Blackhawk Pondering

[kBob]

Recently I got to thinking about the Blackhawk in .30 Carbine.

It occurred to me that I have shot .32 ACP and .32 S&W Long in .308 barreled rifles using chamber converters.

I see spare Blackhawk cylinders for the larger caliber Blackhawks on auctions sights from time to time and got to wondering......

Might one ream out say a "spare" 9x19mm or .45 Colt Blackhawk cylinder and then sleeve the individual chambers and then cut chambers in the new sleeves for say .327 Magnum and or .32 ACP and use such a cylinder in a .30 carbine Blackhawk?

I realize the issues with bottle neck cartridges in revolvers, but might a .30 Mauser/7.62 Tokerev made up cylinder work as well?

I realize that there would be considerable work involved and the fitting of a new cylinder to a Blackhawk is sometimes a pain and some times drop in but am just curious if such things might be do able.

Would be high on the "Neat-o-meter" to have a Blackhawk that could shoot any of the common "32" or "30" pistol cartridges.

-kBob

 

[LoonWulf]

Seems like a neat idea to me. Practicality wise id say that a .327 would give you all the up and down in power youd need. BUT the multiple cylinders and being able to shoot a mix of rounds would just plain neat!

I kinda wish my sbh was in .45 so i could get a second .45 acp cyl fitted, not because i cant just load down my .44s, but just cause it would be cool.

 

[BobWright]

Smith & Wesson made the .22 Remington Jet, a cartridge based on the .357 Magnum case. This resulted in an odd "milk bottle" (remember those?) shaped case. And in the package were six auxiliary chamber inserts that accepted .22 R.F. cartridges for sub-caliber use. (And, of course, the firing pin was swivel mounted to accommodate centerfire or rimfire cartridges.)

And more than a few years ago, importers sold Webley Royal Irish Constabulary revolvers that had had their .442 caliber chambers plugged with inserts soldered in taking .25-20 Win. cartridges.

So, yes, what you are advocating will work. All it takes is a good 'smith and money!

Bob Wright

 

[BobWright]

One problem with Ruger Single Actions is cylinder length. As I recall, these guns are made so you can't inadvertently put the wrong caliber cylinder in a revolver. For example, a .44 Magnum cylinder will not fit (without modifying) into a .357 Magnum frame.

Bob Wright

 

[Jim Watson]

Hamilton Bowen says: "Typical medium-frame calibers include the .218 Bee, .25-20, .256 Win. Mag. and the .32-20. Large-frame cylinders are long enough to accommodate the .22 Hornet, as well." I don't see why he would not make you a .30 Mauser if you bought him the reamer.

 

[BobWright]

Hamilton Bowen says: "Typical medium-frame calibers include the .218 Bee, .25-20, .256 Win. Mag. and the .32-20. Large-frame cylinders are long enough to accommodate the .22 Hornet, as well." I don't see why he would not make you a .30 Mauser if you bought him the reamer.

At one time Bowen was taking in only what his catalog offered in the way of custom work. Not sure what his policy is now, but good 'smiths are getting booked up solid.

Bob Wright

 

[bannockburn]

kBob

Sounds like an interesting project. Let us know if you find someone who will take on the job and if you decide to proceed with the conversion.

 

[dbmjr1]

ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍʏ ᴄʏʟɪɴᴅᴇʀ, ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴍʏ .30 ᴄᴀʀʙɪɴᴇ ʙʟᴀᴄᴋʜᴀᴡᴋ, ᴡɪʟʟ ꜰɪᴛ ɪɴ ᴀ ʀᴜɢᴇʀ ʙᴜᴄᴋᴇʏᴇ ꜱᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇʀᴛɪʙʟᴇ ɪɴ .32/20 .32ʜ&ʀ.

ᴡʜʏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀ ᴜꜱᴇᴅ ʙᴜᴄᴋᴇʏᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴄʏʟɪɴᴅᴇʀꜱ?