I have grown very enthusiastic about shooting revolvers lately. Especially my .357 blackhawk and cimmiron SAA. I find that I don't go through as much ammo. Since I don't reload, the shelves at the local gunstore doesn't always have my ammo. They do have plenty of .45 Acp. Now I am thinking about getting a revolver in .45 Acp, already have 1911. Is the ruger blackhawk conversion the best option?
Best option for .45 Acp revolver?
- Thread starter DavidB2
- Start date
- Status
mdauben
Member
If you are looking for a range gun to burn up your .45ACP then the Ruger Blackhawk Convertable is a great choice. Personally, I find SA "cowboy" guns great fun at the range.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a self defence revolver that chambers .45ACP I'd most certainly go for one of the S&W 625 or 325 varients.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a self defence revolver that chambers .45ACP I'd most certainly go for one of the S&W 625 or 325 varients.
BlindJustice
Member
Options:
Ruger BlackHawk 4 5/8" or 5 1/2" Bbl.
.45 Colt
or "Convertible Model" with an additional
.45 ACP cylinder
Or one of several options in the
S&W N-frame DA/SA Revolvers which
fire the .45 ACP with Moon Clips,
or the .45 Auto Rim cartridge
O.P. are you aware of the various S&W .45 ACP revolvers which
aren't in current production?>
I really like shooting my S&W 625-10
5" bbl. I prep and load the full moon clips with .45 ACP
and put them in a 1 gal. Ziploc bag to go to the range.
My shooting buddy has a Blackhawk in .45 Colt and sees no need
for the .45 ACP cylinder. It's his only .45
I shot it, but I prefer the DA/SA S&W, DA for Double Taps,
and the single action cock is a shorter throw.
The S&W .45 ACP revolvers will all also shoot the .45 Auto Tim which
has a conventional rim slightly thicker than a .45 COlt so it won't chamber
in a Blackhawk .45 ACP Cylinder without mod'ing it.
The current .45 ACP revolver available new, is the
625 JM and another one from the Pro SHop.
& the 325 Thunder Ranch. It's got an alloy frame and 4" bbl.
Great fun, I always put the empties in moon clips back in the bag
& when I get home I de-moon the clips and bag up the empties by
headstamp - seel em for 7.5 cents each to a friend who
handloads. They are guaranteed once fired.
R-
Ruger BlackHawk 4 5/8" or 5 1/2" Bbl.
.45 Colt
or "Convertible Model" with an additional
.45 ACP cylinder
Or one of several options in the
S&W N-frame DA/SA Revolvers which
fire the .45 ACP with Moon Clips,
or the .45 Auto Rim cartridge
O.P. are you aware of the various S&W .45 ACP revolvers which
aren't in current production?>
I really like shooting my S&W 625-10
5" bbl. I prep and load the full moon clips with .45 ACP
and put them in a 1 gal. Ziploc bag to go to the range.
My shooting buddy has a Blackhawk in .45 Colt and sees no need
for the .45 ACP cylinder. It's his only .45
I shot it, but I prefer the DA/SA S&W, DA for Double Taps,
and the single action cock is a shorter throw.
The S&W .45 ACP revolvers will all also shoot the .45 Auto Tim which
has a conventional rim slightly thicker than a .45 COlt so it won't chamber
in a Blackhawk .45 ACP Cylinder without mod'ing it.
The current .45 ACP revolver available new, is the
625 JM and another one from the Pro SHop.
& the 325 Thunder Ranch. It's got an alloy frame and 4" bbl.
Great fun, I always put the empties in moon clips back in the bag
& when I get home I de-moon the clips and bag up the empties by
headstamp - seel em for 7.5 cents each to a friend who
handloads. They are guaranteed once fired.
R-
critter
Member
I just got a Ruger Blackhawk convertable. It is a great shooter & I like it a lot. Have to shoot it a LOT more as soon as weather permits here.
Phil DeGraves
Member
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2006
- Messages
- 1,531
I noticed you had a Cimarron. I used to have a Uberti Remington 1875 in 45 ACP. Very nice shooting gun and cheaper to shoot than 45 Colt.
wnycollector
Member
I own two 45acp revolvers (S&W M1917 and a Bisley 45 convertible Blackhawk). The M1917 is a great revolver, but the Blackhawk gets ~2x more range time as the M1917. If I had just one 45acp revolver it would be the Blackhawk.
