alamogunr
.30 Stingray
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Posts: 294
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Post by alamogunr on Sept 6, 2021 10:17:10 GMT -5
I've got it in my head that I want another Single Action. Specifically, a Ruger Bisley Flat Top .44 Special. I am also considering sending it to a custom smith for some minor upgrades. This is sort of a last hurrah for handguns and will be passed on someday.
1. Are these still available? Lipsey's only says that it probably must be ordered.
2. What are my options if it comes with some defect? I'm already dealing with a Single Seven with oversize throats. Ruger says it is within their tolerances(.315).
3. What modifications do those "in the know" recommend? I may not act on all (or any) but would like to have the suggestions anyway.
I don't hunt so this will be strictly a range/recreational gun.
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Post by zeus on Sept 6, 2021 10:20:58 GMT -5
Find an OM357 and have the smith you were going to send it to do a 44SPL on it. If you’re sending it anyway.....😜
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Post by bushog on Sept 6, 2021 10:35:55 GMT -5
Those .44s typically had good throats.
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Post by Encore64 on Sept 6, 2021 10:42:26 GMT -5
I've customized several of the Flattops. But, have all been pretty good from the factory.
1) Custom Front Sight
2) Zero Endshake
3) .002" Barrel Gap
4) Polished Forcing Cone
5) Action Job
6) Rear Cylinder Bushing (Clements Only)
7) Base Pin and Hardened Latch
8) Grips
9) Oversized Cylinder Lock or Blocked Action
10) Custom Ejector Rod Handle
These are a few of the options I choose...
For a really nice custom, Zeus' recommendation for starting with a 357 Magnum would be best. Line boring is still my favorite basis for a great gun...
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Post by Lee Martin on Sept 6, 2021 12:12:49 GMT -5
Your best bet if you really want a flattop are the NM .357s or .44 Spl. Old Model flattop prices have really crept up. Now if you like 3-screws and don't care about the topstrap, shooter grade OM .357's can be found reasonably priced (OM's with the sight humps). That's the route I took on my first .44 Spl conversion:  -Lee www.singleactions.com "Chasing perfection five shots at a time" |
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Post by Encore64 on Sept 6, 2021 12:24:15 GMT -5
Your best bet if you really want a flattop are the NM .357s or .44 Spl. Old Model flattop prices have really crept up. Now if you like 3-screws and don't care about the topstrap, shooter grade OM .357's can be found reasonably priced (OM's with the sight humps). That's the route I took on my first .44 Spl conversion: -Lee www.singleactions.com "Chasing perfection five shots at a time" The same path I chose on my Clements 41 Special too. Snagged a really good OM 357 Magnum for $325. There are still bargains for the patient buyers... Beautiful gun Lee... |
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JM
.375 Atomic
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Post by JM on Sept 6, 2021 12:30:45 GMT -5
I've had one Ruger 3-screw re-blued. You might consider color case hardened finish for the frame. Sometimes the frame takes bluing differently than the other steels. The frame on mine is somewhat plum colored.
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
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Post by jeffh on Sept 6, 2021 12:41:58 GMT -5
Those .44s typically had good throats. Out of two of these from the first 1,000, one had .433" and .432" throats, but it also had two chambers out of radial alignment. HOW they did that, I don't know, but RUger made it right after I finally gave up on five years of on-again, off-again attempts to get that gun to shoot.
They replaced it with one from the production run and THAT one was probably the best done Ruger SA (both NM and OM) I ever owned - on par with the two Bisley SBHs and OM SBH.
That said, I'd trust what bushog said.
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,601
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Post by jeffh on Sept 6, 2021 12:53:31 GMT -5
Your best bet if you really want a flattop are the NM .357s or .44 Spl. Old Model flattop prices have really crept up. Now if you like 3-screws and don't care about the topstrap, shooter grade OM .357's can be found reasonably priced (OM's with the sight humps). That's the route I took on my first .44 Spl conversion: -Lee www.singleactions.com "Chasing perfection five shots at a time" The same path I chose on my Clements 41 Special too. Snagged a really good OM 357 Magnum for $325. There are still bargains for the patient buyers... Beautiful gun Lee... WOW!!
I think I saw a pic of that one before. I don't remember the finish though.
My dad took the same route with a "three-screw with ears" by handing it over to a young 'smith we trusted. Along with it went a Bisley SBH barrel with a gnarly spot in the rifling under the front sight. It trimmer up to an even 6" and was turned down slightly, which had the happy side effect of also removing the Ruger tome on the side. Steel ejector rod housing, one of dad's trigger jobs and that was that - a fine, factory-looking medium-framed 44 Special.
Pics from my phone get lost in the ether now when I try to send them to my e-mail or I'd have attached a pic.
NO comparison to Mr. Martin's beauty, but still no dog.
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
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Post by jeffh on Sept 6, 2021 12:55:35 GMT -5
.......... Specifically, a Ruger Bisley Flat Top .44 Special........ Wait, you said "Bisley."
That's a recommended modification too then, if you use an OM. I don't know to whom to steer you, but that Wells fella seems to know a trick or two....  |
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Post by taffin on Sept 6, 2021 16:34:24 GMT -5
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alamogunr
.30 Stingray
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Posts: 294
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Post by alamogunr on Sept 6, 2021 21:44:14 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies. The reason I'm looking at a new gun is the possibility that I may leave it as is. I already have several handguns that are customs to one extent or another. No Keith #5 copies by a long way but they work for me and scratched the itch I had at one time for big boomers. No more. Can't handle the recoil of the BIG .45's or .475's. I still like to shoot those guns but not with top loads.
I have "The Book of the .44" and most of those Mr. Taffin listed are the ones that got me thinking of another .44. I only have two, a S&W 696 and a S&W 28 converted to .44 Spec by Jim Stroh. The 696 is more of a truck gun and the Stroh gun is one I'm saving for a son. Neither get top .44 Spec loads.
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Post by tdbarton on Sept 6, 2021 22:13:06 GMT -5
Colt 3rd gen New Frontier barrel. Threads match the Ruger. Pretty sweet if you ask me - I almost did one myself. Should be able to be done by any competent ‘smith at a reasonable price. Numerich has barrels come and go fairly frequently.
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Post by taffin on Sept 7, 2021 0:34:34 GMT -5
Colt 3rd gen New Frontier barrel. Threads match the Ruger. Pretty sweet if you ask me - I almost did one myself. Should be able to be done by any competent ‘smith at a reasonable price. Numerich has barrels come and go fairly frequently. A COUPLE IN THE ABOVE PIX |
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Post by tdbarton on Sept 7, 2021 10:14:41 GMT -5
Colt 3rd gen New Frontier barrel. Threads match the Ruger. Pretty sweet if you ask me - I almost did one myself. Should be able to be done by any competent ‘smith at a reasonable price. Numerich has barrels come and go fairly frequently. A COUPLE IN THE ABOVE PIX Your pics and writing put the idea in my head in the first place, Mr. Taffin. Something about a Ruger/Colt single-action hybrid just seems awesome. The ones you’ve got are really cool. I don’t think it would be much work at all to set the barrel back a turn, giving you the opportunity to set b/c gap and clean up the forcing cone. |
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