Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Ruger Convertibles

I have both the original large/standard frame .45 Convertible:







as well as the newer Flattop medium frame .45 Convertible:





I have found that now that I have both, I tend to use the medium frame Flattop more, due to its smaller size and general handling characteristics. It makes a great field gun in .45 ACP, and using 1911 mags works quite slick for speed loaders for the gun.

When I use the .45 Colt cylinder, I tend to shoot my 270 grain wide nose Keith Semi Wadcutter, that clocks out at 900 FPS from the 4 & 5/8ths " barrel. That seems to be plenty big enough to handle anything I am going to run into, so I rarely run them any hotter, in spite of the gun being capable of handling hotter loads.

Some of our members here have shot some hogs as well as Whitetail deer with that load and have commented on the effectiveness of it, so it seems to be doing what it was designed to do.

The Flattops are fairly close in size to an SAA, and they have a very nice balance to them. The shorter barrel version, like the one shown above is especially nice. It is one that I tend to grab any time I want to shoot and pack a single action.

They are very accurate when given a proper load.



This is the 270 Keith SWC at 900 FPS.

I think a Flattop .45ACP is one of the most serviceable sporting handguns a person could ever own.

Pure utility without the handicaps of a .44 Special.

Hopefully production will catch up. It’s hard to find a decently priced/quality revolver these days.

I really wish I had an ACP cylinder for my Colt.

Considering the ammo & component shortages, off & on, more on since Clinton, convertibles make more sense that they ever have. Years ago I might have had several unused extra cylinders on the shelf, & really didn't want to pay extra for a conv. if I had a choice.

Nowadays, I'll take the extra versatility if I can get it. Even to the point of having a double action machined so it could be a convertible.

I've got a Blackhawk convertible. I shoot mostly 45ACP just because I mostly shoot mild loads anyways.

I've been meaning to order some of this steel case 45ACP at $219/500 rounds, shipped.

https://www.sgammo.com/product/wolf...ain-fmj-wolf-wpa-steel-case-ammo-barnaul

Grip panels are Hogue black micarta.

I love the .45ACP cartridge. Have 2 pistols so chambered. Both delight me.

If I'm looking at boxes of .45ACP ammo I'd pass by any so chambered single action revolver that I might own to shoot them, in favor of the RIA or Sig that are made for and deliver all the benefits of the cartridge.

I don't hate single action revolvers. Think they're kinda cool. As someone, maybe Waders, stated above there's the whole feel of them in weight, balance, "dragging the hammer"...
If I wanna get that feel, or experience I'd probably do it with a traditional SA revolver cartridge.

I love my Bisley and my 1911’s, but these pics are giving me urges.
Fortunately, guns don’t care if you choose to practice gun polygamy……

Son,
I saw an internet review that included targets shot with the 357 Mag. & the 9mm cylinders. The best 357 loads (@ 25 yards) were around 1 3/4", while the best of the 9mm were around 3 inches.

Also saw a Handloader article by Brian Pearce, Handloader 301, April 2016. Paraphrased, "357; both revolvers were capable of one-inch (at 25 yards) with select loads. 9mm; both guns were still impressive, jacketed bulets, again with select loads were 1.5" to 2.0 inches."


Anybody else have any experience with the 9mm Ruger Convertibles?


Jerry

No experience with the 9mm convertibles.

One time I loaded up some 9mm 115gr FMJ in 38 Special cases. I shot them through a 4" GP100. The accuracy was off a little. I managed about 5=6" at 25 yards, where I was closer to 3" at 25 yards with the .357" bullets.

I was not shooting off a bag or anything, just standing, mod-weaver.

LOL...

Yup, I haven't owned a SA revolver for probably 20 years, but I've been looking since I responded to this thread.
There's been a number of times I felt a pull for a stainless Ruger Bisley in various cartridges. Recent change in marital status has me doing some impulsive stuff...

Guess it don't matter what impulses I try to follow.

Gunbroker- nada

LGSs-zip

If I'da found a 4 5/8 stainless Bisley today, I'da just called Christmas good.

I have an unfired 4 5/8” one in stainless. I have zero interest in the 9mm cylinder.

I just picked up a Ruger Blackhawk 45LC/45acp revolver. I reload for a lot of calibers, but 45LC is not one of them. However, I’m sitting on thousands of 45acp ammo, which is what I plan on shooting.

I wonder if I can bore that 9mm cylinder out into a 38 Short Colt or 38 Special

I just picked up a 5.5” Ruger Blackhawk Convertible 45LC/45acp a couple of weeks ago. Went to the range last week with the 45acp cylinder…….loved it!

Not really planning on doing anything with the 45LC, but I have a ton of 45acp to shoot.

Yep. Very nice.

Just yesterday, I saw a 4-5/8" Blackhawk Convertible .45 in a small local gun shop. I think the price was about $1,100.00. Looked in nice shape.