.45 Colt revolver recommendations ... (maybe even a classic)?

[MCMXI]

O.P. did you state why you don't want a Ruger
Blackhawk?

BlindJustice, because the only DA Ruger in .45 Colt is the Redhawk. I've looked at the S&W Mountain Gun 629 and the Ruger Redhawk KRH-45-4 and I think that I'll end up choosing one of those. They're similar in price and WAY cheaper than a Freedom Arms revolver. I like the look and feel of S&W revolvers more than Rugers but I appreciate the ruggedness of the Ruger at the expense of refinement. I'll be thinking about this for a while.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[StrawHat]

[mtngunr Putting Quinn with the other two is a bit over the top since he gets most of what he writes from them and others....the USFA's are also up to the 22,000psi loads, but why anyone needs more than a 250-270grSWC at 1000fps is beyond me, unless grizzly, kodiak, or hunting large dangerous game outside the continental US is planned....a 250-270gr bullet at 1000fps sails right through most any critter...even factory loads are fine for black bear. /QUOTE]

Amen to that,

I load for several 45 LCs and even my black powder loads give complete penetration on whitetail. 255 SWC over all the black I can fit in the case.

I also use the Linebaugh loads in my S&W, but I don't see any significant improvement in performance, just a heavier (280 grain SWC) bullet.

And for carrying, all day, the S&W or Model P clones get my vote.

Good luck

 

[Stainz]

The three I mentioned are all easily found 'current' resources on the web. While not considered the authority of the level of the others, Quinn does do a credible job reviewing recent and current firearm offerings. For that alone, he deserves mention. I don't agree with any of them at times - possibly due to my far, far less - miniscule in comparison - experience.

Venturino & Taffin bantered back and forth re the .45 Colt vs .45 Auto Rim a few years back in the mags. While I love my .45 Colt MGs, if I were starting out - and reloaded, a requirement with .45 Colt anyway - I'd really consider my 625JM as a 'one and only' solution. The .45 ACPs in moonclips for plinking, competition, or Zombie attacks; the .45 Colt loads in .45 Auto Rim cases for hunting. While the .45 Colt is really a neat looking round, it is big. The .45 Auto Rim - with a 255gr LSWC atop it - is 'cute'. Plus - that 625JM comes with a Miculek grip - one I've grown to like. The spring-loaded front sight makes changing from ramp to Patridge to HiViz take less time than it does to read this line! I love the 'look' of the MG - the full lugged 625-look seems out of place. As someone pointed out years ago, that aint the view you have when you are 'enjoying' your revolver!

Stainz

 

[mjolnir]

The loose and floppy ejector rod/star will occasionally skip over a small .45 Colt rim, not a problem in the S&Ws

Stainz, this is no longer true; the new 4" .45 LC Redhawk uses the much larger extractor star from the Super RH. The star encompasses the rim from about 2:00 to 10:00. There's also a machined undercut in the cylinder below the star, probably to prevent powder grain jams.

Had an '88 S&W 25-5 that skipped rims on me; so did Anacondas and the old Redhawks...they all have in common being adaptations of .44 Mags with bigger holes.

The NEW Redhawk is the first DA .45 LC that addresses this issue.

 

[Stainz]

The .454 SRH I had would also skip over the .45 Colt rims, as it would also droop - albeit not as often. For this reason, as well as preventing carbon/lead rings, I loaded my .45 Colt-ish loads for it in .454 Casull cases. The two 625MGs I have, and shoot a lot more .45 Colts from than the two Ruger DA's I had, have never experienced that. The other fault I had with the RH was the l-o-n-g trigger pull. A deliberate pull compressed said spring very slightly more, yielding more stored energy to be released in the hammer fall. A s-l-o-w pull would barely break sear engagement, resulting in less compression and a lowered hammer effort - and odd ftf's with even my Federally-primed homebrews - on occasion - and with the OEM spring - fresh from Ruger for QC repairs.

Additionally, my 625MGs out-groupped the 5.5" SS .45 RH at 25yd (and the 7.5" .454 SRH) - all hand-held and standing. That SRH, with Hornady 240gr XTPs in .454 (2kfps), would produce 1.5" & 1.63" 5-shot (I allowed a flier...) groups - scoped (2x28 Weaver) and from burnt sand bags at 50yd - my best-ever handgun groups. It's slower rifling twist rate obviously preferred higher velocity rounds. The .45 Colt groups, hand-held at 25yd, ran from 3"-5+", with the 625MG, RH, and SRH spread evenly. My best SA Ruger .45 Colt was the 5.5" SS Bisley, but even it was at the upper end of the range. The S&Ws stayed - the Rugers are gone. YMMV.

Stainz

 

[VA27]

I never had a problem with the 625 Mt Gun skipping rims, but I was always afraid that one of my Blackhawk Only loads would get into it.

The 4" Redhawk cured that and I think it's probably stronger than the Blackhawk, so now I have to worry about my Redhawk loads getting into my Blackhawk!

My vote is for the 4" Redhawk, and never look back.

 

[mtngunr]

I really want a DA revolver and not another SA one so that basically rules out BFR and FA. Also, I don't want a barrel longer than 5".

You can get those same velocities safely in a 1917/1937 using ACP or AR brass...231 is on the fast side with higher pressures....Herco/Unique or 2400 will get you to 22,000psi loads with higher velocities...me, I find a 250gr bullet at 800+fps using 4.6grs BE in a 1937 plenty....as Terry Merbach is fond of saying, "it'll go through a deer like it was made of hot cheese and air."...the 1917/1937's weight about the same as a SAA, and less than a 1911...

