Best 2"" or 3"' Revolver 45acp CCW & Self-Defense

[gvf]

Best 2"" or 3"' Revolver 45acp CCW & Self-Defense? Looking for one to carry, I know of Nightguard a little and I think a Thunder Ranch , though not sure about that. They are not pretty looking guns though.

But carrying ability, plus reasonable recoil in a well made revolver would be fine.

Thanks for any suggestions. (I'm talking DA/Sa, not SA)

 

[56hawk]

For a short barrel 45 revolver it's going to be hard to beat the Nightguard. 45ACP is not much for recoil, so I would go with the lightest revolver possible.

By the way, what is your reasoning for carrying a 45ACP revolver? Seems like an unnecessarily large gun for what you're getting.

 

[451 Detonics]

You can still find 325PD's on the used market, they were the forerunner to the Nightguard.



If you get real lucky you might even find a 625-10 somewhere...

By the way, what is your reasoning for carrying a 45ACP revolver? Seems like an unnecessarily large gun for what you're getting.

It is a very powerful gun in a small and (in the case of the airweights) light package. With a proper holster they ride high and tight to the body and the moon clips offer the fastest possible revolver reload. We also know that many time the mere presence of a fire ends a conflict without a shot being fired. The big bore snubbie is very intimidating...

 

[harmon rabb]

what kind of velocity are you going to get out of those 1.5" barrels? 45acp is slow enough already out of a 3" barrel.

 

[jmr40]

Not to mention what you lose with the barrel cylinder gap.

 

[WYO]

I'm not planning to sell my 3" SP101, but this will probably be with me during archery season:



It is pictured with Speer Gold Dots in moon and 1/3 moon clips, and a Quick Strip with Buffalo Bore 255 grain hard cast Auto Rims.

As for chrono results, I recently fired 6 rounds of .45 ACP Speer 230 grain Gold Dot hollow points and got an average of 836 fps approximately 15 feet from the muzzle, with an ES of 26 and an SD of 8. By comparison, my notes reflect that I got a 5 round average of 841 fps, an ES of 38 and SD of 16 when the same load was fired out of a 5” Para LDA. Needless to say, I was impressed with the results using the Night Guard.

I also shot some Buffalo Bore standard velocity .45 Auto Rim with the 255 hard cast bullet. This load is advertised by Buffalo Bore at 869 fps out of a 4” Mountain Gun and 795 fps out of a Smith 325. I got a 6 round average of 862 fps from my Night Guard, an ES of 16 and an SD of 5. Recoil was not as bad as I expected with the factory-style grip that I relieved slightly in some areas.

I have ordered some +P Buffalo Bore hard cast to see how that works out, mostly from a recoil standpoint.

 

[56hawk]

Quote:

By the way, what is your reasoning for carrying a 45ACP revolver? Seems like an unnecessarily large gun for what you're getting.

It is a very powerful gun in a small and (in the case of the airweights) light package. With a proper holster they ride high and tight to the body and the moon clips offer the fastest possible revolver reload. We also know that many time the mere presence of a fire ends a conflict without a shot being fired. The big bore snubbie is very intimidating...

What I meant is that 45ACP is pretty wimpy compared to even a 357 Magnum. With a N frame Smith you can get eight 357s or six 44s. Also most 45 Autos are going to be easier to conceal than a revolver with a higher round count and faster reloads. Not trying to say this is a bad idea, just wondering what the reason was. By the way, I own a 625. Love it as a range gun, but wouldn't consider putting it on my CCW.

 

[WC145]

What I meant is that 45ACP is pretty wimpy compared to even a 357 Magnum. With a N frame Smith you can get eight 357s or six 44s. Also most 45 Autos are going to be easier to conceal than a revolver with a higher round count and faster reloads. Not trying to say this is a bad idea, just wondering what the reason was. By the way, I own a 625. Love it as a range gun, but wouldn't consider putting it on my CCW.

The .45acp is wimpy? The 230gr .45acp at 850fps was killing people with impressive regularity for 20+ years before the .357mag made the scene and it's been holding it's own ever since.

Also, some folks just prefer big bore wheel guns. The work under circumstances that an auto won't and are less likely to fail. Plus, with mooonclips, they're about as fast to reload as an auto.

I have no qualms about carrying mine-

 

[jmr40]

The .45acp is wimpy? The 230gr .45acp at 850fps was killing people with impressive regularity for 20+ years before the .357mag made the scene

I've never doubted that, but those velocities are from a 5" barrel 1911. I'm just curious about how much velocity you lose from a 2-3" barrel and the cylinder gap on a revolver.

WYO answered that question for me. Seem like 45 ACP holds up pretty well from short barrels. I know a lot of short barreled 357 revolvers are barely beating 9mm velocity.

 

[IMTHDUKE]

My 627 Performance Center ....327 x 8

 

[56hawk]

The .45acp is wimpy? The 230gr .45acp at 850fps was killing people with impressive regularity for 20+ years before the .357mag made the scene and it's been holding it's own ever since.

It is compared to anything else chambered in an N frame S&W.

45 ACP 400-450 ft-lbs

45 Colt 500-600 ft-lbs
357 Magnum 650-700 ft-lbs
41 Magnum 950-1000 ft-lbs
44 Magnum 950-1000 ft-lbs

Not saying there is anything wrong with a 45 ACP. And the OP might have a very good reason for wanting to carry one. Just that in my opinion if you are going with a gun that size, why choose a six shot 45 ACP over an eight shot 357 Magnum.

