Need a 45 ACP. Suggestions?
- Thread starter Bacardi151
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It sounds like of the ones you've nominated, the real decision will be which one you shoot best with. The .45ACP/.45Colt option holds a lot of merit, particularly if you want to load .45 Colt to "+P" levels, say, for whitetail. If you go with the Kimber, there's a conversion kit available to turn it into a .460 Rowland, which is like a .45 ACP +P, on steroids. The kits are by no means inexpensive, but they're not out of reach, either.
I guess with this in mind, MY advice would be the Kimber. But if you're just hankering to own something different, the Ruger Blackhawk may be the way to fly.
I guess with this in mind, MY advice would be the Kimber. But if you're just hankering to own something different, the Ruger Blackhawk may be the way to fly.
I'd still recommend you just hold off on purchase until you can afford a Colt, another $300.....it has the NAME, will hold it's value better, has a higher forged/machined parts count, and has excellent customer service should you have a problem......
Bacardi151
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Wow. Thank you for so many replies. Lots of recommendations for the 1911. No surprise there. And I really enjoyed shooting both of the kimber 1911s. I have tried to look up information on the web for some of the alternatives. Kalifornistan does not allow some of the guns like the EAAs or most XDs. A plain black 5" xd with only a 10 round mag is harder to find than you might think without paying a premium and the bitone is not allowed at all.
Ruger P-90. Surprised by the price and the good comments I am finding.
CZ97- Cant find enough info and not many for sale.
Sig P220, even used its a little over what I want to spend.
hmmm p-90 or Blackhawk. Held a 7.5" Blackhawk today. Heavier than expected, but based on the reputation of the gun and lack of "plastic" I guess I should have expected more weight. Was stable and not barrel heavy as I was also expecting.
Decisions....decisions
Ruger P-90. Surprised by the price and the good comments I am finding.
CZ97- Cant find enough info and not many for sale.
Sig P220, even used its a little over what I want to spend.
hmmm p-90 or Blackhawk. Held a 7.5" Blackhawk today. Heavier than expected, but based on the reputation of the gun and lack of "plastic" I guess I should have expected more weight. Was stable and not barrel heavy as I was also expecting.
Decisions....decisions
BlindJustice
Member
I've heard the Blackhawk .45 Colt/>45 ACP Convertible tends to be more
accurate with the .45 Colt cartridge because the .45 ACP
cylinder has a bigger 'jump' from cartridge to the forcing cone.
The S&W .45 ACP DA revolvers have a shorter cylinder than it's
N-frame siblings in .45 Colt and the magnum offerings and the
forcing cone comes back further for the shorter cylinder.
A used pre-lock 625 S&W could run in your budget range
The full moon clips, loaded at home before you go to the range
make for quick reloads, and the rimmed .45 Auto Rim is also available.
I shoot a 625 5" Bbl. and a full size 1911 - they're both a fun
experience at the range.
SInce you're in California it would rule out greater than
10 rd mags, right? So, the suggestions with the double stack
high cap mags are not much help.
Springfield Armory Mil-Spec. - nice base gun you could
mod. as you want as time passes.
R- i
accurate with the .45 Colt cartridge because the .45 ACP
cylinder has a bigger 'jump' from cartridge to the forcing cone.
The S&W .45 ACP DA revolvers have a shorter cylinder than it's
N-frame siblings in .45 Colt and the magnum offerings and the
forcing cone comes back further for the shorter cylinder.
A used pre-lock 625 S&W could run in your budget range
The full moon clips, loaded at home before you go to the range
make for quick reloads, and the rimmed .45 Auto Rim is also available.
I shoot a 625 5" Bbl. and a full size 1911 - they're both a fun
experience at the range.
SInce you're in California it would rule out greater than
10 rd mags, right? So, the suggestions with the double stack
high cap mags are not much help.
Springfield Armory Mil-Spec. - nice base gun you could
mod. as you want as time passes.
R- i
BlindJustice
Member
I forgot to add with the S&W 625 DA/SA revolver
you'd also be expanding your handgun experience with the
Double Action shooting. FWIW - .45 Auto Rim use
HKS 25M speedloaders and Buffalo BOre, Double Tap and
some other smaller ammo suppliers make loads that
are fairly WARM. THe .45 ACP and full moon clips would
allow a bit better reload option with your buddies and their
1911s with magazine reloads vs a Single Action and the
loading gate and all that.
Good luck in your choice..
Randall
you'd also be expanding your handgun experience with the
Double Action shooting. FWIW - .45 Auto Rim use
HKS 25M speedloaders and Buffalo BOre, Double Tap and
some other smaller ammo suppliers make loads that
are fairly WARM. THe .45 ACP and full moon clips would
allow a bit better reload option with your buddies and their
1911s with magazine reloads vs a Single Action and the
loading gate and all that.
Good luck in your choice..
Randall
Bacardi151
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If only I didn't live in the "People's Republic of California", I would have a lot more choices.
