Hi Y'all !
For the ammo,you can buy the cowboy loads. Around these parts,in California,Modesto/Turlock area,about $ 20.00 for a box of 50.
Myself,I have an Uberti 1873 Cattleman,matte black,4 3/4" barrel. It is very light to carry, and just a plain JOY to shoot.
I've been collecting on 45 Colt loads.All the way from Black Powder and substitutes to smokeless. A good pard, that lives about 8 miles from me,has
been telling me of loads.The loads, are no where near max.Like Elmer Keith
(rest his soul) loaded years ago.
These 6 guns of the 1873 design,are primarily black powder.And are not meant to "hot rod" or "magnumize". To do so,well,not good for your health.
With this set aside,mine is a wonderful late 19th century delight,for the 21st century.
I used to think "magnums" all the time.I read about the 454 Casull. I bought nearly every gunrag on it.Dreaming about owning one...someday.I've had a 357 mag.Owned it for 13 years.Bought it in the early 1970's.Read about handgun hunting. Bob Milek's articles and the "Guns and Ammo How to..."
books.
A long story short, I did buy my Freedom Arms 454 Casull.a Field Grade.
Have maybe about 200-300 rounds through it.I still can't part with it.It is a great gun though.
Last year, I wanted to buy a rifle. I thought, why should I buy another
30-06 ? With all the hype and bull on GrayBeard Outdoors (yes I am a member) I was reading about "Bear Hunting". You'd read post after post, and the "what caliber, how big your bear rifle is", on and on. Beginning to sound like a bunch of cackling hens, and the "little" boys saying this is bigger,that's better."Are you nuts...." Well, you know.
So,I started to think,"If a 45-70 was good in the late 1800's,why not now ?"
I had to order one.With the idea of cowboy shooting came around,I just HAD to have a 45 Colt ! I shopped around...kinda. I went to Turlock,south of Modesto.Found Alquist Arms.The owner,let me handle the Colt 45 copies.
One, I REALLY liked !! It fit right.Everything was right ! I didn't have the money at the time for a deposit.Waited until I did.Went back in.Seen all others:44-40,357 mag.NO ! I wanted a 45 Colt,4 3/4" barrel.He showed me this 1873 Cattleman,45 Colt,4 3/4" barrel.I decided right there,I'll take this one home,in a few weeks.
Since that time,not many weeks ago,I brought it home.In the last 2-3 weeks,
I've fired my BP/sub's,and smokeless rounds.Both reloads and factory.
Yes, these guns will talk to you.Just gotta listen.Mine likes 16.5gr of 2400,
with a 255gr plated lead bullets.This gets you in the upper end of 900 FPS.
Can get you into the 1000 FPS,or a smidge better.Yes, this load is serious.
No high pressure signs.Cases came out easy.
But,it won't beat you half-to-death like magnums would.Recoil,can't be said of "stout".Recoil,is more on the mild side.And, yes, I do own a Ruger RedHawk44 magnum. It's,I'd say, less (recoil),than full house 44 mag/240gr loads.
OK, for the results of this past Fridays' shoot:
255gr copper plated lead,16.5gr of 2400.(no where near max)
One went for 1003.5 FPS.
Ran "Point Blank". At 50 yards 996 FPS.570 FPE.
75 yards,993 FPS,547 FPE.
100 yards,989 FPS,539 FPE.
Recoil was there,but much more pleasant to shoot.
This load, will be worked up a little.Not much.Can be used for deer/bear hunting.
I'd say, buy a 45 Colt.It's still a great cartridge ! And, you can enjoy this all day long.The cowbot loads,are really nice to shoot.I'll more than likely take this Uberti hunting later this year.And, might leave the 44 mag and the 454 at home.Take the 44 mag Winchester, and the 45-70.
You'll like it !!(45 Colt)
...DA has no real use in the outdoors. All my shooting is single action and I've been totin' single actions afield since I was a kid with a .22/.22mag convertible, so I'm sorta used to 'em.
However, you do have to get used to the old plow handle. If you haven't shot it much, I can see how it'd negatively affect your accuracy. It takes a bit of practice to get used to. I say this, but heck, my first handgun was a single action 40 years ago.
, many people (including myself), were probably referring in part to the fact that SA's sit nicely in the hand and point so naturally. An intellectual affinity for the SA can be found as well in it's superb mechanism, perfect lines, and historical value.
