Is this O.K.

[Asltrfl]

Lessons I learned doing my GF conversion. First, you will not be happy with what turns out the first time. You will bugger up the grip screws when you remove them, as they come with a soft locktite from the factory. You will probably bugger up the pawl spring or other small parts during re-assembly. You will probably install the hammer strut backwards and have to take the whole thing apart again. You will find parts you should have filed or polished down a little more. You will wish you bought a set of "hollow ground" screwdrivers, and brand new files, instead of using the old one's that your Great Grandpa passed down to you. You will find bad-ass parts that you did not know existed, only after you have re-assembled the whole project three times.

If you are a metal guy, you will find that you WILL screw up a brand new set of wood grips, and that your sanding and staining skills suck. If you are a wood guy, you will find that your metal grinding, filing, sanding, and polishing skills suck. And you will discover that a dremel, and a bench grinder will be your worst enemy.

You will pay double for parts that you want or need, only to find them suddenly "in stock" at half the price a week later. You will buy parts that you don't need, and need parts that you didn't buy. It's not rocket surgery, but guns can be confusing, and most have been hand fitted since their inception, and the best ALWAYS are.

I have learned that the Ruger single-action design is basic and reliable, but damn, the part numbers, the dozens of different models and the many changes over 60 years are confusing. But after months of study, they really are not. Despite the several numbers, models, calibers, and frame sizes, they mostly boil down to just a few modifications...simply wonderful. This fit's that, and that fit's this, with a few exceptions.

The information here, and the thousands of hours of posting's, by experienced men that have "been there, done that" are a precious resource. I've seen guys that have posted here for almost 20 years. I've read posts by guys that have started more threads than I have miles on my 1985 Chevy. You guys have saved me hundreds of dollars in the short time I've been here. Add that to all the others that have benefited, and your talking some serious bank.

Anyway, a few more pics of my nmbh that I did a Hunter conversion to. And next week when my parts get here, I'm destroying a perfectly good Bisley .44 to do the same. All thanks to this forum!

https://postimg.org/image/qi9oi1pxr/

https://postimg.org/image/hn8u7kylb/

https://postimg.org/image/70f1265vj/

https://postimg.org/image/qv12ob88f/

https://postimg.org/image/rxb96wgrz/

https://postimg.org/image/70f128qgv/

https://postimg.org/image/a2fx68lbz/

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Welcome to our party. Nice work.

This is why there are gunsmiths. :wink:

But it's true that good info can be found here. :mrgreen:

And it's good that in spite of all the various "models" all Ruger single-actions consist of only four key parts . . . hammer, trigger, pawl, bolt. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[contender]

Your post made me smile.

Tinkering on our guns is a pastime that only some of us enjoy. And others,,, shy away from because they fear the things you mentioned. Also, many are happy with how a gun left the factory,,, & choose to not modify or alter their guns in any way.

But,,, fortunately, as you have found,,, you can take a Ruger, as a base gun, do some mods & make it more personal.

"An education is something nobody can steal from you,,, but it's a crime if it's not shared."

 

[SweetWilliam]

I here ya.
I'm converting my 10.5" SBH to a Bisley. I'm gonna have a local gun smith fit the grip frame for me. I just don't have the tools to do it correctly.
But I did install the hammer and trigger yesterday. It took me about 4 times taking apart and putting it back together to get the trigger pull feeling good to me.
It started out with way to much creep and the pull a little to heavy.
But in the process of doing this I wound up bending the loading gate spring. To the point that when the gate was open the cylinder latch wouldn't drop down.
I was using a spring compression tool I bought. Well let's just say that tool won't be getting used a whole bunch anymore.
I was able to straighten it with a couple pairs of needle nose pliers. Fixed it good as new.
And don't even get me started on my mark3.

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

Some guys can take a $500 Ruger and make it into a $50 gun. Others can easily turn a $50 gun into a piece of art worth who knows what. Like anything, skills are hard earned. Don't give up!

 

[jringo8769]

well great work...anytime u can learn and do things with your hands...i am all for it....it is becoming a lost art...i learned at a very young age...when u want something and can not afford it...maybe u can do some of the work and afford it then....best to take good pics and this forum and others are invaluable to help u along the way and excellent people with kind words too...God Bless,John
that is why i love it here...

 

[bigskyguy]

It made me chuckle too!

Good stuff.

 

[mohavesam]

Two MUSTS: a magnifying lighted articulated work glass, and a proper bench vise with padded/poly pads. :wink:

 

[SweetWilliam]

Two MUSTS: a magnifying lighted articulated work glass, and a proper bench vise with padded/poly pads. :wink:

I was just say I got the same thing last night. I took my S&W 629 apart and had a hell of a time getting the pawl spring back in place. You need magnified vision, 3 hands and a flashlight to get it right. Had to have my girlfriend finally help me hold the trigger.

 

[KLNC]

Very honest assessment. I remember the first hammer swap I did took a couple of hours and ended up with me dripping with sweat. Horrible. Now it's a piece o' cake. YouTube really makes a difference--seeing it done, being able to stop the video at particular spots etc.

 

[buckeyeshooter]

Lessons I learned doing my GF conversion. First, you will not be happy with what turns out the first time. You will bugger up the grip screws when you remove them, as they come with a soft locktite from the factory. You will probably bugger up the pawl spring or other small parts during re-assembly. You will probably install the hammer strut backwards and have to take the whole thing apart again. You will find parts you should have filed or polished down a little more. You will wish you bought a set of "hollow ground" screwdrivers, and brand new files, instead of using the old one's that your Great Grandpa passed down to you. You will find bad-ass parts that you did not know existed, only after you have re-assembled the whole project three times.

If you are a metal guy, you will find that you WILL screw up a brand new set of wood grips, and that your sanding and staining skills suck. If you are a wood guy, you will find that your metal grinding, filing, sanding, and polishing skills suck. And you will discover that a dremel, and a bench grinder will be your worst enemy.

You will pay double for parts that you want or need, only to find them suddenly "in stock" at half the price a week later. You will buy parts that you don't need, and need parts that you didn't buy. It's not rocket surgery, but guns can be confusing, and most have been hand fitted since their inception, and the best ALWAYS are.

I have learned that the Ruger single-action design is basic and reliable, but damn, the part numbers, the dozens of different models and the many changes over 60 years are confusing. But after months of study, they really are not. Despite the several numbers, models, calibers, and frame sizes, they mostly boil down to just a few modifications...simply wonderful. This fit's that, and that fit's this, with a few exceptions.

The information here, and the thousands of hours of posting's, by experienced men that have "been there, done that" are a precious resource. I've seen guys that have posted here for almost 20 years. I've read posts by guys that have started more threads than I have miles on my 1985 Chevy. You guys have saved me hundreds of dollars in the short time I've been here. Add that to all the others that have benefited, and your talking some serious bank.

Anyway, a few more pics of my nmbh that I did a Hunter conversion to. And next week when my parts get here, I'm destroying a perfectly good Bisley .44 to do the same. All thanks to this forum!

https://postimg.org/image/qi9oi1pxr/

https://postimg.org/image/hn8u7kylb/

https://postimg.org/image/70f1265vj/

https://postimg.org/image/qv12ob88f/

https://postimg.org/image/rxb96wgrz/

https://postimg.org/image/70f128qgv/

https://postimg.org/image/a2fx68lbz/

So, I avoid all this by having a pro do it. Costs more but no aggravation. Some things like changing springs even I can do. I bought correct tools before starting, so jo problems there