Ruger Blackhawk 45 Convertible (45 ACP Cylinder)

[dhd]

I know more than a few of you have a RBH 45 Convertible of some sort. I'm curious if anyone has used the Starline 45 Cowboy Special brass in the 45 ACP cylinder and what cast bullet you feed it. 100 pieces of this brass has been purchased to start with. This particular revolver is a new gun but made in 2003 and has very small throats on both cylinders and that will be taken care of soon enough. A RW brass gripframe should be ordered in a few days as the owner doesn't care for the standard aluminum gripframe at all. Great for me as I've been wanting to play with one anyway (97.3% chance it'll be a Potato Judge). Slippery slope for me playing with these gripframes I bet.

In short, I'm going to start casting for this one soon enough and I've ordered an Accurate Molds 45-230FT. I got the mold so I can cast for the RBH and also for any of my 1911's. I pretty much only PC now and this being a tumble lube design should work well with the PC. For the RBH the top groove will be used for a roll crimp using the 45 Cowboy brass and for any 1911 a taper crimp with the proper OAL for that gun (the 1911's are not the main focus of this mold though).

Any experience with these revolvers concerning the 45 ACP cylinder would be appreciated.

[bradshaw]

Dec 25, 2020 22:23:22 GMT -5 dhd said:

I know more than a few of you have a RBH 45 Convertible of some sort. I'm curious if anyone has used the Starline 45 Cowboy Special brass in the 45 ACP cylinder and what cast bullet you feed it. 100 pieces of this brass has been purchased to start with. This particular revolver is a new gun but made in 2003 and has very small throats on both cylinders and that will be taken care of soon enough. A RW brass gripframe should be ordered in a few days as the owner doesn't care for the standard aluminum gripframe at all. Great for me as I've been wanting to play with one anyway (97.3% chance it'll be a Potato Judge). Slippery slope for me playing with these gripframes I bet.

In short, I'm going to start casting for this one soon enough and I've ordered an Accurate Molds 45-230FT. I got the mold so I can cast for the RBH and also for any of my 1911's. I pretty much only PC now and this being a tumble lube design should work well with the PC. For the RBH the top groove will be used for a roll crimp using the 45 Cowboy brass and for any 1911 a taper crimp with the proper OAL for that gun (the 1911's are not the main focus of this mold though).

Any experience with these revolvers concerning the 45 ACP cylinder would be appreciated.

*****

Hone throats .4525” and you shouldn’t meet resistance chambering cast bullets with .452” a bit above the case mouth. Expect 50+ fps gain over 1911 5” velocity for a given load. No reason to hot rod .45 ACP bras, it ain’t made for them pressures. Taper crimp, separately. If “cowboy brass” means the case has a rim, you may roll crimp; don’t overdo it on that thin mouth. Single load/single eject is a great reason to shoot .45 ACP. If you shoot heavies in .45 Colt, 185 or 200 grain in ACP, check elevation difference: you may find light bullets print 1/2-turn lower @ 20 yards.

.45 ACP makes a fine single action round.
David Bradshaw

[dhd]

Thanks David. The 45 Cowboy Special brass was originally made for the CAS games I believe. It has a 45 Colt size rim and 45 ACP length (minus the rim). Not planning to go over 45 ACP velocities as there won't be a need with this cylinder.  Both cylinders will be honed to .4525" as soon as they can be sent off. This one won't be mine but I'll play with it nonetheless. 

[contender]

I have a few of the Ruger .45 convertibles. The shooters get the cylinders pin gauged,, and if necessary,, honed to .4525. The barrels get slugged as well. I have never had the need or anything to get any of the Cowboy Special brass,, as I have plenty of ACP brass, as well as Colt brass.
But,, if I were to get any,, I'd follow guidance of David above. A light roll crimp,, and proper seating would be the direction.

[Odin]

The Cowboy brass is nothing more than 45 Colt cut to ACP length. As such it's plenty strong and can take a full crimp just as well as it's longer brethren. That being said if you're feeling the need to magnumize that stumpy case with 45Super-flavored loads, have at it. As along as your gun is up to the pressure, so is the Cowboy brass.

As for myself, I could never see a compelling reason to wander away from ACP and Colt brass.

