OT How short can I go on my Blackhawk barrel??

[Mich Hunter]

Guy's

I have a older Super Blackhawk that has seen some use. It has the squared trigger guard that I don't care for, but has the longer grip which I do. The gun has been on fishing trips to Alaska to deer hunting out west. I would like to turn this gun into a affordable packing woods gun. I would like to chop the barrel back to about 4 1/2 inches. I have heard that you can go shorter, but the ejector rod housing wood have to be cut and the barrel re-tapped for its screw. I know some would say "just buy a shorter model" but this one has been with me awhile. Plus it has a great trigget that I am very fond of.

[Pete44ru]

I have cut & recrowned them even with the end of the ERH, and relocated the front sight/ramp accordingly, several times, w/o issues.

Of course, I wouldn't do it to an Old Model (three screw) - but New Models are fair game.
Also, NM SBH's were made in 4 5/8" lengths, so a proper shorter barel can be had - with the markings in the center, and not half-obliterated.

.

[Hobie]

I would have it cut off just in front of the ejector rod housing. You might could get that trigger guard rounded off as well... I just don't see the value in cutting the barrel shorter.

[J Miller]

Mich hunter,
Shorten it to 4 5/8", keep the ejector rod housing full length. That way you don't loose any ejector rod length.
You said "older Super BH", ok, if yours is a New Model look for a Super Blackhawk Hunter model grip frame. That uses the longer dragoon size grips, but has a rounded trigger guard.
Or, if you can't find one of those, and they are scarce as hens teeth, just have the back of the trigger guard rounded.
Any competent gunsmith can do these modifications easily.

I have cut & recrowned them even with the end of the ERH, and relocated the front sight/ramp accordingly, several times, w/o issues.

Of course, I wouldn't do it to an Old Model (three screw) - but New Models are fair game.
Also, NM SBH's were made in 4 5/8" lengths, so a proper shorter barel can be had - with the markings in the center, and not half-obliterated.

.

Pete,
Why not shorten an Old Model? Not all of them are collectors items, and they sure as heck are not sacred cows.

Hobie,
Whacking off the barrel from 7.5" to 4 5/8" makes the gun one heck of lot more handy to carry.



Joe

[Old Savage]

No reason you couldn't go to this length.

http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... &sk=t&sd=a

I knew a guide that carried a 3" Model 29. Saw him on video drop a very agressive hog with it that charged a client.

[meanc]

J,

The problem with cutting to 4 5/8" is that the ERH is 5" long.

So then he'd have to drill and tap a new hole and get a new ERH and rod.



If it were me, I'd just lop it down to the ERH.

[salvo]

I think only the 10" SBH had 5" Ejectors. The standard 7.5" models are 4 5/8
I cut mine down a long time ago, before Ruger was making a 4 5/8" SBH

[J Miller]

Salvo is correct. The standard 7.5", 5.5", and 4 5/8" SBH uses the standard length ERH. The same as all the rest of the BHs and Single Sixes.

Scott, that's a nice looking shortie you got there. I like the grips, are they polymer or something else?

Joe

[salvo]

Thanks Joe, they are a polymer, I think Ajax made them.

[Andrew]

Hobie,
Whacking off the barrel from 7.5" to 4 5/8" makes the gun one heck of lot more handy to carry.
Joe

He might have meant shorter than that.

[bj94]

It's no problem to go down to 4 5/8", and you can buy them from the factory that way now. If you put in a short basepin, and shorten the ERH, you can go down to about 3 3/4".

[FWiedner]

What kind of bullet are you planning to use and how many twists does it take to stabilize it?

[CEMENTHEAD]

Mich hunter, If it's an old 3 screw you can trade the grip frame for a Ruger Old Army Blackpowder frame. They fit with very little fuss. I did my 3 screw Super that way and I love it. Or if it's a new model you can trade for just about any Blackhawk New Model Frame. Bisley's included. This is my New Model 44 SBH.



I'll try and find some photos of my 3 screw SBH and post them so you see what the frame looks like. Thanks, Tom

[Mich Hunter]

It is NOT a 3 screw. I would never even think about it if it was. It is a new model 44 mag. I have thought about doing another Bisley conversion, but I do not want to invest that much into this gun. Its a beater that I have had for a few years. For what I want to use it for, the 7 1/2 barrel is too long for my taste. It has seen hard use before I got my muddy hands on it. The muzzle has some pitting and finish wear along with a few dings on the front site that I have filed straight. The 7 1/2 had the fixed front sight blade where my others have a pinned blade. Hence, I would not feel bad about taking the barrel down. That, and I have 5 other Blackhawks to play with. I would love to go to 3 1/2 but probably won't go shorter that 4 5/8.

I am just looking to turn it into a handy little packing gun.

[adirondakjack]

4 5/8 is the easy route. But 3.5 is doable and for your purposes, preferred. Ya'd need to re-drill/tap the ER hole, chop off the base pin and re-profile it with a minimal "nub" on the front, and re-work the ER housing and rod. You'd have only partial extraction, but it'd be enough to get hold of empties and pick em out. In the end, 3.5 would be really neat, IMHO.

[Hobie]

Hobie,
Whacking off the barrel from 7.5" to 4 5/8" makes the gun one heck of lot more handy to carry.
Joe

He might have meant shorter than that.

I said and meant to the end of the ERH. IOW, I agreed with Joe. I think the cat hair got in his eyes or was covering my post obscuring his vision...

[2ndovc]

This one's an old model SBH that had almost no finish and a 7 1/2" barrel. I didn't care for the long barrel but it was so cheap I couldn't not buy it. It sat around for a couple years and then I started reading about Hamilton Bowen.
After a couple emails and phone calls with Mr. Bowen ( super guy by the way!) I decided to have the barrel shrotened to 4 5/8" , action job, case colored frame and new sights.
It has become my all time favorite sixgun and I'm planning on sending him my 45 Colt Blackhawk for the same treatment except the barrel. It's already 4 5/8"



jb

[J Miller]

Hobie,
Whacking off the barrel from 7.5" to 4 5/8" makes the gun one heck of lot more handy to carry.
Joe

He might have meant shorter than that.

I said and meant to the end of the ERH. IOW, I agreed with Joe. I think the cat hair got in his eyes or was covering my post obscuring his vision...

Cat hair got in my eyes .............. PPsssttttttttttttttttt!!!!

Actually I just misinterpreted the last sentence in your comment:

I would have it cut off just in front of the ejector rod housing. You might could get that trigger guard rounded off as well... I just don't see the value in cutting the barrel shorter.

No biggie.

Joe

[Old Savage]

How much for the Bowen job - probably more now.

[2ndovc]

How much for the Bowen job - probably more now.

Off the top of my head I think I spent around $ 7-800.00

Looking at his site the "Western classic" package has gone up to $625.00 I think it was 495.00 at the time. He has/ had Turnbull do the case colors. The pictures don't do it justice. The colors are outright amazing! The other stuff was another couple bucks. I'd have to dig out my recpt. Was worth every penny!!
One thing I'm going to add to the next one is a lanyard ring. I don't know why, just looks cool.



jb

[Old Savage]

Know what you mean - a friend had this one done by Turnbull - beautiful also.