I am wondering if the cylinder on one Ruger SA will index properly on another Ruger SA.

For example, I buy a .30 Carbine cylinder, later ream it out to .44Mag and use it in another revolver. Or maybe I ream an unfluted .44mag cylinder with tight .45 Colt chambers for use on a .45 Colt gun to make it properly accurate.

Can this be done?

I've seen it done, but don't recommend the practice. There can be enough variance between guns to where you don't get proper barrel/cylinder alignment.

Lee Martin
www.singleactions.com

Yes, it can be done, but you will have to adjust the timing with the hand and cylinder stop (or whatever Ruger calls it). - Dan

I put a Bisley 45colt cylinder on my SS Blackhawk 45colt. It works great with no timeing adjustments.

Yes it can be fitted and it's been done all the time but do not expect to have a drop in fit. Every gun is unique, especically those mass produced ones so you need to know what you are doing and have the right equipment to make the adjustments if nessesary. Good luck.

Anyone know where you could get an unfluted Bhawk cylinder without paying $450 for a five shot conversion?????/

Yes, it can be done very easily. Its called "line boring". When you line bore a new cylinder, you need to set up the frame and cylinder together in a jig. Then you ream the cylinders out to the desired caliber with special reamers, then chamber all six cylinders. By setting up the cylinder in the frame and mounting the frame in the jig you ensure exact alignment on all cylinders, making a very accurate sixgun. I have done several, and am in the process of converting my girlfriends Bisley from .357 mag to .45 Colt.

I hate to disagree but most New Model Ruger cylinders will interchange with no timing problems. Most are a drop in fit. Please note, I said "most" and not all. This is not true of the Old Model (3 screw) Rugers. However, best check the cylinder in your pistol before you do any rechambering.

Sooner:

Not sure about the advantage of line boring once those chamber holes are already there. Line boring if not done right will defeat the purpose but hey I probably don't know what I am talking about. Thanks.

Chargar, you are correct, all the Ruger cylinders should time up right, but being a drop in part I am not so sure. Any cylinder can be put in and made to work. You have to set headspace, bbl to cyl gap, adjust endshake, fit cyl latch, and fit the base pin, to make sure its a safe conversion. I have replaced two cylinders using new factory replacement cylinders, neither were drop in. One required building and setting an endshake bushing, machining the back of the cylinder to increase headspace, and setting the barrel back to fit bbl/cyl gap. The other required stretching the gas ring and lightly lapping the base pin to fit right.

Ming, The jig used to line bore holds everything in line, and once the cylinder is positioned to align the new chamber with the barrel, you can move the center of the old hole if its not too far out. I don't know the amount of offset you can compensate for, because I just haven't seen too many cylinders that were that far out. I have seen several cylinders ruined during the line boring process, mostly operator error. It does take a while to perform and is semi costly, and can be risky. The only reason I mentioned the process is because Pyrotek asked about a caliber conversion, I was just throwing out another idea for him.