I was wondering can my single six 22 be converted to round butt? If so, is it grinded or bent to achieve it? Could I do it myself on a grinder?

Thinking lately of a handy round butt single action in 41 mag or 44 special for deer to 40-50 yds or so. Would load my own so expect 44's to get 1100-1200 with 240/250's, little more with lighter 41 bullets.

Anyone using any custom or 'high end' 41's or 44 specials? Wanting something easy to tote, and for open sighted hunting at woods ranges. Thinking of a 4" or so, but would do a 5.5 esp. if go 41.

Thoughts? Thanks for feedback from those in the know, I do have experience using 357/41/44's, but not 44 special's. Current interest is in 41, 44 special, and POSSIBLY 45 but I think it is more than I need.

Also, what sights would you recommend, thinking express rear, the V notch with white line, and a front gold bead, or possibly a fire sight.

I have a Lipseys Special Ruger 4 5/8" SS single six 22/22mag and I use Hogue Rubber grips to better fit my hands. BTW this was a handgun made exclusively for Lipseys not many exist per my gun dealer.

It's not a single action, but this Taurus tracker Stainless 41 mag 5 shot 4" bbl sure looks like it would be very handy to carry around. 34.8 ounce


From what I've gleaned from articles on a 41 special 5 shot on a single six, is that there was much cutting and altering to be able to fit a big enough cylinder. I think the frame needed to be stretched and also made higher. I don't remember if they cut and added more for the height or just ground out the top and bottom.
I think I've seen one of the elcheapo 22 single six wannabes that had a birds head grip. I wonder if the grip frame from one of those could be made to fit? The guns are only abit over $100ish. (are they the Bounty Hunter?) I read somewhere that some of them are being made with a steel frame instead of Aluminum.

Thanks for the replies, my Single six IS a 4 5/8 stainless and I have reconsidered selling it, and may just make a few mods. Also, I DID own a tracker a few years ago, may have to re-consider why that one left! Recoil was stiff, but ok.

Thinking about a Freedom Arms 41/44.......but the money is steep!

Yes, one may round-butt a Ruger. Basically depends on whether you are adept at the work or want to pay someone to customize it.

If you have experience with straight-wall cartridges, the .44 Special should be no problem for you. Either it or the .45 Colt will do well for deer out to 50 yards.

You may want to go to the Brownells website to see what is available for customizing your revolver.

quote:

Originally posted by MS Hitman:
Yes, one may round-butt a Ruger. Basically depends on whether you are adept at the work or want to pay someone to customize it.

If you have experience with straight-wall cartridges, the .44 Special should be no problem for you. Either it or the .45 Colt will do well for deer out to 50 yards.

You may want to go to the Brownells website to see what is available for customizing your revolver.

I have a friend with a Blackhawk 4 5/8" barrel in 45lc using Buffalo Bore ammo with a 300gr Speer JFP @1325 fps who shot and killed a wounded running cow elk thru the head at 65 yards.

I have a new S&W 41 mag Mountain Gun which has a 4" bbl and round butt. Has the old thin barrel and is VERY handy. Much more so than my 4'Mdl 29.

The .41Special has more than enough power for deer and pig at appropriate ranges. I generally use a 220grWFNGC at around 950 to 1000fps in my converted flattop.

John Gallagher used to do a .41Special on the single-six. I don't know if he still does. Check with John Taffin on the sixgunner site. I believe he has one. Lloyd Smales (sp) has one.

The question begs to be asked; what was the wounded cow elk doing running thorugh the head?

I've shot deer with my Mag-Na-Port Predator out past 100 yards, so I know the revolvers will do the job.

Yes, Gary Reeder installs roundbutt Gunfighter grips on Single-Sixes all the time.

NRA Life Member

"get busy living... or get busy dying"

quote:

Originally posted by MS Hitman:
The question begs to be asked; what was the wounded cow elk doing running thorugh the head?

I've shot deer with my Mag-Na-Port Predator out past 100 yards, so I know the revolvers will do the job.

