.45 Colt DA Revolvers?

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BluedRevolver

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I'm looking for a good, strong, reliable double action revolver chambered in .45 colt. I think a 4 inch barrel would be ideal, I'd like to use it for woods carry and self defense/home defense. .45 ACP would work too, although I refuse to buy any new Smith and Wessons, not for political reasons, but because I've had problems with their new guns.

Reason? I want something a little quieter and less snappy than a .357 mag, but still pretty powerful.

I know of a Ruger Redhawk chambered in .45 Colt, but how do they hold up over the years? I want it to last a very long time.



If you know of any other double action revolvers chambered in a cartridge with similar recoil to .45colt/acp and with equal or greater "stopping power" (hate that term), please let me know.
 
I have S&W model 625 in both 45 ACP & 45 Colt. Both are excellent revolvers and very accurate. Both of mine are 5" and older models that I found on Gun Broker in like new condition.
 
My S&W 25-5 is a truly great revolver. Wish I had bought it years earlier.
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Same thing I thought after I got mine. I shot it yesterday as a matter of fact. I got reminded about it recently, and just had to shoot it. Bouncing a tin can around on the 35 yard berm was quite satisfying.
 
I have a S&W M25 and love it. I took a whitetail doe at 50 yds with it last year. My first deer with a handgun and iron sights. Shot reloads at about 900 fps-hard cast SWC. A complete pass-through and she went about 35 yds and piled up.

It'll ruin you!

I used to have a Ruger Redhawk in .44 Mag. That would also be a wonderful choice for you. Can't go wrong either way.
 
Aren't Ruger revolvers cast? Isn't that supposed to be inferior to forged s&w's and Colts?


and I don't think I want the muzzle flip of the .44 mag for self defense lol
 
The choice of Indiana Jones. A S&W Hand Ejector, (actually, one of the prop guns was a .45acp, and the other a .455), but mine is a .455 that was EASILY converted to .45 Colt, barrel cut to 4". One of the finest revolvers I have ever owned. Liked it so much, I had another made up so I'd never be without one.
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Aren't Ruger revolvers cast? Isn't that supposed to be inferior
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All Ruger rifles, shotguns, and revolvers use investment cast frames, receivers, bolts, triggers, hammers, and other parts. See This:
http://www.ruger.com/casting/P-Overview.html

Barrels and cylinders are made from bar stock and heat treated.

It's not your grandpaws easily broken cast iron stove we are talking about though.

It is every bit as strong as forging, and Ruger has never been accused of making anything "too small" anyway.

However, no one ever accused the Redhawk of being "too light" to carry all day either.

rc
 
Any .44 Magnum revolver loaded down to .45 Colt levels would give you what you want, and still have the option for stronger loads. The S&W .45 Colt revolvers should NOT be used with loads too much hotter than "standard" .45 Colt, as they are inherently weaker against the pressures (less steel in the cylinder, etc), and are not built for "magnum" level loads. If you ever intend to use it "hotter" than standard .45 Colt, get the .44 MAg and use reduced loads, or .44 Specials in it.
 
SharpsDressedMan said:
Any .44 Magnum revolver loaded down to .45 Colt levels would give you what you want, and still have the option for stronger loads. The S&W .45 Colt revolvers should NOT be used with loads too much hotter than "standard" .45 Colt, as they are inherently weaker against the pressures (less steel in the cylinder, etc), and are not built for "magnum" level loads. If you ever intend to use it "hotter" than standard .45 Colt, get the .44 MAg and use reduced loads, or .44 Specials in it.
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How would I get .44 Magnum loads that only recoil as much as .45 colt and still have as much power as .45 colt? If I'm correct, isn't the actual diameter of the .44 magnum .429? Going the same speed as the .45 colt, wouldn't the .45 colt be superior?

I think I want to stay away from the model 25's. They seem a bit old and frail for modern .45 colt, plus, I couldn't make myself shoot such a beautiful and timeless piece.
 
Recoil is generated from the combination of mass and velocity. If you use a 250 grain bullet in either, at the same speed, the recoil should be about the same, maybe even less in a .44 Mag, as there would be more steel in a gun the same frame size and smaller bore and chambers. However, the smaller diameter bullet (.44) will probably penetrate further into the target (animal, soil, etc), due to being more dense and cutting a smaller hole. A small compromise, for the added advantage of being able to pump up the velocity over the .45 Colt's limitations, if needed.
 
