Author Topic: Altering a Super Black Hawk (Read 1232 times)

bayrunner · « **on:** February 18, 2005, 07:22:57 PM »

Hey Guys ____ I just purchased a 7 ½ in. Ruger SBH(44 mag) at a gun show at a good price, and Im thinking of altering it . I always wanted a compact packing gun when Im in the woods (here in the Pacific Northwest) we do have blk bears ,and I dont treat them lightly .So, my thoughts are to cut the barrel down to 4 in. put a Bird head grip (steel) and a steel ejector rod. It would be approximately the same size as a factory Ruger 45 Bird Head(size wise).I picked the 44 due to availability of components(dont hand load as of yet). When I start to hand load I plan on using a load approximately, say 250-300 grain of hard cast at apx.950-1100 fps.___So what do you guys think, anybody have any experience shooting such a load out of this kind of setup (barrel wise etc.or close to it).What do you think of the recoil compared to the 4 5/8th in. barrel, in the SBH Ruger . Anyway your responses are greatly appreciated._____ THANKS BAYRUNNER

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #1 on:** February 18, 2005, 11:11:14 PM »

your actually looking at a pretty expensive project. Cutting a blued barrel and reattaching he sight requires rebluing he barrel. A grip frame alone would cost you at least $200. If you want to go to 4 inch the ejector rod housing has to be shortened and you will need to have the barrel warning removed as it will be partially cut off anyway. The birds head guns to me arent all that comfortable with real heavy loads. If you want a light packer heres what i would do. Id buy aluminum grip frame off a blackhawk. Nip the corners off it on a grinder to get a small round but. Have your barrel cut to 4 5/8s buy clements or someone else reputable. trade your steel ejector rod housing to someone for an aluminum one. If you want to save a few bucks once you get the grip frame round butted just strip it and polish it and make a two toned gun out of it. You should be able to find a grip frame and ejector rod housing cheap on the classifieds or ebay and if you post on some of the classifieds you might even get someone that will swap both even up for yours. YOu could end up with a nice packer for $100 Dont get me wrong i love 4 inch single actions I have a half a dozen of them from a 500 linebaugh to a .22 recoil will be no different with a 4 inch then a 4 5/8s gun. But will be lively with a lightweight .44 with heavy 300 grain loads.

redd7 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2005, 04:05:57 AM »

It sounds lil you are trying to build the gun I purchased yesterday. A ruger Vaquero sherrifs model. 3" barrel, birds head grip. $359.00 at sportsmans warehouse. I don't think that you can build one cheaper than that. Mine is a 45 colt, I'm not sure if they come in 44. I think the longer barreled one do for sure though.(4 5/8 barrels)

bayrunner · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2005, 04:36:25 AM »

Hey Lloyd Smale____What do you mean about nipping the edges off the regular grip and turning it into a round grip frame, you lost me there, please bear with me, are you talking about cutting and welding, precisely how would you turn a standard grip frame to a more compact round grip._____ THANKS BAYRUNNER

BlkHawk73 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2005, 05:58:56 AM »

It's preety easy to round but a grip frame. Just file off the rear bottom corner to the shape you want and then do the same to the grips.
$200 for a gripframe? Maybe for a factory Ruger bass one. Birdshead ones are available aftermarket for under $100 and from Ruger for $120+/- I believe. Add 40+ for grips. Check Brownell's. Either way, a small amount of fitting is likely and either a polishing (stainless) or a reblue will be needed.
Kinda confused on parts of the initial want here. A "compact packing gun is what's wanted yet you mention wanting steel gripframe and ERH. Steel = weight. Packing guns are usually lighter for more comfortable extended carry periods. I'd stay with the aluminum EJH. The birdsheads are steel but I'd be just as happy with a roundbuted SBH gripframe. For a bbl, I'd try checking with some of the Ruger custom guys to see if they have any take-offs available.
Regardless of which route you take, it proberly would have been cheaper to simply buy a gun more suited to your want/need than to go this route your heading. The short bbled birdheads are quite available in 45LC. If a .44 was wanted, finding one with a short bbl would have elimanted a major step in this process.
As perhaps another note on this. This gun started life as a 10" SBH. Now it's a roundbutted 3 1/2. I can attest to the costs of these mods over buying a new one. :wink:

Steve P · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2005, 11:00:01 AM »

Here's what you do. You pull off that rear sight, get a good scope mount, and put on a scope. This is your hunting gun for the blacktails toward the coast from Eugene. Even elk in Oakridge area would tremble as you walk thru the woods.

