SBH project gun

[Buckeye Bill]

Bought a SBH from a friend today that is SS in 44 with 7.5 barrel with a 85 prefix. I am thinking about having the barrel cut to about 4.5 or 5 inches. Does anyone have a photo of one cut to that length? Or, has anyone done this and wants to offer any suggestions. The 7.5 barrel really makes it a handful and difficult to carry.

 

[Bucks Owin]

I'd say it depends on if you want full tilt .44 mag ballistics or are willing to trade a little for "packability". (And I wouldn't go shorter than about 5.5" personally) You "can" get used to 7.5", I don't mind that length, but then again I'm kinda eccentric compared to most folks I guess....I LIKE long barrels...sight radius makes me shoot good! :wink:

(Heck, I've even packed the avatar gun! :shock:)

 

[Hammerdown77]

Yup, wouldn't go shorter than 5" on the .44 mag

 

[Axehandle]

5.5 turns out pretty nice.

 

[Axehandle]

The only 5 inch BH I have is a 5 shot custom..

 

[Tommy Kelly]

I have a blued one cut to 5". I prefer 4 5/8" but the warning on the side would have been cut into. So I went to the front of the warning and it ended up 5". I will use it a lot more with the shorter bbl and enjoy it I had 3 7.5's when I cut this one and also have a super in the 4 5/8 so it is a little different.

 

[reuben_j_cogburn]

The 5.5 is pretty much ideal, in my opinion, regardless of the caliber.
They carry and shoot well.......
If I was going to use it strickly for hunting I think I'd keep it at 7.5 and buy another with a shorter barrel for carry...
Anybody see where I'm going with this?..... :D

reuben...

 

[Bucks Owin]

The 5.5 is pretty much ideal, in my opinion, regardless of the caliber.
They carry and shoot well.......
If I was going to use it strickly for hunting I think I'd keep it at 7.5 and buy another with a shorter barrel for carry...
Anybody see where I'm going with this?..... :D

reuben...

Sure! "Ya can't have too many" :wink:

 

[steelheadnw]

With a new model XR3-Red frame and the barrel at 4-5/8 this carries great. Shoots very well also.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

Thanks for the comments about shorter barrels and pros and cons. The more I handle this gun the more I am on the fence about the barrel lenth. I got it real cheap and it came with 550 rounds of Winchester white box shoft nose ammunition. It has been fired a fair amount and it has some wear. New front sight is needed but will consider options if I shorten the barrel. Got it for $300 with the ammunition. Take a look. Is that the original trigger. The action seems very smooth. The trigger has vertical serations. Anyway, long or short is the question.

 

[Hondo44]

Buckeye Bill,
You got a smokin' deal!
I cut mine to 4 5/8 and my dad cut his to 5 1/2. Virtually no difference in performance. I put a regular size steel grip frame on mine. It's defiinitely more packable.

If you cut to 5 1/2, you'll always wonder how much better the 4 5/8 would feel. Let us know what you decide. Have fun.

 

[TexNekkid]

 

[maxpress]

Just make sure the guy knows how to crown the barrel correctly. had to have one cut and crowned then brought it to someone else to recrown after i figured out why i couldnt get it to poi. long story.

 

[boomslang]

That is a Milliet rear sight. Those are good all steel sights and they don't make them any more. I have one on a 10 1/2 super. For long range they are good.


I know your dilemma. My first SBH was a 7 1/2 (still have it), then I got a older super one from a forum member and cut it down to 5 1/2. It shoots the best of all my supers. I don't know why. Maybe me. But, I still love my 7 1/2.

Personally I would say shoot it as a 7 1/2 inch for a while. Then make a decision.


That front sight can easily be fixed on a stainless gun due to the pinned blade. Easy to make another, blue it and replace it.


TexNekkid: That is an awesome gun and rig.

 

[tek4260]

First things first. Clean it up because it looks like a bit of rust is weeping from around the pins and from behind the trigger. Then cut it and re-grip it!

 

[Axehandle]

While I am a fool for a custom OM SBH :D

There are box stock 5.5s out there waiting for you... :D

And who is to say that each and every one can't be a Bisley :P

 

[TexNekkid]

TexNekkid: That is an awesome gun and rig.

TY. Grips by Cary Chapman. Holster by the late Jim Burke of Paris TX. I dunno who cut the barrel down.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

OK, I took tek4260's advice and spent about an hour with a wire brush and some M-Pro 7 and Break Free. It was not cleaned last few times out it appears. Much better now! Got those grips off and I could not bring myself to put them back on. All cleaned up and well oiled. I think I will cut down the barrel. I will start looking for a gun smith for the job. If I take off 2.5 inches I will be just forward of the warning message on the barrel. I will start searching for some wood grips. I just think that this gun stands a much better chance of making it on a hiking trip or hunting trip with the shorter barrel. I bet whoever I find to do the cut will have some ideas for replacement of the front sight. Any further suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

 

[tek4260]

Did you tear it all the way down. The outside appearance didn't catch my eye, it was the rust weeping from inside. I'd take it all the way down and fully clean it. A grey scotchbrite will make the outside look new. Also, reuse the front sight base and replace the blade for a few bucks.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

No, I did not go inside. I see your point. I will have to do a little research on step by step take down. I am qualified to take S&W wheel guns down to the bone but I have never been inside a Ruger that deep. I will get a scotchbrite today for the exterior. How does the front sight base come off? I see the pin for removing the blade but nothing for the base. Is there a link for SBH break down instructions? The gun was very dirty when I got it. It looks like carbin was behind the trigger. The only way to know for sure is to get inside so, I will try.

