Hello,

I am considering to have my Ruger SS Bisley in .45 colt converted to a five shot .475 Linebaugh.

Which revolver/gunsmith do you recommend based on your experience(s)? And if you care to elaborate and post pics that would appreciated as well.

Thanks in advance,

J Scott

All of the top dogs are good, but my personal preference is Jack Huntington -- (530) 268-6877. He's done a couple of DA caliber conversions for me and I am exceedingly happy. As a plus, he is priced better than most and the turnaround time is pretty quick. I have two other revolvers in the works with him as we speak.......

Jack Huntington's work is secound to none and you'll like his prices

I was hoping you two would chime in. I hope others do as well...

Thanks!

J Scott

Try reedercustomguns.com and look at all the eye candy. Stop in on the "ask Gary" part of his website...it's pretty good and you can learn a lot. I have at least 10 of his custom revolvers, from 22 K-Hornet to 500 Linebaugh and several custom Encore handgun frames with about 8 or 9 custom barrels. He also has a gaggle of his own wildcat cartidges as well. He builds them right...and "pretty" if you want. Plus he has a lifetime no-hassle warranty, whether you are the original owner or not...even on the finish. He holds a few affordable hunting trips each year for handgun hunters to get together, shoot some game and some bull.....it's a really great time. Gary is a stand up person too. If there is anything some people don't like about him is that he tells you straight up...no bullshit or beating around the bush. That, and he hates gimmicks. Very good pricing and pretty quick turn-around. My Reeder customs get a lot of attention at the ranges I visit and I never turn someone down that wants to try one of them out. I have a Ruger Bisley Hunter in 45 Colt getting a full custom conversion as we speak to a 455GNR, which is the 475 Linebaugh case necked down to the 45 caliber. An awesome cartridge. He is also converting to a full custom a 45-70 Marlin Guide Gun to his 450GNR cartridge, which is a 50 Alaskan cartridge necked down to the 45 caliber. 5% less than a 458 Winchester magnum. He also does customs on the Ruger #1's. Thats next. Check him out.

Woody

jack is good.Ihave a da in 500 by him my 475 is dustin linebaugh absolutly top notch here is his web dustin linebaugh



this pic shows the difference from the 45 colt to the 475 linebaugh

this is my jack huntington 500 linebaugh

Here are a couple of Huntington SA revolvers.......







And my SRH in .475 Linebaugh........

Nice guns boys.

Whitworth, are you a fellow horseman?

I'll bet you were begging that pony to not move.

LOL! No, Daniel, I'm not, but JWP is and that is his .475 and his horse!

I have several of Gary Reeder guns, one happens to be a 475 Linebaugh, I also have a 510 GNR and a 410 GNR. I am getting ready to send him my SS Blackhawk and have it done on the Montana Hunter Series in a 5 shot 45 Colt.

I can tell you for actual experience, Reeder's guns shoot very good, you can get them as fancy as you want or as plain as you want.


http://www.reedercustomguns.com/revolvers/index.htm

Just curious, about what does one of these conversions cost? Minus the original purchase of course.

quote:

Originally posted by daniel77:
Just curious, about what does one of these conversions cost? Minus the original purchase of course.

If your taking about the Reeder customs, go to his web site, and click on the different names and it will give you the cost and detail.

All the pistolsmith's are good; or they would not have waiting lists and be in business. Alex is spot on, go to their websites and the costs of the conversions are posted. I don't believe Jack has a web site though.

I have revolvers that have been customized to one degree or another by several different 'smiths. Each has his own way of doing things

quote:

Originally posted by daniel77:
Just curious, about what does one of these conversions cost? Minus the original purchase of course.

Daniel, to convet a DA revolver like an SRH, it's $1,600.00 -- less for an SA as they are not as complex. Extras may cost extra.

I have had a few Hamilton Bowen Ruger Bisleys in 45 Colt.One a 6 shot and the other a 5 shot.He does excellant work and makes some top notch sights also.You can easily attain 454 velocities in the 45 colt 5 shot.

dustin i believe is around 2400 but top notch work.

this is what a 38-40 he is currently building will roughly look like except i will not have the brass frame

this is a 500 dustin linebaugh built again his web dustin linebaugh

Those are some nice looking revolvers.

Especially the Color Case one.

How would y'all compare them to the Freedom Arms guns?

Fit and finish is great on the FAs, but the high-end customs can be even better. I'm not big Freedom fan as I can't get over the fact that you can't carry it safely with a cartridge under the hammer. That really bothers me. For the same money I can have a Huntington built custom without the flaw......

Alan Harton in Houston does very fine work on the big bores and is quite fair with his cost given my experience. That said, if one stays "on top" of the various forums pretty good deals can be had. I bought this mint Bowen 500 Linebaugh with a pile of extras including a full set of fine Von Ringler leather (holster, belt and cartridge slide), dies, many 100's of bullets both cast and jacketed, brass and some loaded ammo for a bit less than the price of the conversion alone. I suggest, as I did, to stay on top of what is out there via a few forums as high quality deals are there.

Dang, Boxhead! I love that .500 of yours.......

quote:

I'm not big Freedom fan as I can't get over the fact that you can't carry it safely with a cartridge under the hammer.

Whitworth would you care to elaborate on this statement? On their website FA states that

quote:

All Model 83's have a manual sliding bar safety.

I ordered my first Freedom Arms revolver about 3 weeks ago and was unaware of any safety issues.

I carry five rounds in my FAs all the time. Never been a problem for me.

quote:

Originally posted by x-caliber:

quote:

I'm not big Freedom fan as I can't get over the fact that you can't carry it safely with a cartridge under the hammer.

Whitworth would you care to elaborate on this statement? On their website FA states that

quote:

All Model 83's have a manual sliding bar safety.

I ordered my first Freedom Arms revolver about 3 weeks ago and was unaware of any safety issues.

If you read their owners manual they will advise you to carry the gun with an empty chamber under the hammer. I do not own one so cannot comment on why.

ive owned and shot customs made by all of them and if i had to choose a gunsmith to recomend to someone who was buying a once in a lifetime gun it would be dustin linebaugh hands down. Wait time might be a little more but NOTHING leaves his shop unless it is flawless.

Thanks for the feedback guys!

Scott

quote:

Originally posted by Boxhead:

quote:

Originally posted by x-caliber:

quote:

I'm not big Freedom fan as I can't get over the fact that you can't carry it safely with a cartridge under the hammer.

Whitworth would you care to elaborate on this statement? On their website FA states that

quote:

All Model 83's have a manual sliding bar safety.

I ordered my first Freedom Arms revolver about 3 weeks ago and was unaware of any safety issues.

If you read their owners manual they will advise you to carry the gun with an empty chamber under the hammer. I do not own one so cannot comment on why.

I have read the same thing -- if they warn against the practice, you can bet they don't want you to do it.

can you spell L-A-W-S-U-I-T?

Rich

I have a Hamilton Bowen "Nimrod" 475 Linebaugh converted from a Ruger Bisley. Top notch all the way. 5 1/2" barrel with five shot cylinder. great finish and smooth shooting gun.