Ruger Bird's Head 32M

[Noah228]

I have a Ruger Single Six Bird's Head in 32 Magnum. I would like to convert the Bird's Head grip frame to the standard Single Six grip frame.

Can anyone tell me the specific parts I will need and where perhaps to buy the parts needed? Thanks for any help.

Noah

 

[G2]

Grip Frame ~$125 KXR00300 Stainless / BR00300 In the White Steel,
or you could even find a NM Aluminum, $ 40, if so I would place a WTB here in the Classifieds for this, lot's of knock offs out there.

These parts can be moved over BUT IMO it's better to just order new and leave them in the Birdshead GF.
Grip Dowel KXR01400
Ruger Trigger Spring Retaining Pin KXR06300

Everything else moves right over. Main Spring Assembly, Screws, Cylinder Latch Plunger Assembly, Trigger Spring & pin.

Try; Ruger, Brownells, Midway, Numrich. FYI, as of late Grip Frames have been hard to find in stock.

 

[BlkHawk73]

You'll need a new grip frame obviously. So long as you use a non-lock replacement, the hammer strut and hammer spring will work. The screws will also all work. If the replacement grip frame has never been used, you'll be best off getting a new grip locator dowel and trigger spring retaining pin. In such a case , using a virgin grip frame, you'll need it fitted and finished as well.

 

[WARD]

Like G2 said, place a WTB ad here for a XR3-RED grip frame and insist on it being in the condition you need because it isn't the easiest to get the aluminum refinished. You should be able to reuse some of your BH's parts as needed but you will also need some grips.

I did this project about a year and a half ago and am glad I did. The BH is nice but it just didn't feel right to me. I also have one of the 32's in stainless with the faux ivory grips but my wife claims it is hers as the shorter grip fits her hand better.

Ward

 

[LuckenbachTexas]

Why would "one" want to ghetto it up by installing an aluminum frame instead of the steel you payed for? Thats the beauty of having a real Vaquerito -vs- the regular single six.

I was going this route and decided to just sell it and buy the standard model. By the time I got all the parts together from Ruger and still not be sure of a perfect fit, I felt it was too costly.

I put my Birdhead on Gunbroker for $425 and nobody touched it. I raised it to $525 and it sold within 30 minutes?

I agree the Birdhead single six does not have the right feel or instant pointing ability.

 

[gak]

Deleted--duplicate post.

 

[gak]

CRITICAL: Just be sure that someone--a shop or private party--does not try, intentionally or not, to sell or trade you a "short" .32 gripframe...UNLESS you want that. Many will mis-inform (again knowingly or not) that the .32 "Vaquerito" only came with the short GF. Not so--it's a very common misconception as many were made with the standard XR3 Red plowhandle too, even though for awhile the shorties did seem to predominate on the gun store shelves. Also be prepared for a seller/trader to claim, again sincerely or not, they do not know which they have.

I realize there are a lot of "again..." cautions here, but it cannot be overstated. More people than I can count have unwittingly ended up with a shorty, either thinking "that's all they (Ruger/store) had" or even not really noticing until they got the gun home and spent some higher quality time with it.

Someone more conversant with the part numbers here can alert you to which the shorty is if not otherwise self-evident, but my understanding functionally and structurally it is literaly a shortened "XR3 Red," and may still have those words, *in part*, associated with it.

Btw, I'm sure you will find many eager swappers, as a lot of folks want to do the opposite as you--either to a Single Six or larger-frame Ruger SA!

 

[Noah228]

Thank you all for the valuable information and good advice. Yes I want the standard length single six grip frame not the shorter version as on some 32 Mag versions. Wish I could buy a complete package with everything I need but looks like it will be part by part.

I will call the various sources to see what they have.

I intend keeping the birds head frame for another project perhaps.

Thanks again. What a wealth of knowledge here on this forum!

Regards,
Noah

 

[gak]

Welcome by the way! Another point. I did not see you mention your finish? As you may be aware, if yours is stainless, a Blackhawk stainless GF will not be as glossy. The Vaquero and "Vaquerito" line is unique in having the high sheen. I believe that can be rectified with the right kind of elbow grease applied to the BH GF (do a search here or someone will chime in)--to at least more closely match your current.

