Most gunsmiths fit a .45 ACP cylinder on a 45lc frame

[wildchild2010]

I was wondering if most gunsmiths can fit a .45 ACP cylinder on a 45 Long Colt blackhawk. I don't know how hard it is to set the timing on the Saunders. Or would it be better to send it back to Ruger and have them do it.

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

Ruger wont fit one unless that model came as a convertible in the first place. If a cylinder is found with the correct length or one slightly longer ( to trim to fit ),they are often drop in with no timing adjustments needed.

 

[wildchild2010]

Ruger wont fit one unless that model came as a convertible in the first place. If a cylinder is found with the correct length or one slightly longer ( to trim to fit ),they are often drop in with no timing adjustments needed.

Wow, I was thinking there's all kind of special sitting in all that to get the timing right. I appreciate your feedback. I would just hate to have one of them go off without the Timing being incorrect.

 

[contender]

As noted, many of us will buy spare cylinders to drop into other guns. The biggest thing is the OAL. If it's a little long, we can easily hone off a little of the cylinder ring. Also, realize the frame sizes for the 45's can be different. A Blackhawk & a Vaquero are the same size. A New Vaquero is smaller. Timing hasn't been an issue for me ever. But I check any I do with a range rod too.

 

[Hashknife Hartley]

Also, Brownell's sells a tool to stretch the gas ring on the front of the cylinder if OAL is too short, up to 5 0r 6 thousanths, but then you have to check barrel cylinder gap and maintain that correctly. Power Custom makes shims to do the same thing, but they're kind of a pain to take out and put back in every time the take the cylinder out.
HH

 

[Hondo44]

The Brownell tool is only for 3rd gen Colts with the pressed in cylinder base pin bushing. The Ruger is a one piece cyl with integral machined hub; no bushing used.

The shims are for Colt's removable bushing only and they go between the cyl and the bushing. If you use them on a Ruger, epoxy them to the cyl hub.