jim147
Member
MY XD45 has became my bedroom gun. But I stll carry my SAA 45 around when I'm out working and keep it on the other end of the house from the bedroom. You never know where you'll be when something goes bump.
.45 LC Single Action for "defense" ?
- Thread starter wditto
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Coyote Hunter
Member
I love looking at all the folks from the western states talking about their old SA .45's. I'd hate to see a hoodie gang member with his "gangsta hold" on a $99.00 9mm against a good old SA user who had confidence in their ability. Ol' Wyatt said accuracy is everything, and we know we must be accurate!
CH
CH
theotherwaldo
Member
I don't have anything in .45 lc but the only time that I had to defend home and hearth with a handgun, the handgun in question was a Navy Arms '58 Remington.
It did the job.
It did the job.
I am glad to know that I am not the only nut that has an IWB holster for my SA. My pants don't fall down; however, I am also use to carrying 6 or 7 pounds worth of wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, etc. in my jean pockets every day at work.
On a side note, to further show my devotion
to old west era firearms, I had to carry it the last time I went and saw a western in the theater. Nice warm day, 3:10 to Yuma, shorts, t-shirt, and a 45LC 7 1/2" Ruger Bisley IWB. I know, I know...it is a lot easier to conceal my Bond Arms 45LC, but where is the fun in that!
On a side note, to further show my devotion
to old west era firearms, I had to carry it the last time I went and saw a western in the theater. Nice warm day, 3:10 to Yuma, shorts, t-shirt, and a 45LC 7 1/2" Ruger Bisley IWB. I know, I know...it is a lot easier to conceal my Bond Arms 45LC, but where is the fun in that!MCgunner
Member
Well, I'll add this. If we EVER get open carry in this state and I have occasion to open carry, my .45 Blackhawk will get better leather and be one of my faves for such. I'm actually faster out of leather with a single action, and up close, it points better for me and any of my DAs due to grip shape. I don't know that we'll ever get open carry, though, and I wouldn't carry that way very often anyway. I believe in the value of surprise in combat situations, though a big .45 Colt is mighty intimidating to potential predators. 
KBintheSLC
Member
I see no problem with it... just roll up some hot hand loads and put the round in the right place. Easily a one shot stopper if you do your job.
wheelgunslinger
Member
I carried an old model Bisley Vaquero in 45 lc for a long time.
Open Carry, HD, varmints, etc.
I rolled my own back in those days and made some HOT loads for it. I was a devotee of Seyfried and his ilk (gun writers) and didn't stop hotrodding it until I was out of things to tweak.
Practice with it, and make sure you can do the draw-and-cock with your eyes closed.
6 rounds of 45lc will ruin just about anyone's day.
Open Carry, HD, varmints, etc.
I rolled my own back in those days and made some HOT loads for it. I was a devotee of Seyfried and his ilk (gun writers) and didn't stop hotrodding it until I was out of things to tweak.
Practice with it, and make sure you can do the draw-and-cock with your eyes closed.
6 rounds of 45lc will ruin just about anyone's day.
RugerSAFan
Member
My first cc firearm was a Ruger 3 3/4" Birdshead Vaquero .45lc. I loved shooting it, but have to be selective with clothing if carrying concealed, especially in liberal Fairfax County, Virginia. It did work pretty well on the motorbike tucked into chaps.
A joy to shoot. Supposedly Freedom Arms made a shortened barrell 45lc. Always wanted a Freedom Arms revolver...
A joy to shoot. Supposedly Freedom Arms made a shortened barrell 45lc. Always wanted a Freedom Arms revolver...
wheelgunslinger
Member
I'd like a Freedom Arms revolver too. Particularly the stubby little one that Jeff reviews on Gunblast. Big$$$ but big quality too.
