Thinking about a 41 Special on an Old Model Blackhawk

[oregon45]

I've got a Ruger Old Model Blackhawk in .357 that is just boring me to death as a .357 Magnum. With a 6 1/2" barrel it is neither here nor there in the .357--too short to be a target gun; too long to be a fast gun--and the .357, as useful as it is, finds better homes in other sixguns in my safe. The solution, of course, is to have it converted to 41 Special! I'm thinking the least expensive way to get there is to acquire an Old Model .41 Magnum barrel and have the factory cylinder re-chambered. Will an OM 41 Mag barrel mate up to the OM .357 frame?

[kings6]

I believe it will Robb but another option that is not too costly is find a 6" model 57 barrel and have it installed. That is what I did on my avatar gun.

[oregon45]

That would be pretty cool, at one time I had an 8 3/8” Model 57 barrel in my parts box. Can’t remember what I traded it off for...

[bobwright]

I think a barrel for a large frame Blackhawk has to be turned down some to mate up with the mid-sized frame. I considered fitting a .44 Magnum barrel to my mid-sized Blackhawk, and that is the information Dave Clements gave me.

Bob Wright

[jt]

If you opt away from using (or can't find an old take-off to work) Pac-nor would probably do a blank for you to finish whatever length ya like.. you (or your smith) would have to thread it & then tap an ejector-housing attachment into it, also finish up with whatever design front sight you prefer; (but) you'd have a premium bore/match-grade barrel this-way too.

This is what I did on a Colt... also as a 41special. Stacks 'em on top of each other at 25 yards now nicer than any sixgun I've ever owned! An Old model Flat-top frame would be a top-shelf platform for 41special, mild to wild in that caliber and it'll handle it.

That caliber might be about the best-caliber that never ever was.

[eskimo36]

If you have no time or talent for gunsmithing like me, Andy Horvath or John Gallagher will do it for about $600, or at least in that ball park.

[ddixie884]

Sounds like a good idea, to me. I however have a funny perspective on the .41spl.

[groo]

Groo here
Had Andy Horvath do a pair from New Vaquero SS mid frame .
As long as you load to 1.60in max you can go 41 mag , if you need longer nosed boolets use 41 spec or trimmed brass.
Like 38 and 357........

[Aeroscout]

Recommend doing 41 mag chamber as well. I have one. It is my favoritist revolver. Mine has a bisley frame on it to help with the lil gun and h110 loads.

[eddiesouthgate]

Feb 6, 2018 23:04:45 GMT -5 oregon45 said:

I've got a Ruger Old Model Blackhawk in .357 that is just boring me to death as a .357 Magnum. With a 6 1/2" barrel it is neither here nor there in the .357--too short to be a target gun; too long to be a fast gun--and the .357, as useful as it is, finds better homes in other sixguns in my safe. The solution, of course, is to have it converted to 41 Special! I'm thinking the least expensive way to get there is to acquire an Old Model .41 Magnum barrel and have the factory cylinder re-chambered. Will an OM 41 Mag barrel mate up to the OM .357 frame?

I'd do that in a heartbeat as long as we are not talking about a Flattop Old Model .357 .  If it's a 6 1/2 " flattop I'd sell it and buy something else to convert and put the extra I got toward the conversion . 

 Eddie

[boxhead]

A rebore is an option as I have two (357 Flattop to 38 WCF) and a S&W M28 (to 38 WCF) both done by Al Seigrist and assembledby Alan. They both shoot very well. Turnaround can take some time. I have at least one take-off OM 357 barrel that I would be happy to send you if you want to start the rebore process before you ship the gun off for conversion. Just let me know.

[oregon45]

Thanks for all the advice guys; and thank you, Ed, for the offer of the barrel but I think this project is going back on the shelf. A few too many uncertainties in real-life right now to be taking on new medium-to-long term gun projects.