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Post by seancass on Oct 31, 2015 18:22:21 GMT -5
I haven't seen this discussed here, sorry if I missed it.
Would you 'gents consider either new five shot Ruger a good base for a custom build?
Let's say I have my heart set on a 50 or 51 cal conversion. Is there any reason to start with a five shot SBH instead of a standard Bisley? Is there $2-300 worth of added features/parts in the five shot that make it a good base gun? Or will any decent smith replace every "five shot" part with something of their own design anyway? I was hoping Bowen's article on the five shots would cover his thoughts on using them as a base gun for a bigger bore, but I don't think he touched on that. Is there any reason to pick a new 5-shot over a run-of-the-mill beater bisley for a build gun?
And in case it comes up, I know any sane person would pick 44, 45, 454, or 480 and live happily ever after. However, sanity and rational decisions rarely play a part in this hobby.
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Post by Encore64 on Oct 31, 2015 18:26:50 GMT -5
I think that's a great question. There are a lot of 500 JRH and 500 Linebaugh fans on here.
Mine are both going in for custom work, but only grips and front sights being replaced.
I look forward to following this thread. I won't turn mine into custom because I want to retain the Carpenter Steel cylinders and barrels. But, will be great to hear ideas.
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Joe S.
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 2,517
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Post by Joe S. on Oct 31, 2015 19:58:35 GMT -5
Cylinder walls on the 480 are pretty thin and i hear that steel is REALLY hard. I would think a custom cylinder would still need to be made to go bigger so really no benefit that i can see over using a plain old stainless Bisley.
But thats just my opinion...
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Post by bigbore475 on Oct 31, 2015 22:50:31 GMT -5
That's a good question, I was wondering the same thing.
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aciera
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,194
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Post by aciera on Nov 1, 2015 0:45:47 GMT -5
Well let's see.
For a 500 Linebaugh...
New barrel........
New cylinder. Longer, larger diameter and made to match your guns base pin to bore.
Open the gate.
Open the window.
Only one less step in the lock work. It's already a 5.
Gotta be blocked.
And the fussing and finishing has to be done.
And you have a 480 Barrel and cylinder to convert a blackhawk!!!!!!
What is the price difference between a beater Ruger (if you can find one) and a new 480.
I miss anything??
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steve
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,545
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Post by steve on Nov 1, 2015 0:55:28 GMT -5
The best answer I can give is, it all depends on what you want. That's the entire thing about custom anything isn't it? I've had a few custom revolvers commissioned that have cost over what you could have easily bought 4 or 5 of what these Ruger 5 shots go for. Hell, I've spent twice what one of them would go for just in little details.
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aciera
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,194
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Post by aciera on Nov 1, 2015 1:02:51 GMT -5
But with the 500 question......what you got to send.....
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steve
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,545
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Post by steve on Nov 1, 2015 1:08:42 GMT -5
But with the 500 question......what you got to send..... Like you said, it would have to be re-barreled. The cylinder could probaby be re-chambered, but you'd be limited in bullet length due to the short cylinder. |
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aciera
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,194
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Post by aciera on Nov 1, 2015 2:59:19 GMT -5
Steve......good question.
Somebody measure the cylinder wall thickness at the back of the cylinder on a 480?
See how much room we got.
Cause it's gonna get about .020-.030" thinner.
But pressure goes way down.
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aciera
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,194
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Post by aciera on Nov 1, 2015 3:28:06 GMT -5
It's around .070" on a 45.
Gonna be possibly .040"... On a 500.
The .007 variant could be in frame or cylinder. I forget
Base pin to bore.
Makes a huge difference.
Doesn't feel good.
Now if you did a 500 not a 512 and did it with Magnum rifle brass it would feel much better.
.020 better.
Shift over.
Going home.
Talk among Yourselves
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Post by seancass on Nov 1, 2015 6:21:21 GMT -5
Some critical dimensions for those of you who like numbers.
| Ruger 454 | FA 454 | Ruger 480 | FA 500JRH | | Cylinder Length | 1.775 | 1.790 | 1.770 | 1.785 | | Cylinder OD | 1.730 | 1.752 | 1.728 | 1.752 | | Chamber wall | 0.082 | 0.123 | 0.065 | 0.093 |
For this particular example, going from 454 to 500JRH removed 0.03 inches of cylinder wall thickness. Remove that from the Ruger and you're left with 0.052 chamber walls. And 0.015 less for bullet length. The chamber walls on the 480 do look pretty thin, I wonder what the safe pressure would be when you shave off a little more? I suppose if you bored it out but kept the same length for a "50 special" style round and never touched H110, you'd probably never have a problem. BUT that's not strictly what we're talking about here. Another note: The chamber walls of the FA 500JRH are thicker than the Ruger 454! This whole schpeel highlights the need for a new cylinder, me thinks. Especially if we're still talking about the Linebaugh. The spec OD for a 500 round is 0.531in. For the Linebaugh, it's .553 at the base, and 0.610 for the rim! |
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Post by bushog on Nov 1, 2015 7:44:27 GMT -5
Sanity and rational decisions are everything in this hobby......
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Post by CraigC on Nov 1, 2015 9:17:55 GMT -5
I think it would be a waste of money to have one of these new guns converted to a .500. I won't turn mine into custom because I want to retain the Carpenter Steel cylinders and barrels. Only the cylinder. |
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Post by Encore64 on Nov 1, 2015 9:32:41 GMT -5
According to everything I have read, including the Bowen article posted on here, the cylinder is Carpenter 465 and the barrel is Carpenter 15-5 on both revolvers.
All I know is what I have read and that Ruger used Carpenter 15-5 to minimize erosion.
Perhaps I have misread on this issue.
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Post by CraigC on Nov 1, 2015 9:57:29 GMT -5
The barrel is 15-5 but only the 465 is a Carpenter proprietary alloy.
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