Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Shooting the Ruger Blackhawk 45 Convertible

Took the new Ruger out for it's first run today.

Shot cast 200gr SWC .452" from the ACP and Colt case, and shot some 230gr XTP from the ACP case. All were fueled by Unique.

Range on all the paper was 25 yards. Was sitting in a folding chair, with wrists resting over a knee. Pretty stable position, but wind was about 20 mph from 9 oclock.

Everything shot reasonably well, and the 230gr XTPs stood out for tigh grouping. Here are a few targets.




This was the first rounds fired. 200gr SWC over 6.4gr Unique in the 45ACP. I fired 12 rounds that were centered but low (the circled holes). Made an elevation correction and fired the last six into the square.






Second target is 12 rounds 45 Colt, 200gr SWC over 8.0gr Unique. Not horrible, but a bit looser than the 45 ACP with the same bullet.






The 45 ACP with 230gr XTPs over 7.4gr Unique were the last I put on paper. They shot very tight.







Out of curiosity, I tapped a .452" cast bullet through each of the cylinders, and they both were .4515 after. Not sure of exact bore size, but there was no leading to speak of.



After checking accuracy on paper and getting the sights dialed in, I did some rock plinking at distances out to about 100 yards. Overall I'm real happy with it.






Shane

Looks a good range trip to me. Some pretty fair shooting too. Nice gun.

Looks like you got a winner to me. Good job.

I'm going to come up with a dedicated load for the 45 Colt.

I'm thinking something along the lines of a 270gr Keith, and 9 or 10 gr Unique for somewhere in the 900-1000 fps range.



Shane

I think you'll like that thinking. A 270 WFN over 10.0 grains is a very controllable load at the top of that velocity range.

I need to find one of those convertibles.

i haven't seen Unique in years. had to go to with Green Dot lately.

my 4 5/8" Blackhawk started letting the base pin walk out. the Belt Mtn pin and new latch parts fixed it.

yours looks good with those grips. i may scare up a set for mine.

Unique is common around here, at least it was the last time I bought any powder, which was probably about a year ago.

Those are the standard grips for Blackhawks now, straight from the Ruger factory.

i have the same gun. changed out the grip frame to a bisley and my groups were cut in half, recoil becomes much more manageable with the bisley frame when using full heavier loads as well.

Try the RCBS 270 SAA slug and you will not use anything else.

MontanaMarine, my next handgun is going to be a 4 5/8" Blackhawk in 45 Colt. Kind of going back and forth between the convertible and the 45 Colt only. I reload everything, and can load the Colt to acp/original Colt velocity, or up to heavy loads. Since you are also reloading, do you anticipate using the acp cylinder much? Already loading for a 1911, so have those dies/components anyway, just not sure about the extra cylinder. Thanks, Al.

Al,

I imagine I'll use the 45ACP cylinder a fair amount.

I'm already loading for a Glock 45ACP, so figure I'll shoot a fair amount of the Glock loads (the 230gr XTP and 200gr SWC) in this revolver as well.



I found this one on Davidson's (Gun Genie). There were a few more in stock.

And look at Accurate#5 for your Acp loads.tried it and found a winner with 200 SWC's.

I have been using AA5, AA7, and AA9. I have been casting 270 to 180 gr flat point and hollow point and powder coating them. The AA( with the 280 gr and AA9 shoots real well.

AA9 and 350 gr Keith style are fun too.

I did not get the convertible but have the same Blackhawk and I have over a hundred pieces of 45 Auto-Rim brass I am thinking of loading up with 230 gr cast just for fun.

Good shooting and nice revolver MM.

If that were mine, it would never see the 45 LC cylinder.



Dave

I'll probably shoot more ACP through it than Colt. I already have the SBH 44 dialed in with a T-Rex load.

This thing is just fun with the ACP, and is accurate.

The only thing I'm not too keen on is the grips. Too narrow for my taste, and the checkering is sharp enough to feel after a few cylinders. But i'll be putting some nicer grips on it.

Another little thing I like about the shorter ACP case is that the ejector rod pushes it all the way out.

Shane

I scrounged up a SBH hammer/trigger for mine somewhere along the line.

I really like those narrow grips myself. I agree that the checkering is brutal for a good while though.



Travis

Very nice shooting...for the .45 ACP cylinder to do that well at 25 yards...you have a winner.

My guess for the .45 Colt is that you used the same bullet that you used for the .45 ACP loads. If there is not a crimping groove in that bullet my guess is that there was not enough crimp on the bullet and it caused inconsistent ignition or if the bullet was roll crimped the deformation caused the inaccuracy.

I think you are on the right train of thought about buying a heavier 240-300 grain bullet and running it about a grand...

As to the grips...the last Ruger SA I bought was a Flat Top .41 with the smaller XR3 gripframe...had those grips and was miscible to shoot...

Bob

A 250 WFN ain't half bad...

I like it so much I load it in the 45 ACP too.

Got some new grips in.

White micarta panels from Hogue. I really like the look/feel. A bit thicker than the issue grips, and nice and smooth.

Perfect.




This revolver really shoots.

I few days ago I was shooting the 45 ACP, with 200gr SWC and 6.0gr Unique. Lasered 59 yards. I put two cylinders into a 7" group, standing, modified weaver, with some wind pushing on me.

I've got some 255gr Keith on the way for the 45 Colt cylinder. Ordered the Hi-Tek coated bullets from Missouri Bullet Co.

I like those grips.

