1873 question

[Russell13]

So for Christmas I will be getting a Pietta 1873 single action revolver. Just a fun gun to take to the range. My question is should I get it in .45 LC or .357 mag???
I’m thinking .357 mag will be easier to find ammo for. I’m guessing I could also shoot .38 special through it. Seems like most people go 45 so I just don’t know. Please help

 

[DocRock]

Do you hand load? If so, then 45 Colt. If not, your thinking on 38/357 Mag is probably right. But real six guns are chambered in something starting with .4

 

[Russell13]

Do you hand load? If so, then 45 Colt. If not, your thinking on 38/357 Mag is probably right. But real six guns are chambered in something starting with .4

No. Don’t hand load. I’m thinking convenience over historical accuracy. I haven’t researched round availability yet but I’m guessing 45 LC is gonna be much harder to find

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Right now it seems any pistol ammo is hard to come by. 38/357 is a good choice.

 

[Tommygunn]

I haven't had much problem finding .45 Colt for my guns. Your area might be different.

.45 Colt is an authentic Colt 1873 caliber. It's what I'd choose. Btw, I have 1873 repros in .45 Colt, .44-40, .32-20, and .22LR.
Most are Ubertis, but I have one Pietta Cavalry version (early type, "bird's eye" ejector head, frame screw mounted on front to release arbor, and Inspector's cartouche on grip) and I like it very much. IMHO, 95% of the time, Pietta color case hardening is better than Uberti, although I will say that Uberti is doing a better job now than in years past.

 

[cowboydave]

I would go 38/357 as ammo is going to be easier to find and also cheaper.

 

[Obturation]

I'd always take 45 over 357 . Bigger holes are easier to see on paper and if you don't have a 45 colt , it's a cartridge everyone should shoot.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

I'm thinking the average ammo hoarder is more likely to grab up all the .357 and/or .38 before the .45LC/45C
These days, you can order easy peasy online if the LGS doesn't carry.

 

[whughett]

Some how Colt SAA and 357 Magnum strikes me as an Oxymoron.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Will you be shooting black powder loads?

 

[Russell13]

No I will not be using black powder. I do enough gun cleaning already

 

[skfullen]

Ammo will be less expensive and easier to find for the .38/.357.

 

[shootstraight57]

.45 LC is always available (before the pandemic). Common up here in Pa. It was always on the shelf along with the other pistol calibers.

 

[skfullen]

Yes. Available. And double or triple the price. I shoot both and that has been my experience.

 

[indy1919a4]

If you get an extra cylinder that will let you shoot 45 acp, you can shoot even cheaper and still be able to shoot 45 Colt with the changing out of the cylinder.

 

[Crunchy Frog]

No I will not be using black powder. I do enough gun cleaning already

I load and shoot black powder cartridges regularly. It takes me less time to clean than when I use traditional solvents to clean after shooting smokeless ammo.

 

[arcticap]

I fired about a dozen or so .22 blanks that were made with black powder out of a cheap .22 short revolver.
What a mess and never again!
They were dirtier and caused more of a rust risk than any modern .22 ammo..
I wouldn't have needed to clean right away or at all if they were smokeless rounds.
They were bought at a gun show, don't even waste your time firing .22 black powder blanks.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Some how Colt SAA and 357 Magnum strikes me as an Oxymoron

But .38 Long Colt WAS an authentic round and Colt SAA's were chambered in it...,

LD

 

[Loyalist Dave]

No. Don’t hand load. I’m thinking convenience over historical accuracy. I haven’t researched round availability yet but I’m guessing 45 LC is gonna be much harder to find

No sorta the other way round...,

.38 Special may be used in an amazing array of revolver models, and among that amazing array, you will find millions that are kept for home defense. My dad, 90 yoa for example, owns two. I do as well.
So when there's a threat of unrest, Joe Homeowner will get an extra box or two, and as it wasn't nearly in as much demand as before.., the ammo maker's didn't have as much stock on hand as they did for say 9mm or .40 S&W.
So it can be tough to find and pricey. .45 Colt has always been higher in cost, and so there may not be much savings these days between a box for either cartridge.

The advantages of the .38 Special would be, moderate recoil, and if you were to hand load and especially if you cast your own bullets from spent lead slugs from the range...., you will get more bullets from a pound of lead than will the person using a .45 Colt. You use less powder too.

LD

 

[whughett]

But .38 Long Colt WAS an authentic round and Colt SAA's were chambered in it...,

LD

Tenuous connection at best.

 

[expat_alaska]

OK, my take. First of all, this is a black powder forum.

The OP does not handload/reload, so everything else posted here is a moot point insofar as BP. Everyone else (except for arcticap), so far, is talking about smokeless modern cartridges for sale at the LGS, WalMart, et al. Mention has been made about modern .38 Special, 9mm, .40 S&W, .38 Long Colt, et al.

Take it somewhere else, please.

I am surprised that a moderator has not stepped in.

Regards,

Jim

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Well...that's why I asked.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Some how Colt SAA and 357 Magnum strikes me as an Oxymoron.

Howdy

Colt chambered the Single Action Army for 357 Magnum the same year Smith and Wesson invented it, 1935.

I load and shoot black powder cartridges regularly. It takes me less time to clean than when I use traditional solvents to clean after shooting smokeless ammo.

Me too. You just have to perfect your cleaning technique. No stinky, toxic Smokeless solvents, Black Powder solvents are water based. Yes, cleaning up after shooting Black Powder is messy, no way around that. But it is not as difficult or as time consuming as most shooters think.



Regarding your choice of calibers, in normal times 38 Special and/or 357 Magnum is always easier to find than 45 Colt on the shelf of any local gun store. No idea what the availability of either is now.

38 Special will always be less expensive to shoot than 45 Colt.

Yes, you can always fire 38 Special ammunition in any revolver chambered for 357 Magnum, with less recoil and less muzzle blast.

Don't get me wrong, at last count I have five Colt Single Action Army revolvers and one Uberti chambered for 45 Colt. None of mine are chambered for 357 Mag, a couple are chambered for 38-40. But that's just me, I am a traditionalist.

Any revolver chambered for 357 Magnum will always be heavier than one chambered for 45 Colt, all other things being equal, because of the bigger holes in a 45.

Before you ask the question, any modern single action revolver chambered for 357 Magnum is perfectly capable of shooting standard SAAMI spec 357 Magnum ammunition. One does not have to shoot stuff that is loaded down.

One other thing. Take a look at the post about the Myth of the 45 Colt cartridge. I have noticed for years now that lots of new comers to Cowboy Action Shooting just have to have their revolvers chambered for 45 Colt. Then they find out that most commercial 45 Colt ammunition generates a fair amount of recoil. Nothing earth shaking, but more than they want to put up with. Then they try downloading the 45 Colt cartridge to powder puff loads so they can shoot really fast. Eventually most of these guys realize that a big cavernous case like 45 Colt does not do very well with 2 flakes of Whiz Bang and they usually sell their 45s and buy 357s, and down load them so they recoil really, really light. If you want light recoil, 45 Colt is not the best option. Like I say, the recoil of commercial 45 Colt ammunition is nothing like 44 Magnum, but it can be stout.

 

[Tommygunn]

Now, me, I like a revolver with manly recoil! Gimme .45 any day!!! (*BANG!*) ... ...

 

[whughett]

Hello Driftwood As we have come to appreciate and respect you are a fount of knowledge. I stand corrected. My Uberti copy, a Cattleman has both the 45Colt and 45ACP cylinders.