Author Topic: Crazy about 45 Colt ( 45lc ) Handguns (Read 1758 times)

kynardsj · « **on:** December 25, 2011, 05:19:47 AM »

Over the years I have owned at least one of every kind of handgun I've ever took a liking to from a 22 short to the 500 S&W mag. 22's in semi autos, derringers and revolvers. 38 sp and 357 mag derringers and revolvers, single shot's from 22 lr up to 45-70 and a lot of calibers in between, 44 mags in single action, double action and even in a Desert Eagle and 45 ACP's in semi autos and revolvers. Over the last 5 or 6 years I have just fallen in love with the 45 Colt or 45 LC as I like to call it. I now have one in a stainless 4 5/8 old model Vaquero, a Super Blackhawk Hunter and a 20 inch TC Encore rifle. Had a 5 1/2 inch Blackhawk convertable but hard times made me sell it and a stainless 4 5/8 inch Blackhawk that I gave as a present to my adopted son. Two 45/410 derringers and an import birdshead 45/45acp convertable have come and gone. I'm now thinking to add to my collection one of the 4 inch Ruger Redhawks that have been around for a few years. Heard and read nothing but good about these big revolvers. Also with me being a longtime reloader I can make my rounds as mild or wild as I want to or at least customize a load that each gun prefers. I don't know if it's nostalgia or the versatility of this old round, maybe both, but a lot of my other guns are leaving to make room for more in this caliber.

John R. · « **Reply #1 on:** December 25, 2011, 09:46:01 AM »

It's one of my favorites also. I have a Ruger Bisley.

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 25, 2011, 11:21:19 AM »

If I could only keep one caliber it would be the 45 Colt.

StrawHat · « **Reply #3 on:** December 26, 2011, 01:15:39 AM »

I have owned quite a few but currently am down to two. A 7 1/2" Model P clone and a 6" S&W M25-5. While I also handload, I have found no need for anything hotter than the 260 or 280 grain cast bullet at 900 - 1000 fps. Like you, I am also looking for a 4" but I prefer the S&W to the Ruger.

By the way, have you considered a 45 ACP revolver? S&W makes (made) a variety of them and they can be loaded to replicate much of what the long Colt does in a shorter case.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #4 on:** December 26, 2011, 02:14:34 AM »

I am the same, I have a number of hand guns but my 45's dominate by a huge margine and the 45 LONG COLTS dominate the 45's!!

CW

reliquary · « **Reply #5 on:** December 26, 2011, 02:46:06 AM »

I've owned and shot .45LC pistols since the 1950s, started with a parts Colt SA I put together myself, have had BHs since the '70s, have a birdshead Italian Sa clone that packs so nicely that I can't bear to get rid of it, and recently bought a Governor. Also have a Puma that shares loads with the BH. I've never liked the Redhawk, for whatever reason.

When I hunted, my favorite was an early '70s TC with 10" barrel...very accurate and deadly with a long-relief Bushnell 1.2 scope.

I really would like a Smith 25/625 convertible in .45LC and ACP, but would have to part with other "likes" to get one. The Gov kinda/sorta fills that void for now.

kynardsj · « **Reply #6 on:** December 26, 2011, 03:26:04 AM »

Strawhat, I had a S&W chambered for the 45 ACP. Don't recall the model number but it was stainless, had been rebarreled and slicked up for bowling pin competition. At the time I reloaded the acp's and used a 200 gr swc over 7.0 gr of Unique. Very sweet load. Also used the same load with my convertable Blackhawk and the convertable SA clone that I had for a while. At some point back I had another stainless S&W that had a 3" barrel and was chambered for the 45lc. Couldn't make it shoot like I wanted it to. I'm just sticking with the Rugers now in a handgun as I might want to run some +P stuff thru them. Without some work the triggers aren't as nice as a Smith but they're built like a tank as long as I stay away from the new Vaqueros.

yooper77 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 26, 2011, 04:11:59 AM »

I can't say anything bad about the 45 Colt is just works.

I have a Ruger Blackhawk convertable in 45 ACP/45 Colt with 5 1/2 inch barrel.

