Disappointed With .45 Colt Mountain Gun

[DanChamberlain]

Sold an article a couple years ago to G&A and took the proceeds and bought a Mountain Gun.  I wanted a .44 but the .45 was the only one I could find locally.  I shot it and it was really accurate with my handload that pushes a 255 grain bullet to 1060.  It's pleasant to shoot, carries well, looks great and I have no technical complaints...but it isn't what I had been looking for! 

Now, I know that the .45 Colt is nothing to sneeze at.  I know it hunts just as well as the .44, but it's sort of like going to your favorite restaurant because they have your favorite meal, only to find out that they ran out.

So, it sits in the safe and occasionally, I drag it out and fondle it and sight it and dry fire it...and sigh!  It's like I settled for the girl who came along after the one who really got the juices flowing turned her back on me.  I suppose it's a little melancholy and I'll get over it. 

I'm sure if I shoot it more, I'd fall in love with it.  What to do.

Dan

[WIL TERRY]

I really fail to see the problem here excepting your failure to buy PRECISELY what you wanted in the first place. I have both in those calibers and I am here to tell you the 45COLT is much preferable to that nasty bellering 44MAG. As a matter of fact my 44MAG is an original MOUNTAIN REVOLVER, one of the first twelve ever made, and was written up by me in PETERSON'S HANDGUNS magazine, never to be shot since except as a 44SPL and I already have a 44SPL mountain gun

[shotgunner]

I have a friend who had perhaps the first 44 mag mountain revolver. Back in the late 70s he took a Highway patrolman, a model 29 cylinder and a barrel from a 1950 target. The barrel was cut from 6 1/2 to 4 inches and the sight replaced. It was light and sweet, he could shoot it. I guess S&W caught on some time later. Shotgunner

PS as far as the 45 colt and the 44 mag, if you want to shoot heavy bullets at around 1000 fps, there is little to choose from. Today's 45 are made with matching chamber throats, and should shoot as well as the 44s, who's chambers have always matched the bore. If you like one more then the other, get what you want. If you are on this site you can access several others with guns for sale, and find what ever you need. No reason to have to buy locally any longer.

[Lloyd Smale]

heres my take on it. I had one too and sold it. I guess the biggest reason it went down the road was the ugly lock. It was a good gun though and i took a couple deer with it. I have 3 n frame smith 44mags right now a 3 inch and two 4 inch guns and would never part with any of them. But bottom line is the loads i shoot out of them are easily matched with a 45 colt smith. Smiths bite my hand with heavy loads so i just dont shoot them anymore. Most of my 44mag ammo for them is a 250 cast of some kind with enough powder to make about a 1000 fps. Ive killed lots of game with 44 and 45s with loads like that and never found them lacking. If i want more power then that i go to a single action as there much more comfortable in recoil.

[SHOOTALL]

I got rid of the S&W mt gun and got a Redhawk load it from 45 Colt to 45 Colt for Rugers and like power level. Its like having the perfect wife , innocent in public and a dream come true at home if ya get my drift .

[Boxhead]

I guess I am on another planet than you, right or wrong.

[mcwoodduck]

So you wanted a Blonde and got a Strawberry blonde?
Or would you prefer you wanted the Prom Queen and you got her twin cousin.  Looks the same just a little different inside.
With hand loading you can make the 45 Colt do what the 44 mag can do.
Also with the 240 grain 44 mag full house loads the mountain gun is a little unpleasant to shoot all day.
Yes you can load the 44 to a nice load like I do (180 grain Either JHP or copper washed 180 @1000 FPS)
But the thin grip on the Mt Gun really packs all the recoil into the back strap of the gun.
With your just under mag load you should be happier.
Load up a few hunderd rounds and head out to an IDPA or steel shoot and you will really like your revolver again.
 
What article did you sell to G&A?

[DanChamberlain]

Couple years ago in the Milsurp edition, had to do with shooting cast lead with milsurp rifles.  Every time I sell an article, I use the proceeds to buy a gun.  

I'm not disappointed with the gun, or not even with the cartridge since I have always had a .45 Colt or two sitting around that I reload for.  But I'd always had my heart set on a .44 MG and they were never available for anything but a king's ransom. 

My pet load is ample for any animal I'd care to get close enough to, but if I'm setting out to go handgun hunting, my weapons of choice will be my Ruger Flattop .44, My Ruger Bisley .44 or my S&W 29-2. 

Perhaps "Disappointed" is too strong a word.  It's more a case of not being "excited" about the acquisition in the long run. 


Dan

[brasskeeper]

Sell it, buy the 44

[DanChamberlain]

Gotta find one first.

I won't buy on line.  Gotta be face to face.

Dan

[mcwoodduck]

OH,
Now I understand,
I thought this was your only large bore revolver.
If you have a 29, then you already have the Blonde prom queen.
Just use her cousin for fun.

[DanChamberlain]

You know what they say about kissing cousins.  On the other hand, if she's a 2nd cousin, all bets are off.
 

Dan

[mcwoodduck]

I would guess all N frames in Different calibers are  1st Cousins to each other.
Same caliber in same frame is a sibling-
and all other frame sizes in same caliber are 2nd cousins.  (M28 and M-686)
All others are kissing Cousins in the SW line  And hey if your no in the family it doesn't matter how close of a cousin they are to each other.   
With the Tarus revolvers being the family one removed? 

[jcn59]

2 muck talk 'bout kissin' yer cussins.  Here tell yew go  to family re-unions to meet wimmen, too.

Stick 2 gunz talk, er I ain't redin this nomor.

[DanChamberlain]

I don't go there to "meet" them.  I already "know" them.  It's just time to "hook-up" again.

Dan

[S.B.]

Dan, here's my take on this: I know this guy, who I'm very close with who will help you out? Package that underpowered vile creature up and send it to him. Email ME for his address, please?
All kidding aside, I recently aquired a 25-5 and already owned a 629-4 Mountain Gun. I know Linebaugh likes .45 Colt caliber but, the mighty .44 magnum is king for me, when it comes to handloading ammo! Very versitile. Know what is meant when the MG .44 is talked about. Here's some eye candy.

Steve

[DanChamberlain]

SB

Thanks for the photo.  Yup, ain't nuthin wrong with the .45 Colt, but it wasn't what I was looking for.  As soon as I can find someone who wants to trade, it's gone. 

I don't really miss it that much.  It's not like the .45 Colt is "historical" or anything.

Dan