[possummanplus3]

Hi, I have found a pretty good deal on a blackhawk 45 colt with 4/58" barrel. I have a super blackhawk and blackhawk 357. I don't reload, so is ammo availability going to be a problem, is there enough factory ammo selection out there? possummanplus3

[PRM]

Not a problem - a little pricy if you don't reload. The old round has made quite a comeback with the SASS crowd. I shoot a Colt 3rd Generation SAA in .45LC. I sent the gun back to the Colt Custom Shop a few years back and had a .45 ACP cylinder fitted to it. Now, I have the best of both. The .45LC when I want it and the cheaper .45 ACP for just having fun. Great classic round and readily available.

[Dienekes]

Saw a box of factory ammo recently for $40. Maybe it was the picture of John Wayne on the front that bumped it up that high...

45 years ago I flinched at paying $15 a box and got a Lyman 310 tool and started reloading for .45 Colt. Today I think there are two ways to go: either shoot a lot of .22 LR and call it good, or start reloading. It doesn't have to be that expensive if you ease into it.

As to the gun itself--they are very good guns in a very good caliber.

[The Lone Haranguer]

It would be nice to have the convertible .45 Auto cylinder. .45 Colt is available at any decent gun shop, well stocked sporting goods store, etc., but is expensive and not available in a "generic" version at Wal-Mart.

[huntershooter]

.45 Colt in anything other than "cowboy" loads, is a reloading proposition.

[Bezoar]

the problem is, 45 colt is normally going to be an online or special order proposition for users. the only time ive been in a store and saw a box of 45 colt on a shelf, it was a john wayne commerative for 40 before tax.

reloading will most likely be the best bet in order to get the quality and quantity of ammuniton when you need it. On the other hand, there are some very good loadings in this caliber by hornady and buffalo bore thatwould almost make hte expense of ups worthwhile.

[Wolfeye]

A lot of the big ammo makers support .45 colt. My local shops don't normally stock it, not as far as I've seen, but they have no problem ordering it for me. .45 lc and .45 lc+p are a notch more expensive than .44 special and .44 magnum from what I've seen, but not as bad as the larger calibers.

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

With both these guns you should look into reloading. You'll have a blast in the differant loads a 45lc ruger can handle.

[ArchAngelCD]

As much as I like the .45 Colt I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who doesn't reload. Like said above, you will find mostly Cowboy loads in factory ammo and they will usually cost you $30 a box. That a big price tag and will probably prevent you from shooting your gun much. I know I couldn't pay those prices regularly.

[Stainz]

Our range owner/store operator asked me, six years ago last fall, how many .45 Colt cases I had amassed - as I bought MagTech 'Cowboy loads' from his store. I added up over 2,700 that night! It had started innocently enough - I had bought a Ruger BH convertible to shoot up my sold G21's stash of .45 ACPs - and had to try .45 Colts. Next came a Bisley, SRH (.454/.45), and finally, my first S&W - a 625MG in .45 Colt.

I gave in - it made economic sense - and bought a Dillon 550, 'paying it off' by 2,100 rounds reloaded. Sadly, that started a trend - I have all S&Ws now - and reload everything I shoot. Be forewarned!

If you don't want to start reloading, consider Georgia Arms for your .45 Colt Cowboy loads. They are reasonable - in new Starline brass (or Ni-plated brass). They have some hotter ammo for hunting/protection, of course. My choice for personal protection is the Speer 250gr Gold Dot - likely available at your local gunstore. Good luck... and save your brass!

Stainz