Fat Boy
Member
Looking at a Ruger Blackhawk for sale on line. Listed as a 45acp. Wondering if Ruger ever made this model in 45acp, or if 45acp in this gun was only as an option to the gun which was chambered for 45 Long Colt
Thank you-
Thank you-
Ruger Blackhawk. 45acp
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BobWright
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To my knowledge, Ruger never offered a Blackhawk in .45 ACP only. All .45 ACP guns were by way of auxiliary cylinders. The legend on the side of the frame should so state.
Bob Wright
Bob Wright
gotboostvr
Member
They've sold some Vaqueros with only the 45acp cylinder. I don't know if the Blackhawks were ever sold that way.
It's possible they lost the 45LC cylinder I guess.
It's possible they lost the 45LC cylinder I guess.
WestKentucky
Member
Guns sold like that make me nervous. It could be a legit sale where everything is legal and appropriate, but the nervous side of me always says that it is likely that a person would keep up with the spare cylinder since the box has a spot specifically for it to be stored in. There are a few ways for the gun to get separated from its spare cylinder but among those ways is theft, because the person who OWNS that gun would know it’s a 45 Colt and would know where the other cylinder is. It’s probably nothing to worry about, but it makes the hair stand up on my neck.
TTv2
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Does the seller state that it will come with the .45 Colt cylinder or is it only with .45 ACP? It's possible the .45 Colt cylinder could have been misplaced or damaged and isn't included in the sale, but the other possibility is that somewhere along the life of this gun the person who owned it ditched the Colt cylinder because ACP ammo is so much cheaper in price.
You would be surprised what ammo price makes people do.
I've got three revolvers that have both a .22 LR and Magnum cylinder and I don't shoot the .22 Mag cylinders all that much and one is kept in a drawer. A person of a more "senior" persuasion may have forgotten over time the gun came with a .45 Colt cylinder.
There's also the possibility that someone died and the inheritors are not gun people and have no idea what they're selling. I know if I died and someone inherited my gun with the .22 LR cylinder in it, they may not know it also came with a spare .22 Mag cylinder and would sell it as is.
Same as selling my Glock .40's with a 9mm barrel in it. That would be awful confusing!
You would be surprised what ammo price makes people do.
I've got three revolvers that have both a .22 LR and Magnum cylinder and I don't shoot the .22 Mag cylinders all that much and one is kept in a drawer. A person of a more "senior" persuasion may have forgotten over time the gun came with a .45 Colt cylinder.
There's also the possibility that someone died and the inheritors are not gun people and have no idea what they're selling. I know if I died and someone inherited my gun with the .22 LR cylinder in it, they may not know it also came with a spare .22 Mag cylinder and would sell it as is.
Same as selling my Glock .40's with a 9mm barrel in it. That would be awful confusing!
bannockburn
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Typically I keep auxiliary cylinders either in the box that gun came in or else it's in some sort of drawstring pouch, in with the gun.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
I agree that this Blackhawk probably has the .45 Colt cylinder missing. Did you ask the seller if there is another cylinder in the box...if there is a box?
Just for kicks I did a search for “Ruger Blackhawk.45 Colt Cylinder”. I was actually surprised to see how many people sell off spare cylinders online. Mostly .22 WMR cylinders, but I found a couple .45 Colt cylinders for sale.
Just for kicks I did a search for “Ruger Blackhawk.45 Colt Cylinder”. I was actually surprised to see how many people sell off spare cylinders online. Mostly .22 WMR cylinders, but I found a couple .45 Colt cylinders for sale.
huntsman
Member
First confirm it’s a Blackhawk, I seem to remember a model of Vaquero with 3-1/2” barrel and plowhandle grips in .45acp
BigBlue 94
Member
Blackhawks have a spare cylinder?! My 45C doesn't. But its had some work done to it too. Does the 45ACP need to use moon clips? Can it use autorim like my 1917?
huntsman
Member
A convertible model does, no clips head spaces off cartridge.
Rubone
Member
The Blackhawk ACP cylinder was factory fitted to those models it came with. It does not use moon clips, it has a shoulder in the cylinder that the cartridge case abuts to in order to set head space.
.308 Norma
Member
No, not all of them.
My 45C doesn't.[/QUOTE
Mine doesn't either, but some do.
BigBlue 94
Member
Ah I see. Hence 'convertible' lol.