 

[Noah228]

My 32 MAG Ruger is blued (the frame is faux case color finish) so I would prefer the alum. grip frame so it could be blued to match and also would save a little weight.

My Single Six Conv. 22 is blued with 4 5/8 bbl. and is fairly light at 32 oz. Love that gun.

Regards,

Noah

 

[LuckenbachTexas]

Why did they make the 32 mag frame out of steel?

 

[gak]

Why did they make the 32 mag frame out of steel?

Since most if not all of the earlier adjustable sight gripframes--including mine--we're, IIRC, aluminum, I'm assuming you're just referring to the fixed sight "Vaqueritos." I'm just speculating, but perhaps because the birdsheads were already specific to the Vaquero line (vs the Blackhawk) which were steel. (which I realize raises another question re the blued Vaquero model line), and the XR3 Red plowhandles as well. Maybe the Vaquerito just followed suit re parts usage? Maybe the steel's ability to take "real" bluing played a part as to more expectations (in that regard) in the "cowboy"/fixed sight market (the competition- Colt and clones - already sporting steel, etc). Also, a lot of people, myself included, prefer the balance and finish of--and therefore had been asking for--steel despite the weight penalty, so they may have seen a opportunity to cater to both via differentiating the Blackhawk and Vaquero (etc) lines further.
I'm stretching now it seems, but...:)
Edit: stretching further, maybe they also thought that the larger bore of the .32 (considerably less cylinder and barrel metal) equalized the .22 Single Six's aluminum GF and ej housing's weight savings -- at least to the extent it would make the two a rough wash. Anyone have any comparisons, for same barrel lengths? Bet pretty darn close, if not still in favor of the .32! (Actually I've got both -- an exact apples-to-apples comparo, but no scale. If someone doesn't beat me to it, I'll try to scrounge up one.)

 

[LuckenbachTexas]

I haven't been into 32's long enough to know they once were aluminum grip framed.

I got into them because the workmanship is so pretty and the average wholesale cost is $365 which is a steal for what you are getting.
The only other Ruger Vaquero you get that good of a deal on is the 7 1/2" Stailess 45 Colt.

I have since fell in love.

 

[gak]

I haven't been into 32's long enough to know they once were aluminum.

I got into them because the workmanship is so pretty and they only cost $365 wholesale on average which is a steal for what you are getting.

I have since fell in love.

Yeah, I forget not everyone is that old :) They (and I) started with the Ruger .32s in 1984!
Oh, the workmanship of the Vaqueritos is so pretty 'cause they're steel :) :)

I have long felt that there has never been a better pairing of cartridge to gun/frame than the .32 Mag and Ruger Single Six in all its forms, challenged only recently with the possible excepton of the new Ruger .44 Specials (actually .44 Special SAs of all stripes) as an "equal." Though I do not (yet) own, the SP101 in .327 may be another"classic" in the making in this regard as well.

 

[LuckenbachTexas]

I got fed up with trying to stick with a caliber having CCI shotshells as an option so I bought a cheap cobra derringer for 38 shotshells only.

All of those guns you mentioned are real nice.

 

[Hondo44]

Noah,
Before you jump for the standard size (XR3 RED) gripframe, you may want to handle a New Vaquero steel grip frame. They all have the old model aluminum (XR3) size grip frame in steel or SS which is almost identical to the Colt grip frame.

In my opinion it's the best feeling size for the .32s and single six size guns and also is visually the best proportioned for the small frame guns. They are the same length as the XR3 RED grip frame but 3/16" closer to the trigger guard.

All of these new XR3 size steel grip frames came with a lock but a simple bracket can be made to replace the lock if you don't want it and use your standard hammer spring and strut. Many have replaced these grip frames on the New Vaqueros and Flat top 44s because these larger caliber guns can really wrap your knuckle with the XR3 grip size.

Put in a want ad for one. That way you'll get the whole package of parts and grip panels and won't have to fit or pay to have it fit to your gun. The fitting is a lot of work.