shooting new Ruger flattop

[rawly]

I am really liking this gun! 280 gr WFN over 18 gr AA#9 giving 1.5 in at 25 yds with vel 1150 fps! All the oomph I would ever need from the 45 colt. I also really like those slim white grips!

I am interested to hear how others like their new flattops and favorite loads...

Rawly

[redlevel42]

I shot mine just a little yesterday. Mine is a 4 5/8 inch model. I thought I was going to have time to get the sights adjusted for 250 grain cast and 8.5 to 10 grain Unique loads, but a thunderstorm ran me out of the woods before I could get the second cylinder full loaded. I will report back to you when I get a chance to fire a hundred or so rounds. I think I'm going to love those grips too. I also have a sneaking suspicion that i might wind up using the .45ACP cylinder a whole lot in this one. I really love the .45ACP Birdshead Vaquero, and I bet this B-hawk is going to be nice with the short ACP round.

[jds44]

I picked mine up yesterday - stainless, 5 1/2'' barrel, .45 Colt/.45 acp convertible. I have always thought a "Colt" size stainless Ruger would fit my definition of a Perfect Packin' Pistol and this medium frame flattop fits the bill perfectly. I've decided I don't really need the boomer loads for the local whitetails anyway and the XR3 grip frame just fits my hand perfectly. A big thank you to Lipsey's for getting Ruger to do it and to Ruger for putting it out.

I took it straight to the range yesterday after picking it up, cleaned it, and put 50 rounds of my standard working .45 Colt load through it - 10 grains of Unique behind a 255 LSWC - at 25 and 50 yards. Short version - I'm in love. I didn't think I'd like the slim white grips, but I'm actually very pleased with them. They aren't slick, handle recoil a lot better than I expected, and feel good in my hand. I forgot my .45 acp ammo, but I'm so pleased with the way it handled the 10 grain Unique / 255 LSWC load that I seriously doubt I'll borrow with anything else. The acp cylinder may just stay in the safe.

Does anyone think 10 grains of Unique / 255 load is too warm for a lifetime of shooting out of these flattops? I didn't chrono it out of this gun, but have previously clocked it right at 1000 fps out of a new model 5 1/2'' full size Blackhawk and a 5 1/2'' Bisley Vaquero. It seems about perfect to me, but I don't want to beat this Flattop unnecessarily.

My only complaint so far is the inside edge of the ejector rod housing is razor sharp. I actually cut my finger ejecting empties. A few seconds with a file will fix that. Other than that, I'll probably measure the chamber throats at some point and send them to Cylindersmith to be opened if they're the typical Ruger tight cylinders. I think I'll stop after that and call it good.

[rawly]

I have the same one. I think your load will serve you fine. I loaded 150 rds of the 280 wfn over 18 gr AA9 the other night and really like this load in the flattop. I too like the thinner grips. The recoil is mild and just what I was looking for in a packin pistol for Nebraska.
Rawly

[Frank V]

Nice looking six-guns fella's, Thanks for sharing.
Frank