Best 45 colt combat revolver

the closest service revolver (da) is the colt new service revolver of 1909, chambered in 45 government (not the current 45 long colt).

being from arizona i would have to choose the colt single action army.

for a non-service weapon, i would choose the s&w model 25-5.

murf

If you have the money just get a Redhawk Ruger in .45 LC (5.5 inch barrel) and have a good smith take the barrel down to 4 inches and turn it into round butt configuration.

And yes, there is a company that does that already.

http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/catalog/ruger_double_action_basic_packages.html

No. RD02 ‘Alpine’ conversion

or the

No. RD02K ‘Kodiak‘ conversion

Now there is a COMBAT .45 LC!

Deaf

I'm glad you asked. I think it is this one; a copy of the Indian Jones' S&W 2nd Model Hand Ejector, originally made in .455 Eley, but (easily) conveted to .45 Colt. Surprisingly, it is extremely accurate. [/IMG]

Guess I'd go with the S&W Mountain Gun - assuming I had to carry it a whole lot before getting into a fight with it.

Bingo. S&W 625 with 4" barrel and round butt grip. Wee, wee.

Two questions....

Did you mean the best combat revolver as in ones used in the wars or the best modern day current production model that would be good for self defense?

And are you talking .45Colt as used in the old 1873 Colt SAA "Peacemaker" or the .45acp conversions made by Colt and S&W for the trenches of WW1?

Or is this an amalgam and you're looking for a modern DA revolver chambered in the rimmed .45Colt cartridge?

.... OK, that last bit makes it THREE questions...

the closest service revolver (da) is the colt new service revolver of 1909, chambered in 45 government (not the current 45 long colt).

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As far as I know, no gun was ever "chambered" in .45Gov't. It was a cartridge simply brought into existence so that the same ammo could be used in Colt SAA .45Colt and S&W .45S&W sixguns. It was S&W length with the Colt rim. A Colt New Service would've been chambered in .45Colt.

BCRider said:

Did you mean the best combat revolver as in ones used in the wars or the best modern day current production model that would be good for self defense?

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If you where asking the best modern day current production model for a combat revolver chambered in 45 colt; I think a 4" Ruger Redhawk would be awesome. Especially with the tough frame capable of 45 colt +p loads.

I would like a revolver in 45 [long] colt that is double action and does not need a tracked chassis to carry it around.

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Then I would suggest an N-frame with the tapered barrel, like the later model 25/625 Mountain Gun.

4 inch Redhawk in 45colt is very nice but somewhat scarce.

In my 2nd Model Hand Ejector, I do not run anything hot, but it also show no sign of any unusual wear to shoot the standard pressure .45 Colt (250gr lead @ 800-850fps). I do shoot some jacketed Hornady 250gr XTP's, but I also load them down to 750fps, as jacketed bullet raise pressures a bit. I like them for the fine accuracy they give in my gun. The only modification necessary to convert the old .455 Smiths to .45 Colt is to lightly mill the rear of the chambers for the slightly larger rim of the .45 Colt case. Without modification, the .45 Colt will go in almost all the way, but the cylinder will not close, shwing how little a smith needs to ream to make each chamber "correct" for the .45 Colt casing. No other modification necessary, and many guns on the market have already been converted, but are not marked as such.

4 inch Redhawk in 45colt is very nice but somewhat scarce.

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A tad on the heavy side, too, if you carry all day.

jeffmack said:

I would like a revolver in 45 [long] colt that is double action and does not need a tracked chassis to carry it around.

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I loved the "tracked chassis comment...

Looking around there's not a lot of options. I don't know what sort of past guns were made by S&W or Ruger but I would hardly call an N frame or Redhawk of any sort a "concealed carry" sort of firearm. And both of those options in any barrel length are far from light.

As much as it makes the bile rise at the back of my throat if you want a lighter and more compact 5 shot option for .45Colt you may be looking at one of the small grip and short barrel versions of the Taurus "Judge" style .45Colt/.410 shotshell compact lineup. The cylinders are overly long for .45Colt and I wonder about the accuracy of the bullet making the LOOOONG jump to the rifling in that over long cylinder but it looks like they are one of the very few options if you want a smaller gun chambered in .45 Long Colt. One of their 5 shot options with 2.5" barrel is listed at only 22.4 oz. Which certainly qualifies on the "light" requirement.

It's just that I don't get all warm and fuzzy at the thought of Taurus and some of the horror stories I've read. It seems that once the bugs are worked out that they are good enough guns. But sometimes getting to that stage is an exercise in frustration from dealing with Taurus USA.

625 Mountain gun. Wouldn't hesitate to rely on it for SD use. A bit too big for CC on a routine basis, unless you're wearing a coat. MHO, of course.

625 Mountain Gun. Great gun
Taurus Judge-easier to CC
Governator-easier to CC

+1 on the 625 Mountain Gun.



rc

SharpsDressedMan said:

I'm glad you asked. I think it is this one; a copy of the Indian Jones' S&W 2nd Model Hand Ejector, originally made in .455 Eley, but (easily) conveted to .45 Colt. Surprisingly, it is extremely accurate.

[/IMG]

Click to expand...

How easy is it to convert? I know where one is in .455 that was rechambered to .45 ACP and I can get it cheap.

Can that be done or do I just use .45 Auto-rim instead.

Deaf

You could use .45 acp with moon clips. It makes for quick reloads.

Jaymo said:

You could use .45 acp with moon clips. It makes for quick reloads.

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Thanks for bringing up the moon clips. That made me remember that big Webley & Scott ejector conversion to .45ACP with moon clips would be about the best combat revolver one could ever hope for. During WWII and beyond Ole' English top opener was the only European challenger to excellent American 1911 pistol or American revolvers. Now that Hornady loads ammo Ole' English Monster in original chambering is also well worth owning.

The original topic was for a .45 Colt revolver. If wanting a .45ACP, here is a nice variation of a 1917 that I got for cheap at a gunshow. I had the action tweaked a bit, and then matte blued. The grips are slightly modified Ahrends. ALMOST compact enough, and on the lighter side, with no shrouded lug (as is the other Hand Ejector). The barrel is about 3 1/4". [/IMG]

i like this one....Redhawk 45 Colt...