wcbeagle

Went to the LGS today and found a new 44 spl flattop blue 5.5" barrel otd for $489.00. Black plastic grips. Also found new a 45 convertible 4.63" barrel SS Lipsey's special with the simulated ivory grips. This gun felt great in my hand.
Out the door $600.00. I will reload for either one I buy. I already have the dies for the 44 but not for the 45. If I bought the 44, I would like to put the same grips on it that are on the 45. From what I can tell both have the XR-3 grip frame .Is this right? Does Ruger sell this type of grip to fit the 44 flattop?
Either one will only have cast bullets shot through them. How hard is it to remove the lead and carbon ring from the front of the cylinder on a blue gun without damaging the finsh? Does anyone know how true the cylinder throats
and the forcing cone are on the 45. This is the biggest holdup on buying the 45. I don't know anyone locally that reams or bores the cylinder or forcing cone should they need it. Also how much difference is the recoil between the two? My right hand has alot of arthritis and I have never shot a big bore single action. I have and shoot a 44 mag Super Redhawk full power loads, but I could never stand that kind of recoil in a single action grip.

ratgunner

I guess it comes down to what you like better,blued or stainless ? 5.5" or 4&5/8". 44spl. or .45 convertible ? Only you can decide. As for me I want a stainless .44spl .

RAYMOND

I have both and really like them . The .44 spec is great

leroy

We have, shoot, and reload for both calibers. Both are accurate, excellent quality, and hard hitting firearms. Pick the one you like best and buy it first. After that, save up, and buy the other one.

Ya cant go wrong with either one.
leroy

Dusty Wheeler

I have both flattops... The 45Colt/45ACP flattop is my alltime favorite!

Boris

wcbeagle

Personally I'd go for the .45 Colt/.45ACP. You know you like it. Only $111.00 more and another caliber with the grips you want. What would another set of grips that you like for the .44 cost?

Boris

Larry from MT

Depending on how much horsepower you want in your handloads, you'd do well to do a search of the subject. Some will argue, but a lot of shooters feel that the thicker cylinder walls on the FlatTop 44 Special make it a better choice in this frame size if you like more velocity.

In the larger BlackHawk frame size the 45 Colt wins the horsepower contest.

If your reloads replicate factory ammo (or close) the 45 Colt is tough to beat.

wcbeagle

I bought the 45 convertible. Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet.

Quiet 1

Congratulations on your new revolver! An excellent choice. Of course I may be bias since I have the same one. Oh, and welcome to the forum too.
We'll be looking for a range report and some pics of your new gun. Remember, it didn't happen without pictures.

rclark

Yep, congrats. I like my two .45 Colt flattops. Bit biased as well....

wcbeagle

I don't have any pictures. I really don't know how to post them on the forum. I did shoot 18
rounds through the gun on monday. I was really working up a load for a GP-100 with cast bullets. That went really well. I was real satisfied with the accuracy of the flattop out to 25 yards. I was shooting 250 grain XTP with 8.3 gr of power pistol. However while cleaning the barrel I found a problem. There is a cut in one of the grooves at the 10 to11 o'clock position.
It appears to be about 1/8" to 1/4" long. Can't tell the depth. The gun is already on its way
back to Ruger. I have also asked them to measure the cylinder throats while they have it. It will be interesting to see how this is going to turn out. I did buy the gun to shoot cast bullets out of.
I do not think with the cut in the barrel I will be able to shoot cast bullets with out the barrel
leading. What do you think Ruger is going to do? Will they measure the cylinder throats or not?
Thanks

rclark

Probably will... but just say they are within specs .

As for the cut in one of the grooves.... Don't understand really what you are looking at, so won't comment other than if they deem it unfixable, the barrel will be replaced.

To post pictures, just upload a picture to photobucket, and then put a link to it here. Like so... (my to flattop .45s)



Just leaving for the range to do some .45Spec load testing over chronograph, and then some .45 Colt and Single Six shooting....

Rodfac

Ah...Stainless or blued...SS makes more sense for hard weather use, but a good blue job is tough to pass up too.

The .44 Special is a better cartridge for me...more versatile I'd say and more accurate in my experience...others will no doubt opine the .45's a better choice...

If you're a handloader, the .44 Spl will do all that a single action can be expected to perform in the lower 48. 240 gr LSWC's at 1200 fps are not sissy loads. And too, you can load the same bullet down to 750 fps and have a first rate target proposition...but it's a handloader's cartridge for the most part, over the years. To get its full potential, and not overload it either, you had to handload...for me...a part of its mystique.

For factory loads, in the smaller Colt Single Action sized frames, the .45 Colt will do all you're likely to need. Though in most Rugers, you'll find the cylinder throats undersized...a call to cylindersmith.com will cure that problem however, and pretty cheaply too. My NV went from a 3" grouping gun to well under 2" after I had the throats opened to .4525 so's to allow better handling of LSWC's. Ruger should have fixed this design error years, if not decades ago.

As a last note, beware of the Flat Top's sharp edged rear sight...I've got the scars on my right forearm from hip carry in an open top holster to prove it!

Best Regards, Rod PS: here are a cpl of my favorites...both .44 Specials.

Flat Top .44 Special with home made grips.

They'll shoot well with good loads too...25 yds for this target.

Izzoquazzo

Where did you find a Stainless Steel .44 SPL.

Rodfac

The SS .44 came from Talo... I bought it off the net for a bit less than the Talo price. Rod