Cutting a Ruger Barrel?
I have a yen to reduce my 6" Ruger Bisley to 3.5" and use it as a sometime carry gun. I'm concerned about cost, g'smith's ability, Point of aim and velocity loss. Also would need to find a holster. It's chambered in .32 H&R Mag. What are your thoughts and thank you!
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don't sell the gun and buy something that fits your needs. you'll be deep in the hole with your plan 0 -
As the previous poster noted, by the time you pay a competent smith to cut the barrel and replace the front sight, you would probably be in it $200, maybe more. Hourly rate for quality labor isn't cheap nowadays. No likely you will ever get that money out of it if you decide to sell it.
#2, Single action snubby in .32 H & R is better than nothing as a carry gun, but not much. If you got a urge to use a snubby SA as a carry gun, buy one of the Store Keeper .45 LC's that EMF sells.0 -
Based on "Ballistics by the inch.com", expect velocity to be about 965 from the 1170 or so you'll expect now. There are lots of custom 'smiths that can do the job, look over their work and get references. Holsters are easy, contact any reputible maker and tell them what you want. You'll get what you ask for, you'll just pay more than for a standard rig.
IMO: I'd say get a Ruger SP101 in .357 Federal. It also shoots the H&R mag, costs about what you'll pay in custom fees for gun and holster, and is a more universally respected double action platform for carry/defense than the small bore SA Ruger Bisley.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Riomouse911
Based on "Ballistics by the inch.com", expect velocity to be about 965 from the 1170 or so you'll expect now. There are lots of custom 'smiths that can do the job, look over their work and get references. Holsters are easy, contact any reputible maker and tell them what you want. You'll get what you ask for, you'll just pay more than for a standard rig.
IMO: I'd say get a Ruger SP101 in .357 Federal. It also shoots the H&R mag, costs about what you'll pay in custom fees for gun and holster, and is a more universally respected double action platform for carry/defense than the small bore SA Ruger Bisley.
Wouldn't that be .327 Federal??0 -
quote:Originally posted by OLDCOP
I have a yen to reduce my [.32H&R mag] 6" Ruger Bisley to 3.5" and use it as a sometime carry gun. I'm concerned about cost, g'smith's ability, Point of aim and velocity loss.
Addressing these in reverse order:
a. Standard velocity loss/gain for a short barreled handgun is about 50-75 fps per inch, so you might expect a loss of about 125-185 fps going from a 6" to a 3.5" barrel. That, of course, would be gun and load dependent and you couldn't know the exact amount until you tested it.
In absolute terms, a typical 85 grain .32 H&R magnum loading doing about 1000 fps from a 3.5" barrel is roughly comparable to a typical .380 load from a Walther PPK or similar pocket auto. That's a lot better than any .22 or .25, but its still fairly marginal for something coming out of a gun as bulky as a 3.5" barrel single action revolver.
b. Point of aim? Irrelevant in what amounts to a snubnose concealed carry gun. In any case if you were serious about this conversion, presumably you'd be mounting a new front sight on the gun anyway after having the barrel cut down. Elevation could then be regulated by starting with a tall front sight and filing it down as necessary.
c. Cost. . .as mentioned, unless you're doing the work yourself or getting it done at a bargain rate, there is basically no way this project is going to be cost-effective, say vs. selling the gun you have and buying something else more suitable for concealed carry.0 -
Hurting resale value is irrelevant, unless of course you can find the one other person on the planet who would want to carry a modified single action revolver in an anemic cartridge for self defense.
You almost never come out ahead moneywise modifying the gun you have into the gun you want. In terms of money, its always better to sell the gun you don't want and buy the gun you want.0 -
Just addressing the barrel issue. Have your gunsmith cut the barrel from the rear and re-thread and cut the ejector rod housing to fit. That way the front sight doesn't have to be re-installed and the existing mounting screw hole for the ejector rod housing will be the same. It will work and align just fine. 0 -
Yup, I erred. .327 (too used to saying .357 I guess) 0 -
Just a thought--if you like Rugers I'd keep your gun the way it is and have your gun shop order one of the new Ruger Vaquero's from the distributor Lipsey's that already come in 3 1/2"[;)] They come in potent calibers like .44 Special and .45 Colt http://ruger.com/products/vaqueroDE/models.html
Holsters are no problem--one from El Paso Saddlery would work great and they can make just about anything. One of their Tom Threepersons or Street Combats are good carry holsters(I use a Street Combat).
Some folks will scoff at the idea of carrying a single action revolver for defense in this day and age. I just don't agree--as long as you know there are limitations to doing so-if you are comfortable with that then do it. I carry my Bisley with a 4 5/8" in .44 Special quite a bit and never feel undergunned.0 -
Too big, bulky and heavy a gun for so small a caliber.
As was mentioned if you need an SAA...but smaller, get a Sheriff or Storegeeper model with 3-4" barrel and forget 32caliber.0
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