Anyone have experience with Belt Mountain base pins in a Ruger Blackhawk? I have minimal slop with my cylinder and pin, I'm guessing just a couple thousandths. My current base pin mics out at .2480 and the Belt Mountain comes in at .2495, so I wondering if I will see any improvements in accuracy by installing a new base pin. . .all though they look pretty damn good! I'm a firm believer "if it ain't broke - don't fix it", but on the other hand I'm a sucker in ringing every once of making something shoot it's best. Let me know what you think. Thank you.

I've tried BM base pins in 6 different Ruger single actions. For some the accuracy improved, for some the accuracy decreased, for some it made no difference. However, my two most accurate Blackhawks have BM pins. I will always at least try one of their pins in all new Rugers. I compare accuracy by average group size off a good rest from at least 50 yards.

They work if all the other stuff is concentric. I have had Rugers lock up by just replacing the pin.

I always had my smith do the full Monty belt Mtn base pin, reverse index pawl, ream cylinder and check throat add Wolfe springs.

Results vary from 2" at 100 yds on a 45 colt to 4" at 100 on a 44 mag.

I installed them on two of my guns. I did like the look of them and the fact that they lock in place. I didn't really notice a difference in accuracy. A while after installing them I read about how Rugers are built with a little play in them intentionally. IIRC it pointed out that since they are mass produced and not line bored the play allows the bullet to align correctly as it enters the forcing cone. If you remove that play the cylinder may or may not align with the forcing cone correctly. If it doesn't it will wear the cone unevenly. If memory serves that's it in a nutshell. Whether its true or not I'm not certain but it does make sense to me. I removed them after reading that since both guns shot fine.

Thanks for the replies and advice fellas. Looks like I'll just leave things as they are for now.

Another thought on BM pins, some guns don't like to have the lock screw tightened down. Ease out on the screw and the group's get smaller. I think what Pab1 describes is true, sometimes a little play in the cylinder is a good thing.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE BM PINS WERE A PLUS ALWAYS. THE INFO IN THIS TOPIC IS INVALUABLE. I THINK THEY ARE WORTH TRYING.

OFFSHORE I was thinking the same thing when i got my SBH some 20 years ago. As I do most of my shooting off hand on my hind feet, any plus in accuracy wouldn't be seen anyway. Seeing that I'm a CHEAP SOB before I spend $ it better have a positive outcome that i can see. So no BM pin and i can still hit a paper plate 60-75 yards. ( 100 plus on a good day) good to know if I'm ever charged by paper plates.

I'm so on the fence with this one. I may just go ahead and order the base pin I want and give it a try, they're $25 and if it doesn't improve accuracy then it is what it is. . .but its $25! LOL

I figure if MagnaPort uses them on their accuracy "Stalker" package they are good enough. I have one Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter with the Stalker conversion and one regular Hunter model, both with the pins. It did increase accuracy on the regular Hunter model. Don't know about the conversion as I got it this way.
Mike

I have them on all of my Rugers. I think they are a worthwhile addition.