New bisley .22 RB22AW

[Chuck from arkansaw]

I am looking at am easy way to convert a single action into a .25-20.
Am I correct in thinking that the RB22AW (rimfire Bisley)is on a large frame? Would it be difficult to convert the firing pin from rim to center fire? I'm thinking just replacing the recoil shield and firing pin, but don't know for sure.  Starting with a RB22AW It should be a simple matter to ream the chambers, convert the firing pin, and replace the barrel with a .257 bore.  Or I could buy the Bisley, send it back to Ruger for a "replacement" cylinder, put the "replacement" cylinder in another Blackhawk in .357 or such, and have it reamed, timed, and re-barreled. I know Ruger would replace the cylinder in the Bisley cheap, but probably wouldn't sell the cylinder separately.  Bowen wants about $235 bucks for a Blackhawk cylinder with pilot holes only. It is a high quality part, but pricey.  Using the replacement cylinder would mean I would be stuck with a factory new Bisley in .22, I don't see that as a problem.

[Lloyd Smale]

cheapest way probably would be to buy centerfire gun to start with. Reline the barrel and as far as a cyl goes Im not sure but I believe if you want a case bigger then a .32 in a single six your going to need to get a new cyl. You might want to contact Dave Clemments and see if he will sell you one his prices are usually pretty resonalbe.  Im haveing a single six done in .41 special right now but anything the size of a .38 special or bigger requires a 5 shot cyl in a single six. The grip frames on the bisleys are all the same but the frame is not. If you want something smaller then a full sized frame you might want to do your gun on an old model .357 frame. I know that bowen and clemments do the 25 20 on them.

[Blackhawk44]

Since this same question came up just the other day, I checked the 32H&R Single Six cylinder against a 25/20 case and there is only about an 1/8 of an inch in cylinder length left to seat a bullet.  Its just too short.  Needs to be a pre-73 Blackhawk.

[Graybeard]

No Chuck you are not correct in that assumption. All of the Single Sixes to include the .32 H&R version are the same. They are really intended for the rimfires.

I think the best option for you would be one chambered for say the .30 US Carbine round. I believe it is pretty close to the .25-20 in length and should do a good job. There is one for sale on the Classifieds now. I think Soupshooter is the one who has it listed. Dunno but I think if I were going to take on such a project that's the one I'd be looking at for it.

GB

[Old Griz]

The .22 Bisley frame is smaller than the other Bisleys. It's just a Single Six that kept growing.