American Bulldog contestant number 4

[Scott Tschirhart]

.45 ACP

[JimT]

Looks like a handy little popper.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Simply Rugged shuck.

[AmBraCol]

So THAT'S what you were talking about in the thread about loading for the ACP. Looks like a handy little popper. Didn't even know they were producing such a thing. Out of curiosity - is that a standard length cylinder? I'd assume so, it all looks "in balance" with the rest of the pistol. Looking forward to your shooting review on this one.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Its the only Ruger single action that I have seen marked ".45 ACP." When I saw it, I knew that it had to be a part of this experiment. The cylinder appears to be of standard length. But I wonder if it is cut to use .45 auto rim as well? I think I have a bag of .45 AR brass somewhere around here.

[AmBraCol]

Its the only Ruger single action that I have seen marked ".45 ACP." When I saw it, I knew that it had to be a part of this experiment. The cylinder appears to be of standard length. But I wonder if it is cut to use .45 auto rim as well? I think I have a bag of .45 AR brass somewhere around here.

I was wondering that myself. Shouldn't take too much to slide one in there and see if it works.

Well, you got me cogitating and I drifted over to Starline to take a look at their available brass. I thought I remembered that they have 45 Cowboy Special brass in stock - and they do. So then I dropped over to the 45 Auto Rim page and this is what they've got there:

The .45 Auto Rim has an extra thick rim that allows it to be used without a moon clip in revolvers designed for .45 Auto/moon clip combination. It is built with the same integrity as our 45 Colt case. THIS CASE WILL NOT WORK IN SINGLE ACTION REVOLVERS CHAMBERED FOR .45 AUTO (such as the Ruger Blackhawk with .45 Auto cylinder) OR IN DOUBLE ACTION REVOLVERS DESIGNED FOR .45 COLT AND 45 AUTO IN THE SAME CYLINDER (SUCH AS THE RUGER REDHAWK OR S&W GOVERNOR).

So now I'm wondering if Ruger cut the cylinder for the Cowboy Special rim, if not then it shouldn't be too hard to do so - if you can find the right reamer. But I don't see how that'd be any advantage over simply using 45 ACP brass.

[wvfarrier]

Uberti makes a 45acp SAA I believe

[Bill in Oregon]

Dang it, Scott -- and it might even take .45 Auto Rim, which is as much fun to load for and shoot as .44 Russian.

[Oldncrusty]

I neeeeed one.

[AmBraCol]

Dang it, Scott -- and it might even take .45 Auto Rim, which is as much fun to load for and shoot as .44 Russian.

Check my post up above, Bill. According to Starline their Auto Rim brass will NOT work in single actions chambered for 45 ACP. You could modify a cylinder to accept it, of course, you'd have to ream out the space for the rim. The Auto Rim cartridge has an extra thick rim to allow it to headspace in the cylinders that are cut for moon clips.

[Scott Tschirhart]

It’s close, but the .45Ar rims are just a hair thick. Probably ten minutes with a bastard mill file and it would work.

[JimT]

These guns were .455 Webley's that had been converted to .45 ACP. The owner had a gunsmith make these rings so that the guns could again be shot with .455 Webley ammo. (The guns are not mine)

2022012917061761f574093d412.jpg

[Scott Tschirhart]

I'm thinking that Bobby could face off a little of the rear of the cylinder to provide clearance for the .45 AR rims. They already clear the cylinder rachet.

[JimT]

I'm thinking that Bobby could face off a little of the rear of the cylinder to provide clearance for the .45 AR rims. They already clear the cylinder rachet.

He certainly would know if there were any issues involved doing that.

[GunnyMack]

Thats a great looking little sixgun!

Why not just reduce some of the rim thickness instead of removing steel ?

[4t5]

As long as the primers don't stand proud.

[GunnyMack]

Sorry, I should have specified, the breech side of the rim. Heck, might even be able to reduce the OD of the rim as well. But without having the gun and calipers in hand im just spit balling

[2ndovc]

Silly question, but why not go back to one of your .45 Colt revolvers and try some of the .45 Cowboy Special brass? It's very close to the Auto Rim.
Just seems like lot of goofing around to make the new one do something it really wasn't meant to do.

Just a thought. Besides, the .45 ACPs will work just fine with a little extra care seating and crimping. For my auto pistol revolvers, after playing around a bit, bought some new brass and keep it separated from the others. Seems to work well.

jb

[Bill in Oregon]

Paul, I was skimming too fast for my own good regarding the AR brass fit.
Scott, if you decide to have the cylinder shaved for the AR case, you might want to order in this mold, which Tom notes is for the Colt New Service in .455 Eley ...

https://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_de ... et=45-264D

[Scott Tschirhart]

Silly question, but why not go back to one of your .45 Colt revolvers and try some of the .45 Cowboy Special brass? It's very close to the Auto Rim.
Just seems like lot of goofing around to make the new one do something it really wasn't meant to do.

Just a thought. Besides, the .45 ACPs will work just fine with a little extra care seating and crimping. For my auto pistol revolvers, after playing around a bit, bought some new brass and keep it separated from the others. Seems to work well.

jb

I don't know that I won't just leave it as is. I haven't even fired it yet. But the gun feels good in the hand and the trigger is pretty good for a stock Ruger. If it shoots well, I don't think I would change anything.

[2ndovc]

I'm all for custom revolvers and a huge fan of the .45 AR! I've been shooting it since I was a kid and mostly what I use with my 1917s and a 625. Never been a fan of loading and unloading moon clips.

Only reason I brought it up is I ordered a bag of the cowboy special brass from Starline and looking forward to loading/ shooting it. Just for fun, really.

jb

[Scott Tschirhart]

A couple of years ago at the Confederate Sixgunner gathering in Arkansas, Tyler Gun Works had a Ruger Blackhawk that was chambered for both .45 ACP and .45 AR and it worked great with anything we put in it. So, I know that it is doable. But I have several five gallon buckets of .45 ACP empty brass and only a small bag of 100 or so .45 AR........

[4t5]

At least you can use 1911 mags as speed loaders in it's current form.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Carries really nice

[Scott Tschirhart]

First shots. 230 gr PMC ball ammo

[Scott Tschirhart]

With my 200 gr IPSC loads

[samsi]

Cowboy Special brass works fine in a Ruger ACP cylinder, though I trimmed mine back .010" just to be on the safe side with heavy bullets, a roll crimp and +P loads.

Have heard of folks getting the cylinder faced to headspace AR brass, but I don't have enough around to warrant it.

[Bill in Oregon]

Shooting real nice, Scott!

[Scott Tschirhart]

Thanks Bill,

I need to re-work the stocks but this one shows promise.

[AJMD429]

...So now I'm wondering if Ruger cut the cylinder for the Cowboy Special rim, if not then it shouldn't be too hard to do so - if you can find the right reamer. But I don't see how that'd be any advantage over simply using 45 ACP brass.

Maybe if for some reason you wanted to to a hard roll-crimp or 'Lee Factory Crimp' (would need a custom die for $30 or so) so you could load extra-hot loads...???

[Ysabel Kid]

Carries really nice

That is slick!

Who made that holster Scott?

[Scott Tschirhart]

Doc Battanti made that particular shuck.