I have been looking at options of building a .577 BPE for use black powder of nitro-for-black loads. I had considered the Ruger No. 1 conversion by Bowen, but have also found another option. Ballard Rifles will build their 1885 in a .577 3" BPE (Bowen will only build 2.75"). (Winchester actually built a handful of 1885's in .577 BPE.) With the 1885, I can chose my wood (i.e., grade, pistol grip, cheekpiece, etc.), barrel lenght, sites etc.

Costs and weights between the two rifles are the same. I'b be interested in your thoughts.

FFg

The High Wall looks cool but that traditional dropped stock may kick like all hell.

Thanks Harald. I thought that too, but a pistol grip, cheekpiece, shotgun butt would help along with the 11lb weight. Thanks again for the input.

FFg,
I have been thinking about doing the same thing as you,but with the 2.75 inch case.Both actions are fabulous and I own and use both,but the 1885 just has a better "feel" to it than the Ruger.

How much does Ballard charge for a plain jane 1885 in 577 3 inch?I was thinking of having a Browning 78 converted,but maybe buying one from Ballard whould be cheaper.Last time I checked they wanted a minimum of $3,000 for some of their stuff.

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I'm out to wrong rights,depress the opressed,and generaly make an ass of myself!

[This message has been edited by Brian M (edited 02-14-2002).]

Brian,

I chose the 3� based on laziness and economics. First, the Bertram brass is already 3�. Second, I have 3� RCBS dies and I didn�t want to buy a trim die for the 2.75� case. Maybe I can load the 2.75� brass in 3� dies (e.g., .38 specials in .357 dies)

Now on to the comparisons.

Ruger Number 1 vs. Ballard 1885

Similarities:

Both take a year to get.

I would be happy to spend my money with either Bowen or Ballard. Both have been vary courteous to me on the telephone and neither acted as if they were doing me a favor by talking with me. This is a big plus in my book. (This is the same reason why I pay more for gas at my local mom & pop service station because they do not charge me for �air� like the big boys down on the corner. It�s a matter of principle.)

Both weigh about the same.

Costs a pretty similar too.

Ruger No. 1H: $500-$600 (with tax or FFL transfer fees.
Ruger No. 1 Conversion at Bowen: $1,995
Shipping & Insurance of No. 1 to Bowen: $20
Ave price: $2,550

Ballard 1885

Basic rifle: $2050
Pistol grip & shotgun buttplate + cheek piece: $200
Checkering buttstock and forearm: $350
Wood upgrade Walnut $200, English Walnut $400
Ave price: $2,750 with upgraded American Walnut and checkering (could skip the checkering.

No real difference in price. I do like the idea of upgraded wood and a cheekpiece. With the No. 1, you are stuck with the wood as issued.

I also wonder if the resale would not be better with the Ballard (just in case). With the No. 1, in the end, it�s still a Ruger single shot no matter how much money you put into it.

I�m leaning toward the 1885. Any thoughts?

FFg

FFg,
$2000 to convert your rifle?That's nuts!Just two years ago it was only $1200,and a few years before that $800.Even $800 is a bit steep.

Go to the link below.This guy will build you an exact repo of the Sharps 1874 by hand in 577 2 3/4 inch (possibly 3 inch if he thinks the action will take it),for $1850.A friend of mine knows him well and says he'll build you a rifle in any caliber you want,as long as the action will safely handel it.

I have contacted him about a possible converstion on a Browning B78.Hell,if he'll build you a complete rifle for LESS than what the other guys will convert one for,his converstions have to be fairly reasonable.

Note that I am not interested in express sights,or ANY bells and whistles.I just want a barrel fitted,headspaced and the extractor modified,and bed the forearm.No need for any sights since I'd have my local smith tap it for $7 a hole and put my own mounts and scope on it.

I too am leaning twards the 1885,but in the guise of a Browning B78 rebarreled.Why?Well,I think Browning does the High Wall action best.Their newer Model 1885 High Wall,while a beautiful and accurate gun (my standard in 45/70 will do 0.5 inch for three shots from the bench-no kidding),has a straight gripped stock that has a bit of drop to it,which makes recoil much more noticeable than my straight stocked Ruger 45/70.The older Browning B78 from the 1970s had a pistol grip stock which was straight and should transfer recoil well.

A converstion of the Ruger would make a sweet gun,but I like the High Walls better.I have always treated my Ruger #1s as "huntin guns",while the High Walls have always ranked very high in my "classy" list.

Here's exactly what I'd like to have done-
Have a Browning B78 (caliber unknown at this time)rebarreld with either a Douglas (if they'll do one that size)or possibly Green Mountain barrel,28 to 30 inches long and in round form.Heavy contour,no sights.Open up the extractor for the larger rim,an bed the forearm.

The problem is finding someone who will do it for a sane price.I'm figuring $500 should more than cover the barrel itself,and I think $500 would be more than reasonable for labor.I could probibly pick up a B78 through trade and have around $500.SO,if I could find someone to do the converstion for $1000,I'd have around $1500 in the complete gun.

For some reason,once you get above 45 caliber,the price goes through the roof on everything-dies,brass,bullets (jacketed ones at least),barrels and labor.I guess people think only rich folks like big bores.If I wanted a 458 made on the Browning I could have it done for $500,including the barrel.Go figure.

The link to the Sharps guy-
http://1874sharps.com/index.html

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I'm out to wrong rights,depress the opressed,and generaly make an ass of myself!

[This message has been edited by Brian M (edited 02-15-2002).]

How do the Shiloh Sharps Hi Walls compare to the Ballards? Both look really nice to me. The Uberti's seem like pretty good value and supposedly shoot very well but don't have quite the fineness of the others.