SOLVED FINALLY Question about Ruger Blackhawk FlatTop Ejector Rod Housings

[jringo8769]

Well as some of you know I am finally getting back on my Elmer Keith 44mag Homage and finally have most of the parts gathered but have ran into a small problem
When i had a correct Ruger 4 5/8" co barrel rebored to 44mag from 357 mag
I did not realize the 44mag barrel and the 357mag barrel are very slightly different diameters
So now my 357mag and 44mag ejector rod housing when mounted there is a very very small gap that is quite noticeable

So my question to you all is
Does anyone know anyone who makes these ejector rod housings thicker?
I need one I guess that is slightly oversize or undersize?

I even thought about making a steel shim and form it so it would fit perfectly and have it blued to match the gun
I even thought about Tig Welding the whole inner housing that contacts the barrel and remachining it to the correct thickness
I am sure I am not the first person to run into this
I am thinking in this day and age with Water Jet technology and CAD software out there someone will have a solution
Thank you in advance for reading this
God Bless,John
Stay safe out there too

[mike454]

Check with Borchardt rifle, they make two sizes of steel ERHs perhaps one will fit.
brcrifles.com/manufacture.htm

[jringo8769]

Well thank you so very much
Truly appreciate this
This company is even in a city where my parents once lived back in the early 90's
God Bless,John
I will be contacting then for sure

[jringo8769]

Well I spoke to the very nice man u suggested but he does not offer
what I am needing
He suggested possibly making a shim
but he was unsure
I am hoping someone else has some ideas I am missing
Truly appreciate the help
God Bless,John
Stay safe out there

[leadhound]

I've only swapped a handful or so, I don't recall ever having that issue? Have had a couple that pushed out a little until snugged down with the screw but haven't had any with a gap? Do you have any from other rugers to try?

[blacktailslayer]

Pictures would help.


Don D.


Nevermind, I read the update in the other post.

[jringo8769]

well thank you all for responding
i added this over at the single action section too
here is the info from there and better pics as well
one of our dear members x101airborne suggested something which i had not thought
which might be exactly what i need to do
Acraglas used for bedding rifles and tint it to match color 
i also found a product called Steel Bed also made from Brownells too 
either of these might be the way to fix this if no other solution is available 
i was hoping to use a all metal solution but this might be the way i have to go
i was even thinking a water jetted piece and form fitted to the gun and bluing it to match 

Well back in the early days when the 357 and the 44 were in the infancy there were and still are differences
the 357 barrels are slightly smaller diameter and have different mounting of the ERH too
here is a article when the 44 mag debuted back in 1957 i think
it shows the frame sizes slightly different along with the barrels


the barrel i am talking about is one of the early CO. barrels from a 1960 i think Ruger Blackhawk 357 4 5/8"
from my research they were only used from 1956 to 1962 for the 357 and 1957 to 1962 for the 44 magnum
here is a pic of it


the 357 co barrel has it's ERH threaded into the barrel like this with No Stud

sorry for the poor pic

the 44 mag co barrel and others use a silver soldered stud like this


here are the barrel differences too
i measured them so i was not crazy
this may not be the case in later post 1963 guns
but mine is a 1962 and the 357 barrel is from 1960 i think
44 mag barrel dimensions
.785 near threads
.740 near lug
357 mag barrel dimensions
.760 near threads
.702 near end and threaded area
if you put a early barrel on one of these you have to use the
matching 357 ejector rod housing too
ejector rod housings have different size rods too
found this out today after calling a very nice man who makes these
they are .200 for the 357 and 1/4" for the rest
i can take pics too if they helps anyone too
i am sure i can not be the only one who has seen this
but maybe most people are not trying to put a Co. Barrel on a flattop 44 mag too
appreciate the response my friend
stay safe out there
God Bless,John
I have put .15 shims in it now on the ends just to show how it looks
the stainless ruler is .20 thick too
without some shims the ERH housing is loose and will cause other issues other than looking terrible

[kings6]

Late to the thread but have you made sure you have the right type of housing for that barrel? They made housing for barrels with just a tapped home and a different housing for studded barrels.

[jringo8769]

Yes I tried both styles as they are different and it does the same thing with either the 357 ERH or the other style
The gap is there either way
God Bless,John
Appreciate the response

[needsmostuff]

Just a weird thought and no way to check it out , but a thought anyway.
Maybe check out a housing for a Single Six . They had a smaller diameter barrel. If correct everything else it could maybe be opened up to fit.
Like I said ,,,,just a guess at something to try.

[contender]

Looking closely at the pics,, (and please correct me if I'm wrong,,)in the last several pics,, it APPEARS that the housing sits flush at the frame, and at the screw end. With a gap in the middle. Or,, is that tape or something in there?

[leadhound]

Aug 21, 2020 10:04:16 GMT -5 contender said:

Looking closely at the pics,, (and please correct me if I'm wrong,,)in the last several pics,, it APPEARS that the housing sits flush at the frame, and at the screw end. With a gap in the middle. Or,, is that tape or something in there?

Just some shims he put there to show the gap and keep it from wobbling.

[jringo8769]

Yes I did put some small shims in to show it installed
If i put nothing in it is a little loose and looks even worse if you try and tighten it up right
I had some very thin .015 G10 from a knife I put together years ago
it will not stay of I try and shoot it
It needs to be .025 shim of some sort yo fix it properly as it needs to be
My photo skills are poor at best so I apologize for this in advance
Thank all of you for help
Stay safe out there
God Bless,John

[contender]

Ok, now that I know the pics show temporary shims,, I have an idea.

Why not have a machinist/gunsmith mill off the backside of the housing to where it will sit flush with the barrel?

Mount the housing,, determine the necessary difference in dimensions, and then, mount the housing in a mill, and "shave" the necessary amount needed off?
Would that be a possible idea?
It would take some TIME to properly set it up to do this,, while the actual cutting wouldn't take much.

[bradshaw]

Aug 22, 2020 7:34:52 GMT -5 contender said:

Ok, now that I know the pics show temporary shims,, I have an idea.

Why not have a machinist/gunsmith mill off the backside of the housing to where it will sit flush with the barrel?

Mount the housing,, determine the necessary difference in dimensions, and then, mount the housing in a mill, and "shave" the necessary amount needed off?
Would that be a possible idea?
It would take some TIME to properly set it up to do this,, while the actual cutting wouldn't take much.

*****

Might lay a STRAIGHT EDGE along ejector housing----and barrel----to see if barrel has a concavity or housing has a bow. Might be able to bend ejector housing to flush with barrel. Or, if housing is warped, wrap fine sandpaper round barrel with aggressive side out, and sand housing against barrel.

If possible, the ejector housing is the part to tune.
David Bradshaw