BH45

I have a first year production 3 screw 45 caliber Blackhawk with a 4 5/8 inch barrel it was made in 1971 on Ruger's website. I am wondering will shooting Ruger only loads hurt this thing? I am wanting to push some 300 grn hard cast slugs to about 1100-1200fps. Will my baby take that? I hear sooo many contradictory statements about the old model I just want to ask you guys to set me straight.

Thanks
BH45

76Highboy

IMO you should be fine. I collect the 3 screw Rugers and push some pretty nasty loads through them. I have never shot an older 3 screw in 45 colt but I punish the 44's and they do fine. I have been shooting them for 30+ years and have never hurt one.

76Highboy

I would highly recommend Pachmayr grips when you run those loads. With those grips hold the gun steady, squeeze the trigger and that Ruger 3 screw will roll up and you will have no problem controlling the recoil. I am jealous and now I want a 3 screw in 45 colt.

BH45

Thanks for the replies guys. The cylinder is recessed and has a narrow cutout all the way around it. Its not not for a moon clip though. I have not seen one like it before i just figured i would ask. It also says 45 caliber on the frame instead of 45 colt i just wanted to make sure it could handle some nasty hot loads before i took a chance on blowing it or my hand up.

BH45

Well now that i look at it real good i think its a 45 acp cylinder, but it shoots 45 colt just fine. Could i load 1100-1200 fps colt ammo though it ok? Man i feel bad about getting this now. I just wanted to get a nice pistola. I am sure its a convertible cylinder i just hope i can do some hot rodding with this gun combo i am broke and dont have the money to buy another cylinder. Oh i forgot to say the cylinder is the same size as my 44 mag super blackhawk hunter. It is just recessed and has a channel for moon clips is my guess. Will it hold some monster loads though help me out guys.

Thanks,
BH45

rivraton

I don't think you can get a 45 Colt cartridge all the way into the ACP cylinder because the APC round head spaces on the case mouth.

BH45

That is what i have read and understand. I am happy now i have shot a box of magtech cowboy loads trough it already. Thank you so much for answering my dumb question. I am glad you guys helped me out. I am proud to be a member here.

Ale-8(1)

There's something fishy here. You simply cannot insert a full-sized .45 Colt cartridge into a .45ACP chamber.

If it's a .45ACP cylinder, it won't need moon clips to handle .45ACP ammo.

In addition, modifying a single-action Blackhawk .45 Colt cylinder to accept moon clips is silly because you have to remove the cylinder to load/unload the clipped cases.

More info, please.

Lost Sheep

Recessing a Blackhawk's cylinder for a moon clip would be kind of pointless.

If you called or emailed Ruger with the serial number, they would be able to tell you if the gun originally came with two cylinders (45 Colt and 45 ACP). Also, the 45 ACP cylinder should have markings on it that says what it is (or was). It is possible someone who purchased a 45Colt/45ACP convertible lost the 45 Colt cylinder and reamed the 45ACP cylinder to accept 45 Colt. Stranger things have happened. If it was a good job there is probably no detriment to it.

Just a thought.

Lost Sheep

edit: Ale-8(1) posted while I was still typing. Then, I had a thought. If someone had a 45 Colt cylinder and wanted to shoot 45 ACP in it, a moon clip would be necessary (or half-moon clips) and could be used as Ale-8(1) suggests. It is a lot of trouble, but cheaper than buying the 45ACP cylinder. However, I have gone off-topic.

BH45

If you guys want i can send ya a pic via email. I cant post any due to the fact i dont have a pc just a smartphone. The channel is an 1/8" in between each chamber. It does not look like it has been reamed though it looks factory in the chambers, and there is no marking on the cylinder other than the letter S on the loading face of the cylinder. It just baffles me what to think about it. It had a burn ring right where it should for 45colt when i bought it. The channel just is narrow like the S&W moon clips would have in the cylinder. Also the holes look closer together on the loading face than they are on the muzzle end of it. I have no clue guys all the Rugers i have had did not have recessed chambers then again this is a first year production 45 blackhawk 3 screw.
I just want to know if i can load up some nice hot loads with some 2400 and 300grn slugs.


BH45

76Highboy

BH45, the recession grooves are exactly what you called them. ack in the day, they made a recessed groove so when you put the cartridge in the cylinder it was flush with the cylinder. You don't see that anymore. My sincere advice to you is don't sell it, ever, ever, ever. That is getting rare to find and is like $$$ in the bank. Also, DO NOT CARRY IT IN A HOLSTER WITH A LIVE ROUND UNDER THE HAMMER. The safety on those 3 screws were faulty. Carry it with five and leave the empty chamber under the hammer. Those are referred to as five shooters.

If you can post some pics of the recessed cylinder like your talking about that would help to make sure that is what you are talking about. Also, I would like to see that revolver.

Jim

BH45

Highboy pm me your email and i will show ya some pics

BH45

One more thing about tbe recessed chambers the channel like i said above is about 1/8" and goes between all the holes almost dead center of the chamber too. I will email pics to someone to show you what i mean i just need some help to see if it can handle some hot 45 colts. I dont see why it would not do what i need.

BH45

Ok my cylinder is just like the one in the 11th picture in this thread is this the acp or colt cylinder and will it handle 45 colt ruver only loads. Please help me out guys. RugerForum.com • View topic - FS: Ruger OM Blackhawk 45 / 45 ACP 3 Screw (SOLD)

Hondo44

BH45,
#1 Your gun is the original of the Ruger 45s that "Ruger Only" loads are made for! Have no worries about hot loads.
#2 The cut out groove is a firing pin groove so if you turn the cylinder w/hammer down or somehow drop the hammer when the chamber is not aligned, you can't slam the firing pin against the cylinder face.
#3 Ruger 45s are all marled 45 Caliber. If you can fit 45 Colts in the chambers, it's a 45 Colt cylinder.
#4 There are no moon clips made for single actions. However S&W clips can can be modified to work with a New Model non-recessed cylinder. Why if you have to remove the cylinder to load and unload? Because it works like a speed loader. You can remove the cylinder, dump the empty rounds already in a clip, drop in a full clip and replace the cylinder faster than you can load and unload the conventional way. Or with two cylinders, pop out one and pop in the 2nd fully loaded with ACP rounds held in the Colt cylinder with a clip. How do I know? I modified a clip and shot ACP in my 45 Colt New Vaquero because someone asked if it could be done; worked great. Will anyone else do it? I doubt it!