FWIW

[sixshot]

I have an OM shorty convertible but other than a couple of cylinders full of 45 ACP's mine only sees 45 Colt loads. I have an OM converted to 45 Auto Rim that makes beautiful music with a 217 gr cast HP so I have the bases covered with those, click, click, clicks!

Dick

[dhd]

All good information and thanks. The 45 Cowboy brass is just another way to play the game. 230ish grain cast at about 750-800 fps should be very light recoiling in a 7.5" BH. We'll see on accuracy in a few weeks after a gripframe is fitted and the cylinders get honed.

[sashtr]

Cowboy brass does not work in my 45acp Birdshead Vaquero. I didn't pursue it very far as 45 acp works great.

[x101airborne]

The cowboy brass wont slide through belt cartridge loops. ACPs could just go in the pocket.
IF and I do mean IF someone wanted to load ACPs hot, the rim would halt the chambering of rounds in a 1911 or similar weapon.
There was a short time when 45 Colt brass was hard to find (at least for me). I did load some 45 Super / Rowland level loads just to make use of the ACP brass I was getting free from the Sheriff's Office. I used the 45-270SAA bullet at an oal that would not feed in an auto. At the time I did not own another 45 ACP revolver, so there was no danger in confusing what weapon it went to.

[bushog]

I had my convertible auxiliary cylinder chambered in .45AR

[taffin]

Dec 25, 2020 22:23:22 GMT -5 dhd said:

I know more than a few of you have a RBH 45 Convertible of some sort. I'm curious if anyone has used the Starline 45 Cowboy Special brass in the 45 ACP cylinder and what cast bullet you feed it. 100 pieces of this brass has been purchased to start with. This particular revolver is a new gun but made in 2003 and has very small throats on both cylinders and that will be taken care of soon enough. A RW brass gripframe should be ordered in a few days as the owner doesn't care for the standard aluminum gripframe at all. Great for me as I've been wanting to play with one anyway (97.3% chance it'll be a Potato Judge). Slippery slope for me playing with these gripframes I bet.

In short, I'm going to start casting for this one soon enough and I've ordered an Accurate Molds 45-230FT. I got the mold so I can cast for the RBH and also for any of my 1911's. I pretty much only PC now and this being a tumble lube design should work well with the PC. For the RBH the top groove will be used for a roll crimp using the 45 Cowboy brass and for any 1911 a taper crimp with the proper OAL for that gun (the 1911's are not the main focus of this mold though).

Any experience with these revolvers concerning the 45 ACP cylinder would be appreciated.

DON'T BELIEVE THE COWBOY BRASS OR .45 AUTO RIM WILL WORK IN AN UNALTERED ACP CYLINDER.

[dhd]

Jan 1, 2021 8:00:23 GMT -5 sashtr said:

Cowboy brass does not work in my 45acp Birdshead Vaquero. I didn't pursue it very far as 45 acp works great.

Out of curiosity, what was the problem with it in the chambers?

[bushog]

Jan 1, 2021 11:56:36 GMT -5 dhd said:

Jan 1, 2021 8:00:23 GMT -5 sashtr said:

Cowboy brass does not work in my 45acp Birdshead Vaquero. I didn't pursue it very far as 45 acp works great.

Out of curiosity, what was the problem with it in the chambers?

Doesn't have to do with the rim thickness?

[dhd]

I knew (or think I know) the 45 AR brass has a thicker rim for use in the 45 ACP DA revolvers that used 45 ACP cases and moon clips. That thick rim wouldn't allow the 45 AR case to be used in the Blackhawk unless the case heads were recessed for the rims, correct? I could easily be that I didn't understand the use of the 45 Cowboy Special brass. I thought that it was designed for use in the Blackhawk 45 ACP cylinder with a thinner rim than the 45 AR. More reading will be involved here.

Thanks for the replies!

[taffin]

THE COWBOY BRASS WAS DESIGNED FOR LIGHT LOADS IN .45 COLT CYLINDERS. RUGER .45 ACP CYLINDERS ARE JUST THAT, .45 ACP. THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT CARTRIDGES WITH RIMS OF ANY THICKNESS.