<rant>
I am sure this will surprise some of you, but getting a hand gun is much more difficult than just making sure it doesn't hold more than 10 rounds. It has to be on a special "safe list"
that manufacturers have to jump through hoops to not only get on, but stay on. (multiple drop tests, etc.) I think the list of firearms that have dropped off the list is longer than those on the list. So for example, the 13+1 XDs are obviously out, but I also cannot buy a bicolor 10+1 XD. Black, yes. (although they are in short supply currenty so there are no deals) Olive, yes. Desert, yes. However the bicolor one is deemed "unsafe" so I may not buy it. On the other hand, somehow all single action revolvers are magically safe so long as they are not snub nosed ones, so, I could buy almost any single action revolver I choose. 
Also magically, the Rock Island 1911s are unsafe while the Charles Daly 1911s are safe. Pay not attention that until recently, they were both made by the same company.
I would love only pay a $15 transfer fee, however the state charges $25 themselves. Also for the paperwork, most dealers will charge a flat $135, or 10% of the cost of the gun to complete the transfer. Lukily, I have a couple REALLY cheap shops near me that ONLY charge $50 to $60. In addition, starting July 1st, I cannot buy a firearm from out of state FFL, unless they register themselves with the CA state DOJ, AND electronically verify that the FFL they are shipping to is registered AND they recive a written authorization to ship that particular gun.
As you can imagine, many dealers are either no longer selling to CA or will add fees to cover the hassle. Which is part of my incentive for buying now as opposed to waiting for more $$.
I know, its my fault for living here and I accept that. If firearms were the most important thing to me, I'd move for sure. Just please don't tell me I voted for it as some firearm dealers post, because I didn't.
No one did. I didn't even vote for the jokers that write and pass these laws, but I know others in my state did and I am stuck with the results of mob mentality voting. At least we have the Govornator to right these wrongs...oh wait the going got tough and he did a 180 and joined the rest of them.:banghead:
</rant>
Anyway, a 625 would be cool, but finding a used one with a 5" barrel that is "safe" and cheep is problematic and I can't afford the new ones. Although, I have heard very good things about them and I would rather have a double action than a single for ease of loading. I might be tempted to go with say 45 LC (still a 45 which is my main goal) if I had to, but I don't see many DA revlovers in my price range that are target guns as opposed to defense guns. Most of them aren't safe either.
Currently I am leaning towards the Blackhawk. Sort of 2 guns in one. Even though in my price range, it is still a great gun, and it is magically safe, what more could you ask?
<rant>
I am sure this will surprise some of you, but getting a hand gun is much more difficult than just making sure it doesn't hold more than 10 rounds. It has to be on a special "safe list"
that manufacturers have to jump through hoops to not only get on, but stay on. (multiple drop tests, etc.) I think the list of firearms that have dropped off the list is longer than those on the list. So for example, the 13+1 XDs are obviously out, but I also cannot buy a bicolor 10+1 XD. Black, yes. (although they are in short supply currenty so there are no deals) Olive, yes. Desert, yes. However the bicolor one is deemed "unsafe" so I may not buy it. On the other hand, somehow all single action revolvers are magically safe so long as they are not snub nosed ones, so, I could buy almost any single action revolver I choose. Also magically, the Rock Island 1911s are unsafe while the Charles Daly 1911s are safe. Pay not attention that until recently, they were both made by the same company.I would love only pay a $15 transfer fee, however the state charges $25 themselves. Also for the paperwork, most dealers will charge a flat $135, or 10% of the cost of the gun to complete the transfer. Lukily, I have a couple REALLY cheap shops near me that ONLY charge $50 to $60. In addition, starting July 1st, I cannot buy a firearm from out of state FFL, unless they register themselves with the CA state DOJ, AND electronically verify that the FFL they are shipping to is registered AND they recive a written authorization to ship that particular gun.
As you can imagine, many dealers are either no longer selling to CA or will add fees to cover the hassle. Which is part of my incentive for buying now as opposed to waiting for more $$.I know, its my fault for living here and I accept that. If firearms were the most important thing to me, I'd move for sure. Just please don't tell me I voted for it as some firearm dealers post, because I didn't.
No one did. I didn't even vote for the jokers that write and pass these laws, but I know others in my state did and I am stuck with the results of mob mentality voting. At least we have the Govornator to right these wrongs...oh wait the going got tough and he did a 180 and joined the rest of them.:banghead:</rant>
Anyway, a 625 would be cool, but finding a used one with a 5" barrel that is "safe" and cheep is problematic and I can't afford the new ones. Although, I have heard very good things about them and I would rather have a double action than a single for ease of loading. I might be tempted to go with say 45 LC (still a 45 which is my main goal) if I had to, but I don't see many DA revlovers in my price range that are target guns as opposed to defense guns. Most of them aren't safe either.
Currently I am leaning towards the Blackhawk. Sort of 2 guns in one. Even though in my price range, it is still a great gun, and it is magically safe, what more could you ask?
Bacardi151
Member
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Ruger Blackhawk, 45 LC / 45 ACP, blued, 7.5" barrel, $365 shipped. Done deal. Will update after receipt and 10-day waiting period.
Thank you all again for the comments.
Thank you all again for the comments.
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