.45 acp revolver recommendations

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neviander

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I know .45 acp is a time tested sub sonic round, that is where my attraction for having it in a revolver comes from. If I ever have to pull my piece in a dire situation, I would rather not have the bullet make my ears bleed...i.e. .357 magnum. I realize that the .357 is a very effective round, and very popular for a carry piece, but what, if any, drawbacks would there be in a .45 acp wheel gun?

I know it's a relatively fat round, but is it really that much larger than a .38 or other more popular revolver rounds?

It'll be a while before I'll be able to get a revolver, but any thoughts would be appreciated.
 
There are a couple of S&W models that shoot the 45 ACP but I don't know of any others currently in production. These will be large frame guns- no pocket pistols in 45 ACP.

"I know it's a relatively fat round, but is it really that much larger than a .38 or other more popular revolver rounds?"

Um... yes. Much bigger. Requires a bigger gun.

A revolver in 45 ACP is pretty cool. I have two of them. OK for a holster gun, but the revolver will be pretty big for concealed carry.
 
the revolver will be pretty big for concealed carry.
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It wouldn't be for concealed...sorry, forgot to mention that. Mostly for the sound factor.

It would be for either the house or the car...other pistols would be for carry :)
 
For house or car it would be excellent. There is no handgun that I would rather have than a S&W 25/625 for HD. Good luck finding one they have been discontinued.
 
I've owned 4 .45acp revolvers, and still have 2 of these revolvers.

Had owned a S&W and a Colt 1917 military guns and sold them when broke.

Not so broke now and own a S&W 625 Model 1989 3" and a 1918 Colt 1917 revolver.

.45 acp is a great revolver round, and the full moon clips make reloading a snap.
 
My 625 is probably my favorite handgun. Not so sure I'd love the noise in a car, but it would be much kinder than a .357 or something.
 
S&W 25-2. Great gun.

I used to have an M1917. I wish I still had it. It had a mark on the outside of the barrel and a corresponding protrusion in one of the grooves, as if it had been hit by a ball rifle bullet. Still shot great.
 
An excellent .45 ACP revolver is the S&W reproduction M-22, Thunder Ranch, it's a .45 ACP revolver that is just great. My uncle bought one NIB and he let me fire a cylinder out of it and I fell in love with it but I'm too dedicated to getting a .460 snubnose now that there are gunsmiths who can machine them to fire .45 ACP on top of the .45LC, .454 Casull, and .460 Magnum. There was just an article in Shotgun News, you might still be able to find it at Borders etc. the article is 'Pencil Barrel' guns I think. The author unfortunately takls about the .44 scpl he gets which is the M-21 (same platform, different caliber). There was also an article in Combat Handguns. My uncles gun has the 4" barrel and it's perfect for his 6'1" large frame build for concealed carry. It's a lot smaller than the N-frame .44 Magnum, .45 LC, .45 ACP. The M22 is based on the 1917-1950 S&W production.

So in a 4" barrell the M-22 would be good for home, car, and CCW as I see it. If it wasn't for my dedication to get a .460 snubnose, then a Glock 20, then a Glock 36, it would be on my 5 year list. A sidenote, .44 spcl in the M21 can take rounds loaded to fire at 1200fps in Corbon made rounds. If .44spcl was as cheap as .45ACP I'd take a look at it.
 
While there's nothing wrong with a .45 ACP revolver, preferably using moon clips/star clips, I question whether it will really be any quieter than a .357 revolver shooting low to midrange power cartridges. See the other thread going on this issue and noise level for shooting indoors. My personal experience shooting .45 ACP outdoors in a 1911 is that it's pretty loud - at least as loud as 9mm or .40, neither of which are quiet.
 
Magnumdweeb,
That is quite a lot of cylinder freebore bullet jump for the .45 ACP. I'm not saying don't do it, I would, I'm just saying the accuracy probably won't be there past 20 ft. Also try .45 win mag if moonclipping.

Editing for clarification, ^^^ Magnumdweeb wants to moonclip a 460 magnum for 45 ACP.
 
