Ruger Hawkeye Handgun Pistolsmiths

[gunsonwheels]

In the 1960's I bought a Hawkeye in the factory .256 magnum (necked down 357 mag).  I let it go when I went into muzzle loading (starving college student dillema) but have since picked up two more.  One is excellent but the other... the dupe former owner took a file to the underside of the top strap to fit a sheet metal, clamp-on scope mount to it and still be able to rotate the breech block closed.  Measuring the top strap thickness against the good one shows he didn't remove more than about .015".
 
Elgin Gates (of IHMSA fame) designed a cartridge made from .375 Winchester cases necked to 7mm with a 40-45 degree shoulder and trimmed the case to 1.6" (he always had a thing about 1.6" cases).  He ended up with a nice efficient cartridge but the length of the neck engagement with the bullet makes you having to handle the ammunition like thin-shelld eggs.  But I like the cartridge (I also have a BF falling block handgun in that chambering),
 
I would like to find a gunsmith who is sufficiently skilled, experienced and CARES  to re-barrel the scarred Hawkeye into the ET Gates chambering but with about a .100" to 150" longer neck.  Would also like to send the BF out to get the neck of its chamber neck lengthened to the same wildcat cartridge dimensions.
 
Would it be against board rules for members to give me a few suggestions...? ? ?
 
George 
 
     

[Steve P]

Not against the rules to give suggestions.
 
Suggestion #1:  Leave the Hawkeye alone, or send it to a smith to get it as close to original as possible.
 
Suggestion #2:  Leave the BF alone. 
 
Elgin had some good ideas and most of them have been tried, re-hashed, tried again, etc. etc.  If you want a longer neck BF, get hold of Eben Brown and have him make you what you want.  He is easy to work with.  Don't mess up the Hawkeye with any of Elgin's wildcats.  It is not worth the expense nor the headaches you will encounter.  I have most of those 7mm wildcats and I would not shoot any of them in a revolver or breech loader like the Hawkeye.
 
I have played the games, spent the money, and kicked myself over it several times.  It is great to have ideas.  You need to keep working on them.  It is smart to talk them over and listen to pro's and con's.  I am sorry, but on these two, I can come up with no Pros and a lot of Cons.
 
Just a nickels worth for free.....
 
Steve