7mmb
Member
The Blackhawk not only does not need moon clips it cannot use them. Rounds are loaded singly through the loading gate and headspace on the ledge inside the chambers. Spent cases are ejected with the ejector rod. In my experience they usually just fall out by their own weight. Moon clips are only used with double action revolvers because 45 ACP is a rimless case and there is no way for the extractor star to eject cases without the moon clip. A single action revolver uses an ejector rod making the moon clip unnecessary. The loading gate and single round loading and unloading make the moon clip impossible with a single action as well. My Blackhawk shoots awesome with the ACP cylinder. If you start reloading you can load some real barn burners with the 45 Colt cylinder. It's a must have, IMHO, for any handgun collection.
Driftwood Johnson
Member
Howdy
The S&W Model 1917 uses moon clips, or half moon clips in order to eject the empty rounds. But rounds can be loaded and fired without the clips because the cases headspace on the case mouth. If no clips are used, the empties need to be poked out with a stick, or else 45 Auto Rim cartridges can be used. The extractor can eject 45AR emties.
The S&W Model 1917 uses moon clips, or half moon clips in order to eject the empty rounds. But rounds can be loaded and fired without the clips because the cases headspace on the case mouth. If no clips are used, the empties need to be poked out with a stick, or else 45 Auto Rim cartridges can be used. The extractor can eject 45AR emties.
In the past I have owned many revolvers chambered for the 45 ACP cartridge. I still have a couple of S&Ws
And an Italian made Model P clone.
If all you need to do is shoot 45 ACP cartridges, either will work for you, with the nod going toward the Model P because it is similar to your Cimarron. If target grouping is your goal, the S&W will be in the forefront of your search.
The Single Action does not use moon clips, the S&W can but it is not necessary (in the older models). Moon clips are availble in two styles, steel
http://www.ranchproducts.com/
and polymer
http://www.ezmoonclip.com/
I have the ones from Ranch Products and can find no fault with them. A fellow shooter uses the RIMZ clips and has much good to say about them.
The Single Action can be loaded rapidly using the magazine from a 1911 as a ammuntion holder.
There are lots of good reasons to own a revolver chambered for the ACP cartridge, I can not think of a bad one.
In the past, I have had others, (Ruger and Taurus), but sold them off as they were not what I needed in a revolver.
And an Italian made Model P clone.
If all you need to do is shoot 45 ACP cartridges, either will work for you, with the nod going toward the Model P because it is similar to your Cimarron. If target grouping is your goal, the S&W will be in the forefront of your search.
The Single Action does not use moon clips, the S&W can but it is not necessary (in the older models). Moon clips are availble in two styles, steel
http://www.ranchproducts.com/
and polymer
http://www.ezmoonclip.com/
I have the ones from Ranch Products and can find no fault with them. A fellow shooter uses the RIMZ clips and has much good to say about them.
The Single Action can be loaded rapidly using the magazine from a 1911 as a ammuntion holder.
There are lots of good reasons to own a revolver chambered for the ACP cartridge, I can not think of a bad one.
In the past, I have had others, (Ruger and Taurus), but sold them off as they were not what I needed in a revolver.
Last edited:
BlindJustice
Member
S&W DA revolvers in .45 ACP
625 various barrel lengths since the early 80s
325 Thunder Ranch 4" Bbl. Stainless steel Cyl
& Bbl, Alloy frame
325 Night Guard - short lilved series
2 1/2" Bbl, fixed sights pachmayr grips
Model 22 Model of 1917 5 1/2" bbl
Model 22 1950 Army 4" Bbl.
S&W modified the front of the N frame Post WWII
and made the Mod 22 resemble
past models
25-2 1955 Target 6 1/2" bbl.
Target Hammer and Target trigger, target grips
Patridge front sight, W&E adj. rear
1950 Target - like the 1955 but a slimmer bbl.
1950 Army 4" bbl. fixed sights
M1917 fixed sights 5 1/2" bbl. used by the
doughboys in WWI, and produced between WWI & WWII, including the
1937 Brazillian Contract run of 37K guns.
& probably others I've not recalled.
that said, and noting I have a 625 and enjoy it a lot,
moon clips? quickest reload for any revolver, and they aren't
that much of a 'hassle'
I would like to get a Ruger Blackhawk Convertible
in .45 Colt & .45 ACP because I have
a Marlin 1894 lever Action in .45 Colt
Saw a Bisley? Ruger 4" bbl. with birdshead grip
in 45 ACp on Gnbroker so there are lots of variants.
