Single actions in .45 acp. Are they accurate?

[mannyrock]

 
Dear Guys,
 
    I am seeming alot of new single actions (such as Rugers) offered in .45 acp.  Sometimes they have a spare .45 LC cylinder and sometimes not.
 
    I have zero interest in shooting a .45 LC.  My question is, are these revolvers accurate with the .45 acp?  Or, are these .45 acp cylinders some type of after-thought cylinder, tacked onto a revolver that was specifically designed for the .45 LC, resulting in crummy accuracy for the .45 acp?
 
     Are the bullet diameters for the factory .45 LC and .45 acp the same?  Or, is the acp round smaller, so that it wil not grip the lands, grooves, as it should?
 
     Thanks for all info.  I have nothing against the .45 LC, but I just couldn't afford them and don't ever want to reload.
 
      Mannyrock

[huntswithdogs]

My Flattop convertible is getting about the same accuracy no matter which 45 cylinder I have in it.


HWD

[tacklebury]

My 5.5" blackhawk is actually about 1/4 to 1/2" tighter typically grouping.  Especially with my match reloads.  I actually get a little tighter with my Blackhawk than I do my Match grade .45 Auto, but follow up is slower.  I am still learning the auto too. 

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive seen the be tack drivers and ive seen them be minute of barn door.

[StrawHat]

I've got a SAA clone with both cylinders.  The ACP cylinder spends the lions share of the time in the revolver as I prefer that cartridge, the difference in accuracy is enough to be noticable.  I handload and cast so I can tailor the loads to the gun/cylinder but so far I have not found a load for the 45 long Colt that is the equal of the 45 ACP, for accuracy purposes.
 
I also have a couple of other revolvers chambered in each cartridge and find that on some days, the one is the equal of the other.

[Ken ONeill]

In my large frame Ruger Blackhawk "Liberty" Model convertible, the .45 Colt cylinder is more accurate at a greater distance, but only if strong handloads are used.
The accuracy of my Mdl. 97 FA .45 convertible is approximately equal for both cylinders, with a slight edge to the .45 Colt at say 25 yards, but once again, as the distance increases, the .45 Colt becomes more accurate with 1100+ fps handloads.
My new Ruger Flattop .45 convertible is more accurate with the ACP cylinder than with the .45 Colt. Since it's built on the mid-frame (.357 size) I haven't loaded heavy .45 Colt loads, and won't, so I expect the ACP cylinder to remain the most accurate.
Finally, I just acquired a Ruger mid-frame Birdshead New Vaquero in .45 ACP only. It is just as accurate as the Flattop  with the ACP cylinder.
In other words, I have found the .45 Colt cylinder to be more accurate close and at the longer distances only if heavier than standard loads are used (1100-1200 + fps vs 825-850 fps) in my guns.

Since you have no interest in hand loading, I suspect that you will probably be adequately satisfied with an ACP cylinder. Yes, the ACP cylinders were an afterthought in single actions, BUT ... yes they can be quite useful and fun. UNLESS, as Lloyd points out, you get one with minute of barn door accuracy. Of course, that can happen with any caliber.

I'm satisfied enough that none of mine are for sale, if that helps in the decision making.

[mannyrock]

 
Ken,
 
   How fortunate you responded.  The whole reason I posted the question is that a few weeks ago I saw the new Vaquero, birdshead, in .45acp, with the 3.5 inch barrel, and thought that it looked really neat.
 
  But here is the key question:  With that short barrel, is the ejection rod long enough to totally shove the .45 acp empties out of the cylinder, or do they just get them "almost" out, so that you have to turn the gun upwards and shake it.
 
  Since the acp shell is so much shorter than the .45 long colt shell, hopefully the rod pushes them all of they way out.
 
Manny

[SHOOTALL]

Ive seen the be tack drivers and ive seen them be minute of barn door.

that's the best ansewer . I have one that is so so .

[ratdog]

i really like my bird head its a uberty marchal easy to get cases out with the long colt see no problem with acp.had abird head with the hump in the handle shot always to the left barrel needed to be tweeked didn't want to mess with it so i sold it.bout this other one on line new i wont be selling this one the short 3-1/4'' barrel is areal shooter i tried 200 grn bullets in it they are longer will shoot in my ruger's but to long for my uberty went back to my 250 grn cast bullet cold not see any difference in accuracy i see why billy the kid preferred it.

[Ken ONeill]

Mannyrock,
Sorry for the delay in responding ... I just saw your last post. The ACP case will be ejected by the Birdshead's ejector rod. Mine is a great gun.

[Blackhawk44]

Shortly after buying my Colt SAA in 1969, I ordered a .45 ACP cylinder from Christy Gun Works and have never regretted it.  While the exterior machining is a bit rough, the interior is just fine.  My Colt cylinder is accurate, but the ACP cylinder has always been more so.

[Buckeye]

Mannyrock,
Sorry for the delay in responding ... I just saw your last post. The ACP case will be ejected by the Birdshead's ejector rod. Mine is a great gun.

I've got the same gun on order....glad your having great results..

[Lawful Larry]

I have a Ruger Vaquero Classic with both cylinders, colt and acp.  They both shoot very accurately and I am happy.  My ACP rounds were shooting to within 2 to 2 & 1/2" groups at 25 yds. rested.