short barrel for Colt (info added)

[44 Man]

Since I'm less than estatic about how my Colt with the 7 1/2" barrel shortened to 5 1/2" turned out, I have had another thought about what I might do.

I'm thinking about picking up this short barrel.  It's 3 1/2" in .45 colt with no markings.  A little polish, a little blue, a front sight and I think it would be neat!  I've always wanted a short barrel SA with ejector housing.  This would be a lot cheaper way of getting it than buying a new USFA Double Eagle.
Hmmm, then I would need to get a 'round butt' type of grip frame, and probably one of the lower hammers from USFA for it sometime in the future.  See what happens with a 'project' gun, the possibilities for it never stop!  (even saw an engraved cylinder, then I would need to get the rest of the gun engraved to match.  ha ha)  44 Man

[jimboss496]

Sounds like how I think! Just picked up a NMBH .45 Colt and next thing I know I'm buying a stainless cylinder and 4-5/8'' stainless Mag-Na-Ported barrel for it! Are you planning on changing the barrel yourself?

[Glanceblamm]

Tell ya what 44 Man, I love my little Birds head Vaquero to pieces despite it being a reasonally priced and a completely stock sa with a 3"-7/8" bbl.

I think the balance and pointability have a lot to do with this, good shooter too as this bratty little kid brother to my full size Vaquero & SBH begged me to take it deer hunting.

No way, "on the hunting" I told it. To prove my point, I fed it a variety of hand loads with the intent of finding something that it would not like but had no such luck.

It was at this point that I realized that I can shoot a short barrel as well as a long one. This has been arguable on this forum but works for me and I reckon that sight picture is everything.

If you like that short barrel I would say go for it as I dont think you will realize any handicap, I think that it is great just the way it is but perhaps like yourself, the crowning at the muzzle is kind of "different", not really a big factor but the kind of "different" that may need to grow on a person.

[44 Man]

Glanceblamm, that's my thoughts also.  I have wanted a short barreled single action for ages.  I started out wanting to cut the Colt's barrel to 4" but nixed that as Ken would have more work inletting the ejector housing stud in the barrel.  Then I nixed a 4 3/4" as that would mean polishing off the 'Colt's pat' from the top of the barrel, so I 'settled' for a 5 1/2" to save it.  I should not have 'settled' because it was not what I really wanted and now I have spent a lot of money for something that I am going to change again.  Oh well, at least I can sell the Colt barrel and recoup a little money there.  This short barrel has no markings at all so that is fine. 

BUT NOW I have bid on this engraved cylinder!  So I plan to fit the barrel, polish it, install a front sight, then I'll send it and the ejector housing out to get engraved to match the cylinder. (of course I will have to have the nickle plating removed from the cylinder, if I can, OR the barrel satin nickled after engraving)  I have always wanted an engraved gun so I'm thinking I can get it having a little at a time done as I can afford it.  Kind of like Johnny Cash with his 'I got it one part at a time' song.  44 Man

[44 Man]

Darn, now I have to wait some more.  I got the cylinder, but didn't win the barrel.  I wish that were the other way around if I were only going to get one.  44 Man

[gcrank1]

Too bad about the barrel, but hey, there are more!
I like the engraving; have you thought at all about not having an ejector, with the loads you probably will shoot I bet the empties will fall out.
I think you did good in the 5.5 choice. It is nice, though not what you want, still nice and now you are more likely to get a decent price out of the barrel when you put it up for sale.

[44 Man]

Gcrank, yes I'm sure I will find another barrel, maybe one with the front sight already on it, then sell this one.  And yes, I do have to have an ejector rod!  I used to have only one .45 load.  My 'working' load is the standard 9 gr Unique under a hard cast bullet.  I realized I didn't have to shoot that all the time so I made up a 'recreational' load and stepped down to 8.3 gr of Unique under the factory Remington swaged rnfp bullet.  So my 'recreational' load duplicates what the factorys consider a full 45 colt load.  I just talked to a fellow who shoots SASS and he was talking about 4.5 and 5 grain loads of Unique and I had to keep from smiling.  If my hand is ready I intend to go with him to a shoot this next month and I'll be using my 'recreational' load.  I'll be in the spirit of the game as those old boys didn't have target loads to carry around in the 'Old West'.  Too bad, I understood that there was a power level set but I guess no one ever challenges that anymore.  I guess the 'gamesmen' wanted and edge.  But that is an entirely different topic.  I'll still have fun if my wrist is healed (I just had carpul tunnel done).  I hope it is so I can shoot my loads, otherwise I may have to ask to borrow his!    ha ha.  44 Man