A wounded cow elk was fleeing the area when another cow elk hunter in the same party used his blackhawk to stop her with a head shot.I'm acquainted with the hunter and aware of all of his specialized weapons training in the army and have been in competition matches with him.

Know several folks that have roundbutted various SA rugers, though I don't recall having seen a single six, but can't imagine it couldn't be done. As I recall folks use a nickle to scribe the radius for the front of the grip, and a quarter for the rear. You'll have to tear it down to the bare frame, scribe whatever radius looks right, and use a belt or disk sander to grind it down. Once done, put the grips on and sand them down to match.

The rb sa rugers are very comfortable, I've been thinking about doing it to my old model 357.

scr83jp,

I'm just yanking your chain a bit. I'm sure the fella is a fine shot. Kinda like the old joke about the guy who shot the elephant in his pajamas.

I "guess" we are talking about a custom Single-Six in .41 Special or magnum (?) vs. a .41 Magnum Blackhawk to be roundbutted...

If it were me, I would get a Freedom Arms M97 with 4.25" barrel and rounded butt. The Single-Six is a nice "little" gun but for the weight savings and probable inability to use factory pressure ammo I persoanlly could never justify the money...

Bob

Actually it was 2 separate questions, one re: my 22/22 mag single six, and the other to do with a small 41 or 44 special.

I have considered an FA, but the price MUST justify since they are WAY up there.

FAs are worth the money; just talk to the man who owns one or more.

I guess it depends on what you want in a .41/44. If you want a custom .41 Special, or most any real custom, then the Freedom Arms will seem quite reasonable. If you want a EDC gun for possible deer or hog use, then you might consider a Taurus. The Titanium models are still reasonable and quite light. I've got on in .41 mag but haven't gotten around to shooting it yet. Friend who did shoot it before I bought it used, and who is used to .41 mags described the recoil as "Snappy, very snappy."
I looked into a .41 special but the benefits did not outweigh the substantial costs in my mind. For less money you can buy a FA 97 in .41 mag and shoot specials out of it.

If I was going to carry such a pistol for my first shot at hogs or deer, that is, I was going to hunt with it as my primary gun, then, again not counting Freedom Arms, which would be my first choice in a SA, I'd choose a standard Ruger 4 3/4 inch barrel in .44 or .45 Colt and shoot Specials (or lighter loads in the .45) in it, if that's what I prefered. The .45 will be a slight bit lighter than the other two, due to less steel in barrel and cylinders. An 1100fps 240-250 or so grain LBT or Keith type slug in either .429 or .452 will handle any hog or deer that walks if you can put it in the right spot.

quote:

Originally posted by MS Hitman:
scr83jp,

I'm just yanking your chain a bit. I'm sure the fella is a fine shot. Kinda like the old joke about the guy who shot the elephant in his pajamas.

Understood.I spoke to my hunting friend yesterday and he wants to get a shoulder rig for his ruger 45lc cause its weight sags his trousers.He and his group of viet vets live and hunt in Idaho using quads to retrieve their big game .

Although the 41 special seems nice, I don't want the trouble and am interesting in the 41 magnum, own 2 now, brother has my OM RBH 4 5/8, but was looking at an FA in 41 mag, or the 44 special, saw where one guy is using the 44 with 300's at 1175 in 4.25", wondering if that is safe, and if he uses a lot of those loads......

Not that I want that kind of power, but if it is safe, that would be alot of back up if you needed it......but on deer or hogs, that speed if not 1000-1100 will do a lot with 240's I know as far as penetrating and killing deer/hogs.

Ok...now I understand better... The reason for the confusion is that over on Sixgunner.com there is a poster who had one of the custom smiths make him up a 5 shot .41 Special on a Single Six frame...how I have no clue.

The FA guns are worth the money. I have a M83 6" Premier in .41 Magnum and would like to get a 4.25" M97 one day...expensive but you could not shoot the gun loose if you tried.

After visiting the FA booth at the SHOT Show last Saturday I have considered selling off the "other" SAs I have and just have 2-3 FAs guns...

