What to do with 1976 .357 NM

[TXTad]

I have a 1976 Ruger ("Made in the 200th year of Liberty") with a 6.5" barrel that seems, well, boring. I'm thinking I need to do something to it. Any suggestions? I've already got a .44 Spl Lipsey's (5.5") and a .44 Mag 4-5/8" Super Blackhawk. I'm thinking either leave it .357 but cut it down to 4-5/8" or rechamber it to .357/44 B&D. In the latter case, I think it makes sense to leave it a 6.5". Maybe a second cylinder for the .357/44 and I can have a convertible?

Tad

[kooz]

Sounds like a perfect candidate for a tight chambered .45

[Mountaineer]

The .357 is a fine, utilitarian cartridge. A nice tight .45 Colt would be dandy, too.

Whether you decide to leave it in the original chambering or not, I might suggest sending it off to someone like Clements to have a general tune-up, super hammer installed, front sight replaced and the frame CCHd. Then of course some nice grips added. Now that would be sweet...

[kings6]

Linebored tight chamber 45 Colt from a Maximum cylinder and Smith & Wesson ribbed 45 Colt barrel. Throw on a Bowen rear sight and a steel ERH with normal action tune up and it is ready for some custom grips. ;D

[Lee Martin]

I'll sound like the broken record and suggest a tight chambered 45 Colt.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com

[rep1954]

Remember one thing that if you rechamber it for 45 Colt the cylinder is shorter that a standard NMBH cylinder. If you want to shoot some of the big bullets you might have to shorten your brass or use Schofield brass in which case you will need to clear out for Schofield case heads and not 45 Colt.

[kings6]

Rep1954 is right about shorter cylinder, that is why I suggested using a Max cylinder machined to take full advatage of the cylinder window in the frame without the expense of opening up the frame itself. Then it is simply a matter of shortening the barrel protrusion to the minimal amount to fit in the longer cylinder.

[Lee Martin]

Forgot all about the cylinder length issue (the coffee hasn't started to work yet). If you opt for a tight chamber 45 Colt, have a new cylinder fit to the gun.

Another option is to have it rechambered to 357 B&D. Here's one I did last year:



-Lee
www.singleactions.com

[Aggie01]

7 shot .360 DW.


(for those who don't know, the .360 DW is a 1.41 case 357 mag.)

It's the .357 equivalent to the short 414 SM / long 41 M Axehandle is having done.

[nobearsyet]

I'd say a 44/357 Bain and Davis as you just don't see them, or maybe even a 256Win Mag (357 case necked down to a 25)

[Lee Martin]

256 Win Mag is another nice option:



-Lee
www.singleactions.com

[nobearsyet]

Nice gun, is that in fact a 256?

[Lee Martin]

It is a 256 Win Mag....I built it earlier this year.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com

[nobearsyet]

I'm even more jealous now

[nonpcnrarn]

I would have the original cylinder line bored to a shorter version of the 45 Colt . I would just use shorter brass, say 1.6" like the 44 spl. The original cartridge case size was designed for BP and has plenty of room. With a cylinder bored for special brass denoting loads only for that gun, you can't accidentally put some "Ruger only" loads in it. Beartooth makes a 280 gr WFN with a .370" meplat that fits in FA 97s in 45 Colt so you should be fine. That bullet has the widest meplat of any WFN design. I think a tight chambered, linebored 45 with an efficient short cartridge length is the way to go. EDIT: I thought it was an OM and then realized that if it was built in 76 then it would be a NM with the larger frame. So the 357 B&D would be unique or at least not boring.