Author Topic: Ruger 45colt undersized cylinder throat (Read 3938 times)

johnd55 · « **on:** March 12, 2008, 08:40:34 AM »

My Vaquero has cylinder throats that measure .4495 and a .452 barrel and it likes .454 cast bullets that it shoots reasonable well with sometimes light to moderate leading. I've read a lot from Brian Pearce and others about improved performance by reaming out cylinder throats to .452 with reamer kits for sale at Brownells for about $170. It doesn't look like a hard job to do but for only 2 45's that I have is there anybody else out there that I could hire to do it. My gunsmith does not have a cylinder reamer.

Ole Man Dan · « **Reply #1 on:** March 12, 2008, 10:04:59 AM »

John55

Most of the 'Name' gunsmiths can fix you right up. Quite a few members of this forum can fix you up either with the reamers or can connect you with someone near you who can & will do the work. I live in Alabama and have taken quite a few .45s to John Gallagher for minor work. I noticed you don't live in the 'Sunny South' (Mid 70s today) So someone should be able to point you to someone near you... Good Luck!

henryb · « **Reply #2 on:** March 12, 2008, 06:01:47 PM »

Check out this website.

www.cylindersmith.com

Less than the reamers and they'll do it right !

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2008, 12:16:48 AM »

I second the recomendation. He does good work.

ONE HOLE 4570 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2008, 03:48:19 AM »

+2 for cylindersmith
He just did a stainless blackhawk for me, e-mailed him it was on the way & got it back the same week

Camel 23 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2008, 10:48:02 AM »

okie john · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2008, 01:17:06 PM »

+4 on cylindersmith. Great work, fast turnaround, 1.5" groups at 25 yards.

Okie John

44 Man · « **Reply #7 on:** March 14, 2008, 01:04:10 PM »

I have not seen any of cylindersmith's work but definitely open up those throats to .4515 or .452. This is a lot easier than if you get a gun with oversize throats! Then you have to replace the cylinder. You might also contact Ruger and tell them your situation and ask them if they would make it right. You may find they will do it for you at no cost other than to ship them the cylinder. 44 Man

jd45 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 16, 2008, 06:38:14 AM »

If I read your post correctly, you said your guns' barrel groove diameter is .452" AND if I read Elmer Keith's book, "Sixguns", correctly, the throats want to be .001 over groove diameter, which means your guns' throats should be reamed to .453". BTW, I just had the Cylindersmith ream both of my Acusport .45 cylinders' throats. +5 for cylindersmith!, but talk to him about your particular situation, IMO. jd45

Argonaut · « **Reply #9 on:** March 22, 2008, 06:51:49 PM »

I have an almost unused Ruger 45 ACP cylinder. I know these are supposed to be matched at the factory for the individual gun it was shipped with, but Could it be used as a replacement for another Blackhawk with a mismatched throat/barrel issues? I mean as a basis for reaming to a proper sized .45 Colt.

Tom C. · « **Reply #10 on:** March 25, 2008, 04:13:08 AM »

Why in God's name would you want to alter a .45 ACP cylinder to .45 Colt? .45 ACP, IMO, is much more useful as a range gun caliber than .45 Colt. .45 Colt is useful in +P loads, but a .45 ACP will easily match .45 Colt factory loads.

In addition, take the .45 ACP cylinder and trim it for .45 AR. Then you can use the same .45 ACP and .45 AR brass in the Blackhawk that you use in a S&W 625.

mjbgalt · « **Reply #11 on:** March 25, 2008, 06:11:29 AM »

how do i know if my .45 has this problem? i can't push a bullet through the cylinder, but shouldn't it be a little tight on the bullet?

-Matt

Hickok · « **Reply #12 on:** March 25, 2008, 08:46:03 AM »

Quote from: mjbgalt on March 25, 2008, 06:11:29 AM

how do i know if my .45 has this problem? i can't push a bullet through the cylinder, but shouldn't it be a little tight on the bullet?

-Matt

I f a .451" jacketed slug wont push through the cylinder throat, you have tight throats. I have owned 4 Ruger SA's in .45 Colt, and all had tight cyl. throats of .4495-.450".
I bought myself a set of reamers from Brownell's, so I can take of the problem myself.

frontiersman · « **Reply #13 on:** March 25, 2008, 07:17:40 PM »

+ 1000 for cylindersmith.com he turned my Accusport Bisley into a tack driver.

LRB · « **Reply #14 on:** March 31, 2008, 12:17:46 PM »

For just a few thousandths, you can open it up yourself with sand paper wrapped around a wood dowel rod. 220 grit wet@dry will do it. You don't need to pay big bucks for such a simple job. When you reach the point that you can push your desired bullet through with just a gentle push, the gun will not know the difference compared to a high dollar gunsmith job. Your forceing cone will correct the .0005 that you may be off.

