Old Model Super in 480 Ruger

[BlackEagle]

Does anyone know of anyone doing a 480 Ruger conversion on Old Model Super Blackhawks? I looked around a little but didn't see anything. I think I might like to get this done if I can find someone to do it... I'm not a perfectionist and I can't afford high dollar custom work. As long as its safe and shoots straight I'll be happy

 

[98Redline]

I honestly haven't heard of anybody doing that conversion.

You do realize that you would be making a 4 shooter....right? 5 hole cylinder with an empty under the hammer.

 

[BlackEagle]

I honestly haven't heard of anybody doing that conversion.

You do realize that you would be making a 4 shooter....right? 5 hole cylinder with an empty under the hammer.

I'm ok with a 5 hole cylinder...

 

[Hondo44]

Other than the high dollar customs, the only way and least expensive way to do it is with a Story 5 shot blank cyl for $295.

1. Have it reamed to .480 and blued. Cost maybe $75
2. send of your barrel to be rebored to .475. Cost ~$150 by Clearwater Reboring 4-6 months wait.
3. Have the frame enlarged; .035" removed from cyl window, top and bottom. Cost ? Maybe $150
4. Remove barrel and Assemble everything and time the pawl; cost ? depending on who you find to do it. Maybe $75
Total about $745 plus your gun.

OR: just buy a new Lipsey's stainless 454 Bisley on this forum; $759. If you don't like a Bisley grip, swap it with a SBH grip frame.
480 Bisley due soon.

 

[BlackEagle]

Other than the high dollar customs, the only way and least expensive way to do it is with a Story 5 shot blank cyl for $295.

1. Have it reamed to .480 and blued. Cost maybe $75
2. send of your barrel to be rebored to .475. Cost ~$150 by Clearwater Reboring 4-6 months wait.
3. Have the frame enlarged; .035" removed from cyl window, top and bottom. Cost ? Maybe $150
4. Remove barrel and Assemble everything and time the pawl; cost ? depending on who you find to do it. Maybe $75
Total about $745 plus your gun.

OR: just buy a new Lipsey's stainless 454 Bisley on this forum; $759. If you don't like a Bisley grip, swap it with a SBH grip frame.
480 Bisley due soon.

That seems like a reasonable cost...
Is it really necessary to have the frame window enlarged? I didn't realize that. Are the new Lipsey's guns built on a different frame?

I actually thought I'd be getting a new barrel too instead of having it rebored...

 

[Hondo44]

No you don't need the frame enlarged for 480, but the Story cylinder is oversize so they can be used for 475 Linebaugh and the 500 calibers. If you bored it to 475 Linebaugh you could shoot both 480 (which also uses a .475" bullet) and 475 L.

A custom barrel needs machining and a front sight installed and bluing so it will cost a lot more.

It's much cheaper to just buy the new Ruger 480 built on a standard frame.

 

[BlackEagle]

No you don't need the frame enlarged for 480, but the Story cylinder is oversize so they can be used for 475 Linebaugh and the 500 calibers. If you bored it to 475 Linebaugh you could shoot both 480 (which also uses a .475" bullet) and 475 L.

A custom barrel needs machining and a front sight installed and bluing so it will cost a lot more.

It's much cheaper to just buy the new Ruger 480 built on a standard frame.

...Yeah but I want and Old Model 480. I don't need the 475 Linebaugh
do you know of someone that does this?

 

[Hondo44]

I don't know if any of these meet your criterion of " I can't afford high dollar custom work", but I think many of them can and will do it.

David Clements - Clements Custom Guns
276-238-8761
2766 Mt. Zion Rd.
Woodlawn, VA 24381
[email protected]
http://www.clementscustomguns.com/

Cylinder and Slide
245 E. 4th Street
Fremont, NE 68025
Phone: (402) 721-4277
Fax: (402) 721-0263
Orders Only: (800) 448-1713
http://www.cylinder-slide.com/

Ben Forkin - Forkin Custom Classics
PO Box 444, 205 10th Ave SW
White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645
406-547-2344
mailto:[email protected]