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That is quite a lot of cylinder freebore bullet jump for the .45 ACP. I'm not saying don't do it, I would, I'm just saying the accuracy probably won't be there past 20 ft. Also try .45 win mag if moonclipping.
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I do not belive that to be true. I own both a Brazilian 1937 contract S&W and a new model 22. Both fire sub 2" groups at 25 yards with 1977 Gov issue ball ammo, and do better with match ammo. S&W 45 ACP revolvers were at one time used as match revolvers and certainly the government would not have issued model 17s if they were inaccurate past 20 ft. Also 45 Win Mag will not fit and would be dangerous for preassure reasons if it did.
 
Many guys will tell you their 25/625 is their most accurate handgun. I'll tell you that, for sure. 45acp is a tremendously versatile cartridge, largely wasted in semi's.
 
If you look at a 625JM or 22, and compare it to a .45 Colt 625MG, you'll note a shorter cylinder. The barrel's forcing cone is longer - bridging the gap. My 625JM seems to be a tad closer in it's grouping at 25 yd than either of my .45 Colt 625MGs. Another benefit - you can load .45 ACP/AR rounds with .45 Colt bullets - 250gr/255gr LRNFP/LSWC - at higher pressure than .45 Colt (14 kpsi vs 21+ kpsi). I load the Speer #4484 250gr Gold Dot and 255gr LSWC at 850-870 fps in .45 AR cases for proper protection from man or beast. Plus - you can buy 100 clips - delivered - for ~$30. I have 105 loaded moonclips (230gr FMJ 'ball' ammo) on standby in a metal ammo can... I am ready for Zombies.

My suggestion, if you can swing it, is a new 625JM. A bit pricey, but you'll enjoy it's included 'extra's'. The Miculek grip, the spring loaded front sight (Tool-less change in seconds!), the eased charge holes, the minimal trigger job... all included and great extras.

Stainz
 
Another vote for the 625, any version will do for the application you have planned. And I also think the 625 is about the most accurate handgun I've ever shot.
 
Another vote for the 625, any version will do for the application you have planned. And I also think the 625 is about the most accurate handgun I've ever shot.
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The only handgun that I own that is as accurate as my S&W 625 is my S&W 610 with full Norma loads. It must have something to do with headspacing and the moonclips. I can't get the 610 to group as well with .40 S&W, however.

By the way, stick with the moonclips in a 625 or 25. Autorim cases have never been as accurate for me as ACP on clips. I suspect that the rim on the cases is not as uniform as the Rimz Moonclip.
 
Another vote for the Smith 625. Even thou mine is a newer-ish one with the lock and MIM parts, I am still satisfied with it. Good trigger, good sights, and 230gr recoil is about like a .38 special WC. Mine is also very very accurate. Only down side is that is was a nice chunk of change but thats any new Smith and Wesson prouduct these days.
Will
 
Question for all you 45 revolver owners

Isn't it a pain to load all those 45 rounds into moonclips? I understand a special tool is needed. It would seem that more time would be spent at the range loading ammo instead of actually shooting. :(
 
I picked up my M22-4 TRR last June and it has been a great shooter. Few things re-load as fast a full moon clips.

22trr--lg-sm.jpg
 
They'll shoot without clips. May get a few FTFs, though. I shoot autorim more often than not. When I plan on shooting acp, I load the clips before I go to the range. Then the shooting is very fast.
 
Isn't it a pain to load all those 45 rounds into moonclips? I understand a special tool is needed. It would seem that more time would be spent at the range loading ammo instead of actually shooting.
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I find I shoot more at the range with my 45 ACP revolvers than I do with either conventional revolvers or autos. This is because I take about 100 loaded clips with me. The clips are much faster than loading single rounds in a revolver and I don't have to stop to refill 4, 6, 8 or whatever mags every few minutes.

No tools are needed to load the clips but I do use a demonner while watching TV to unload the clips. Takes about 3 seconds a clip.

JAC
 
SIG228,

Go to moonclips.com and get everything you need to enjoy a .45 acp revolver. With the right tools, loading and unloading the moonclips are a snap.

Boarhunter
 
neviander said:
I know it's a relatively fat round, but is it really that much larger than a .38 or other more popular revolver rounds?
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Bullets are named by their width.

A .38 bullet is .38 of an inch.

A .45 slug is .45 of an inch.
 
I have been debating getting a .45ACP revolver too. I've decided against it. Why?

Moon clips
 
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