By the way, this is a very good site to see the difference in volocity from different barrel lengths:
http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/results.html

 

[shooting4life]

I would get a 625 3 inch.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you can't fine a 45 revolver at a fair price or you decide it's too large to carry there's always a revolver in 44 Special. Charter Arms is still making the Bulldog and it carries 5 rounds of 44 Special in a 21oz package. I'm only mentioning this revolver because most shooters who are considering a 45 Auto revolver want something that starts in a 4 which this revolver does...

 

[gvf]

For a short barrel 45 revolver it's going to be hard to beat the Nightguard. 45ACP is not much for recoil, so I would go with the lightest revolver possible.

By the way, what is your reasoning for carrying a 45ACP revolver? Seems like an unnecessarily large gun for what you're getting.

Well, I'm thinking of going all-revolver and I have a 1911 45acp. In revolvers I have 2 older Colt snubs .38s and a Python, the latter is too big and nice-looking for CCW. So, thought I'd get a higher caliber revolver. I could do a 44 Special - but the ammo prices - yoiks!

 

[David Sinko]

I like my 625-4 with 2" barrel and adjustable sights. You get a long cylinder, a stainless steel frame that won't crack and adjustable sights that can be regulated for bullet weights from 185 to 255 grs. If you want one, better buy a barrel from Numrich before they're all gone.

Let's not forget that a proper 625 .45 ACP revolver will also safely shoot .45 Super. If you don't want to pay Super ammo prices, heavy ACP handloads will do just fine. I have not yet shot the 2" barrel over the chrono, but my 625 with 3" barrel will shoot 250 gr. jacketed bullets at 919 FPS. It feeds all bullet shapes with complete reliability too.

Dave Sinko

 

[Stainz]

Okay, it's a bit larger in the cylinder department, but it weighs < 2 oz more than the 325NG. Same color, construction, tritium Night Sight on front/fixed rear, and takes moonclipped .45 ACP's - or .45 GAPs. The best news? It's several hundred smackers less!



S&W already has a DeSantis holster available for it via S&W Accessories, as you see mine in above. The Hogue .500 Magnum grips fit perfectly - and help with the hand fit and aid the recoil, if you choose to load it with 'other' ammo. It aint proud... it'll take .45 Colt, .45 Schoffield, or about anything in a 2.5" .410 shotgun shell - and six at a time:



The OEM groups that came with my S&W Governor are shown alongside it above. As it is too big for pocket carry anyway, I subbed my spare Hogue .500 Magnum grip for the OEM - great improvement - to me.

Stainz

 

[56hawk]

Well, I'm thinking of going all-revolver and I have a 1911 45acp. In revolvers I have 2 older Colt snubs .38s and a Python, the latter is too big and nice-looking for CCW. So, thought I'd get a higher caliber revolver. I could do a 44 Special - but the ammo prices - yoiks!

Expensive if you don't reload. A S&W mountain gun loaded with +p 44 Specials would be a great carry gun. I like the versatility of the 44 Magnum platform.

 

[jmr40]

A S&W mountain gun loaded with +p 44 Specials would be a great carry gun. I like the versatility of the 44 Magnum platform.

I won't argue with someone who wants to carry a 45 ACP revolver. You could do a lot worse, but something along those lines appeals to me more. I have a 3" 629. Loaded with hot 44 specials it makes a fine SD gun. Just my opinion, and others may disagree, but I feel it is a better choice than 357 mag because of less muzzle blast or recoil.

 

[gordy]

45acp- great revolver round.

I have many 357's, with long and short barrels. Love the 357.
I have one 45 acp revolver, It is a older S&W model 25. I think it was made in the early 1970's. You can shoot that revolver all day long with one hand with heavy loads.
If it didn't have a 6 inch tube I would carry that 45acp revolver every were I went.
It is like shooting 38's out of one of my 357's.

 

[Clifford]

WC145, is that pistol on the bottom a cut down and hammer bobed 1917? It sure looks good!

 

[Lucky Derby]

I would go with a 3" M625. Mine is a -4. I don't carry only because I am limited to 3 guns on my CCW, and I stuck with .38/.357s for reasons having to do with not having to remember to change out the spare ammo in my carrier. Although I think when renewal time comes around a big bore revolver will replace the Colt Trooper on the permit. Most likely my 4" M624.

As to why someone would want one for CCW; Some of us just prefer a revolver to an auto. A big bore revolver has more "Intimidation" than any other handgun I can think of. Perhaps that "Intimidation" will keep you from having to pull the trigger. .45ACP is the cheapest big bore to shoot. Therefore, more practice than going .41mag, .44mag/spl or .45 Colt.

ETA: .45 ACP in moonclips is the fastest revolver reload.

 

[WC145]

WC145, is that pistol on the bottom a cut down and hammer bobbed 1917? It sure looks good!

Yes, it is, one of the Brazilians from 1937. It is an old chop job, very well done. She's still a helluva shooter, one of those old "if only it could talk" guns, no telling where it's been over the last 70+ years.

 

[duns]

It is compared to anything else chambered in an N frame S&W.

45 ACP 400-450 ft-lbs

45 Colt 500-600 ft-lbs
357 Magnum 650-700 ft-lbs
41 Magnum 950-1000 ft-lbs
44 Magnum 950-1000 ft-lbs

Not saying there is anything wrong with a 45 ACP. And the OP might have a very good reason for wanting to carry one. Just that in my opinion if you are going with a gun that size, why choose a six shot 45 ACP over an eight shot 357 Magnum.

Because the .45ACP would be more controllable?

 

[Waldo Pepper]

When needing big bore either 45 Colt or 44 Mag is way to go, I have 629-8 in 3" Talo Special.