I got to thinking earlier today (dangerous, I know) and realized that I have been trying to come up with 2 handguns to purchase in the relatively near future (year or so). One for technique and other practice/plinking (requires cheap ammo) and one for hunting. I thought I had this narrowed down to getting a 9mm for the former and a Ruger Super RedHawk in .44Mag or .454Casul. I know I could use .44Spc in the .44Mag but those are still a bit pricey for plinking but here is where the thinking came in. What if I were to get a .45ACP cylinder for the .454Casul? I could then shoot the inexpensive .45ACP out of the same gun that I was going to use for hunting and it would actually be even better for practice as I would be using my hunting gun for practice. Now here is the problem... does anyone make a .45ACP cylinder for this gun? I did find a company that would machine the cylinder to take full moon clips, but does anyone have any knowledge of <a href="http://www.wildwestguns.com/">Wild West Guns</a>? I am kinda nervous about this without some additional information on them and the process.
.45ACP in .454Casul?
- Thread starter Kalrog
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Tom C.
Member.
Freedom Arms will sell you a .45 ACP cylinder for their .454, but Ruger won't. It would be strictly a custom job, and if you don't get the second cylinder with a crane and all the little parts, it would be a major pain to change cylinders. Reloading for the .454 using .454 or .45 Colt brass is easy enough, and cheaper than surplus .45 ACP.
PlayTheAces
Member
For what it's worth, years back a buddy of mine ordered a custom Freedom Arms with the .454 Casul, .45 acp and .45 Colt cylinders. He also had an octagon barrel added to the package, and it came in a presentation case. This was probably 10 or 12 years ago, and I think he spent in the neighborhood of three grand for it.
I imagine they would still build you pretty much whatever you want.
I imagine they would still build you pretty much whatever you want.
Jim Watson
Member
Wild West Guns is an established outfit. I have seen (but do not own) one of the takedown Marlins that made their reputation and it looked very nicely done.
Tom Kilhofer is pretty much the daddy of moonclip guns and he mentions them on his site; to say:
"TK Custom is pleased to announce that Wild West Guns, Inc. of Anchorage Alaska will machine cylinders to accept the Full Moonclips. A real cool Moonclip conversion is the .454 Casull Ruger Super Redhawk, which allows you to use 454 Casull, 45 Colt and 45 ACP all in one conversion. Contact them for your needs."
Note that the .454 Ruger clip conversion is only $80 at WW, but it only includes one clip. Additional clips are $35 for five from TK, probably the same from WW.
Caution: All I know is what I read about these people. Be dang sure they leave original cylinder back face for rimmed ammo like .454 Casull and .45 Colt to headspace without clips. I have a .357 that does not and while it is fine for fast reloads in competition, it is kind of a drag to clip and unclip ammo in practice, unless you are practicing the reload.
Tom Kilhofer is pretty much the daddy of moonclip guns and he mentions them on his site; to say:
"TK Custom is pleased to announce that Wild West Guns, Inc. of Anchorage Alaska will machine cylinders to accept the Full Moonclips. A real cool Moonclip conversion is the .454 Casull Ruger Super Redhawk, which allows you to use 454 Casull, 45 Colt and 45 ACP all in one conversion. Contact them for your needs."
Note that the .454 Ruger clip conversion is only $80 at WW, but it only includes one clip. Additional clips are $35 for five from TK, probably the same from WW.
Caution: All I know is what I read about these people. Be dang sure they leave original cylinder back face for rimmed ammo like .454 Casull and .45 Colt to headspace without clips. I have a .357 that does not and while it is fine for fast reloads in competition, it is kind of a drag to clip and unclip ammo in practice, unless you are practicing the reload.
Frohickey
Member
Has anyone gotten any cylinder work done from any of these outfits?
Specifically, modifying a 45Colt cylinder to work with 45ACP Moonclips for a Ruger Redhawk.
Specifically, modifying a 45Colt cylinder to work with 45ACP Moonclips for a Ruger Redhawk.
caz223
Member
I'm kinda surprised that wildalaska hasn't shown op yet....
Wildalaska
member
I was at shot show...here I am agin....
Thats how we do them....
WildhavedonetonsofthemAlaska
Frohickey
Member
Huh?
So, what kind of work needs to be done? The cylinder itself, or the ejector?
I'm confused as to how moonclips work.
So, what kind of work needs to be done? The cylinder itself, or the ejector?
I'm confused as to how moonclips work.
I am being sent a Super Street Hawk, (Super Redhawk) it has been cut down to 3 inches and cylinder machined for moon clips for the 45ACP only and shoot 454 Casull and 45/LC without moon clips. There are a lot of other modifications made also. I can't wait to shoot it. 
another48hrs
Member
Kalrog I was wondering if you saw the 460/7460 that Dan Wesson has.
"model 460/7460 fires .45 ACP, .45 ACP+P, .45 Super, .45 Win Magnum, 460 Rowland and .45 Auto Rimmed."
http://www.danwessonfirearms.com/large_frame_series.htm
"model 460/7460 fires .45 ACP, .45 ACP+P, .45 Super, .45 Win Magnum, 460 Rowland and .45 Auto Rimmed."
http://www.danwessonfirearms.com/large_frame_series.htm
Paul "Fitz" Jones
Moderator - Emeritus
45acp bullets in 45 long Colt
I enjoy shooting my cast 230 gr Rn and 200 gr SWC 45 bulletsin my .45 long Colt and loaded up such a mess of them a ways back in my Star that I will have some ammo for a few more years to come. I like those bullets a LOT better than the heavier bullets.
I enjoy shooting my cast 230 gr Rn and 200 gr SWC 45 bulletsin my .45 long Colt and loaded up such a mess of them a ways back in my Star that I will have some ammo for a few more years to come. I like those bullets a LOT better than the heavier bullets.
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