Ruger Old Army with 7 1/2 inch barrel using a Taylor R&D 45 Colt conversion cylinder.

I never tried it and probably never will, but I could also shoot the 45 Colt in my Thompson Center Encore chambered in 454 Casull if the need arose.

yooper77

kynardsj · « **Reply #8 on:** December 26, 2011, 04:07:14 PM »

I wanted a 45 Colt rifle to go with my pistols so I had MGM build me a stainless 20 inch barrel for my Encore chambered in the exact caliber. It really likes the 250 gr XTP's over 25.0 gr of Lilgun. My guesstimate on speed is close to 1700 fps. I got to try it out this afternoon on a very large doe at about 50 yards. Whole lot of expansion before it passed thru both shoulders. Doe was DRT. Pistols for closer work and a rifle for the farther out stuff all in my faorite caliber. Now I want a hog with my 45 Colt Super Blackhawk Hunter.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #9 on:** December 27, 2011, 12:49:28 AM »

Quote from: kynardsj on December 26, 2011, 04:07:14 PM

I wanted a 45 Colt rifle to go with my pistols so I had MGM build me a stainless 20 inch barrel for my Encore chambered in the exact caliber. It really likes the 250 gr XTP's over 25.0 gr of Lilgun. My guesstimate on speed is close to 1700 fps. I got to try it out this afternoon on a very large doe at about 50 yards. Whole lot of expansion before it passed thru both shoulders. Doe was DRT. Pistols for closer work and a rifle for the farther out stuff all in my faorite caliber. Now I want a hog with my 45 Colt Super Blackhawk Hunter.

GOOD JOB!!

Yes the 45COLT is a dandy 150Yard big game harvester!! Its one of my favorites too! Try some 300's and you will really see what its capable of!!

One year we where at deer camp and pop came in the house and asked to see my Marlin. He took it and a couple shells and went out side.... BAM...back in he came. What was that I asked? He said dinner!
A couple of us went out side and up the side hill about 100 yards and there was a good sized dow lying dead, with blood splashed on three or four places on her body. He shot here with a 300G Speer Plated SP bullet and a stiff loading of 296 powder. The bullet entered very close to the anus, exited in front of the ham, re entered at the short ribs and exited the the chest. Then re entered the bottom of the lower jaw exiting the nose. Most of which was gone. That was FEET os penetration and complete exit, nothing of the bullet found.

CW

painted horse · « **Reply #10 on:** December 30, 2011, 07:18:18 AM »

A couple of us went out side and up the side hill about 100 yards and there was a good sized dow lying dead, with blood splashed on three or four places on her body. He shot here with a 300G Speer Plated SP bullet and a stiff loading of 296 powder. The bullet entered very close to the anus, exited in front of the ham, re entered at the short ribs and exited the the chest. Then re entered the bottom of the lower jaw exiting the nose. Most of which was gone. That was FEET os penetration and complete exit, nothing of the bullet found.

CW

So...what part did you have for dinner??

temmi · « **Reply #11 on:** December 30, 2011, 07:43:46 AM »

I am relatively new to the 45 Colt; I have a Ruger Blackhawk and will get a Bisley BH this year and a M92.

It has become my favorite plinking round.

kynardsj · « **Reply #12 on:** December 30, 2011, 10:58:44 AM »

Did some horse trading today and came home with a 5 inch stainless Redhawk in 45 Colt. Get to have the fun now of figuring out what it likes and then loading up a bunch of them.

painted horse · « **Reply #13 on:** December 31, 2011, 05:20:31 AM »

Quote from: temmi on December 30, 2011, 07:43:46 AM

I am relatively new to the 45 Colt; I have a Ruger Blackhawk and will get a Bisley BH this year and a M92.

It has become my favorite plinking round.

By golly, I think you got it!!

That sounds like an excellent plan.

