45 Long colt VS 45 acp VS 357 magnum

[Constantine-p89]

Ok ill think about the Ruger.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Adding a .45 ACP cylinder to a Ruger NMBH doesn't give automatic access to .45 AR. You have to take the gun to a 'smith and have the cylinder trimmed to allow a headspacing of .089" for .45 AR. Then you can use .45 ACP and .45 AR in the same cylinder and .45 Colt in the original cylinder.

Correct. Many people fail to understand the additional headspace in M1917 and similar double actions was to allow space to use half-moon clips. Since single actions don't need half-moon clips, they don't have that excessive headspace, and the back of the cylinder needs to be milled to allow you to shoot .45 AR.

Of course, the purpose of the .45 AR was to allow you to shoot your M1917 without half-moon clips. So why would you want to pay extra to shoot a rare and fairly expensive case when you can shoot plentiful and fairly cheap .45 ACP?

 

[MCgunner]

I'd pick .45 colt if it's a Ruger Blackhawk. Otherwise, I'd go .357 Magnum. Of course, I handload and .45 Colt is dirt cheap when your bullets are free. Brass lasts a long time in light loads. All I have to buy is powder and primers except if I'm loading 300JHP/XTPs at 1200 fps which I don't shoot much.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Both .45 Colt and .357 can be dirt cheap. You can and probably will shoot more .38 Special in your SA than .357. Thirty-eight brass can be found anywhere -- most ranges are littered with it, free for just bending over and picking it up. Get a mould (I like the Lee 6-cavity moulds for pistol bullets) and sweet talk your local tire dealer to get wheel weights.

 

[Tom C.]

Of course, the purpose of the .45 AR was to allow you to shoot your M1917 without half-moon clips. So why would you want to pay extra to shoot a rare and fairly expensive case when you can shoot plentiful and fairly cheap .45 ACP?

.45 ACP brass can vary considerably in length. This isn't an issue with a 1911 or when using moon or half moon clips, but it can cause FTF in a revolver without clips. .45 AR headspaces on the rim. It eliminates the problem.

.45 AR brass is now available from Remington and Starline. It can be reloaded on the same set-up as .45 ACP with a change of shell plate. I prefer to use it in my revolvers to .45 ACP brass.

 

[MCgunner]

Both .45 Colt and .357 can be dirt cheap. You can and probably will shoot more .38 Special in your SA than .357. Thirty-eight brass can be found anywhere -- most ranges are littered with it,

Not at our club. I don't own a .40, but the cops shoot it. That one is everywhere. I do own a .45 ACP and that brass is everywhere, ditto 9x19.

I get range scrap out of the back stop. It's like a little lead mine, 30 minutes, I got a jumbo coffee can full. Tire guy wants money for tire weights, but they make excellent bullets. Need to get a 6 gang mold or three, though. I have 2 cavities and they're slower, but I have plenty of time when I'm casting, not a real big deal really.

Tom, autoloaders head space on the case, too, though if it's a little short oft times it will head space on the extractor, but that's not desirable. Thing about any auto that head spaces on the case mouth is to trim it to the right length on first loading and don't use a roll crimp.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I get range scrap out of the back stop. It's like a little lead mine, 30 minutes, I got a jumbo coffee can full.

I used to shoot at a range that would sponsor weekend-long North-South Skirmish Association matches. You could mine so much lead after those matches that your truck would be riding on the axels when you hauled it home. And pure lead, too.

Tire guy wants money for tire weights, but they make excellent bullets.

Wait until you need new tires. Call him up, tell him what you want and make an appointment to come in and have the new tires put on. And then ask if he has any wheel-weights lying around.

 

[Tom C.]

Tom, autoloaders head space on the case, too, though if it's a little short oft times it will head space on the extractor, but that's not desirable. Thing about any auto that head spaces on the case mouth is to trim it to the right length on first loading and don't use a roll crimp.

Autoloaders headspace on mouth, and the 1911 has something like .25" of excess firing pin travel. I don't think you would have trouble igniting .45 GAP in a 1911, with or without the extractor. Not a good idea though.

I don't roll crimp .45 ACP or .45 AR. I use the same taper crimp on both.

 

[Wedge]

If you don't reload do NOT get a .45 Colt.

Otherwise it is a tossup between what platform you like best. I happen to really like .45 Colt a lot but I also reload.

I don't have a .357 Mag so that is what I would get...