Which .45 ACP Revolver?

My 25-2 is probably my favorite handgun. It’s primarily a range gun but I frequently carry it hunting loaded with 45 supers, but not as a primary gun.

I've got a 625JM and a large frame Bisley Blackhawk convertible.





Like usual, when the question is which gun to buy...
... the correct answer is "All of them"!

I have a number of .45 revolvers, but most of them are .45 Colt.

I have exactly one .45 ACP revolver, a Thunder Ranch 22-4. Probably not what you are looking for, but I really like the Indiana Jones vibe that it gives off, and it is a hoot to shoot and great with either moon clips or or .45 Auto Rim.

Howdy

I bought my 45 Colt/45 ACP convertible Blackhawk way back in 1975. It only cost $125, but that was in 1975 dollars. To tell you the truth, I did not want the ACP cylinder, but that is the way the gun came. I never got around to shooting the ACP cylinder for many years, all I shot out of it was 45 Colt. I still have the little red bag the extra cylinder came in.






A few years ago I found this very nice 1918 vintage S&W Model 1917. It even came with an almost full box of 45ACP ammo, also from 1918.






This is a really nice S&W Model of 1955 Target from 1955.






I have a couple of Brazilian 1917s too.

For simple ruggedness, I'd go for a Smith 1917.







I've carried mine quite a lot over the past few months and worked up a load in AR brass that runs a 255 gr. cast SWC in the 900 fps range for game.

35W

I love my Blackhawk Convertible. Highly recommend it.

I've also been eyeing the Redhawk as well, but as others have said, it's a behemoth.

If you really want old west, go Vaquero.

Charter Arms

Bulldog in 45 Colt
Pitbull 45 ACP

both are built on the XL frame.

The model 25, 325, or 625 are outstanding wheelguns.
The 325 is a lighter alloy version, but with 45ACPs the recoil is still very minimal.
My avatar is a 4" model 625 JM. My favorite.

I can't afford a nice Smith, but I really like my Charter Arms Pitbull.

LaneP said:

I have a 1970's era S&W 25-2 "Model of 1955" Target

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I have one made in 1972. Imo, no revolver chambered in .45 ACP today is as nicely finished nor as well-made, nor any more accurate than these original Smith & Wesson classics.

SwampWolf said:

I have one made in 1972. Imo, no revolver chambered in .45 ACP today is as nicely finished nor as well-made, nor any more accurate than these original Smith & Wesson classics.

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Absolutely. They simply don't make them like that anymore IMHO. The rich, deep blue, the seamless, precision fit of side plate, everything is machined or forged steel and wood. Wish I had a better pic but this is mine.

I'd like to see S&W make the model 25/625 or Ruger make the convertible in 45 winchester magnum. That way you could shoot either the Win Mag or std 45 ACP

mcb said:

Moonclips for rimless cartridges are more robust than rimmed cartridges.

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I don't have any experience with them, but I always assumed moonclips were prone to bending and while fast to load and unload a in revolver, I would have thought they were more fragile than a rimmed cartridge.

Don't misunderstand me, I want to be wrong. I primarily shoot .45 Auto, but in semi-auto pistols. I've always been intrigued by the S&W's in .45 Auto, but shied away from them due to potential issues with the moonclips.

Tallball said:

The Blackhawk doesn't need moon clips.

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I know you know what you're talking about, but that statement sounds like "They could use them, but they don't need them."

It just made me chuckle.

JTQ said:

I don't have any experience with them, but I always assumed moonclips were prone to bending and while fast to load and unload a in revolver, I would have thought they were more fragile than a rimmed cartridge.

Don't misunderstand me, I want to be wrong. I primarily shoot .45 Auto, but in semi-auto pistols. I've always been intrigued by the S&W's in .45 Auto, but shied away from them due to potential issues with the moonclips.

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I've never carried moon clips for SD purposes (just for the range) but the brands I have used are extremely tough, spring quality steel. They permit a very fast reload and during ejection there are no loose cases. The only pain is having to clip and unclip the cases, but there are tools that make that chore very simple.

JTQ said:

I don't have any experience with them, but I always assumed moonclips were prone to bending and while fast to load and unload a in revolver, I would have thought they were more fragile than a rimmed cartridge.

