ruger 3 screw fast draw gun. whats it worth?

[Bow View Haymaker]

A guy I work with has a old Ruger 3 screw set up for fast draw that he wants. to sell.  It started as a 357 but is now .45  sights removed and topstrap contoured like a SAA no front sight.  

I havn't had a chance to try the action yet.  I am wondering if it would make a good SASS gun.  and what it might be worth.

[rickk]

Hard to aim without sights. Fast drawing requires no sights.

Fast draw guns take a beating. I talked to a guy who ran a "fast draw" company that brought a few guns and holsters and a PACT timer to conventions for the "hospitality night" activities. A few hundred somewhat intoxicated people would try to outdraw each other.  He used only Rugers because he found that they were the only ones that would last a while. Still, he found that even the Rugers were beyond repair after a couple years.

I'm not saying at all that the one you are looking at is worn out, just suggesting that you look carefully at things like the cylinder stop and slots and the back of the hammer to make sure they aren't all beat to hell.

I think I know why he would want to remove the sights. I remember the night I ran into that "fast draw" guy. About 5 beers into the evening I did a sub .3 second draw (landing me in 2nd place for the evening btw). My thumb and the gun were both covered in blood when I handed the gun back to him   

[Cliff Fendley]

I know a couple guys that used to fast draw and one of them built guns for it. I've looked at their Ruger's and they are an entire different animal. The timing has been slowed to the point you have to slap it in order for it to lock up, no front sight, the back sight groove has been welded up although I don't know if that is done on all. He did it for looks. Basically you better look at the gun because if all fast draw shooters do theirs this way you wouldn't want that gun for target or CAS. By the time you get it back like it needs to be you could start with a new gun.

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[Bow View Haymaker]

thanks for the thoughts guys.

confirms some of my fears.  I will probably look at it anyway.

[St. George]

The 'Fast Draw' revolvers I've seen over time were all too modified to be of use for anything else.

Rugers were used in large part because they were 'really' cheap at the time that that 'sport' was popular.

The only thing cheaper were the various 'Crosman' and 'P.Y. Hahn' CO2 pistols (same maker), because their CO2 'blast' was enough to stop a timer.

The piece you're talking about's been much-modified.

Perhaps you'd do better to find something more suitable at www.gunbroker.com

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Cliff Fendley]

I was told he used the Rugers because they were so tough. Some of the parts take a beating in that sport. He told me that's why they slow the timing so much because they are slamming the cylinder notches into the bolt. A lot of mods are done in that area too.

[Professor Marvel]

I was told he used the Rugers because they were so tough. Some of the parts take a beating in that sport. He told me that's why they slow the timing so much because they are slamming the cylinder notches into the bolt. A lot of mods are done in that area too.

Amongst the many modifications done to a Ruger for Fast Draw:
they lighten EVERYTHING they can,
 all sights are removed,
 the steel barrel is replaced with an aluminum barrel (sometimes equipped with a thin steel liner),
 weight is shaved off the frame and cylinder wherever possible,
 the hammer and trigger are heavily modified,
 springs are modified,
 even the grips are sometimes skeletonized ....

As modified, these things generally cannot be safely used to fire live factory ammo for long.

you would have to replace and retime the hammer, trigger, hand,  bolt, all springs, barrel, possibly the cylinder, probably the cylinder pin and latch, possibly the grip frame and probably the grips. You would need to recontour the frame for a rear site and add a front site.

essentially, the only useful piece you would get is a highly modified and abused frame.  :-(

kinda like buying a street racer. wouldn't want one of those, either.

yhs
prof marvel

[Bow View Haymaker]

Thanks for al lthe info.  I think I will save my money and buy a great western or new vaquero.

[Mustang Gregg]

Bow View:

I'd suggest the new Vaquero way over the GW.
But you know that's the way I roll.

Your Pard,
Mustang

[Bow View Haymaker]

1st choice would be New vaquero in .45 polished stainless 4.75 or 5.5 barrel.
Saivin, my pennnies