Ruger Bisley 45 colt/45 Acp

[Wasalmonslayer]

Hello guys and good morning

I have looking at the Ruger BH convertible for quite a while.
Do any of you have any experience with this one.
I like the handy looking size of this gun
I like the Bisley grip frame and the lower hammer spur. A good friend has one in the 45 colt only and it is a dream to shoot with modest hand loads.
I am more interested in the acp version as that is very common in my line up.
The thought of not chasing brass and 6 accurately placed rounds sounds appealing to me

Here is a link to the specs - https://ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkConvertible/specSheets/0475.html

 

[waco]

I’ve been wanting one too. Just the Colt version. Looked for one at last gun show with no luck.

 

[Wasalmonslayer]

There are a lot of them on the net. I just have not been able to put my hands on one yet...

 

[RBHarter]

I had one in a 70s BH with 7.5" barrel . The ACP was a joy to shoot with even +P and heavy bullets , standard Colts were nice as well . The full Ruger loads stopped being fun for me about 1100fps with a 265 RNFP .
Nothing special about them really the ACP cyl was better finished than the Colts which had 3 different throats . The ACP cyl was not throat polished but was smooth . Chamber lengths were dead on and even . I later bought another ACP cylinder with the idea that I would set it up for Schofield with an ACP reamer .
3 cartridges in fitted chambers sounded good to me .

 

[Charles Graff]

I have a Ruger Flatop 45 convertable (Lipsey's) and a U.S. Ptd. F.A. with both cylinders. I find that I use the ACP cylinders most. Accuracy is fine with both.

 

[Wasalmonslayer]

Thanks for the replies guys!
Now I just need to find one...

 

[oscarflytyer]

I have the New Model BH Flattop Conv. 4 3/4" bbl. Great gun with both 45 Colt and 45 ACP cylinders. If your expereince mirrors mine, you won't be disappointed.

 

[CZ93X62]

I have had a couple swap-cylinder Blackhawks in 45 Colt/45 ACP. Neither had the Bisley grip frame--they were both plow-handles. The two chamberings are a useful and practical innovation. RBHarter is quite correct when he says that 1100+ FPS with heavy-for-caliber bullets starts getting onerous with the 45 Colt plow-handle grip. The Bisley grip helps with that a whole bunch. Not everyone favors the Bisley grip, though.

The 45 ACP cylinders got about 3X the use that 45 Colt got Accuracy between the two calibers was about the same. 45 ACP loaded to "hardball" specs (Ly #452374 @ 850 FPS, 5.0 grains of Bullseye or 5.5 grains of WW-231) was docile in the big Rugers, and even more so in my BisHawk 45 Colt when I load to that level (#452374 or #452423 and 8.0 x Unique). My most-used 45 Colt load duplicates the old black-powder performance--#454424 or #454190 atop 10.0 grains of Unique/11.0 grains of Herco for 1000-1025 FPS, 7.5" barrel. Probably a bit much for Colts or Ubertis, but just right in the big Rugers.

If Ruger would offer this variant with a 4-5/8" barrel, I would snag one most ricky-tick.

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

What holds the ACP cases in place?

 

[Longone]

On my Ruger it’s the case mouth. Taper crimp is the best way to go rather than roll crimp.

 

[Bret4207]

I have a Ruger BH 4 5/8" 45 Convertible. It's the standard, not the Bisley. I have held the Bisley and I believe I like it better as I'm not a fan of the classic single action type grip. The Bisley, to me anyway, feels more "double action-ish" which is the style I prefer. But, my BH is a very good shooter, dead reliable and handy. I wish it had a longer barrel, probably 5.5", just for easier shooting, but it's not a deal breaker. I've had excellent results with the BD45 mould and Unique in 45ACP. I don't think I've ever even shot the 45 Colt cylinder.

 

[L Ross]

I have a Ruger BH 4 5/8" 45 Convertible. It's the standard, not the Bisley. I have held the Bisley and I believe I like it better as I'm not a fan of the classic single action type grip. The Bisley, to me anyway, feels more "double action-ish" which is the style I prefer. But, my BH is a very good shooter, dead reliable and handy. I wish it had a longer barrel, probably 5.5", just for easier shooting, but it's not a deal breaker. I've had excellent results with the BD45 mould and Unique in 45ACP. I don't think I've ever even shot the 45 Colt cylinder.

That model Black Hawk is one of those I wish I'd have kept it guns, though it did go to a very good friend. I let it go when I had a .45 acp cylinder made and fitted for another .45 revolver. The Ruger was very tolerant of hand loads, the other revolver is not. Plus I prefer the 4 5/8" barrel.

 

[SHYOLDMAN]

I am just starting to get mine going. Trying o find a load I can use in both the Ruger BH and the lever rifle(just plinking , not hunting) So watching close

 

[Charles Graff]

What holds the ACP cases in place?

In both of my 45 ACP cylinders there is a ledge or shelf inside the charge hole on which the ACP case can headspace. Lately I have been loading 45 Cowboy Special brass for these cylinders. Doing this, the case will headspace on the rim like the 45 Colt. This way I can use 452423 and roll crimp in the crimp groove. The top driving band enters the cylinder the start the bullet on it's way straight. I use 4.5/Bulleye behind this bullet. While not a top end load, it has plenty of thump when it hits and shoots to the fixed sights of the U.S.Ptd.F.A. to boot.

The cylinder throats on the Ruger measure .452 and the U.S.Ptd.F.A. cylinder measure .453. I use .452 bullets in both and am well pleased with the result in both sixguns.

Of course the same bullet can be taper crimped on the bottom half of the front driving band and get about the same results. I have had the barrels of both my Colt Government Model autopistol throated to feed this load and it works very well.

 

[Wasalmonslayer]

Thank you for all the responses!!
Now I am getting excited!
My gun shop friend is searching now for a specimen....
Hopefully I will have it in a few weeks

 

[fiver]

get the blued one.
I know the stainless look better, but you'll IME be fixing the cylinder holes.
if your not opposed to doing that the stainless one is probably more accurate in the end.
I have that same gun pictured only in blued 44 special, as well as the standard blued and stainless,, and a regular black hawk in the 45 convertible.
the stainless have been the only ones that needed cylinder throat repair.

 

[Rick]

I don't have the ACP cylinder but my Stainless 7 1/2 inch Colt Bisley OM Blackhawk cylinder throats rival my FA throats. All are spot on .452" and the groove diameter is .4515", with no thread choke. It is easily my most spot on Ruger.

 

[Wasalmonslayer]

Unfortunately they only offer this in stainless.

This is sounding better and better all the time...
I will report back as soon as I put my hands on it!

 

[Bret4207]

Fiver, who says the stainless looks better?!!! Not this guy! Blued metal and walnut, that's what looks good to me!

 

[Wasalmonslayer]

I love blued with wood but it is a Lipsey exclusive in Stainless only....
My dad always told me if you can’t shoot well or hunt well you should at least look classy with beautiful guns... Wood/Blue = classy
His take on stainless is it makes nice boat props...!