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by 6.5BR:
Although the 41 special seems nice, I don't want the trouble and am interesting in the 41 magnum, own 2 now, brother has my OM RBH 4 5/8, but was looking at an FA in 41 mag, or the 44 special, saw where one guy is using the 44 with 300's at 1175 in 4.25", wondering if that is safe, and if he uses a lot of those loads......

Not that I want that kind of power, but if it is safe, that would be alot of back up if you needed it......but on deer or hogs, that speed if not 1000-1100 will do a lot with 240's I know as far as penetrating and killing deer/hogs.

While I'm a long ways from being a handloading expert, I feel safe in saying that a .44 Special 300 gr load at 1175 in a 4.25 inch barrel is approaching or exceeding proof load pressures and is decidedly UNSAFE. For instance, Keith's famous old .44 special load of 250s with 17.5 gr 2400 which generates somewhere around 27,000 psi or better shoots a 240 at about 1150 or a bit less in a 6 inch barrel. Could someone shoot such a 300gr load in THEIR 97 .44 special? I suppose, but they ain't shooting one in mine. Just because something is well made doesn't make them idiot proof.

I was at their booth Thurs/Friday. Considering asking my brother to sell my old 41 OM blackhawk back to me, but the FA is so nice, if Ruger made a stainless 41 or 44 special, I could be happy, perhaps one will come.......but if it does not......

Well, on those 44 loads, I hear ya! I see where you can get 255, 265, and 275 cast SWC's, not sure if they would seat right, and fit in the 97 as cylinder length is compromised vs 83.

Has anyone had a stainless Ruger Bearcat dehorned, round-butted, or shortened (like a Colt's SAA Store Keeper)? Seems to me it would make for a very handy little pocket pistol.

quote:

Originally posted by 6.5BR:
I was at their booth Thurs/Friday. Considering asking my brother to sell my old 41 OM blackhawk back to me, but the FA is so nice, if Ruger made a stainless 41 or 44 special, I could be happy, perhaps one will come.......but if it does not......

Well, on those 44 loads, I hear ya! I see where you can get 255, 265, and 275 cast SWC's, not sure if they would seat right, and fit in the 97 as cylinder length is compromised vs 83.

I have shot the Cast Performance 255 in a M97 with no problem. As I recall it was close to the end of the cylinder but handled the load fine. Not sure if the longer 265 would work, but since the 255 has the largest meplat of any .41 bullet it is the one I usually use in that weight range.

Bob

If you can find any of Maj. George C. Nonte's revolver books, he goes into detailed descriptions on how to round-butt a revolver. I think there might be some cutting, bending, and brazing involved, but it looks doable.

6.5....I also got tired of waiting for Ruger to bring out a stainless .41 Magnum so I had Gary Reeder build one back in 2000/2001...not a real lightweight because of the stainless gripframe but it shoots well...and is rounder in the butt than a BH...

Bob

Now THAT is a 41! Btw, spoke with Ruger yesterday, NO plans for a stainless 41, suggested they do those in Blackhawks, no plans to re-introduce the Redhawk in 41, no plans to do a 5 shot GP-100 in 41 magnum, no plans to do a 44 special in blackhawk.

I take it that might have been someone else's 97 in 41? Thanks for the info on the 255's, I'd rather a larger nose than 10 gr more lead.

Also, was that a 44 mag stainless SBH converted by Reeder?

Seems like Ruger could make some ltd production guns to satisfy niche markets, yes it would hurt FA and other gunsmiths, but save consumers lots of money, and Ruger would benefit with more brand loyalty.

I think I'd rather choose a GP-100 in 41 mag in 5 shot vs a Taurus. Don't care for the ports, and hear the are difficult in cleaning. The more I think about this, the more I regret selling my old model 4 5/8 BH to my brother-it never gets used! GP-100 have been done in 41 specials, wonder how they handle pressure in Magnums? If cylinder is same thickness as a 97 FA or Taurus, then seating depth should be only issue.

Thanks again. Oh, about the 4 5/8 Single Six's, John Taffin I believe had a SS shortened to that length, or even 4" in a GUNS magazine article some time back, cannot remember if it was round butted or not, anyone know? IF so, might locate article to see pics. Thanks gang.

