casting my own bullets. I got to looking the other day and trying to figure how much 38's were costing me to reload now with my own bullets and I came up with about a nickel per shot the primers being the most expensive part of the load.

 

[tacklebury]

I love mine. 8) Pretty much straight stock except it's had hand fitted cylinders/barrel by ruger and a trigger job by ruger.