I am thinking about buying the Ruger convertible in 45 caliber as a "carry" gun for kicking around in the mountains.

My plan is to plink/practice and carry it in 45 ACP config most of the time. IF I ever get to spend time in grizz country, I would carry serious 45LC loads.

Comments? Experiences? Recommendations on barrel length (I lean toward the 4 5/8")? What are the "look fors" if I get a chance to buy one used?

Any input is appreciated.

I am thinking about buying the Ruger convertible in 45 caliber as a "carry" gun for kicking around in the mountains.

My plan is to plink/practice and carry it in 45 ACP config most of the time. IF I ever get to spend time in grizz country, I would carry serious 45LC loads.

Comments? Experiences? Recommendations on barrel length (I lean toward the 4 5/8")? What are the "look fors" if I get a chance to buy one used?

Any input is appreciated.

I had one of these many years ago, when they first came out. I seem to recall it had a 6" barrel. The .45 ACP cylinder was just about the spookiest shooter I have ever owned. Loaded a 180 grain cast semi-wadcutter over 3.0 grains of Bullseye (the same load used in a heavy slide 1911 NRA competition pistol) and the darned thing rarely shot beyond the X-ring at 25 yards. In fact it outshot the very custom 1911! Hardly ever used the .45 Colt cylinder, the .45ACP was too much fun. I am very sorry I sold it off.

If I purchased a new one I would trick it out with a Power Custom Ruger SA hammer and trigger kit to reduce trigger pull to 2.5 to 3 pounds, and have the Power Custom Free Spin Pawl fitted by a pistolsmith. This last goodie allows the cylinder to be rotated either direction when reloading. Might even pop in the Belt Mountain base pin to tighten up cylinder fit. Then again I might leave it alone if everything worked as well as that first one, which was completely stock -out of the box - drop dead accurate.

Be careful of loads that are too hot. Those really hot .45 loads some sell or recommend require a 5 shot conversion cylinder. The loads recommended for a Ruger SA are plenty for most game except the grizzly, where you're undergunned IMHO.

naumann,

This was exactly my very first revolver from about 1970! I still have it.......still shoot it......wouldn't trade it ..... will probably be buried with it. :D I've used it for metallic silhouettes out to 100 yards. They always fall down with the "clang". I occasionally shoot .45 ACPs but have a couple of loads in the .45 Colt. I load a 255 gr cast Keith style to about 1350 fps and a 315 grain WFN to about 1100 fps. Good accuracy with both.

Lobo in West Virginia

Excellent!!!! That gun will be one of the lightest big-bore revolvers that you can get, off the shelf, and still be somewhat controllable with the heavy loads. The 4 5/8" will of course be the handiest and lightest version.

I have a 7.5" convertible and it's a real joy with .45 auto loads; the 'heavy' 300 grain bullets will really get your attention, though!!!

Any 300gr. cast load at 1,000-1,200fps ought to be all you can ever want in a handy carry gun, and a box of 50 should pretty well be a lifetime suppy.

By the way if you get the Vaquero with the Bisley frame, it'll be a lot more controllable, though a bit heavier, but no .45 ACP cylinder. Fixed sights on a Vaquero would be a crapshoot with the heavy loads.

I've got a vaquero in .45 LC that I love!!!! Only regret is getting the 4 5/8" barrel instead of the 5 1/2 " version... I got mine for a woods gun as well, although I agree with axlenut that you would be undergunned for a grizz!!!! (just my opinion, never shot one before, so I don't really know)

Well I don't want to throw any cold water on your choice and I shoot several Ruger double action revolvers, but, a Friend of mine bought a new Blackhawk in 45 LC with the ACP cylinder last year and as we both reload I was helping him to work up some loads. He was loading both cast and jacketed bullets in the 250 grain range. At 25 feet the cast bullets were going sidewise thru the target. The Jacketed bullets did a little better with groups of 8-10 inches off my bench rest at 25 yards. The ACP cylinder did a little better with factory ammo.

I thought it might have a throating problem, but, with it shooting this bad and being a new gun he sent it back to Ruger. When he got it back they had put a new barrel on it and some internal parts and a new ejector rod housing. The ejector rod still sticks open once in a while making it necessary to use my brass gunsmith hammer on it. Now this is a new gun that has less than 50 rounds through it.

Over the years I've had a couple of bad rugers, but never one this bad. I had a blackhawk in 41 mag that would shoot great, I have a 357 and two 44 mag double actions that will shoot with my old 5 screw Smith 44 or better.

I looked on a ruger forum and accuracy did show up as a problem with the 45 colts. Most blamed this on some kind of cylinder throating problem.

My friends Blackhawk has the 4 5/8 inch bbl and it does shoot better after he got it back, though, it's not as good as I would like. You might look at the same gun in a 44 mag. They make the Super Blackhawk in the same bbl length and it does not seem to have any accuracy problems.

Good luck on your choice

Good info. Thanks to all for your thoughts.

I also have a friend who is looking around for S&W Mdl. 25 for me.

Just finished working over a new .45LC Stainless Blackhawk myself. New production gun, it now shoots better than I can.... however, after some pretty intense "tinkering" will be on a Tech Note soon. It had throats that were .447" and .448. Out of the box it was an "improved cylinder bore" pattern shooter! Now with a trigger job, fire-lapping, opened cylinder throats, a Bisley grip-frame and cylinder free-wheeling job, it shoots along with any other revolver I own.

Ruger Revolvers, America's Best Do-It-Yourself Sixshooter Kit. Look for this Tech Note to come in the next couple of weeks!

God Bless,

I've owned a NM Stainless Blackhawk for about 2 years now. While it is not a "convertible" model you speak of, I like it just the same. I purchased the 4 5/8" stainless version for the just the same reason you state: a woods gun and companion to my Winnie Trapper.

Plinking, I've loaded some light 230's, 250's and my favorite, Marshall's 265 Keith bullets.

For hot rounds, to accompany my Winnie 45 Trapper, I load Marshall's 265's, 285's, 300's and have just started with Marshall's 330's...ouch!!! All over H110, so they're screamers!

My gun's cylinders all measured around .450, so the only work that has been done was the reaming of the throats. trigger, base pin and barrel have remained factory and still the gun shoots better than I can. i will say that it does not have the accuracy that the Smith Mountain gun also in my safe has; but it will hold tight groups out to 25 yards if I do my part. :p .....................The Smith mountain Gun is a whole nuther topic....and great shooter :D