RJM,

Tell me btw about the bbl length, sights, and how that Reeder 41 shoots. Thanks.

6.5...did I get your attention posting a pic of the Reeder...


The gun started out as a brand new stainless Super Blackhawk....basically all but the frame was put in the parts bin. The barrel is a 5.5" custom heavier than stock barrel, 5 shot cylinder, the front sight is a FAs with inetrchangable blades, the grip frame is a stainless Bisley that has been reshaped to his Gunfighter grip.

As it came from Gary, the sights were the Ruger rear "V" with a FAs gold bead front that is a lot larger than the Ruger gold bead. I ended up switching it out to a OneRaggedHole rear blade that gives me a much more consistant sight picture than the "V". When I get off my butt I am going to replace the rear sight with a Bowen and have already contacted Clements about a Keith Long Range front blade. I just have to get the Bowen first and then tell Clement how tall I want the ramp with three gold bars. I plan to put the same KLR blade on my FAs 6" also.

How it shoots...great...



Those are my first shots from the gun at 25 yards offhand in the blowing cold... 22 grains of H110 with the CPBC 255.

My only complaint with the gun was/is the triger pull... From Gary it was MUSHY and soft...typical Bisley pretravel... I've had 4 .41 Bilseys and only one had a excellent trigger pull. The rest were just like the Reeder. I had some work done to it by another local smith who took some of the mush out but the pull still is not as good as my BHs that all I did was take one leg of the trigger return spring off the post...

Bob

ps...I just got in from shooting the Taurus TiTracker along with a S&W M657 Mountain Gun...the TiT shot just as well as the MG all the way out to 50 yards from the sitting backrest position... Put 5 shots in a 4" group DA from the sitting position with the TiT...at 50 yards.

Shot some full loads from each gun..23 grains of H110 with a 210 Gold Dot HP...recoil was ok in both guns. One interesting thing with the TiT..apparently the ports work as the muzzle doesn't rise that much but as a result the gun come more staright back into your hand than the S&Ws do...

And yes that 5.5" M97 belongs to a friend of a friend who special ordered the gun from FA... I am first in line when/if he ever sells it.

If you look over on www.gunbroker.co and put in Freedom .41 there is a shop in Pa. who has a very nice 4.25" gun with a fluted cylinder.

Bob

Thanks, yes, seen that 4.25, but it's fluted, and the price is a little high for me.

So do you prefer the MG as far as how she kicks?

Sounds like I may end up with a collection over time like you, as in my college days, I was almost a handgun only shooter/hunter for awhile. Pissed the rifle shooters off with my TC more than a few times, beer can, 130 yds back stop offhand with friends 30/30 tc14 with 2x on first shot ruined me! Went up in the air, and surprised him. Got lucky!

Good shooting first time out, cold, with high wind.....also TI or MG has DOA accuracy, Deer of Angle! ha.....good shooting.

For a carry gun, and impromptu shots, which is your preference when say deer hunting? Also, ever wished you had done a 41 GNR or 410? Not that one needs a lot more in 41 but range and size game might be extended I'd guess, if one wanted a 41 bore. Never got used to 44 Mag's myself, but 41's always made me happy, and 357's sometimes felt lacking. High vel 357's also leaded bores bad with cast bullets that I used, moderate speeds in larger bores were never so bad. Newer bullets may help that issue.

BTW, I would like to get in line behind you on that 41, if you pass

How does the FA compare to the Reeder in accuracy, trigger, etc. It is a 97 right? Hear the triggers are a tad nicer on the 83 from reading about them.

..so who said I don't have a GNR cylinder for the Reeder Custom? I just have not had time to load for it yet. As to the .410 GNR...if I was to do a revolver in that caliber I would send my M83 back to FAs and have a second .41 Magnum cylinder fitted and then send the gun to Gary and have it bored to .410.

