Ruger Grip Switch

[Maverick]

I've been wanting a new SBH, i currently have a 10.5in with Square back trigger guard.... but wanted a longer barrel. So instead of buying another base gun and having a new barrel made and fitted, i decided to go another route. I found a Super BlackHawk which looks to be converted to a bisley grip frame.....and has a 16in Barrel.
I'd like to have it converted to the SBH frame with square back trigger guard, where is a good place to find a used frame that may only need minor fitting? What cost can i expect to find one and have it fitted? How much more would reducing the barrel length to 12-13in. cost? I may keep the 16in. for awhile but i definitely want to pursue switching out the grip frame.
Any info. appreciated

 

[Hondo44]

Maverick,

The easiest swap is with a used SBH grip frame, hammer and trigger (about $100) and you can post an ad for one on this forum. Someone will probably trade straight across for the Bisley grip, hammer and trigger. It will be very close or just right and already be fully finished. A new grip frame costs more and is oversize and needs a lot of fitting, polishing and bluing.

For about a $100 (rough estimate) you could have the barrels switched. Another $150 (estimate) to shorten the long barrel.

 

[GP100man]

PICS PLEASE , never seen a 16" SBH , sounds way KOOL & HEAVY DUTY !!!

 

[gmartinnc]

PICS PLEASE , never seen a 16" SBH , sounds way KOOL & HEAVY DUTY !!!

http://www.gunauction.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=12475115

 

[Maximumbob54]

That is amazing. I would think the SBH grip frame might help hold some of that up though but then again no way could I shoot that thing unless it was in a rest. Neat as all get out though. Looks like a modern version of a Buntline missing the butt stock. If the ATF's surcharge wasn't such a pain then that would make for a fun conversion the more I think of it.

 

[Maverick]

Maverick,

The easiest swap is with a used SBH grip frame, hammer and trigger (about $100) and you can post an ad for one on this forum. Someone will probably trade straight across for the Bisley grip, hammer and trigger. It will be very close or just right and already be fully finished. A new grip frame costs more and is oversize and needs a lot of fitting, polishing and bluing.

For about a $100 (rough estimate) you could have the barrels switched. Another $150 (estimate) to shorten the long barrel.

Thank You! This is the information i was looking which confirms my recent research. I'll enjoy it the way it is until i find a used SBH grip with square trigger guard.
Yes the link in this thread is the exact revolver...which is now on it's way to my ffl. I had originally toyed with the idea of buying a base gun and sending it off to have a custom barrel installed (i'm wanting 12-14in). This seemed time consuming.....so. When i saw this gun i figured i'd just keep it until i can find a used SBH grip frame with square back guard...and eventually cut the barrel to between 12-14.
I use my SBH 10.5 for hunting and find the length to be 'near' perfect...just needs a couple more inches. I know a lot of guys don't like longer barrels...let's just say that i march to the beat of a different drum. :mrgreen:

With the 14in. i should be running 1525-1580 or so fps. with a 240HP.
Here's my 10.5 with hunting holster above and a nylon shoulder holster below.

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[jstanfield103]

Maverick, congratulations on the new purchase. I saw that gun a couple of times when I was looking for a Single Six approx. a week ago. Looks great ! I bet it shoots great.

 

[Maverick]

Found a grip frame off ebay and some grips. Now i need a trigger and hammer. From the pics and schematic it appears there are less types of triggers than grip frames. All the triggers i see are Bisley,Old Model, and New Model. Can anyone confirm this? I bid on a trigger listed as a Ruger Super Blackhawk. Hope it's the right one. I know which hammer i need, just have to find one.
A pic of the used grip frame and some SBH Dragoon grips i put on it, also a pic of the trigger i bid on which was listed as 'New' Old Stock.
I have decided to keep the 16in barrel so my goal will be simply a SBH Dragoon with 16in barrel rather than 10.5

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[Hondo44]

The smooth trigger is correct for the SBH of the recent past as well as any Ruger SA, large, mid or single six frames. From 1962 to about 4 years ago, SBH triggers bothe blue and stainless were unique in that they were grooved.

Current hammers and triggers on all Ruger SAs are stainless and the triggers are smooth.

 

[Maverick]

The smooth trigger is correct for the SBH of the recent past as well as any Ruger SA, large, mid or single six frames. From 1962 to about 4 years ago, SBH triggers both the blue and stainless were unique in that they were grooved.

Current hammers and triggers on all Ruger SAs are stainless and the triggers are smooth.

So besides being blued/stainless, grooved or smooth they are all the same(except the Bisley's shape) and should fit?

My SBH 10.5 is a New Model...older than 4 years ago...and has a smooth/blued trigger....

 

[Hondo44]

Yes it will fit. Even the Bisley trigger will work; it just needs a slightly enlarged slot in the standard plow handle grip frame.

When changes are made, there's always a transition period when old and new parts are both used which is why I wrote about 4 years ago. I have a SBH of less than for 4 years ago and it has a grooved blue trigger.

 

[Maverick]

Yes it will fit. Even the Bisley trigger will work; it just needs a slightly enlarged slot in the standard plow handle grip frame.

When changes are made, there's always a transition period when old and new parts are both used which is why I wrote about 4 years ago. I have a SBH of less than for 4 years ago and it has a grooved blue trigger.

