Originally Posted by
super_hunt54
?????? SB, while it would be a little cheaper to RC a .45lc to a .454cas, you are essentially losing a gun to get another! Save a little more and buy a SRH then you will have BOTH! My .45lc's get the most action out of ALL my hunting handguns by far. You do know that whoever does your conversion will have to go to a 5 shot cylinder, replace all the internals (timing for a 5 shot), and more than likely replace the barrel as well. Pressures of a .454 are much higher than a .45lc. For all that, you would be cheaper to buy a new one come to think of it. Probably looking at 1k minimum for a conversion from a Smith worth his salt anyway.
Re-timing a 6 shot into a 5 shot can't be that difficult, as I did one the OTHER way myself.
There's no need to swap barrels on a 45 Colt to shoot 454 Casull - the cylinder is the weak link, the barrels and frames are just fine. Guys have been dropping 454 Cas Super Redhawk cylinders into 45 Colt Redhawks for years and years.
I'd be impressed to find out that a guy can simply ream out a 6 shot 45 colt cylinder to 454 C, since I'm prone to believe that there's a reason that Ruger uses Carpenter steel for their 454C cylinders. But if a guy can cut his own cylinders, then all you need is the cylinder to take a 45colt SBH to 454 Casull. (For redhawks, there are plenty of take off 454C cylinders floating around).
The disadvantage, I suppose, is that the 454C Ruger Super Blackhawks are so cheap! Only $780 on the ones I have coming. Pretty hard to buy a Super Blackhawk 44mag (for $600) then do any work to it at all before you get over that mark.