What practical purpose for revolvers chambered in Auto Pistol Calibers???

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cslinger

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Now don't get me wrong, I really like the 625 and moon clips make for great fast reloads but I just don't see a practical reason for revolvers chambered in auto pistol calibers.

So what say you? What are your reasons for these types of firearms barring simple logistics of it uses the same ammo as my autochuckerdujour.

Seems to me a moon clipped revolver chambered for a revolver round is much more versatile.

Just bored and stirring the pot. :)

Chris
 
If you're looking for speed in competition, a short round like a .45 ACP can shave some time off your reloads.
 
Although I don't have any semi-auto caliber revolvers yet, I'd like to get one in .45 ACP and a 9 mm.
My reasoning is to reduce the ammunition calibers I keep at home (which is why I never bought or even thought about buying a .40 S&W)...for the 9 mm, it would be for carry purposes and cheaper shooting.
The .45 ACP would be just because I want one.
 
Basically, the ability to have a common ammo for semi and revolver. Except for the very popular .45 ACP which is reason enough in itself.
 
Not speaking personally, but some people just simply do not like or trust autos but they also like the ballistics of such things as 9mm Para., .45 ACP, 10mm, and .40 S&W. So a good revolver is one way to go.
I might wonder, though, why someone would prefer a .45 ACP revolver over a .45 Colt revolver but that's just the way I feel about it.
 
What are your reasons for these types of firearms barring simple logistics of it uses the same ammo as my autochuckerdujour.

Common ammo is the main reason to have a revolver in an auto caliber.

Barring that as a reason would be like asking why are tires round, barring that they roll better.
 
Love my 625 because:

1. It's a revolver.

2. Fast reloads.

3. Brass is easy to recover after shooting a stage. Such a simple fact, but such a joy as well.


I hear that the auto cartridges are better than moon-clipped revolver cartridges because they are shorter, thus wobble less, thus reload faster. I have a GP100 that is likely to get moon-clips before it's all said and done though.
 
Ammo commonality if autos are your thing (They're not mine).

Faster reloads with moon clips and better ejection.

9mm is a better round from a short barrel than a .357 as it recoils less and loses less power.

You can fully load the 10mm without worrying about battering your gun.

Never worry about feeding issues again.

Ammo is cheaper.

It's worth more since it's more rare.

Auto pistol rounds without having to stoop to picking up brass.
 
If I wanted a large-bore revolver for defense, I would consider a .45 Auto-chambered one. There is a huge variety of defensive ammo made for the .45 Auto, far more than for the .44 Special, .44 Magnum and .45 Colt. These come in different bullet weights, shapes and standard or +P velocity. Not all of these loads will function properly in some autoloaders, but this is irrelevant in a revolver. And you can practice with less expensive "generic" .45 ball for half (or less) the price of the other calibers.
 
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Several reasons for me.

1) I shoot a lot of .45 acp in several action types, and I reload for it already.
2) I pre-load several dozen full moon clips prior to going to the range. Between the fast reloads and all my ammo pre-loaded, I can flat do a serious amout of shooting in my limited range time (1hr/week).
3) I HATE to pick up brass, but as a reloader, I'm almost compelled to. Moonclips make the pain go away.
4) Accuracy.

Joe
 
What practical purpose for revolvers chambered in Auto Pistol Calibers???
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LOL! For starters, competition, plinking, target shooting, and self defense! Dennis
 
What practical purpose for revolvers chambered in Auto Pistol Calibers???

plenty of good reasons above, but...

to reverse your question somewhat, i guess i fail to see why it's any less practical than a revolver chambered in a standard revolver caliber. you can choose the caliber you like in the action you like...it just gives more options.
 
PA use to forbid you from CCW while hunting unless it was a revolver. If it was an auto-loader, they would charge you with attempting to hunt with that auto-loader -- which is illegal.
 
Oh,
On that note.....
I'm currently converting a Ruger Vaquero to 45 ACP.
So far so good. I'll post something once it's completed.

Have a great day,
 
"Barring [ammo commonality] as a reason would be like asking why are tires round, barring that they roll better."

:)

That was my thought, only phrased pithier than I would have.

See also the current thread started by someone who's noticed the startling proliferation of calibers in his own firearms collection; one day I might (and hope / plan to) get quite a few other guns and calibers, but for now (in grad school, my guns kept in parental basement), limiting the ammo types is a savings in space and money; my reloading press is set up for .45 ACP :)

timothy
 
For a person that like single actions and doesn't reload the Ruger BH Convertible allows a cheaper alternative and easier to find ammo.
 
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Here's a practical reason.

A lot of people think a large bore, slow-moving projectile is the best thing for personal defense. Some folks think 230 grains at 800 feet per second is the best thing ever.

I disagree. I'd rather have that same slug moving, oh, about 350 feet per second faster. But I digress.

For people that like the big 'ol chunka lead at low velocity, you've got two possibilities in proper revolver rounds. .44 Special and .45 Colt.

Now, there isn't a damned thing wrong with either one of these. I myself was enamored with the .45 Colt round for years.

But...

Double-action guns in these chamberings are hard to come by sometimes. The ammo is expensive and often under-powered (not an issue if you're in love with that 800 fps mark). When you can find ammo, there often isn't much variety. 90% of all the .45 Colt out there these days is 750 fps Cowboy loads, and you're lucky if you can even find .44 Special.

With .45ACP, however, you get the ballistics you want, the ammo variety you want, and the ammo is cheap and common to boot. Not to mention .45ACP moonclips provide for a faster reload with less opportunity to fumble than the HKS speedloader, which is about the only option for the .44 and .45 sixgun.

I, personally, don't mind HKS speedloaders, but I practice with them. A lot. Moonclips are still faster, though.
 
Everyone explained the various reasons. I don't really buy into it. .357 magnum is my favorite revolver caliber, was made for the revolver. I'm not a big, slow kinda guy so I don't really like those .45 ACP revolvers. If I'm going to carry a .45ACP, I'll carry my P90. .45ACP revolvers are great for revolver action sports, though, especially for those that require momentum like pins or pepper poppers. I had a 1917 Smith for a while with that in mind, but it was sorta a rat and I sold it. I'd have kept it if it'd fired cast lead bullets, but the shallow rifling wouldn't stabilize anything without a jacket. .45ACP is so fat, small J frames are impossible. 9mm is such a high pressure cartridge, they're usually in heavier built guns than are .38s and even .357s. A nine could be put in a titanium gun that is chambered for .357, but they aren't. To me, I shoot the cartridge that was designed for the guns, .38 or .357. I'll leave the rimless stuff for auto pistols. I mean, why would I wanna carry a 9 in revolver when I can carry it in my Kel Tec P11, 14 ounces unloaded, up to 13 rounds capacity, and smaller dimensions than a revolver? The gun is very easy to shoot for a DA guy, smooth, long DA. I think of it as a little square revolver with the ultimate speedloader. :D

One thing about moon clipped guns, tactical reloads are impossible, at least the topping up kind. I carry at least one bianchi speed strip with me when I'm totin' my revolvers just for topping up if I were to need to while behind cover in a lull. Speed loaders are fast enough IMHO for speed reloads. I'll never be as fast, even with moon clips, as I am with an auto, but I don't dwell much on reloads. In your standard self defense scenario, a few shots fired is all I can imagine, not being an LEO. But, I carry reloads for the same reason I carry the gun, just in case.
 
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