John Gallagher - Gallagher Firearms Inc.
(205)384-5229
3923 Bird Farm Road
Jasper, Alabama 35503
[email protected]
http://www.gallagherfirearms.com

Alan Harton (Colt SAAs also) Makes a 327 Bearcat; http://www.gunblast.com/Harton-327Bearcat.htm
713-772-8314 or 713-907-6031
Texas
[email protected]
Houston, Texas

Andy Horvath - DIAGONAL ROAD GUN SHOP
14131 Diagonal Rd.
La Grange, OH 44050
(440) 458-4369, (440) 355-5618

Jack Huntington
JRH Advanced Gunsmithing
775-355-6898
385 Freeport Blvd, Suite 13
Sparks, NV 89431
mailto:[email protected]
http://www.jrhgunmaker.com/

Dustin Linebaugh - Dustin Linebaugh Custom Conversions
PO Box 263
Cody WY 82414
mailto:[email protected]
http://www.dustinlinebaugh.com/index.htm

John Linebaugh - Linebaugh Custom Sixguns
Phone: 307-645-3332
P.O. Box 455
Cody, WY 82414
Delivery (UPS):
177 Louis L'Amour Lane
Powell, WY 82435
http://www.customsixguns.com/index.htm

Vans Custom Guns
Sandusky, Ohio
NIGHTOWLS 1996, Utah
http://nightowlsgunsmithing.tripod.com/index.htm

 

[BlackEagle]

thanks

 

[contender]

One other point to consider.
The NM SBH that Ruger just introduced has a different type of steel called "Carpenter grade" steel. Something to consider.

 

[BlackEagle]

One other point to consider.
The NM SBH that Ruger just introduced has a different type of steel called "Carpenter grade" steel. Something to consider.

I guess I need to wait and see if this is even safe...?

 

[Cholo]

None of the gunsmiths Hondo44 mentioned would do the work if it wasn't safe. Bubba would...

 

[BlackEagle]

None of the gunsmiths Hondo44 mentioned would do the work if it wasn't safe. Bubba would...

So I guess I'm back to my original question of -not high dollar custom....
Any recommendations?

 

[Hondo44]

And I'm back to my original answer: post #4. See if any local gunsmiths will do that.

Or, if I were you I would contact, Vans Custom Guns (I left off and just added to the list above),
David Clements, Alan Harton, Andy Horvath, Ben Forkin, and John Gallagher. Ask if they'll do your 480 conversion and their no frills price: no custom sights, no fancy action work, no custom cyl base pin, no custom grips, etc. And their lead time. These guys all have solid reputations.

They may beat my estimate above in post #4 or be close enough to make it worthwhile not to have to try to find someone else to do it who's work you know nothing about.

 

[DougGuy]

Just buy the Lipsey 480 and be glad you didn't have to cross a mountain range just to play in the sandbox..

 

[Hondo44]

You probably prefer a blue gun, I do too.

But if I wanted an Old Model Super, I'd get the new 480 SBH, put a Dragoon grip frame on it (get $200 back by selling the Bisley parts), drop in a 1/2 cock Power Customs Montado hammer, and ditch the transfer bar.
http://powercustom.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=1125
It's made for a new model so you just need to grind off the upper flat on the hammer face. It does have the loading half cock notch needed for an old model loading/unloading. There's no safety notch but that's useless as a safety anyway. This would be a simple swap.

Voila, an old model Super BH 480, and have it blued! You can even convert it to 3 screw.

George Roghaar, Boca Raton, Florida
http://gunblue.homestead.com/
Blues Stainless.
Call him regarding your particular gun refinishing situation at
(561) 306 3628, or home in the evening (561) 750-8392

Disassembled Boca Raton, Floridaand ready to blue. Oil or coat with 'Hold' before you ship. He'll remove the coating, clean and hot blue
Handguns $60.00

 

[BlackEagle]

Thanks Hondo44. I think I'll check with some of those you mentioned and see what happens...

 

[Hondo44]

Here's a guy in Tennessee, Rock Creek Armory - Repair, Restoration, Customization: http://www.cowboyactionguns.com/index.html

that got a great review in this thread, post #36: http://rugerforum.net/ruger-single-action/65592-evolution-birds-head-boars-head-3.html