Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Ruger Blackhawk - converting calibers

So I have a .357 Blackhawk that I really don't use much and was planning to sell. My question is about converting it. Is it as simple as buying a cylider and barrel for the new caliber? I have been shopping around and it seems like I can find each for around $75-100 depending on condition. I am considering a .41 or .45Colt. Comments or criticism?

The 41 sounds interesting.

You purchased the revolver for $X.

Now add in X more $$ for a new barrel and cylinder, plus more $$ to have them fitted.

You now have $XXX in the revolver which, unless you paid 50 bucks for the basic gun, will be more $$ than a new or slightly used revolver costs in the caliber you want. And your $$$$ Blackhawk is worth no more to someone else than any other used Blackhawk - and probably lots less since the caliber marking on the frame no longer matches the actual caliber of the revolver.

OR - you could sell the one you have to recover all or most of the original purchase price and then convert that to a new or slightly used Blackhawk in the caliber of your choice.


Now the upside is that you could buy a really nice barrel and have a cylinder bored out to get perfect dimensions in a larger caliber but then you're talking serious dollars.

This.

Jerry

I had a bid in, wasn't real serious about it, on a new model ruger blackhawk at auction a couple of days ago, in .41magnum. With buyers premium and sales tax, it sold for about 400bucks.
I did see some on gunbroker for in the 330dollar range. I would think it would be easier/less expensive to go that route than the gunsmithing work you would be talking about.

Just bought (another) Blackhawk .45 Colt/ACP convertible. For the money I don't think you can get a more powerful or versatile handgun. Converting your .357 would take WAAAY more money than just selling it and buying another one in a different caliber.

It can be done, but odds are the front sight won't line up with the rear sight, so the barrel will have to be indexed to line up the sights, and then the barrel/cylinder gap will have to be set, and then the forcing cone might need to be slightly cut. And then there is the issue of the gap of the new cylinder on the frame. If the gap is too much, the cylinder will have to be machined and a bushing fit to tighten the gap, if the cylinder is too long it will have to be machined to fit. Pretty ease to rack up over $200 in machine work and fitting to pull it off.

Either sell the .357 and buy what you want, or keep it and buy what you want.

The more I shoot the .357, the more I like it. From 105 gr plinkers to 200 gr max loads, it's a very versatile gun for plinking, target practice, small game hunting and medium sized game. Affordable to load for and your lead supplies go a long way if you cast.

That's what I expected to hear. The .357 Blackhawk will be sold as soon as I get home and hopefully I'll have a 5.5" stainless Bisley waiting on me...