The thing is, if a .45 Colt 250 grain, or .44 Spl 240 grain Keith LSWC at 1,000 FPS won't shoot in one side & out the other of anything I need to shoot?

I'm gonna take my toys and go home!

And that 250 or 240 @ 1,000 is easily achievable, at less pressure then a Colt SAA, or S&W 24/624 or 25/625 can eat every day for breakfast.

rc
 
The S&W .45 Colt revolvers should NOT be used with loads too much hotter than "standard" .45 Colt, as they are inherently weaker against the pressures (less steel in the cylinder, etc), and are not built for "magnum" level loads. If you ever intend to use it "hotter" than standard .45 Colt, get the .44 MAg and use reduced loads, or .44 Specials in it.
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Will respectfully disagree with that. The S&W 25-5's are easily capable of .45ACP +P pressure (23k psi), as the Model 25-2 is chambered for that cartridge, and the two guns are of the same strength. There is quite of bit of power that is available to you when you leave the 14k psi level and take it up to slightly above 20k psi.

Don
 
I guess one can do it, but I'm not a fan of even a lead 240/250 @ 1000fps in a S&W 25, even a modern one. I'm pretty sure that pressure level is a bit higher than S&W rates their .45 Colts. There is very little metal between the bottom of the cylinder bolt notch and the chamber, and the .44 magnum chamber walls are just that much thicker than the .45 Colt. I know people do it, buy why not just get the .44 Mag and use loads up to 1400fps if you want to?
 
Can't you shoot a 265gr bullet from a .44 Magnum at that velocity and get the same? :D You might love the .45 Colt, but, really, wouldn't the .44 Mag be better for the purpose of "cranking it up"?
 
It is more theoretical than real, but there is a greater possibility of the narrow .45 Colt case rim slipping off the extractor star when ejecting cases. If it falls under the star it will get stuck and likely require tools to remedy it. That is the only disadavantage to a .45 Colt double action I can think of. I had a six-inch 25-5 for a time myself.
 
I'm pretty sure that pressure level is a bit higher than S&W rates their .45 Colts. There is very little metal between the bottom of the cylinder bolt notch and the chamber,
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As USSR already said, the 25/625 is already rated for +P .45 ACP at 23,000 PSI.

The N-Frame .45 Colt cylinder has awful close to the same size holes in it.

rc
 
Aren't Ruger revolvers cast? Isn't that supposed to be inferior to forged s&w's and Colts?
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Pound for pound, yes, the investment cast is slightly weaker than the forged steel. But Ruger overbuilds the &$!%# out of the Redhawk.

The M25/625 are much more svelte guns. They shoot nicer, carry easier and are much prettier. But they cannot handle the pressures that the Redhawk can. They're just not as beefy.

I'm a S&W guy, and much prefer the 25 to the Redhawk. But if my primary purpose was .44-mag level loads, I'd buy a Redhawk. Actually, I'd buy (and did buy) a S&W 629 .44 mag. But this thread is about .45 Colt, so we'll stick with those contenders.

.45 Colt DA that you'll cherish and really enjoy shooting? S&W 25/625

.45 Colt DA that handles more like a power tool than a gun, but you can hot rod and beat the hell out of worry-free and guilt-free? The Redhawk.
 
BluedRevolver said:
I know of a Ruger Redhawk chambered in .45 Colt, but how do they hold up over the years? I want it to last a very long time.
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The Ruger will stand up to a lifetime or three of "Ruger Only" .45 Colt loads. Some say they are stronger then a Blackhawk.

I have one. It's the only gun I ever bought "just because I had to have it."
 
Under normal and even extreme use I don't think there's anyway you could possible you could destroy a Ruger Redhawk under even the severest constant duty service. I had a 5.5" version .44mag that was a terrific gun, very accurate and rugged, I just feel out of love with .44 mag chambering after discovering .45 Long Colt and .454 Casull.

I don't think you could find a nicer, more rugged and longer lasting general purpose revolver than the 4" Redhawk in .45 LC. It may be a bit heavier and bulkier than the S&W but you will never, ever shoot it loose or wear it out, no matter how heavy the loads are that you shoot in it.
 
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