My friend, you have arrived in the land of happiness with a revolver.

The 45 Colt/ACP is a very handy setup in the Ruger.

I sure do like it.

I'm sensing some jealousy from m old SBH 44....grin

I bought 45 convertible stainless convertible a little over a year ago. have come to like Unique, 9.2- 9,4 grains under a homecast 255 gr Keith style bullet in the 45 Colt. Have not tried the acp cylinder yet Mild load that seems to do anything I want from the revolver.

Will probably try some heavier loads in the future as I have 200 270 gr. from Creeker before he retired, but haven't found a need for them yet.

If I could stay near MM's accuracy, I'd be jacked/

The NEI 454 270 PBK may have something to say about that.

Nice grips. Some of the limited run Blackhawks came with them, or some that looked exactly like them. You will like the Missouri bullets. I've been to the guy's place. He's a good old boy. Lots of lead stacked around there.

The new grips are a pleasure to shoot, and looks classy to boot.

25 yards, three cylinders, mod weaver. 45 ACP, 200gr SWC. 6.0gr Unique.





Carries nice in a Bianchi Lawman, and Wilderness Tactical belt.

Im trying to locate a bisley convertable. None of my local dealers can get one since they are williams exclusives

Nice shooting!

Indeed, very nice shooting. I owned a 4 5/8" barreled Blackhawk conversion back in the eighties. I bought it used. Somebody had converted the grip frame to that of a Super Blackhawk.

I've got a pair of like-grips on this 44-40.

I did not get the convertible but I have 130 45 Auto Rim brass I am going to load for light plinking.

I was wondering if the Auto Rim brass would work. I notice the AR case has a fairly thick rim. Thought it might bind the cylinder.

There is a case out there known as the Cowboy 45 Special. It is an ACP length, with the 45 Colt rim dimensions.

I don't know of a source, just saw a few internet pages about it.

http://www.americanrifleman.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/45cowboyspecial_web.jpg

Once again I outsmarted myself. I checked for cylinder fit but not for rim clearance. They will not work in my Blackhawk. Thanks for the thought as I was about to load them up today.

Well that's good to know.

Happy Birthday Scott, have a great day!

Thanks.

I am thinking a 200 gr cast bullet for the 45 ACP might be a fun can killer with a light load.

Got some 255gr Keith SWC's in today from MO Bullet Co. These have the polymer coating. Loaded some up over 9.0 gr Unique. Guessing 900-950 fps. We'll see how they shoot.

the 45 ACP and 200gr SWC is what I've been shooting in the 45ACP cylinder.

I know I'm being picky, but that SWC ain't a Keith.

I'm not an expert on the Keith SWC, but I believe they typically have a longer nose profile, deeper crimp groove, and no bevel on the base.

MBC sells these as a Keith, so....but yeah it does look a bit off.

Much "Keithier" :

Yes.

I've got one of those convertibles. I need to take it out shooting, it has been a long time since I last fired it.

I'd be tempted to try these in it.

http://rimrockbullets.net/top-shelf...ullets/45-lc-225-gr-dewc-fb-per-500.html

I think a Blackhawk in 45ACP could displace my .44 Special.




Travis

That wadcutter would probably make a wicked bunny basher. Looking around I saw Matt's Bullets offers a 270 gr full wadcutter.

I've seen a few of the 45 convertibles online in the flat-top frame.

With this 45 up and running, I think my 44 (SBH) is going to get lonely.

I never knew they made them in the Flat Top? That'd be a nice setup.

I've been using the .44 version of that 200gr WC and it's been dynamite on bunnies. I load them slow. 800fps or so.



Travis

Stainless or blue, 5.5" or 4.6"

Models 5240, 5241, 5243, 5243.


http://www.ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkConvertible/models.html

Damn... I might need to get one of those for my daughter.

That's a great do-all gun.




Travis

The flat-top is nice for sure. in the 4.6" bbl., only 36 oz, and all steel. My BH is 39 oz, with an aluminum grip frame, but more steel on the frame/cylinder.

I went back and forth between the two. The BH grip is a little bigger, and a little more room behind the triggerguard. I liked the BH grip better in the end, but that's a personal choice.

Of course the BH will handle all the snorty ammo, but honestly I don't see myself shooting anything the flat-top wouldn't handle. I've still got the SBH 44 for the stomper loads.

I don't think you can go wrong either way, I just like the Flat Tops.




Dave

Ruger just makes great single-actions. From the Bearcat to the Bisley, and all stops in between.

Yep.

Best bargain in handguns IMO. That and used Glocks.



Travis

You bet.

I'm no a huge collector of handguns, seven altogether. They are all Ruger or Glock.

Peasant. Grin....




Travis

I've had a few others, good and not so great. S&W 642, Colt Anaconda, Taurus 945, Hi Standard Double-Nine, even a Jennings J22 (gag)....grin

The Rugers and Glocks are great utilitarian tools, they seem to stick around.

Shane,

some very nice shooting, and a great looking rig too. the new grips juxtaposed against the deep blue make it very striking.

however, in reading your post--i'm shocked about the Jennings--that you gave up on such a fine piece of hardware!

The Jennings J-22 wouldn't penetrate a coffee can, with CCI Mini Mags.

I don't know if it was the short barrel, or if the bore was too oversized to get a good gas seal.

it wouldn't be the length of the barrel, as the S&W Escort will easily punch through a 2x4 sideways (1 1/2 inches) with high velocity loads...