 

[Hondo44]

Thanks for the comments about shorter barrels and pros and cons. The more I handle this gun the more I am on the fence about the barrel lenth. I got it real cheap and it came with 550 rounds of Winchester white box shoft nose ammunition. It has been fired a fair amount and it has some wear. New front sight is needed but will consider options if I shorten the barrel. Got it for $300 with the ammunition. Take a look. Is that the original trigger. The action seems very smooth. The trigger has vertical serations. Anyway, long or short is the question.

Yes, that is the original trigger. The Supers always came with a grooved one. I put them in many of my Rugers, especially the 3 screw old models because they were also wider.

 

[Hondo44]

I know your dilemma. My first SBH was a 7 1/2 (still have it), then I got a older super one from a forum member and cut it down to 5 1/2. It shoots the best of all my supers. I don't know why. Maybe me. But, I still love my 7 1/2.

It may be counter intuitive, but most people do shoot short barrels more accurately. It's true the longer sight radius on a long barrel is an advantage, however, it's canceled out by the movement of the barrel when trying to get the shot off. A 7 1/2" barrel is almost twice as long as a 4 5/8" so every little bit of movement is accentuated or almost doubled out at the of the longer barrel. Of course if your shooting on a bench rest, the wiggle is mitigated.

 

[Bucks Owin]

I know your dilemma. My first SBH was a 7 1/2 (still have it), then I got a older super one from a forum member and cut it down to 5 1/2. It shoots the best of all my supers. I don't know why. Maybe me. But, I still love my 7 1/2.

It may be counter intuitive, but most people do shoot short barrels more accurately. It's true the longer sight radius on a long barrel is an advantage, however, it's canceled out by the movement of the barrel when trying to get the shot off. A 7 1/2" barrel is almost twice as long as a 4 5/8" so every little bit of movement is accentuated or almost doubled out at the of the longer barrel. Of course if your shooting on a bench rest, the wiggle is mitigated.

I don't see the firing line at a silhouette match crowded with short barrels!
The accuracy required for the long range targets, ie the turkey and ram, speaks for itself. Sight radius and velocity is needed here...(and there's no benchrest) :wink:

 

[Hondo44]

It may be counter intuitive, but most people do shoot short barrels more accurately. It's true the longer sight radius on a long barrel is an advantage, however, it's canceled out by the movement of the barrel when trying to get the shot off. A 7 1/2" barrel is almost twice as long as a 4 5/8" so every little bit of movement is accentuated or almost doubled out at the of the longer barrel. Of course if your shooting on a bench rest, the wiggle is mitigated.

I don't see the firing line at a silhouette match crowded with short barrels!
The accuracy required for the long range targets, ie the turkey and ram, speaks for itself. Sight radius and velocity is needed here...(and there's no benchrest) :wink:

Exactly, you've picked a specific type of shooting at extreme range when the long barrel advantages are fully appreciated and you have better than average shooters. However, I shot just as good off hand with my short barrel .44. I didn't need every ounce of velocity to knock down rams at 200 meters with 21 grs of H110 like some using 357. And if you're shooting prone position silhouette you're resting that long barrel against a leg.....like a bench rest?
But I was referring to general field or range shooting with average or even good shooters, but especially novice shooters, they'll do better with short barrels. So what we're both saying is not mutually exclusive or contradictory. Thanks for your input. 8)

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

The primary SBH I carry started out years ago as a 7.5" barrel. It's been cut down to 5 1/2" for so long I don't even remember. Later on I picked up a 4 5/8". I prefer either one to the longer barrel by a long shot. They just have to be comfortable to pack as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Bucks Owin]

Well I said at the start, I'm kinda "eccentric" on barrel length around here... :lol:
I guess since hitting at longish range, ie resting on the hood or leaning back on a rock to take a pop at a varmit, seeing big velocity numbers at the chrono, and dabbling at silhouette make me grin, I've become accustomed to the "unhandiness" of a long tom.... A 5.5" seems stubby, a 7.5" normal" and a 10" entirely managable as something to compete or hunt (non dangerous) game with. (Don't think I'd pack a 10" in Alaska!)It's all in the familiarity with your "tool" I guess... :wink:
And too, I hang out at the BR a lot. Let's call it a draw pard....(unless it's fastdraw! :shock: :lol: )

I'll admit, the first time you sight down a 10" barrel, it's certainly "different".....(And BTW, though a 4 5/8" .44 may hit a ram with "enough" oomph, bet it's velocity doesn't slam with the same authority as a ten incher...Oh, then there's trajectory to think about....This pesterin' you short barrel dudes is fun! :D )

 

[Hondo44]

As long as they go down even if I just hit the edge, i got no complaints. I don't have anything against long barrels or long barrel lovers.

Some like black horses and some like Bays.

 

[ElToro]

and you got 550 rounds of factory .44 ? you stole it

nice piece. i am not a fan of anything longer than about 6 inches. unless your shooting off a rest. 8.38 or 10 is just way to unwieldy. send it off somewhere special and have it cut and crowned to 5 or 6 or so and tuned. keep the rear sights unless you dont like them and you can re-sell them. get soem nice grips and call it good. with the value of the ammo and low price paid for the package, ( not including the instrinsic value of the brass) youd still be money ahead.

then go out and shoot up that ammo.

 

[flatgate]

I like shooting the longer barreled revolvers.

:D

flatgate

 

[Buckeye Bill]

Before and after. I settled on 5.5 inch barrel. New sights front and rear and grips. What a diffrence. Next I need to sight her in. The balance and feel is far better than before. I like!