jerry475":1fzbtgm9 said:
Hello all, I am new to the forum and I am looking to for direction from all of your experience. I am going to have a custom .44 special built using a .357 blackhawk "medium" frame. I am going to use this because I would like to have the cylinder line bored. My question is which is th best frame to use, a new 50th anaversery flat top or start with the old model 3 screw blackhawk (non flattop)? I will have a Power #5 grip frame and a custom barrel, any advice or watchouts would be appreciated.
Aside from the frame size being simular, there's a lot of differences in a 50th and an OM XR3-Red gun. The answer to which of the two to use will depend on which action type you prefer, how you want it to look, and what you're going to do with it after it's finished. Only you know the answers to them questions.
The only "advice or watchouts" that I got is;
The time to line-bore a cylinder is BEFORE it has been finished. So no matter which gun you start with, the cylinder is probably going to get replaced by whoever does the custom work on your gun.
Unless modified by someone who knows their stuff, the 50th 2-pin action WILL scar-up your shiney new cylinder if you put the gun to much use. You might think that looks a bit tacky on a custom gun.
If you do decide on an OM, don't start with the cheapest one you can find. Replacing worn parts and addressing end-shake or other mechanical issues can quickly over-run the price difference between an old beater and one in sound condition.
Welcome to the Forum.
Hope something I said helps.
Whenever you get it done....WE WANT PICTURES.

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DGW