Wahater you decide David, I'm sure you'll
enjoy the .45 ACP - mild recoil compared to the magnums.
R-
625 various barrel lengths since the early 80s
325 Thunder Ranch 4" Bbl. Stainless steel Cyl
& Bbl, Alloy frame
325 Night Guard - short lilved series
2 1/2" Bbl, fixed sights pachmayr grips
Model 22 Model of 1917 5 1/2" bbl
Model 22 1950 Army 4" Bbl.
S&W modified the front of the N frame Post WWII
and made the Mod 22 resemble
past models
25-2 1955 Target 6 1/2" bbl.
Target Hammer and Target trigger, target grips
Patridge front sight, W&E adj. rear
1950 Target - like the 1955 but a slimmer bbl.
1950 Army 4" bbl. fixed sights
M1917 fixed sights 5 1/2" bbl. used by the
doughboys in WWI, and produced between WWI & WWII, including the
1937 Brazillian Contract run of 37K guns.
& probably others I've not recalled.
that said, and noting I have a 625 and enjoy it a lot,
moon clips? quickest reload for any revolver, and they aren't
that much of a 'hassle'
I would like to get a Ruger Blackhawk Convertible
in .45 Colt & .45 ACP because I have
a Marlin 1894 lever Action in .45 Colt
Saw a Bisley? Ruger 4" bbl. with birdshead grip
in 45 ACp on Gnbroker so there are lots of variants.
Wahater you decide David, I'm sure you'll
enjoy the .45 ACP - mild recoil compared to the magnums.
R-
mgkdrgn
Member
Well, there is your problem. It isn't hard, it isn't expensive, and will pay for itself very quickly. Plus, you'll get ammo loaded the way YOU want it, not just whatever you can find.
HankR
Member
Thanks for the feedback. I am showing my ignorance.
Perhaps. You are also showing your willingness to learn. Ignorance is not knowing about something, which we all suffer from in various areas. Stupidity would be not asking and not trying to find out. You are also showing some intelligence by asking here!
BTW, I like my convertible Blackhawk in .45 Colt and .45 ACP. Shoots to different point of aim w/ the ACP cylinder, or even w/ different reloads in .45 Colt, but accurate w/ either cylinder. Realize that the single action is slower to reload.
Perhaps. You are also showing your willingness to learn. Ignorance is not knowing about something, which we all suffer from in various areas. Stupidity would be not asking and not trying to find out. You are also showing some intelligence by asking here!
BTW, I like my convertible Blackhawk in .45 Colt and .45 ACP. Shoots to different point of aim w/ the ACP cylinder, or even w/ different reloads in .45 Colt, but accurate w/ either cylinder. Realize that the single action is slower to reload.
NewGuy1911
Member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2010
- Messages
- 84
"S&W 625-3 3" adopted today"
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=737213
When I went in to buy my first 1911 45 acp the 625 JM nearly won out, just felt right. I do like 3" revolvers.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=737213
When I went in to buy my first 1911 45 acp the 625 JM nearly won out, just felt right. I do like 3" revolvers.
Driftwood Johnson
Member
Almost forgot. I bought this 45 Colt/45ACP convertible brand, spanky new in 1975. Truth is, I did not want the ACP cylinder, but that is how it came. Never did get around to shooting the ACP cylinder until years later. Even so, it has had far more 45 Colts through it than 45 ACP. But if you have lots of 45 ACP laying around cheap, that is always a good reason to buy a convertible. Of course, I ain't seen any cheap 45 ACP in a long time.
ghitch75
Member
all kinds of options.....bottom one of second pic a Redhawk 45C
bikemutt
Member
There's someone selling a Taurus 455 4" locally, looks like a real nice gun.
http://waguns.org/viewtopic.php?nomobile=1&f=8&t=33015
I don't know much about them but for $500 it might be a contender.
http://waguns.org/viewtopic.php?nomobile=1&f=8&t=33015
I don't know much about them but for $500 it might be a contender.
- Status