Thanks again,
Can't wait to get started, i will finally have what i always wanted, a SBH w/Dragoon trigger guard with a longer barrel than 10.5 Yes, 16in is a little much and would rather have it in the 12-14in range but for now i'll be happy to get the grip frame/trigger guard i want.

 

[Hondo44]

Cool!

I'm shooting a Ruger 9 1/2" Hawkeye. And a .45 Colt SAA w/18" barrel, now that's a bit too much. Finally stuck a '51 Navy revolver shoulder stock on it and it shoots like a rifle, but the rear sight notch on the gun is too close to the eye. I'm dovetailing a Win. '92 ladder sight into the rear of the barrel.

 

[Maverick]

The base gun....[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/use...albums/v231/sixgunluvr/SuperBisley1.jpg[/img][/url]
I have a grip frame and grips, trigger, .....and I can see acquiring the wide spur hammer may take awhile.
I plan to keep looking for awhile, called Ruger and they have them in Stainless but i'd like to find a Blued one.

 

[Hondo44]

You can also put your SBH grip and trigger on the gun and use a stainless SBH hammer until you find a blue one. Or even use a modified Bisley hammer.

 

[Colonel Daddy]

Good Lawd! That thing needs a shoulder stock! Ned Buntline would be proud!

 

[Hondo44]

I have a replacement hammer screw and SBH grip frame with a notch milled in the butt so you can mount a Colt clone walnut shoulder stock like this only much cheaper:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Colt-Patent-1860-Army-Shoulder-Stock-/191000776214?pt=Vintage_Hunting&hash=item2c78888e16

 

[okie44]

Sent a PM

 

[Maverick]

Soon to have all the parts i need, will post an updated pic when i make the switch.

 

[Maverick]

Evidently my newly acquired Bisley has the shorter 4in ERH.
One more change i'll need to make is to drill and tap a hole for the longer 5in ejector rod housing that comes standard on the SBH 10.5 ... whenever i find one...don't think they are hard to get as Brownell's has them listed in Blue.

 

[Hondo44]

Yes, the 5" housings are in stock at Brownells and a new 8 x 36 screw is included. But the 5" spring and rod are not kept in inventory by Brownells, however they will order them for you, takes about 3 weeks. Or order all three from Ruger.

 

[Maverick]

Yes, the 5" housings are in stock at Brownells and a new 8 x 36 screw is included. But the 5" spring and rod are not kept in inventory by Brownells, however they will order them for you, takes about 3 weeks. Or order all three from Ruger.

Ah yes, didn't think about the spring and rod. Will just order all three from Ruger. I wouldn't normally worry about 1inch of housing...but it will allow me to take out the cylinder without have to disassemble the housing.
So i'm guessing this gun started out as a SBH with a barrel shorter than 10.5 as the 10.5 has the 5in housing.

 

[Hondo44]

Yes it's worth the trouble to be able to pull the pin out, but you should be able to get the cyl out with the 4" housing. Also the full stroke to completely eject the long 44 Mag cases is well worth it.

I just put a 5" on a 45 Colt with 5 1/2" barrel. I had to shorten the 5" housing 1/8" to be even with the end of the barrel but it sure looks good and still fully ejects the 45 cases. I'll probably end up putting one on my 44 Mag SBH 7 1/2" barrel for the same reason.

 

[Maverick]

but you should be able to get the cyl out with the 4" housing. Also the full stroke to completely eject the long 44 Mag cases is well worth it.

Gave it another try.....and your absolutely right, have just enough to get the cylinder out, loaded rounds come out no problem but for an empty case it would be nice to have just a smidge more on the rod so they fully extract.
Good deal, i'll be fine with it until down the road after i get everything swapped out.

 

[Maverick]

Had to fit/file/polish the grip frame to the cylinder frame....almost done, just need to re blue and put everything back together
then
i'll have a Ruger Super Blackhawk "Super 16"

 

[Hondo44]

Bravo, what an improvement! What is that for a front sight?

 

[okie44]

I like it with either grip, how does she shoot?

 

[Maverick]

I did not test for accuracy...fired 6 rounds for function and that was it when it had the Bisley grip on it. It was shooting low so i adjusted and haven't fired it since. I was not comfortable at all with the Bisley grip and also front end heavy as you can imagine. The SBH Dragoon frame greatly helped that, although it's still a little muzzle heavy...13-14in barrel would be perfect but i don't want to spend the money to do that.
Once i get it cleaned up and blued i'll update this thread. It will be my novelty fun gun and sometimes hunting gun. I'll have to wait for the weather to warm a bit before i do any range testing though.

 

[Hondo44]

Will you be sending it to Ruger for a blue job?

Those long barreled SAs are amazingly accurate when shot from the hip. Obviously not their purpose but they shoot like they have sonar; so easy to "feel" where it's pointed!

 

[Maverick]

Had to file/fit/polish and cold blue the cylinder/grip frames to make them match. Was off the most on the left side, grip frame was about 2/16th out. Was my first experience with blueing. Neat process, leaves a sort of smoky/soot that finishes/cleans up during the final step with the fine steel wool.
Just have to put it back together now.