Secondary question, would 45autorim work in a 45C cylinder? Not that it would be done, as 45AR is tough to find. Just curious
Secondary question, would 45autorim work in a 45C cylinder? Not that it would be done, as 45AR is tough to find. Just curious
BobWright
Member
The .45 Auto Rim cartridge cannot be used in either the .45 Colt cylinder nor the .45 ACP cylinder, in unmodified Ruger Blackhawk cylinders. The .45 ACP cylinder does not allow sufficient headspace for the think rim. This because the cylinders did not require the half moon, or full moon, or quarter moon, clips, so no headspace allowance was provided for that. Some cylinders have been modified (aftermarket) to permit seating of AR cartridges. Since .45 AR has now become somewhat scarce, the practice is of little use today.
Bob Wright
nofendertom
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45AR has a thicker rim than 45Colt---don't believe it would work.
nofendertom
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BobWright beat me to it by 3 minutes.
BigBlue 94
Member
I see it occasionally. I have a single box of green/yellow Remington 45AR. But yeah, scarce. I just use acp and moons in my 1917
BobWright
Member
While discussing .45 ACP cylinders in Rugers...............
On a lark, and just because I could do it, I cut down some .45 Colt brass. This was old brass that had had neck splits and was about to be discarded into the scrap brass can. The idea occurred to me, "Why not?" So I cut the old .45 Colt cases to ACP length, and using ACP dies (and .45 Colt shell holder) and loading data, loaded up some "shorts." This round was about identical to the .45 M1906 cartridges made up by Frankford Arsenal for the pistol trials that began in 1900. In fact I did load some 230 gr. FMJ to duplicated that round as much as possible. At first I referred to my resulting short cartridges as the ".45 Xtra Short" but of late dub them ".45 Special" which is the name Smith & Wesson would have dubbed them had the cartridge become commercially successful.
My endeavor:
Bob Wright
On a lark, and just because I could do it, I cut down some .45 Colt brass. This was old brass that had had neck splits and was about to be discarded into the scrap brass can. The idea occurred to me, "Why not?" So I cut the old .45 Colt cases to ACP length, and using ACP dies (and .45 Colt shell holder) and loading data, loaded up some "shorts." This round was about identical to the .45 M1906 cartridges made up by Frankford Arsenal for the pistol trials that began in 1900. In fact I did load some 230 gr. FMJ to duplicated that round as much as possible. At first I referred to my resulting short cartridges as the ".45 Xtra Short" but of late dub them ".45 Special" which is the name Smith & Wesson would have dubbed them had the cartridge become commercially successful.
My endeavor:
Bob Wright
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BobWright
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Never, ever, let my post stand in your way of sharing information with us! What you have to say may be stated much clearer or more eloquently than someone else.
Bob Wright
nofendertom
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BobWright--- would those .45Specials be similar to the 45 Schofield load ?
Master Blaster
Member
what does it say on the frame for the caliber. If it says: .45 CALIBER Then it is a convertible model and should have 2 cylinders. If it says .45 Colt Or .45 ACP then it only came with one cylinder. MIne came with 2 cylinders and says .45 CALIBER. Ok scratch that, the new ones in .45 Colt say that also.
BobWright
Member
No. They are shorter than the .45 S&W cartridges. The M1906 cartridge was designed from the git-go as a smokeless powder cartridge, I believe Bullseye Pistol powder was the original loading. The M1906 Revolver round was to duplicate the .45 ACP in a rimmed cartridge for use in revolvers. The .45 ACP was not so designated st the time, but was also designated M1906 Auto cartirdge.
Bob Wright
TTv2
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Why is it whenever .45 revolvers get talked about someone asks about Auto Rim? Like, what is the obsession with Auto Rim? Sure, you get positive extraction with the rim, but I've seen 9mm revolvers without moon clips have no issue ejecting the empty brass from the cylinder.
My guess is that people are largely unaware of stuff like .45 Schofield and .45 Cowboy Spl.
My guess is that people are largely unaware of stuff like .45 Schofield and .45 Cowboy Spl.
BigBlue 94
Member
Whats the beef with the auto rim? I asked because i have a revolver in both LC and ACP. The ACP is a colt 1917 that uses a moon clip for headspacing. It simply doesnt work without the clip. My brain was simply spitballing. Wasnt like i was praising it as some miracle round
BobWright
Member
Well, the subject was the .45 caliber revolver, and there were some pretty knowledgeable responses given here. And, there was somebody out there who read this post and had a question and thought that here might be a good place to get an answer. I don't see any comments here that would be offensive nor raise your hackles.
Bob Wright
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