 

[MCMXI]

I ordered a Ruger KRH-454 today but I have no idea when it'll be shipped since it's out of stock (as far as I can tell). After much deliberation, I decided that I wanted the option of shooting +P type .45 Colt loads up around 30,000 cup without destroying the revolver. I have a S&W 629 and like it a lot so I was thinking about the 625 Mountain Gun, but this morning at my local gun shop, I got to handle a Ruger KSRH-7454 (.454 Casull/.45 Colt) and I was impressed with how comfortable it was to hold/aim (the .45 Colt should be similar). The Ruger KRH-454 is $637 compared to $750 for the S&W MG so in the end it was an easy decision. As much as I like S&W revolvers, I feel good about ordering the Ruger and look forward to many, many years of happy ownership.

Thanks to everyone for your input ... it's been a big help.

 

[Blacksmoke]

I love my 625 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt. Did it need to be made? Probably not. the .45 Auto Rim and ACP can provide most of the same ballistics. still, I wonder if there is a place for say a 265 or 280 grain Keith type projectile at around 900 FPS while staying under the 21,000 max CUP?

I am no expert but that seems like an ideal self defense round for dealing with large North American males, heavily dressed in winter gear and intent on bodily harm. The odd Black Bear notwithstanding~!!

If that load is useful, I doubt it could be fit in an ACP or Auto Rim case?

Any thoughts?

 

[Stainz]

First... gads, the .45 Colt didn't need to be made? Please reconsider!

Congrats to 1858 - I hope you enjoy the RH... I know I liked the SRH much more than my RH. My conscious decision to remain within SAAMI spec's on all of my reloads has permitted me to enjoy the finesse of a S&W.

I recall reading somewhere that the AR cases had a thin area near the base that the ACPs don't, perhaps limiting their pressure to less than that of the ACPs. That could be crannial flatulance, an increasingly more common occurence these days. Still, one should be able to put nearer to a WFN in an AR case as it could only be put in a revolver anyway. It should make a great 'protector'.

Stainz

 

[Blacksmoke]

Stainz,

Not the .45 Colt cartridge, just that cartridge in the S&W Model 25. There is not a lot the .45 Colt brings to the Hootenany that the .45 ACP or AR does as well and in less space UNLESS one loads bigger bullets like 265 to 300 grain in the longer Colt case. If so, does the pressures exceed what the Model 25 Mountain Gun can safely handle?

 

[Tony Longo]

Heavy 45 colt revolver

I have been shooting a Raging Bull 83/8" 45 Colt since they came out back in early 2001. Mine is stainless. I was originally looking for a Anaconda in 45 colt but none available. After seeing the Bull at the NRA show I was impressed. Fit and finish is as good as my S&W's , trigger is perfect , accuracy is unbelivable. Rugers are ok once you have a trigger job and other mods done, I concider Rugers a work in progress . If you can find a Bull in 45 colt you will be pleased. I own revolvers from all major brands, don't fall into those groups that slam Taurus products. They have never owned any. I am a devout revolver nut. My Ragingbull will distroy the bullseye at 25 yds with anybody shooting it. My load is 5.5 grains of Tightgroup -255 grain Penn swc-in a Starline case with CCI standard primer.

Enjoy a real revolver
Tony Longo

 

[JNewell]

If you haven't already, you should read this article on the S&W M25 and .45 Colt loads by John Linebaught.

 

[MCMXI]

As mentioned above, I bought a Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt but will also buy a S&W 625 Mountain Gun in the future. I've read everything on John Linebaugh's web page and he provides some excellent information there. I'm set on trying a 300 grain hard cast bullet with H-110 powder and now, based on his comments, am not so sure I want to bother with jacketed hollow points at all. I'll most likely follow his advice and use a home defense/plinking load of 250/260 grain hard cast bullets with WW231 (the powder I use for 9mm, .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum and .45 ACP).

 

[Catbird]

Anaconda

I typically shoot my .44 magnum level handloads thru my .45 Colt:

 

[MCMXI]

What a fantastic revolver ... just like my Python only bigger!!

If I had half a brain I would have bought an Anaconda when I bought my Python back in '92. Back in those days, I was so caught up in the idea of having a .357/.44 Magnum that I never even considered .45 Colt. If only I had a time machine ...

It's interesting how the front site has two pins ... my Python only has one.

 

[Catbird]

TAURUS Total Titanium

I also shoot some pretty stout loads thru my .45 Colt snubbie...

 

[mgkdrgn]

Hows about a Taurus Judge? Then you can shoot 45 Colt and .410.

 

[JNewell]

The Anaconda and the Redhawk are both more substantially built revolvers than the 25. I'd pay attention to Linebaugh and watch the top end with the S&W.

 

[jjohnson]

About those hot loads Cowboy vs Ruger

Hey, about being careful to not mix your Cowboy loads with the hot stuff....

Two very simple ways to help make this idiot proof. First, get both nickel and brass cases, load one hot, keep the other for Cowboy (the nickel ones are pretty...put them in your SASS rig....the kids will think you're the Lone Ranger )

Another way is to take your primers (if they're in the right kind of tray) and mark them with a Sharpie, DyeChem, or some other light marker. I use red for hot, blue or green for lighter target loads, no color for "medium" power range ammo.

I just hate finding something I loaded for a carbine when I'm shooting my Bulldog.