The colt 45 is a great round for handloaders even if you don't load it hot. Factory fodder is a little spendy....

greenrivers · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2012, 02:52:32 AM »

The 45 Colt can hook the unsuspecting. Fired in differant firearms, with differant capabilities, it is like shooting a differant caliber. I have it in the New Model Vaquero, Ruger SRH, and a Rossi model 92 rifle. It goes from a plinker too a fire breather. Great round, but my soft spot is still the .44's.

painted horse · « **Reply #15 on:** January 31, 2012, 06:03:06 AM »

Quote from: greenrivers on January 31, 2012, 02:52:32 AM

The 45 Colt can hook the unsuspecting. Fired in differant firearms, with differant capabilities, it is like shooting a differant caliber. I have it in the New Model Vaquero, Ruger SRH, and a Rossi model 92 rifle. It goes from a plinker too a fire breather. Great round, but my soft spot is still the .44's.

There is absoulutley NOTHING wrong with the 44's.......I currently do not own one (44mag, sold the Smith, gave the 3 screw to my son

) but will soon rectify that situation. I think everyone should have at least one...

tacklebury · « **Reply #16 on:** January 31, 2012, 11:51:52 AM »

Lovin the .45 Colt also.

This is my go to combo for hunting, 45 LC Classic Carbine and 5.5" NMB.

I intend to add a .45 Colt levergun at some point, but I have a 40-60 Marlin and a .32 Special, so it's really just to complete my colt set. I intend also to get some kind of a belly gun in .45 Colt also.

ratdog · « **Reply #17 on:** January 31, 2012, 10:54:52 PM »

the 45's are just sweet not jamomatics and easy to reload.

greenrivers · « **Reply #18 on:** January 31, 2012, 11:26:30 PM »

jamonatics?

?? I have to agree, they are a great cartridge. But the .44 specials, mags, etc.

kynardsj · « **Reply #19 on:** February 02, 2012, 10:23:39 AM »

Kinda wondering about jamomatics myself. Me thinks we're talking about different kinds of 45's. Nothing wrong at all with the 44's. I've had my share of them. Just fell in love with the 45 LC's here in the last 10 years or so. Especially since I've learned so much more about loads for them and what guns will handle the hot ones. Deer season is over here in Alabama so my next project is to see what kind of drop at what distances the hot 45 loads in my 20 inch Encore have. I know I'm dead on at 100 yards but just want to see what the drop is at 150 and 200 yards and so on. Have a powerline on our hunting land where a long shot is possible. I could cover it easily with my 308 but what would be the fun in that ?

KAYR1 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 02, 2012, 01:12:40 PM »

Looks like there are a lot of other .45 Colt lovers out here as well! Count me in. Presently shoot an Old Model Vaquero, and couple of Blackhawks. Looking forwards to loading some heavy Keith Style bullets in the 7.5" BH for deer season next year. From powder-puff loads to bear stompers, the .45 Colt still has a lot of life left in it!

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 02, 2012, 02:02:51 PM »

Quote from: kynardsj on December 30, 2011, 10:58:44 AM

Did some horse trading today and came home with a 5 inch stainless Redhawk in 45 Colt. Get to have the fun now of figuring out what it likes and then loading up a bunch of them.

Nice!

I just picked up a 24" MGM 45 Colt barrel for my G2. My son has a 20" Handi rifle in 45 Colt so we'll both be hunting with my favorite cartridge next season. I'd like to get a Blackhawk for my next 45 Colt.

greenrivers · « **Reply #22 on:** February 02, 2012, 04:06:17 PM »

Taklebury, that is some nice hardware spread on that blanket. Looks like a lineage of solid stock. Like Painted Horse, something proven and worth passing along to another generation of use.

tacklebury · « **Reply #23 on:** February 02, 2012, 04:20:57 PM »

Ty greenrivers. I sure hope so. I only have daughters, but at least one likes to shoot with me.

greenrivers · « **Reply #24 on:** February 03, 2012, 01:46:54 AM »

One of my daughters too loves the woods, hunting and fishing. She has always been a natural shot, but became a "girl" about age fourteen. Back from college now and shooting some hot loads in a .44 mag. and giving me a run for it. I was blessed with both and I don't believe the deer can tell who fired the shot!