How does the M83 compare to the M97 to the Reeder... If given a choice of just one it would be the M83. The Reeder is a great looking and shooting gun but...a) the trigger pull on the M83 stock is better than a Ruger will ever be. b) There is absolutely no play in the cylinder of the FAs guns... c) I much prefer the grip frame of the FA to a Ruger Bisley, BH or any modification...the FAs just fits my hands. As to the M97..excellent gun but if you are going to shoot full loads all the time like I do out of the M83 and really all my Ruger SAs I just prefer the extra weight. The M97 was a 5.5" and is MagNa-Ported just like my M83 but the recoil with the 255s is much more noticeable than the M83.

As to the DA guns...yes I do prefer the M657 MG over all the others....

I would love to be just a handgun hunter but my problem is that I love rifles also... But I was shooting a 10" scoped Desert Eagle today in .41 Magnum and it ran a 3" group at 50 yards sitting...so this gun will probably get a chance from a tree stand this year...

Bob

Hey thanks for all the info, sounds like the 41 is a favorite bore for you, it is a good one I know. Wish the mfg's would back more products in 41, makes you almost have to buy 44 Mag's in certain models, but there are plenty of options in 41, even if you have to look for used ones.

Thanks for all the info. I am looking at the FA as more of a 'fun' gun shooting 95-98% of the loads in it for fun, meaning cast bullets 950-1150 or so, lots of smack for plinking etc, and even close deer, but saving my wrist so I think I could be happy with the 97 in 4.25 or 5.5. Handled the 83's at the SHOT show, NICE, triggers are nice and the weight surely dampens recoil.

Any experience or feedback on the ltd. production Super Blackhawk Hunters in 41 that were made a year or two ago? Seems like they would do well, seeing as I hear so many good things re: the 44's in that model. I know where one is but not sure about the value/price that it should command.

I saw a .41 Magnum Blackhawk Bisley Hunter for a good price, passed it, rethought my "mistake" and when I went back...it was gone...what I will buy is one of the Blackhawk Hunters with the standard grips when one is found used at a decent price. I already have a 6.5 BH with a Lyman scope mount and 4 power Leupold scope that is deadly accurate...and a trigger pull to die for.

As to "favorites", yes the .41 is my favorite revolver cartridge and the "other" oddball, the .38 Super is my favorite semi-auto cartridge. Last count I had a dozen+ Supers and two dozen+ .41s...they are both addicting...

Bob

I have known RJM for many many years.

He has been a long time 41 Mag and 38 Super fan.
[I could never figure it out since "everybody" knows the 45 ACP and the 44 Mag are the 2 best handgun rounds avialable ]

In fact he was shooting the 38 Super way long before the IPSC "crowd" found it.

He is no "Johnny come lately".

Back in the day, many Police Officers carried his handloads on duty.

Especially his duty loads for the S&W 45 Colt.

Coming from the best "all-around" shot I have ever known...thanks...

Bob

I too was once a 38 super fan, before I was able to finance one, never caught the 9 or 45 bug, though I want to understand what the 357 sig is capable of but more than any other auto round, the 10mm intrigues me.

Now the Old Auto Mag's in 41 mag would have gotten my interest.

Now as to rifle rounds, I imagine we might share some similarities there as well in tastes as we choose a different path.....

If I was in LE again and had to carry one of the new generation guns, the .357 SIG cartridge is what I would want to carry...especially with the Speer 125 Gold Dot HPs. I would likly never own one however as they are a PITA to reload for. And since the Super will do all the SIG will and more there would be no sense for me to have one.

If the 10mm had been available in 1911 platform guns when I started shooting the Super I may have gone that route. The main drawback to the 10mm however is very nasty recoil with full loads. It will also, from what I have read, beat a 1911 up pretty good with a sustained diet of full loads. The Super on the otherhand can run 1300 fps+ loads for years and years and never even need a tuneup. I have one GM that has well over 20K, another approaching 20K and several Commanders in the 5-15K range that still shoot to right where the sights are when you pull the trigger.

Rifles...if your favorite hunting caliber is .35 we have something in common... .350 Remington Magnum, .358 Winchester... And of course the 7.62x39, .308 Winchester and if you love the .41 Magnum you should have a .405 Winchester since the actual bore diameter is .411 and shoots all your favorite .41 pistol bullets just fine.

Bob