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Post by Lee Martin on Jul 7, 2020 19:54:44 GMT -5
RW gripframe must be contoured the Blackhawk frame. As a grip frame is finished on the frame at factory, the Ronnie Wells CNC gripframe must be fitted to match. Pencil line on hammer hump of gripframe shows a French curve to blend differing radii. An impure aesthetic. David is not about to alter this one-of-a-kind Ruger.  Pencil line on brass gripframe to continue arc of hammer hump on frame. Appeared arc from frame would gouge into backstrap of 3/16” stretch gripframe. Belt sander reduces surplus brass. Easy does it. Brass gripframe screwed to frame many times during fit-up  Toss water jug for 1st shot with Ronnie Wells brass Bradshaw Bisley grip frame on Ruger 03.  Gallon water jug airborne....  Shot #2 from Ruger 03 with RW brass Bradshaw Bisley grip frame makes contact, for another aerial water jug.  Speer .45 Flying Ashtray erupts flying water jug....  Following through water jug with Bradshaw Bisley grip frame on Ruger 03. Although contact lasts just a fraction of a second, LEAD & FOLLOW THROUGH (seen here) provides more time-on-target than snap-shooting. Either way, timing is critical.    As the Ronnie Wells brass Bradshaw Bisley/Ruger 03 gains range time, so too, the once contradictory aesthetic of the polar metals.  -Lee www.singleactions.com"Chasing perfection five shots at a time" |
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Post by contender on Jul 7, 2020 20:10:42 GMT -5
Can't help but appreciate how those g/f's are made.
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Post by bradshaw on Jul 7, 2020 20:33:48 GMT -5
Tyrone.... as you know, the Ronnie Wells brass grip frame must be trimmed to the frame. Were final finish of Ruger frames all the same, Ronnie could duplicate exact dimension on his precise brass grip frame. since top makers polish the frame with gripframe attached, the exterior of each revolver differs slightly. Thus, to blend an accessory gripframe provides extra metal for blending. Can hardly express how good it is drop a Ronnie Wells grip frame onto a Ruger single action frame and have all 5 screws drop straight through to the frame. Out of habit, I counter-rotate small screws to insure thread alignment at the “click.” The precaution is redundant with RW grip frames. Ronnie has worked on many many Rugers, and says Bill Ruger was dead nuts in locating the 5 holes in the frame.
I wanted my first shot with a Ronnie Wells grip frame made on an aerial target. The Ruger 03 with brass Bradshaw Bisley gripframe drilled the jug, but camera failed to record sequence. A second jug was thrown for the camera, and the second jug blown. This time the camera got it. Reckon the sixgun is more reliable than a camera.
David Bradshaw
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Post by 45MAN on Jul 8, 2020 6:46:35 GMT -5
DON'T KNOW SO I WILL ASK:
1. WHAT IS A RUGER 03?; AND
2. IS THE FRONT SIGHT AN ADD ON FROM A DIFFERENT MODEL RUGER? FROM WHAT?
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Post by bradshaw on Jul 8, 2020 7:26:41 GMT -5
DON'T KNOW SO I WILL ASK: 1. WHAT IS A RUGER 03?; AND 2. IS THE FRONT SIGHT AN ADD ON FROM A DIFFERENT MODEL RUGER? FROM WHAT? ***** 45MAN.... the Ruger 03 is a stainless Blackhawk built as a factory one-of-a-kind in 2003. Differences from a regular Blackhawk .45 Colt include: * 5-1/2” barrel with Super Redhawk front sight. * Maximum or as the Rugers sometimes referred to it, “Bradshaw ejector,” shortened 1/4-inch. Bill Ruger, Jr., laughed and called the 03 “the new Bradshaw ejector.” The Maximum ejector was first used on the prototype SRM Blackhawk Maximum, of which seven were built. * Extra cylinder in .45 ACP. The ,45 Colt cylinder is unfitted, the ACP cylinder fluted, to visually know which is on the gun, and by feel alone, if in the dark. At first, a blued ACP cylinder was to be fitted, but Bill, Jr., ordered stainless. A variation of stainless Convertible .45 Colt/.45 ACP soon followed. * Eliminate enshake. * Minimum cylinder gap. Service manager Dick Beaulieu suggested the Ruger 03 become a production item, albeit without “03” designation. Didn’t happen. Of all the times Bill Ruger, Jr., handled the 03, before his retirement in 2006 and until his death in 2018, Bill never mentioned putting it into production. David Bradshaw |
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Post by needsmostuff on Jul 8, 2020 8:58:01 GMT -5
Well that does answer the brass on stainless aesthetic question asked earlier.
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Post by contender on Jul 8, 2020 9:27:12 GMT -5
David,, yes,, I knew that Ronnie's g/f's needed final fitting. The pics show this process VERY well.
And the fact that the 5 holes have always been identical has been a thing I've pondered from time to time. I know machinery wears, jigs can wear, etc. But these 5 holes always align. A sign of something done RIGHT!
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JM
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,424
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Post by JM on Jul 8, 2020 11:42:24 GMT -5
Where is the majority of the 3/16" stretch concentrated? Nice feature to reduce knuckle bump.
Are those grip panels carbon fiber, or other composite?