GregH · « **Reply #15 on:** April 07, 2008, 08:30:44 AM »

Quote from: LRB on March 31, 2008, 12:17:46 PM

For just a few thousandths, you can open it up yourself with sand paper wrapped around a wood dowel rod. 220 grit wet@dry will do it. You don't need to pay big bucks for such a simple job. When you reach the point that you can push your desired bullet through with just a gentle push, the gun will not know the difference compared to a high dollar gunsmith job. Your forceing cone will correct the .0005 that you may be off.

One could certainly use this approach but the throat may not be round and they certainly will not be as consistent in regards to each other. That may not help accuracy! But it would be cheaper and if that does good enough for you then that is all that matters.

Racer X · « **Reply #16 on:** April 07, 2008, 04:34:08 PM »

Quote from: GregH on April 07, 2008, 08:30:44 AM

Quote from: LRB on March 31, 2008, 12:17:46 PM
For just a few thousandths, you can open it up yourself with sand paper wrapped around a wood dowel rod. 220 grit wet@dry will do it. You don't need to pay big bucks for such a simple job. When you reach the point that you can push your desired bullet through with just a gentle push, the gun will not know the difference compared to a high dollar gunsmith job. Your forceing cone will correct the .0005 that you may be off.

One could certainly use this approach but the throat may not be round and they certainly will not be as consistent in regards to each other. That may not help accuracy! But it would be cheaper and if that does good enough for you then that is all that matters.

I agree. Hamilton Bowen spoke to the risk of having out of round throats using the above described approach. I read about it on Beartooth Bullets website but would not try it myself. It is worth $50 - $60 plus shipping to send your cylinder to someone who has the correct tools and knows what they are doing rather than risk screwing up your cylinder.

Hickok · « **Reply #17 on:** April 19, 2008, 01:40:52 AM »

I have owned four .45 Colt Ruger Sa's and everyone had tight cylinder throats. I finally bought a reamer to open them up myself. It would seem someone, anyone at Ruger would wake up and get it right.

kennisondan · « **Reply #18 on:** April 21, 2008, 04:37:33 PM »

Hey : my c]ylinder throats let thrugh a jacketed xp 45 colt bullet and one cast at 451.. but a 452 will not pass...
now do I have to slug the barrel ? it is a five hole clements ruger conversion.
dk

Racer X · « **Reply #19 on:** April 22, 2008, 01:30:49 PM »

Quote from: kennisondan on April 21, 2008, 04:37:33 PM

Hey : my c]ylinder throats let thrugh a jacketed xp 45 colt bullet and one cast at 451.. but a 452 will not pass...
now do I have to slug the barrel ? it is a five hole clements ruger conversion.
dk

Dave says he opened my throats to .453", but 452" diameter bullets will not pass through the throats
without significant encouragement from a rubber mallet and wooden dowel.

kennisondan · « **Reply #20 on:** April 26, 2008, 04:31:28 PM »

I looked at the xtp bullets, they are 452... and the 451 cast passed through with little pushing....
I think my cheap micrometer thing may not be that accurate... I was probably squeezing it against the bullet too hard... I will have to measure again, and will slug the barrel... maybe tomorrow... if I can.
I just want to be able to buy a bullet and shoot it... I would buy a sizer but now I am unsure what size 451 or 452 to buy.
dk

Racer X · « **Reply #21 on:** April 27, 2008, 08:30:37 AM »

Quote from: kennisondan on April 26, 2008, 04:31:28 PM

I looked at the xtp bullets, they are 452... and the 451 cast passed through with little pushing....
I think my cheap micrometer thing may not be that accurate... I was probably squeezing it against the bullet too hard... I will have to measure again, and will slug the barrel... maybe tomorrow... if I can.
I just want to be able to buy a bullet and shoot it... I would buy a sizer but now I am unsure what size 451 or 452 to buy.
dk

From everything I have heard, with cast bullets, larger diameter is more accurate. I wouldn't shoot anything smaller than .452" cast. You might even try .453".

Autorim · « **Reply #22 on:** July 20, 2008, 02:08:08 PM »

I took the advice of posters on this forum and sent my .45 Colt Ruger Bisley cylinder to cylindersmith. Got it back very quickly and looks like a great job. I have not fired it yet, but I expect it will do very well. Did pretty well before, but it should be more tolerant of bullet alloys.

Thanks for the input.

Autorim

Tom C. · « **Reply #23 on:** July 22, 2008, 03:17:24 AM »

I think you will be very pleased with the results. You may also want to take a look at your barrel forcing cone. They can also adversely affect accuracy. Recutting the forcing cone is even easier than cutting the chamber throats.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #24 on:** August 09, 2008, 12:01:06 PM »

I had a local smith open 2 of my cylinders' throats, but they look pretty rough now. Ten bucks a hole is what he charged. Should I do some JB on a patch to try to smooth it up some, or Clover valve compound maybe? DP