Custom single actions

[The Old Redneck]

 Yesterday I did a bad thing, people that have an addiction need to stay away from things they are addicted to. Went by to talk to my favorite custom revolver smith about a 5 shot 44 mag on a Ruger 357 frame. I like the 44 special conversions, but want the gun in a 44 mag and don't mind giving up a round. He is having some 5 round cylinders made for these type conversions and I was checking to see if he had any yet. He was just finishing one of the 44 specials, and showed me a fix sight 44 mag he had built on a 45 frame. As a kid I was taught to never point a gun at anything I was not going to shoot. Wish I could learn not to pick up a gun I didn't want to buy. Looks like I'm going to "Have" to go buy it. What is it about custom guns that makes them so hard to put down and walk away from. It would be different if I didn't own so many handguns, and several of them are customs. I don't want to be talked out of buying it, just would like to know that someone out there has figured out how to look and not buy. Thanks for any advice, not that it will be taken this time.

[Lloyd Smale]

surely your not going to get any good advice from me on this one

[MS Hitman]

Don't call him "surely" and no; there is no cure for this addiction.

[Camba]

Old Red NEck:

Please, help me to understand.  Does the revolver smith has a five shooter in 44 Mag made from a 45 frame?  Or from a 357 mag frame?  I wish you meant 357 mag GP-100 frame.

Camba

[Jerry Lester]

It's pretty simple to remedy. Just catch your wife in one of those "oh too common" hissy fits, and snap a picture of her face. Carry it in your wallet with your money, and look at it before you shell out the cash!

[The Old Redneck]

   He takes the new Ruger 357 Blackhawks, and bores them out to 44 special, and puts a 44 barrel on them. He also works the actions and does all the things you expect on a custom gun. It is something that has been done for years, by several smiths. I want one of the same guns with a 5 shot 44 mag cylinder that is long enough to shoot some of the heaver cast bullets. Going to 5 shots gives more metal to the cylinder. I shoot things like a BFR 45/70 revolver, Contenders, and several other large frame revolvers, but want a smaller frame single action to carry. The 44 mag has always been a round that is fun to load and shoot. As a friend says a 38 "may" expand to 44 or 45 caliber, but they never shrink. The hand cannons are fun to shoot, the smaller guns get carried more, and shot more as I get older. In my part of Alabama we have run out of lions and tigers and bears. The 44 mag is marginal, but so far it had taken care of the saber tooth chipmunks.

[Lloyd Smale]

I know Bowen has been doing them on the new small framed guns but i have to wonder how they would hold up in the long run. IF you remember when old Elmer was trying to get the 44 mag legitimized ruger did build a few 6 shots on the small frame and the cylinder isnt what let go it was the top straps. Back thrust is something that people dont allways take into consideration when building a gun. If I had a 5 shot .44 mag made on the small framed gun I dont think id be fooling around with 300 grain bullets and stiff loads. Loaded to keith level 44 special stuff (which isnt week ammo by a long shot) in 44 mag brass which is easier to come by then the special brass and equivelent loads to the specials could be made with less pressure the whole project makes sense to me. If your looking for a packing gun that you want to shoot 300s at 1200 fps id look at the large framed gun and if its to heavy scallop the recoil sheild and fit a aluminum grip frame to it and it would be as light and handy and would be a true six shot instead of what your going to end up with an old model. By eliminating one cylinder you have effectively made the gun into a 4 shot gun

[MS Hitman]

Dave Clements is doing the same thing and calling it the "Jeff Quinn" special.  Keeping things around the .44 Special levels, even Elmer's loadings should help with longevity of the revolver.  Like most of these revolver, one's desire to stand behind it runs out long before the revolver gets damaged.

[The Old Redneck]

In 2005 Ruger came out with their 50th Anniversary Blackhawk in 357 mag. That is the gun I want converted to a 5 shot 44 mag. I have several full size 44's that I can load full house loads for, this one is not for that. I like the heavy cast bullets because they do not have to be pushed to the max to do a good job on any game we have down here. I also like the size and feel of this gun. I'm thankful for people that care enough to warn fools like me about full house loads in the lighter guns. Wish there were more people like you Mr. Smale, and I also agree with your policy about posting loads. This past year I bought a pair of Taurus Trackers in 44 mag. both with the 6.5" barrels. I was lucky and got 2 exceptional guns. My only complaint is the cylinders are too short to load my favorite cast bullet in. Probably because they don't want people loading heavy loads in their guns. I wanted the Ruger before I bought them, after carrying them I want one even more. The older I get the more I see the logic in "It is cheaper in the long run to spend a little more and get what you want the first time."Thanks for a super forum.