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Post by bradshaw on Jul 8, 2020 12:13:05 GMT -5
Where is the majority of the 3/16" stretch concentrated? Nice feature to reduce knuckle bump. Are those grip panels carbon fiber, or other composite? ***** JM.... the Bradshaw Bisley is standard Ruger Bisley----moved rearward 3/16-inch. My “average” hands have accumulated enough recoil over the years. Grips are black micarta, supplied by Ronnie. A pressure sandwich of canvas & resin. Pretty much impervious to the elements, hot, cold, wet, dry. I have entered a curve on this grip... feeling more at home, David Bradshaw |
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Post by magman on Jul 8, 2020 14:11:51 GMT -5
I like that configuration of the gripframe.
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Post by bradshaw on Jul 8, 2020 22:11:21 GMT -5
Well that does answer the brass on stainless aesthetic question asked earlier. ***** Told Lee Martin not that long ago brass on stainless won’t work. When Ronnie said his concept is to make precise, unique grip frames, and do so in brass, aluminum, and stainless steel, I thought Two of these materials matter: brass and aluminum. Of course, a stainless grip frame will be for a stainless revolver, nothing more. I plan to find out what stainless has to say about brass. Rapidly coming to believe the brass grip frame has a home on stainless. Practicality backs up the aesthetic, as screws holding brass to steel absorb vibration. Discovered this advantage with my brass grip Super Blackhawk back in the crazy days when rams were stood FULL FOOT on the rail. To top it off, brass files & sands faster than steel. David Bradshaw |
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Post by bradshaw on Jul 8, 2020 22:40:42 GMT -5
I like that configuration of the gripframe. ***** Shot two Ronnie Wells brass grip frames today: Bradshaw Bisley on the Ruger 03; and the Bison Hunter on a Super Blackhawk Bisley Hunter .44 Mag. Shot both on thrown water jugs. Not exactly a fair comparison, as the Ruger 03 with lighter barrel handles faster. Leastwise in my hand the Bradshaw Bisley points more certain, less lateral drift. Again, not a straight comparison, since Ronnie contoured the black micarta scales on the Bison Hunter, while I had the advantage of shaping scales on the Bradshaw Bisley. Another detail I thought I wouldn’t approve: Ronnie likes a palm swell and shaped a modest “coke” for the Bison Hunter. With this particular grip, the Bison Hunter, we should try a slightly exaggerated palm swell to offset the thinner “neck”----calling the main radius of the grip its “neck.” A bit more palm swell should index the hand to always grasp the same. A desired feature of the Bradshaw Bisley seeks 1) moderation of heavy recoil without a death grip, and 2) control to shoot heavy loads ONE HAND. We shall see.... David Bradshaw |
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Post by contender on Jul 9, 2020 8:14:56 GMT -5
It's experimentation like this,, with subtle differences that often result in an improved design of things.
I never actually thought about the brass to stainless mounting,, where the screws would absorb vibration,, but once it's been mentioned here,, it makes perfect sense, when you study physics. Thanks for that!
Now you have me considering brass on a few of MY stainless thumpers.
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Post by bradshaw on Jul 9, 2020 19:53:58 GMT -5
It's experimentation like this,, with subtle differences that often result in an improved design of things. I never actually thought about the brass to stainless mounting,, where the screws would absorb vibration,, but once it's been mentioned here,, it makes perfect sense, when you study physics. Thanks for that! Now you have me considering brass on a few of MY stainless thumpers. ***** Tyrone.... brass, as fashioned by Ronnie Wells may become the jewel of single action grip frame materials. Back when I poured a steady stream of .44 Mag through sixguns, may after-match routine of always return sights to 50 meter ZERO as soon as you come off the line. Followed by a basic clean----which is more about checking the gun than cleaning it. Alwasay chef screws on a magnum. That’s where I discovered the 5 screws which hold the brass grip frame to the old style Super Blackhawk hardly ever loosen. Steve Vogel of Sturm, Ruger once laughed at how fast side plate screws loosen on a Model 29 Smith & Wesson. I was in his office in Southport and he might as well of had his feet on his desk. I laughed back, There’s twice as many screws on a Ruger, and all of em loosen! That was before I stumbled upon a Super with brass grip frame. a real sweetie of a sixshooter. Of course, Steve Vogel didn’t know the lock washer power of brass. Perhaps we should call it the INERTIA of BRASS. David Bradshaw |
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Post by contender on Jul 10, 2020 8:51:47 GMT -5
I bet that conversation with Steve V. was enlightening! Still, this is a new thought for me,, as I'd never heard of it,, or considered it. But it actually makes sense. The brass may be softer than steel,, and maybe softer than the alloy g/f's,, but the dis-similar metals,, combined with the softness,, as noted,, can actually absorb recoil,, thereby proving the points made here. It has caused me to do some serious thinking these last few days.
I'm a serious collector of the factory brass framed Rugers,, and enjoy shooting a few of them. I have a few spares,, and even a spare Power Custom g/f in brass. I may have to invest in one of Ronnie's g/f's to put under my SBH in 480 to see what happens.
On a totally different note here,, since you mentioned Steve Vogel.
Were you involved in any way on the testing of a nickle plated Blackhawk in 45 Colt?
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