ONE MORE TIME PLEASE...WHICH GRIP FRAME???

[BBOB662]

I've looked at the excellent work of Bill Hamm, but I'm easily confused. Today I got a new " Ruger Blackhawk Flattop 44 Special, Limited Production, 4 5/8"...." which has the shorter frame. XR3-RED I think; is that correct?
Is there a larger/longer frame I can put on it easily so it fits my hand better?
If so, where to get one?
Will other size frames interchange on it?
THANKS.

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

The Hunter grip frame is longer as is the Bisley. Either will fit your main frames screw pattern.

 

[medicdave]

Flattops come with the new xr3 same shape as the colt saa. Xr3-red is a bit bigger, the super Blackhawk frame is a bit bigger again but the square trigger guard eats my knuckle, and the bisley is bigger again. All will interchange with a little work.

Have you tried curling your pinky finger under the grip frame? I have fairly large hands but prefer the round trigger guard xr3 and xr3-red frames most of the time with my pinky wrapped under the butt.

These are all large frame Blackhawks

Xr3



New xr3 on flattop



Xr3-red and bisley



Hunter super Blackhawk size with round trigger guard, but only available in stainless. That's a new xr3 same as the Flattops to the left.

 

[Hondo44]

In a nutshell, there's three basic Ruger grip sizes:

There are also XR3-RED ‘short’ grip frames (not shown) model specific to the .32 Mag Single Six Vaqueritos which are ¼” vertically shorter than the XR3 and XR3-RED grips frame.

Your NM Flat top has the XR3 grip frame. As illustrated above, the only difference from the more common XR3-RED grip frame, is that the XR3-RED is 1/8" longer HORIZONTALLY behind the trigger guard. This XR3-REDesign was to reduce rapping knuckles with heavier recoiling cartridges.

The Super BH and the SBH Hunter (with round trigger guard) are the same size; and they both have the same horizontal length behind the trigger guard as the XR3-RED.

The Bisley grip frame has the least horizontal length behind the trigger guard because of its larger trigger guard, being 3/16" less than the XR3-RED and SBHs; 1/16" less than the XR3.

The Bisely grip frame, the Super BH, and the SBH Hunter (with round grip frame) are all the same Vertical length and are both 3/8" VERTICALLY longer at the fore-grip strap, (with room for another finger) than the XR3 and XR3-RED which are the same vertical length. The Bisley back-strap is the longest vertically of all grip frames because it rises higher behind the hammer.

In general: All Ruger SA grip frames including SBH Dragoon, Old Army, Bisley and Birdshead (excluding Bearcats of course) will interchange from the standpoint of the screw pattern from Single Six to Super BH, Old Model to New Model, and even NM to OM.

There a few other issues below when swapping depending on which models are being swapped which I can elaborate on if interested:
*matching the grip frame 'ears' to main frame,
*grip frame projections,
*and internal locks,
*a simple modification is required for NM Flat Tops and New Vaqueros which all have the "Reverse Indexing Pawl System",
*NM grip frame adaption to old models; trigger return spring, and
*a few mods for Old Model grip frame to NM main frame.


Hope this helps.

 

[hittman]

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=131343

 

[BBOB662]

Thanks for the insight.

 

[Hondo44]

Here's my list of grip frame casting mould numbers for anyone interested.

All GRIP FRAME Identification Numbers, “Founders Marks”, Marked on GRIP FRAMES (N/A to Bearcat)

BLUE NM:
Small steel (OM #XR3 size) 1/8” closer to trigger guard than XR3-RED size, (cut for indexing pawl system, no extensions into main frame & only 7/16” thick) = A (in a square), no other marking observed; w & w/o lock. New Vaq w/o lock has a 512 prefix serial #
Large steel (OM #XR3-RED size): Early = A (in a square) XR-3 (that's XR dash 3), Late = A & T in separate 1/8” circles
Large alloy (OM #XR3-RED size) w/o lock: Early = NXR3-RED, Late = XRN-3RED. With lock = XR & L
Short steel 'Vaquerito’ .32s = A (in a square) XR-3. If ordered as a separate part = 302 A (in a square) 3/16” shorter in length than the XR3 and XR3-RED sizes
SBH = No marking on Dragoon frames. Large round guard frames (OM #XR3-RED size supplied on all barrel lengths less than 7 ½”) = same as above marking
Birdshead** = # in circle, MR00307, A in circle

STAINLESS NM:
Small, (XR3 size) 1/8” shorter horizontally behind the trigger guard (cut for indexing pawl system, no extensions into main frame & only 7/16” thick = K (in circle); w & w/o lock
Large (OM #XR3-RED size): Earliest = KXR-3*, Next = KXR-3 with a separate N, Late = K (in circle) XRN-3, most current = no markings
Short 'Vaquerito’ .32s = KXR-3* 3/16” shorter in length than the XR3 and XR3-RED sizes
SBH Hunter = KHRN 3 (Dragoon length but with a round trigger guard)
SBH = No marking on Dragoon frames. Large round guard frames (OM #XR3-RED size supplied on all barrel lengths less than 7 ½”) = same as ‘Large’ above markings
Birdshead** = # K in circle, MR00307

BLUE OM:
Small alloy = XR3, original style to 1962, 1/8” closer to trigger guard than large size
Large alloy = XR3-RED, (part # SS3), new style in 1962 to 1972, also used on Pre 1985 Old Army alloy w/narrow trig slot, and on Hawkeye alloy w/wide trigger slot
SBH = steel, no marking; Early ‘long frame’ marked with C (only 300 made)
Old Army steel (OM XR3-RED size) = XRN-3 beginning 1985 with wide trigger slot

STAINLESS OM - Old Army only:
Large (OM XR3-RED size) = KXR-3*

*Note: same # KXR-3 used on two different frames: earliest NM SS XR3-RED size and OM SS Old Army XR3-RED size.
**Birdsheads supplied on New Vaqueros cut for free spin pawl system and have no extensions into main frame.

BRASS FRAMES OM only:
Marked “MR-3DB.” = Super Blackhawk Brass “Dragoon” style with square back trigger guard. Same dimensions as 1959 Super Blackhawk. Initially for Super Blackhawks only, then shipped on various Blackhawks, majority in 1972.