Some great reading:
http://www.gunblast.com/Freedom-Options.htm
http://www.sixguns.com/range/Fattpp.htm
Some great reading:
http://www.gunblast.com/Freedom-Options.htm
http://www.sixguns.com/range/Fattpp.htm
Sistema1927
Member
If all that I had at hand was my 3.75" Birdshead Vaquero in .45 Colt, I would not feel undergunned.
kmrcstintn
Member
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here's a few eye openers for ya: back in 2002, I took a CCW prep class in TN with a coworker who used a Ruger Super Blackhawk SA w/ 7 1/2" barrel loaded with PMC 240gr .44 SPL LSWC's; the rest of us had a mixed bag of varied DA revolvers, SA semiautos, DA/SA semiautos, and DAO semiautos... we had holes in the target with a discernible pattern developing toward the center & he had one large ragged hole in the center
one of my hunting buddies inherited his grandfathers stainless Ruger SBH SA w/ 7 1/2" barrel & MagnaPorts; his only other change was to replace the custom wood stocks with Hogue Rubber Monogrips (WOW what a difference); he is a damned good shot & that is his primary sidearm for the hunting camp...which includes .44 spl 240gr LSWC's for loading while inside the house
I just bought myself a 1976 vintage Ruger SBH w/ 7 1/2" barrel; I will follow suit (changing stocks), but use Hornady 180gr .44 SPL XTP jhp's
common theme...Single Action Revolvers shooting ammo similar to .45 Colt
one of my hunting buddies inherited his grandfathers stainless Ruger SBH SA w/ 7 1/2" barrel & MagnaPorts; his only other change was to replace the custom wood stocks with Hogue Rubber Monogrips (WOW what a difference); he is a damned good shot & that is his primary sidearm for the hunting camp...which includes .44 spl 240gr LSWC's for loading while inside the house
I just bought myself a 1976 vintage Ruger SBH w/ 7 1/2" barrel; I will follow suit (changing stocks), but use Hornady 180gr .44 SPL XTP jhp's
common theme...Single Action Revolvers shooting ammo similar to .45 Colt
peacemaker45
Member
I've shot both SASS and IHMSA with various single actions. I can hit, and hit fast with one. How often do I use one for defense? Once. Through a strange combination of circumstances, I once found myself with several guns to choose from, and several kinds of ammo to choose from. Only trouble was, the only ammo in said selection that matched up with any gun in said selection was a half box of .44 Spl, LRNs at about 900 fps, which matched one of my .44 Mag Super Blackhawks, with 7.5" bbl. That was my carry gun that day, until I got the ammo situation straightened out.
IMO, an SA is "good enough." Other guns are better for the job, however. See my sig line for details.
IMO, an SA is "good enough." Other guns are better for the job, however. See my sig line for details.
LeonCarr
Member
Yeah I guess a 255 grain bullet at 800-900 fps would work pretty good for home defense .
I have a buddy whose only handgun is a 7.5 inch Ruger Blackhawk (more of a pure hunter guy than a shooter I guess). It is brutally accurate, and it is on his person everytime he goes to the woods.
It'll work.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
.I have a buddy whose only handgun is a 7.5 inch Ruger Blackhawk (more of a pure hunter guy than a shooter I guess). It is brutally accurate, and it is on his person everytime he goes to the woods.
It'll work
.Just my .02,
LeonCarr
Absolutely nothing wrong with this fine combination. Nothing at all wrong with it.
Most of the better options in 45 colt for self defense work also make for decent use for deer hunting. And that kind of multi purpose ammunition should be a good selling point in my opinion.
Most of the better options in 45 colt for self defense work also make for decent use for deer hunting. And that kind of multi purpose ammunition should be a good selling point in my opinion.
And just to be sort of a contrary guy, many years back, I carried a CVA reproduction of the 1858 "Army Remington"...yeah a blackpowder cap-n-ball revolver. Bought it as a finish-it-yourself-kit-gun for $40.
A very soft pure lead ball driven by 30-Gr of Pistol Pyrodex from a 7-1/2" barrel....would put a serious hurtin' on whatever got hit. Only drew it once..but you shoulda seen the miscreants face after I finally got it pointed his way...