[2 dogs]

I would build the cylinder out of the super tough stainless steel material (17-4, I think its called) and using the New Model lockwork you would be able to load all 5 shots.

[MS Hitman]

I would have that revolver built in .44 Special as opposed to .44 Mag.  Brass is too easy to buy and 500 rounds of it would last a very long time.  Besides, loading a good cast bullet up to around 1000 fps is most effective.

[The Old Redneck]

Your are right about the 44 special, and I could also get it as a 6 shot. I just wanted it this way, and on the 44 mag case. I have a larger Ruger conversion in a 6 shot 480 , and a 454 built on a Super Blackhawk frame in 5 shot. Figure if I'm going to spend the money, why not get what I want. It will usually be loaded with a cast bullet from 250 to 300 grains, and running around 1000 fps. With a 5" barrel. Should handle saber tooth chipmunks in a pinch til I can get to the truck for a big gun.
   44 mag ammo is everywhere, and easy to find, 44 special ammo is not always that easy to find. After leaving ammo for a 44 special I carried at home, and not being able to find any one Sunday afternoon I decided not to be in that position again. I'm also not as big on shooting wildcats as I once was. Older I get the simpler I like things.

[MS Hitman]

I can appreciate getting things as you want them when footing the bill; however, I just don't see the .44 Special as being a wildcat.  100 years as a factory cartridge just goes against the definition as I understand it.

[Lloyd Smale]

I guess just wanting it is reason enough. IVe got customs that people think are odd too. But there what I WANTED and if its what you want and its your money and someone will build it id go for it. Just make sure you post some pics when its done. Theres been guns more boderline in stenght built then that. I think theres been a 44 mag and 45 colt built on single sixes and i know of at least one .357 bearcat thats been made.

Your are right about the 44 special, and I could also get it as a 6 shot. I just wanted it this way, and on the 44 mag case. I have a larger Ruger conversion in a 6 shot 480 , and a 454 built on a Super Blackhawk frame in 5 shot. Figure if I'm going to spend the money, why not get what I want. It will usually be loaded with a cast bullet from 250 to 300 grains, and running around 1000 fps. With a 5" barrel. Should handle saber tooth chipmunks in a pinch til I can get to the truck for a big gun.
   44 mag ammo is everywhere, and easy to find, 44 special ammo is not always that easy to find. After leaving ammo for a 44 special I carried at home, and not being able to find any one Sunday afternoon I decided not to be in that position again. I'm also not as big on shooting wildcats as I once was. Older I get the simpler I like things.

[The Old Redneck]

 Didn't mean to make it sound like I was refering to the 44 special as a wildcat. It just as well have been that weekend, could find 38's 357's and 44 mags, just no 44 specials. Over the years I have built a lot of wildcats in rifles and handguns. A few years ago I was doing some subcalibers, i.e. a .10, .12 and some .14 caliber stuff. A really good friend had Balls enough to tell me how crazy it was, and over time I have had to agree with him. I still shoot a few wildcats, but not the extreem stuff any more. That was where the remark about wildcats came from. The good thing about these forums is the wealth of advice from good people that have a good foundation of experiance behind them. It at least makes you examine the reasons you want to do something, or should. Over the weekend I have took a long hard look at the project, and still want it. When he gets it built I'll have someone post photos.

[22popnsplat]

why would you want a cure ?

[The Old Redneck]

 The reason for wanting a cure is it would save a ton of money. After reading a lot of good advice, it may cost me more. I checked today on buying a second anniversary model to have one of the 6 shot 44 specials built on.

[corbanzo]

Over the years we all come up with some pretty large collections of guns, and for a fairly small price we can keep up these in their original condition.  Just being able to open one safe can bring back good memories, make a man smile as he sees what he has accomplished, and I'm sure you guys still get the same feeling that I do when I pick up my favorite revolver and feel that energy run through your body.... So why not get what you want?  Itll make you happier in the long run.  Cant put a price on happiness right?  I dont think I will ever sell or trade a single gun Ive ever bought, but Ill keep getting more. 

I dont think that a cure is necessary, but something to keep it at bay at times is nice, especially when the chips are down.