question about a birds head grip

[gasmandave]

I have a large frame vaquero 45LC with the birds head grip. I'm thinking of changing out the grip to a plow handle grip. What all parts have to be changed. Besides the grip frame and panels of course. Does the hammer strut and hammer spring have to be changed as well? Can I swap in the SBH hammer too?
Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[G2]

A Birds Head is nothing but a round butt plow, Change away.
SBH Hammer is the same as the hammer that is in there now, Change away.
FYI: The difference in the hammers is only in the height & width of the thumb pad.

 

[gasmandave]

XR3-RED grip?

 

[G2]

Yes, XR3-RED.
If you have a XR3-RED grip framed gun, take your Birds Head grips and put them on it, you will see .... :shock:

Here is a picture that will give you the idea, (picture worth 1000 words)
These are Brass, Aftermarket, and no longer produced. :wink:

At the right of this picture is a early Grip Frame, and on the left is a later GF. The idea was, Make the whole end solid and then one could Round Butt or Birdshead it fairly easy.
The black line is just that, a magic marker.

 

[Hondo44]

XR3-RED grip?

All Ruger grip frames use the same springs, spring seats, pins, screws etc. Even Bisley, but it uses to allan head cap screws below the hammer.

The Ruger birdshead is different than the after market BH frames. At it's widest point, the BH grip is wider than all the plow handles: XR3, XR3-RED and even the Super BH. I changed from BH to Super BH Hunter round guard. I can get all my fingers on it:

 

[G2]

XR3-RED grip?

The Ruger birdshead is different than the after market BH frames. At it's widest point, the BH grip is wider than all the plow handles: XR3, XR3-RED and even the Super BH. I changed from BH to Super BH Hunter round guard. I can get all my fingers on it:

Hondo, you lost me :? Widest point??

gasmandave, There is one other option that I thought of back in the day when I thought I wanted to do the same thing.... Put on some XR3-RED grips then build a filler into the grip panel/s. We see this done all the time in Smith & Wesson RB to SB.

A early plow handled gun showed up here in the classifieds, I bought it, $600 fix... :roll: :roll: :roll:
I like it but find myself shooting the Birds Head more.

 

[Hondo44]

Hondo, you lost me :? Widest point??

The width of the BH grip about 1/2" below the screw is wider than any other Ruger grips at that same point. In other words, you can not completely cover a BH grip frame with any other Ruger grips or make a pair from any other Ruger grips.

 

[gasmandave]

Thanks...but now I'm confused. I think I should have said replace my "birds head" grip frame with a "Black hawk" frame, instead of say a plowhandle. My birds head grip feels shorter to me. I have a .357 BH so I'll try swaping it and see if I like it.
I just thought there may have been other issues to consider.