You forget about screwing up that superblackhawk and you run down to one of those great gun shops in Eugene, or Springfield, and have them order you a Blackhawk, 41 mag, with 4 5/8" barrel. It will cost less than converting your 44 over.

Now that you are done, instead of having one overpriced, ruined 44, you have two HUNTING guns!! Wahoo!! Watch out black bears, this man is packing IRON!!

Good Luck,

Steve

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2005, 01:14:21 PM »

your right blackhawk it must have been to early in the morning when i wrote that i was quoteing a price for a complete bisley conversion with hammer and trigger.

Quote from: BlkHawk73

It's preety easy to round but a grip frame. Just file off the rear bottom corner to the shape you want and then do the same to the grips.
$200 for a gripframe? Maybe for a factory Ruger bass one. Birdshead ones are available aftermarket for under $100 and from Ruger for $120+/- I believe. Add 40+ for grips. Check Brownell's. Either way, a small amount of fitting is likely and either a polishing (stainless) or a reblue will be needed.
Kinda confused on parts of the initial want here. A "compact packing gun is what's wanted yet you mention wanting steel gripframe and ERH. Steel = weight. Packing guns are usually lighter for more comfortable extended carry periods. I'd stay with the aluminum EJH. The birdsheads are steel but I'd be just as happy with a roundbuted SBH gripframe. For a bbl, I'd try checking with some of the Ruger custom guys to see if they have any take-offs available.
Regardless of which route you take, it proberly would have been cheaper to simply buy a gun more suited to your want/need than to go this route your heading. The short bbled birdheads are quite available in 45LC. If a .44 was wanted, finding one with a short bbl would have elimanted a major step in this process.
As perhaps another note on this. This gun started life as a 10" SBH. Now it's a roundbutted 3 1/2. I can attest to the costs of these mods over buying a new one. :wink:

cnTndr85 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2005, 01:44:46 PM »

Quote from: Lloyd Smale

If you want a light packer heres what i would do. Id buy aluminum grip frame off a blackhawk. Nip the corners off it on a grinder to get a small round but.

Lloyd,
Thats just what I did with my 5.5" 45 COLT, I rounded the corners on the grinder, refinished it with matte black Dura Coat and made a thin set of grips from a piece of black walnut.......

It used to just sit in the safe because I didnt like like shooting it with the std grip frame, I even tried a SBH grip frame on it, still just didnt do it for me, but now I believe it'll be getting used a lot more, real comfy in the hand and a real pleasure to shoot now! Got to be one of the best modifications I've ever done to any of my guns!
Mark

bayrunner · « **Reply #8 on:** February 19, 2005, 03:38:10 PM »

Hey Guys _______ Greatly appreciate your responses_______ THANKS BAYRUNNER

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #9 on:** February 19, 2005, 10:27:24 PM »

you did a real professional looking job there pal!

Quote from: cnTndr85

Quote from: Lloyd Smale
If you want a light packer heres what i would do. Id buy aluminum grip frame off a blackhawk. Nip the corners off it on a grinder to get a small round but.

Lloyd,
Thats just what I did with my 5.5" 45 COLT, I rounded the corners on the grinder, refinished it with matte black Dura Coat and made a thin set of grips from a piece of black walnut.......

It used to just sit in the safe because I didnt like like shooting it with the std grip frame, I even tried a SBH grip frame on it, still just didnt do it for me, but now I believe it'll be getting used a lot more, real comfy in the hand and a real pleasure to shoot now! Got to be one of the best modifications I've ever done to any of my guns!
Mark

cnTndr85 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 20, 2005, 02:11:31 AM »

Quote from: Lloyd Smale

you did a real professional looking job there pal!

Thanks Lloyd!

Onty · « **Reply #11 on:** February 26, 2005, 03:10:27 AM »

Quote from: bayrunner

... I always wanted a compact packing gun when Im in the woods (here in the Pacific Northwest) we do have blk bears ,and I dont treat them lightly ...

BAYRUNNER, see this thread. It might give you few important details before you spend any additional money on your project.
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=56145
Bisley 5.5 stainless is available in 44 and 41 magnum.

drdougrx · « **Reply #12 on:** February 26, 2005, 04:18:41 AM »

Hey Bayrunner,

Why don't you just go to the Mag-Na-Port site and have them do a Predator conversion on your gun. I'm sure they will alter your grip frame if you want. Their work is excellent. I have several of their conversions. They will shorten your barrel to 4 5/8th as part of the deal. I had them leave the barrel at 6" and went for an SS Magnalife finish. OR... you can have them do parts of the package as you like. Maybe kinda pricey but well worth it IMHO.

Here's the site: http://www.magnaport.com/conv.html

Best of Luck,

Doug