Don't misunderstand me, I want to be wrong. I primarily shoot .45 Auto, but in semi-auto pistols. I've always been intrigued by the S&W's in .45 Auto, but shied away from them due to potential issues with the moonclips.

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There are two primary aspects make moonclips for rimless cartridge more robust and less finicky than moonclips for rimed cartridges.

First the extractor groove, that groove the moonclip snaps into. With a rimless cartridge that extractor grove is part of the SAAMI spec. This makes nearly all extractor grooves for a given cartridge nearly identical despite who makes the brass. The moonclip groove on a rimmed cartridge does not have a SAAMI spec. In fact SAAMI does not even require that groove just ahead of the rime to even be there. So you're stuck with each manufacture making up their own dimensions and tolerances for this groove and thus you end up with combinations of brass and moonclips that work great, some the work only OK, and others that don't work at all. To illustrate this more, TK Custom (one of the better if not the best moonclip maker) offers one size 45 ACP moonclip. They offer 3-5 sizes for 38/357 depending on what revolver they are for.

Second the moonclip for for rimless revolver due to the larger extractor groove are also thicker and thus more robust to rough handling. A typical rimless cartridge moonclip is .035 inch thick or thicker. Rimmed moonclips vary from .020-.025 inch thick.

Also most rimless cartridges typical chambered in revolvers, 9mm, 40S&W, 10mm and 45 ACP are all relatively short and fat compared to classic rimmed revolver cartridges in similar calibers. This short-fat aspect ratio greatly aids the rapid extraction and insertion of the moonclip out of and into the revolver.

I have been running moonclip fed revolvers in competition for over a decade now and if one is willing to do a simple check ahead of using them they are every bit as reliable if not more so than any speed loader or magazine feed semi-auto. I have had my fair share of revolvers (and semi-autos) fail in competition but after learning to check my moonclips I have never had a moonclip related failure in competition or hunting.

For single action there's only one real option and it's Ruger. For double actions, you have a few options, but I would not get the Ruger Redhawk solely to shoot .45 ACP, it's built for hot .45 Colt, not .45 ACP. I'd also avoid older S&W/Colt M1917's, they're meant for showing, not shooting.

So your options for DA are Charter and their snub Pitbull for $400 or one of the newer S&W offerings that cost a grand. The difference between those is the Charter doesn't require a moonclip to extract empty rounds while the S&W does.

mcb said:

There are two primary aspects make moonclips for rimless cartridge more robust and less finicky than moonclips for rimed cartridges.

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Ooops, I thought you were comparing moonclips themselves to a rimmed cartridge, not moonclips on rimless cartridges vs moonclips on rimmed cartridges. My misunderstanding.

JTQ said:

Ooops, I thought you were comparing moonclips themselves to a rimmed cartridge, not moonclips on rimless cartridges vs moonclips on rimmed cartridges. My misunderstanding.

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Hmmm... probably my fault I should have written the sentence more explicitly.

How much life, in normal use for you, get out of a moonclip? I realize they are pretty cheap and could be considered disposable, but do they last a few matches, or years, or ...?

JTQ said:

How much life, in normal use for you, get out of a moonclip? I realize they are pretty cheap and could be considered disposable, but do they last a few matches, or years, or ...?

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I have never worn one out using them and some of my 610 moonclips are over 12 years old. I have a bag of damaged moonclips that have gotten bent due to abuse but never from wear. The biggest killer of moonclips is Range Officers, or scorer/pasters stepping on them after the stage. I have killed a couple kicking them during a running reload. But barring that type of abuse they hold up a very long time. They are usually a fairly high carbon steel (or similar stainless steel) with a good heat treat so they are harder and tougher than the brass they are holding. I buy in bulk and one of these days my pile of bent ones will be big enough to invest in a straightener but for the moment I have plenty to spare.

I have and shoot quite a few 45 ACP revolver. A 4” double action revolver chambered in 45 ACP is my EDC. From 1917 to the 625 Mountain Gun, I have them and shoot them.
I also have a couple of Italian Colt clones set up for the ACP. Slower to load but still a hoot to carry and shoot.
For hunting, carry what is most comfortable for you.

Kevin

"older S&W/Colt M1917's, they're meant for showing, not shooting"

You show yours...I'll shoot mine.

Go Big or go home