Post by oregon45 on Sept 13, 2014 21:45:40 GMT -5
After years of false-starts and hemming and hawing, I've finally done it: ordered my first custom revolver. Base gun is my Ruger Bisley Blackhawk, 45 Colt, stainless. It's in Tennessee now with Hamilton Bowen and, in the fullness of time, will return to Oregon as a:
*Bowen Nimrod .45 Colt
*6-shot long cylinder (fills frame window; factory diameter)
*Bowen target rear sight
*Two gold-bar front sight
*Deluxe action tune upgrade
*Free-wheel cylinder
*Decked grip frame
*Ram's Horn grips by Cary Chapman
I decided on these specifications after having read Bowen's book from cover to cover many times since I first bought my copy 10 years ago. When I first read that book I became enamored with the Nimrod design, particularly in stainless, because it just looks "businesslike" and purposeful. I read the Kindle version of Bowen's book these days as my hardcover copy, while still in good shape, has a weakened spine. I also received great advice from several members here in the threads I've posted about Bowen Nimrods. If my specs look close to the stainless Nimrod Kings6 posted about awhile back, that's no coincidence.
I decided on a 6-shot cylinder rather than a 5-shot cylinder because of the comments I read here about how Nimrod's balance with the bull barrel and front sight band; that, and I don't intend to run loads hotter than the "Ruger Only" data. Removing more steel from the cylinder (and staying with a factory diameter cylinder) should prevent the gun from feeling slow in the hand. On the grips, it was CaryC's pictures of his ram's horn grips that convinced me they were right for this project. That and he made me the first set of custom grips I ever purchased, back in 2006. Those grips were for my first stainless Bisley 45 Colt that I later gave to my Dad on his retirement.
A couple of nice guns have gone down the road to fund this project (a Ruger .357 Maximum, a 4" S&W M57, a Ruger Super Redhawk .480, a few others I can't recall off-hand) but, truth be told, I don't miss any of them because I either hadn't shot them in years, or they just didn't resonate with me. I've decided that I'm done owning safe-queens and I'd rather own a dozen guns I shoot regularly than 3-dozen that just take up room in the safe. Besides, if I turn 3-dozen factory guns into a dozen fine customs, I figure I'm ahead of the game
So now all I have to do is wait and save my pennies. I've got 1000 pieces of new Starline brass and a few pounds of AA#7 set aside for the Nimrod's arrival. Need to acquire a supply of bullets here soon. Likely go with a 300gr LFN design. I asked Bowen to sight the gun for a 300gr bullet at about 1000fps as that makes for a comfortable load with plenty of power for the hunting I'll do here in Oregon (blacktail deer, black bear, and close-range Elk).
I'll be sure to post pictures when it arrives!
*Bowen Nimrod .45 Colt
*6-shot long cylinder (fills frame window; factory diameter)
*Bowen target rear sight
*Two gold-bar front sight
*Deluxe action tune upgrade
*Free-wheel cylinder
*Decked grip frame
*Ram's Horn grips by Cary Chapman
I decided on these specifications after having read Bowen's book from cover to cover many times since I first bought my copy 10 years ago. When I first read that book I became enamored with the Nimrod design, particularly in stainless, because it just looks "businesslike" and purposeful. I read the Kindle version of Bowen's book these days as my hardcover copy, while still in good shape, has a weakened spine. I also received great advice from several members here in the threads I've posted about Bowen Nimrods. If my specs look close to the stainless Nimrod Kings6 posted about awhile back, that's no coincidence.
I decided on a 6-shot cylinder rather than a 5-shot cylinder because of the comments I read here about how Nimrod's balance with the bull barrel and front sight band; that, and I don't intend to run loads hotter than the "Ruger Only" data. Removing more steel from the cylinder (and staying with a factory diameter cylinder) should prevent the gun from feeling slow in the hand. On the grips, it was CaryC's pictures of his ram's horn grips that convinced me they were right for this project. That and he made me the first set of custom grips I ever purchased, back in 2006. Those grips were for my first stainless Bisley 45 Colt that I later gave to my Dad on his retirement.
A couple of nice guns have gone down the road to fund this project (a Ruger .357 Maximum, a 4" S&W M57, a Ruger Super Redhawk .480, a few others I can't recall off-hand) but, truth be told, I don't miss any of them because I either hadn't shot them in years, or they just didn't resonate with me. I've decided that I'm done owning safe-queens and I'd rather own a dozen guns I shoot regularly than 3-dozen that just take up room in the safe. Besides, if I turn 3-dozen factory guns into a dozen fine customs, I figure I'm ahead of the game
So now all I have to do is wait and save my pennies. I've got 1000 pieces of new Starline brass and a few pounds of AA#7 set aside for the Nimrod's arrival. Need to acquire a supply of bullets here soon. Likely go with a 300gr LFN design. I asked Bowen to sight the gun for a 300gr bullet at about 1000fps as that makes for a comfortable load with plenty of power for the hunting I'll do here in Oregon (blacktail deer, black bear, and close-range Elk).
I'll be sure to post pictures when it arrives!
