Blackhawk Cylinder & 45 LC...

[BCB]

I had recently started a thread about my interest in getting a 44 Special—all the options that were available were mostly mentioned and I am still milling them through my brain...

Also mentioned was the suggestion of a 45 Long Colt—so, I looked into that also…

Now my question for you Ruger Blackhawk owners: Are the chambers in the cylinder sized large enough to allow shooting cast bullets without them being swaged to less than bore diameter as the leave the cylinder?

I have heard nightmares of such problems. I really don’t want to purchase a new handgun and then have to have the chambers reamed to allow a cast bullet to past though without getting swaged smaller than bore diameter...

Thanks again…BCB

[nicholst55]

I'm told that recent Ruger revolvers are better in this regard, but I'm not holding my breath. If I were to purchase another .45 Blackhawk, I would expect to have to spend the $30 to have the Cylindersmith (or someone) open up the chamber throats. Both of my .44 Mag Super Blackhawks exhibit chamber throats within the acceptable range, so no problems there.

[Dr. A]

Unless things have changed in the last year, they will be .450. This went for my 45ACP cylinder as well. My best friends gun was the same 4 months later. I reamed them out and we're good to go. Sending them off to the cylinder smith is easy and about 35 bucks. Not that big of a deal, really.

[454PB]

My .45 Blackhawk convertible has .453" throats and a .452" groove diameter, and shoots well with cast boolits of .452". However, mine was made back in 1980. I too have heard of the undersize throat problems, but don't know what years of manufacture were affected. Perhaps you could take a .452" slug with you when you examine the gun, and see if it will fit the throats.

[buckndee]

Do you have contact information for cylindersmith. My OM ruger 45LC/45ACP cylinders run .448-.449, way to tight!

[45nut]

http://www.cylindersmith.com/

[buckndee]

Thank you 45nut for the link info.

[shooting on a shoestring]

My .45 Colt Blackhawk has a .452 bore and .453 plus a few tenths throats. Mine was bought new and the fired case that came with it was dated 2001 IIRC. I did measure a couple of .45 Colt BHs before I bought this one and took the pick of the litter.

[BCB]

O.K. one more question—I think!

I have gone back through all of my Handloader Magazines from over 20 years and read every article concerning the 45 Colt. (Not Long Colt as I have learned from several articles!).

The question: What bullet weight to start with—cast boolits—of course? Many articles seem to favor the heavy boolits in the neighborhood of 300+ grains. I like the looks of the RCBS 45-270-SSA, but many have mentioned the Lyman 452424. Both of these designs look like Keith style and that style has worked well for me in my 44 Magnums and my 357 Magnums.

I like the 270 grainer ‘cause it seems to be right in the middle as far as weight goes. Any thoughts…BCB

[9.3X62AL]

BCB--

I have a Bisley Blackhawk from about 2000-2001. It has .452" grooves, and I reamed the throats to .453" from their factory .449". That made it act right with castings. I don't think it has ever fired a jacketed bullet, or a factory round.

The Lyman #454- or #452424 is the Keith-pattern design for the 45 Colt caliber. Mine run about 252 grains in 92/6/2 alloy. There is also a gas-checked Thompson design (#454- or #452490) of similar weight, mine runs about 255 grains. The "classic" 45 Colt design is the Lyman #454- or #452190, a round-nose with small meplat weighing around 255-260 grains.

The heavy-for-caliber weights tend in the wide flat nose design to not do their best work until driven pretty fast--1000 FPS plus. That has been the case with the Lee 310 grainer that I have as well. The SWC and RN designs of "standard" weight have been very accurate for me from 750-1200 FPS. For me, the standard weights have been better all-around performers. I caution that 90% of my shooting involves 1873-level velocities (900-1000 FPS)--if I were a more active big-game hunter, the 310 might be more attractive for me.

[MtGun44]

My BH convertible has a .452 bore and came with .450 in the LC cyl and
.449 in the ACP cyl. I reamed both to .452 and polished to .453.

Check my old thread in the gunsmithing section if you want to do your own.

Improved my cast boolit shooting about 50% - didn't make it a tack driver,
but it is much more consistent, getting rid of about 2 fliers per every 5 shot
group.

Bill

[9.3X62AL]

I reamed both to .452 and polished to .453
Bill

This is a more accurate description of what I did to my revolver. Thanks, Mtn Gun.

[sundog]

I used a borrowed .4525 reamer on a 45 Colt BH and it took metal out of all 6 holes - then I polished a little. Like Mtgun, it's not a tack driver, but it got a lot more consistent. That procedure made the gun 'usable'.

[shooting on a shoestring]

BCB: Pretty much amen to 9.3X6.2AL. I have 454424, 454190, 452490GC, Lee 300 WFN GC, and the Group Buy Lee 310 SWC. My favorite is 454424 followed closely by 454190. I run them right around 1000 fps for general paper punching and good times. However, I do have some stomper loads for the 300 and 310 grainers, 1250 fps (have gone to 1300). It just doesn't make sense to me to use those heavy weights unless I'm really seeking a fistful of power, so I only use them in fast loads.

I've considered using a lighter .45 acp type of boolit for general shooting. The 250s and 300s really put a dent in my meager lead pile. But I just bought a new .357 BH thats getting all my attention right now. 140s, 150s, 158s and 175 grain .357s are easier on the lead pile. They are good fun, but they don't have that soul satisfying boom of .45 Colt.