Deacon Doug Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 I saw on the Ruger Forum some 44/40 to 44Mag convertibles- both Super Blackhawk and Vaqueros. There were several companies selling cylinders, including Ruger, but my impression from the discussion was a 44Special gun that they used 44/40 cylinders. Anybody have, or used or attempted a conversion like I'm describing ? Thanks for your advice, Deacon Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster Ron Wayne Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 Not quite the same but . I had a Colt 3rd Gen 44 special with a 44/40 cylinder. She was a fun gun to play with . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savvy Jack Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 (edited) 11 hours ago, Deacon Doug said: I saw on the Ruger Forum some 44/40 to 44Mag convertibles- both Super Blackhawk and Vaqueros. There were several companies selling cylinders, including Ruger, but my impression from the discussion was a 44Special gun that they used 44/40 cylinders. Anybody have, or used or attempted a conversion like I'm describing ? Thanks for your advice, Deacon Doug Should be Super Blackhawk and Old Model Vaquero. The Old Model has a larger frame, I believe, as compared to the New Model I have the Uberti Buckhorn 44 Mag revolver with a 44-40 conversion cylinder. As usual, only 44 Mag/44 Special for the same cylinder. The 44-40 is a separate cylinder. If you order a cylinder for it, either-or, you will have "fit-it", or get it "fitted", more than likely. 44 Mag revolver with 44-40 cylinder, loaded with custom HP loads. Edited January 21 by Savvy Jack 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deacon Doug Posted January 21 Author Share Posted January 21 Thanks for your input. My real question is- I have Vaquero Bisley's in 44 MAG and would like to be able to also shoot 44/40. Any help along those lines? DD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailrider #896 Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 Presuming your .44 Mangle-em Bisley is an old model Vaqueo, you can find a .357 Magnum cylinder and have it rechambered to .44-40. A .44 Magnum cylinder could also be rechambered to .44-40 as the base diameter of the .44-40 is larger than the .44 Magnum. A number of years ago, when I was having problems with the original .44-40 cylinder's chambers (finally replaced by Ruger, although with the .425" throats...which I keep, and use hardcast .430" bullets), I found a Super Magnum .44 Magnum cylinder which I had fitted to the gun. Later, when SASS went to 2 sixgun events, I bought a .44 Magnum OM Vaquero, and luckily found a .44-40 cylinder with the tight throats that I had fitted to the .44 Magnum gun. As a result, I have a pair of convertibles. You will most likely have to have the alternate cylinders fitted and timed to the gun. Probably needs to be done by a 'smith who knows his/her business. Best of luck with the project. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Moses Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 I have a Ruger 44-40 Vaquero. When I got it I was shooting a Super Blackhawk 44 mag that I had found a fluted cylinder for in a basket of parts I bought on ebay. The fluted 44mag cylinder dropped right in and worked perfectly in the SBH and then in the Vaquero. New Vaqueros are a medium frame and the Vaquero/Super Blackhwk cylinders do not fit. They are too long. To get a fluted cylinder from Ruger is impossible. Using a 357 SBH is the only route although there is an after market company that makes unfluted cylinders for $200. I actually have my 44-40 convertable up for trade in the classifieds. If you have a trade it might be cheaper than trying to get a cylinder made. Keep the gun you like and the cylinder, then sell the extra gun. Doesn't make much sense but we do a lot of stuff that doesn't make a lot of sense to get our 'perfect' set-up for CASS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deacon Doug Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 Doc, What is the contact for the company that sells cylinders? If I can just get 44-40 cylinders to put into my OM Vaquero Bisleys that might be the simplest and cheapest way to go. DD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savvy Jack Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 (edited) 11 hours ago, Deacon Doug said: Doc, What is the contact for the company that sells cylinders? If I can just get 44-40 cylinders to put into my OM Vaquero Bisleys that might be the simplest and cheapest way to go. DD However you obtain a 44-40 cylinder, just make sure it is cut properly to utilize .429/.430 bullets. Here is an old link to a 2014 topic about the OMV 44-40 and 44 Mag cylinder. https://www.rugerforum.com/threads/my-blackhawk-44-44-40-convertible.199186/#post-1993822 Edited January 22 by Savvy Jack 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Hochbauer, SASS #64409 Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 I currently have a pair of USFA's that are .44 spcl but also have a set of 44-40 conversion cylinders they are quite a handful to shoot with a full case of BP with the 44-40 cylinders...lots of fun and smoke. But very sweet to shoot with 44 Russians also loaded with bp.One thing to check when you do get the new cylinders check the ones that are in the guns before you go to a match and what ammo you brought. I learned that lesson the hard way... Sgt H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Moses Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 On 1/21/2024 at 6:29 PM, Deacon Doug said: Doc, What is the contact for the company that sells cylinders? If I can just get 44-40 cylinders to put into my OM Vaquero Bisleys that might be the simplest and cheapest way to go. DD Sorry. Just saw your question. Borchardt rifles at rugercyl.com. I did not use them but I think they are legit. I did a search for 'ruger 44-40 cylinder' to find them. I hope that helps. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted January 25 Share Posted January 25 PLUS ONE FOR Savvy Jack. The current industry standard for .44 Barrels is .429. Ruger is famous or infamous for undersized Cylinder Throats. Both sets of cylinders should have the throats reamed to a correct 429/430. It is not uncommon to see Ruger cylinders with throats down to .425. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokin Gator SASS #29736 Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 On 1/23/2024 at 1:52 PM, Doc Moses said: Sorry. Just saw your question. Borchardt rifles at rugercyl.com. I did not use them but I think they are legit. I did a search for 'ruger 44-40 cylinder' to find them. I hope that helps. Myself and at least one other member here were unable to get 44-40 cylinders from them that worked. I sent the cylinder back and forth to them for over a year and they could not size it to function in two different 44 mag Vaqueros. I even took the gamble sending them my original 44 mag cylinder figuring that with it in hand they could duplicate the measurements. They were nice guys but unable to deliver. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Moses Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 12 hours ago, Smokin Gator SASS #29736 said: Myself and at least one other member here were unable to get 44-40 cylinders from them that worked. I sent the cylinder back and forth to them for over a year and they could not size it to function in two different 44 mag Vaqueros. I even took the gamble sending them my original 44 mag cylinder figuring that with it in hand they could duplicate the measurements. They were nice guys but unable to deliver. Deacon Doug I would heed this advice. It comes from an actual user. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.