A very soft pure lead ball driven by 30-Gr of Pistol Pyrodex from a 7-1/2" barrel....would put a serious hurtin' on whatever got hit. Only drew it once..but you shoulda seen the miscreants face after I finally got it pointed his way...
Cocked & Locked
Member
Probably not optimum for the job, but not bad 
For a while, when dealing with some wrist/hand issues, I wore braces on both wrists while sleeping. These braces made it impossible to get a firing grip on a double-stack duty pistol, but I could lock right onto an SAA with no problems, so the nightstand gun for a while was a USFA China Camp.
There was one occasion when I had my duty pistol broken down for detail cleaning, when I suddenly remembered an appointment to meet a friend at a local steakhouse. Rather than be late, I quickly washed my hands, got dressed, and stuck the China Camp SAA in my waistband, while wearing a sturdy belt. I dropped five spare cartridges into my pocket.
Well, wouldn't y'all know, two gang-banger-looking young males drive into the parking lot, giving us looks that indicated we were being sized up for upcoming festivities. Did I worry about the inadequacy of my weapon? No, I knew I could shoot it well enough. I was thinking that my chief was going to drop me into the grease for using an unauthorized (but legal) weapon, but that was a fleeting thought. Fortunately, predators recognized predators, and they drove away. My friend is also a police officer, and was armed, but I did not feel any need to "let him handle it" just because I was carrying a 19th-Century weapon. I was ready to put rounds where necessary, if necessary.
There was one occasion when I had my duty pistol broken down for detail cleaning, when I suddenly remembered an appointment to meet a friend at a local steakhouse. Rather than be late, I quickly washed my hands, got dressed, and stuck the China Camp SAA in my waistband, while wearing a sturdy belt. I dropped five spare cartridges into my pocket.
Well, wouldn't y'all know, two gang-banger-looking young males drive into the parking lot, giving us looks that indicated we were being sized up for upcoming festivities. Did I worry about the inadequacy of my weapon? No, I knew I could shoot it well enough. I was thinking that my chief was going to drop me into the grease for using an unauthorized (but legal) weapon, but that was a fleeting thought. Fortunately, predators recognized predators, and they drove away. My friend is also a police officer, and was armed, but I did not feel any need to "let him handle it" just because I was carrying a 19th-Century weapon. I was ready to put rounds where necessary, if necessary.
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KiltedClaymore
Member
man, the .45lc killed alot of people in the 19th century, it can and will do the same in the 21st century. people haven't gotten tougher or harder to kill since then.
zxcvbob
Member
Why would you use a gas check? 7grn of Unique is a pretty mild load (it'll get the job done) so it shouldn't lead much even with dead soft bullets.
TallPine
Member
I've been "shooting" single actions since I was a wee little tyke (cap guns). Thumbing back a hammer is as natural for me as breathing.
My .45 (old) Vaquero load is 250g hardcast over 10g Unique (exactly twice what I load in my .38/.357 practice loads ). I don't carry the Vaquero every day (hardly at all, actually) just because of the weight.
I'm really thinking about going the "Jim March" route and getting a (new) Vaquero in .357 for my daily carry. Nothing at all wrong with my old Security Six, but I just prefer the look and feel of single actions.
I do most of my practicing with a Single Six (.22) so the Vaquero would make more sense as a carry gun.
My .45 (old) Vaquero load is 250g hardcast over 10g Unique (exactly twice what I load in my .38/.357 practice loads
). I don't carry the Vaquero every day (hardly at all, actually) just because of the weight.I'm really thinking about going the "Jim March" route and getting a (new) Vaquero in .357 for my daily carry. Nothing at all wrong with my old Security Six, but I just prefer the look and feel of single actions.
I do most of my practicing with a Single Six (.22) so the Vaquero would make more sense as a carry gun.
when using a soft lead you need a gas check so that the powder gasses do not "cut" bye the base, and it keeps the base also from expanding too much before going into the forcing cone. This is only a defense round that is good for plinking too. I hunt with 300grn xtp's and 25grn 2400 or lil' gun. Gets of job done every time.
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