Or, is it a .45 ACP?

Or........BOTH!



A NIB distributor exclusive Ruger 5.5" NM Blackhawk Bisley .45 Colt / .45 ACP Convertible.



I've wanted a .45 ACP wheelgun for years. Just didn't want to fork the cash for a S&W because I wasn't completely sold on a dedicated ACP revolver.

Had originally wanted a .45 Colt for hunting, but opted for the Casull as a better dedicated hunting rig.

When I saw this gun, I started thinking of all the boxes I could check off and it just came to the point of, too good to pass.

It's still a big gun for a Carney like me to hide. But, I might be able to conceal it in cooler weather with a light jacket and not look like an alien is coming out of my abdomen.

I'm on a revolver kick this year. Apparently.

I had been toying with the idea of getting a .45 Colt, but it was a matter of finding the right gun. I am not a Vaquero fan and really prefer the Bisley grip. I'd considered the 7.5" blued Super Blackhawk in .45 Colt. To which I was immediately advised by a friend, I already had a 7.5" Super Redhawk in .454 Casull. So, if I was going to do a .45 Colt.................I'd better make it more appropriate. Well.........I occasionally listen. When I found the convertible model............it took little prodding to fall on my sword.



The factory trigger is 4 pounds and I tried the "Poor Man's Trigger Job" which reduced the trigger pull to a mushy 2 pounds with a sluggish and gritty reset. Yeah, that ain't gonna work. But, I listened again to the same friend and already have a Wilson Trigger Spring Kit on the way.

Also replaced the factory grips with Hogue Black Micarta. Much better!



Have a Galco Holster, should be here Tuesday.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/178...cm_vc=wishList

Once I get this set up to my liking..............I may actually carry this as a CCW this winter! Feels that great!

I want to replace the factory front sight first, though. They are not very fast to acquire. Any suggestions for an improvement of a front sight? I don't see many options around for the Blackhawk.

Borrowed some .45 Colt brass from a friend until I get some and ordered some 250gr Hornady XTP Bullets, they will be my carry bullets for CCW. For hunting/stopping/heavy loads............I'm going to load up some of my buddy's 300gr WFN-GC cast bullets hot and heavy. Should be pretty stout......or I hope.

I have a plethora of .45 ACP ammo from 185gr to 230gr that should cover me from that aspect.



What at I need now, is load data for a 300gr WFN-GC cast bullet and H110 powder. Suggestions? I've no desire to load light on the Colt cartridge. I have the ACP cylinder for fart loads. I plan to run the 250s fast and the 300s hard. With the Ruger, no reason not to.

I am really excited about this one. It looks beautiful.........feels beautiful............and hopefully......shoots beautiful.

Man, I like this gun!!

http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm
He likes a 310 but a 300 will work just fine. Same for the 260's and 250's. It is a must read regardless.



What took ya so long? Everybody should have a 45 colt. Enjoy the new toy!

Awesome! Thanks for the link. Greatly appreciated.

As to the length of time to acquiring a .45 Colt...............I'm a little slow.

Very happy for you!

Thanks, Ernie.

Zee,

Normally when someone gets a new gun, they should be excited. You need to show a little excitement ;^)

If you hop onto the hodgdon powder website, you will find data for h110. They show a jacketed 300, but the rule of thumb is that you will typically find lead of the same weight to be a little lower in pressure than jacketed. If you cross reference the Hodgdon data with the Linebaugh link that S4 posted, you should see your window, so to speak.

While you are waiting for your spring kit to arrive, you need to measure/check your barrel for constrictions (typically at the thread/frame area), and check you cylinder throats. With 12 holes, that ought to keep you busy for a bit ;^)

Very nice looking piece of hardware you found there.

Craig

Nothing like new man bling,great grab,the nice thing about the 45 Colt is it makes a nice hole.

Thank you.

Yes they do. Thanks.

Congrats on the new iron Zee! She's a looker

nice....

Congrats! That's a very nice piece of iron. It should serve you well.

Mighty nice indeed!

nice!

Cool! Awesome find, Zee.

beautiful......

A word of caution you may not need but carry only factory ammo for ccw.Don't know how it is where you are from but if push comes to shove and you have to use it [Heaven forbid]the lawyers will use handloads against you big time. Use the best bullet you can find just make sure its factory.
Nice snag by the way.

Thanks. But in truth, I don't buy that factory ammo must be used for defense. Even if prosecution brings up handloads, a good defense should shred their argument. A justified defensive shooting is just that. Justified.........or not. Regardless the rounds fired through the gun.

I know that handloads have been brought up in cases before, but I am not aware of a single case where it swayed the jury against the defendant.

Honestly, I believe this fear is a perpetuated wives-tail.

That being said, I currently use factory ammo for all my defensive firearms. This is strictly out of convenience as I don't handload for any semi auto handgun cartridges. But, I wouldn't hesitate one second to defend my life with one of my handloads were it necessary.

.45 ACP Cylinder Range Report

Being without dies to make .45 Colt handloads, I took the ACP cylinder to the range today to make the gun go "BANG".



I set up my handgun rest on the bench and target at 25 yards to see how things went and try to zero the sights.



I'd brought both 185gr & 230gr Federal Classic JHP ammunition with me to try.

Starting with the 185gr bullets, I will say.................she don't like that load. Hits were sporadic and about palm size at 25 yards. So, I didn't spend much time with that load.

I then switched to the 230gr ammunition and things went much better. After I got the sights zeroed to my liking, I tried for a group at 25 yards.



Not bad for factory ACP ammo, I guess. About what a good 1911 will do.

Moved up to 10 yards with the rest to test POI and group.



That'll work for me.

1st - Recoil from the ACP out of a revolver is a cupcake!!!! Especially without the cycle of a slide.
2nd - The "Poor Man's Trigger Job" sucks on this particular gun. I gotta put that spring arm back. The trigger often wouldn't reset without assistance and the grit was horrendous! Just waiting on the "Wilson Springs".
3rd - I dislike the front sight something fierce! It is hard to discern and there seems too much floating room withing the rear sight. I gotta fix that somehow. I hate it.

Suggestions on a front sight?

The gun is fun to shoot and seems to shoot well. I am still happy with it. Just need the trigger and sight fixed. Then, life will be good.

oh boy, we get to help you spend money now.

Bowen sights

Seriously, it might take a combination the rear and front to get the width and shape you want. I put a set of the Bowen Rough Country rears on my 45 acp S&W, and I really like them. I think the rear might be a smidge narrower than stock, but I did not measure. I do not have an adjustable sighted Ruger, but I am sure others will chime in. Sometimes it's just having a quality rear that is dead nuts square, to make the difference. My Colt New frontier had a rear that was pretty rough. Just a better/newer made rear that was true really helped.

And I was sort of tongue and cheeking with my earlier post about throats and constriction. You are doing it correctly. Shoot the thing, then if you are having problems, diagnose. I'd say your 45 acp cylinder is looking like it might not have problems

.

Craig

Exactly. I use handloads in every gun I have, whether in the nightstand, on my belt, or in the deer stand.

Thanks, Bearbait.

I'll look at those Bowen Sights.

Holy Crap!!!!

Just installed the Wilson Custom Tune Spring Kit and it dropped the 4 pound factory pull to..........



Consistently under 2 pounds!!!!! Pull.......after pull........after pull.......after pull. Reads the exact same on the scale. Smooth break, nice return, crisp reset..........AWESOME!!!!

A friend talked me into getting it. At first, I blew him off. But, decided to order one anyway. Wow!!!

I'll never doubt him again.