Revolver shopping

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I really like my 4 5/8” BH in 45 Colt. Got it used, no idea if it ever had a 45 ACP cylinder.
Have you considered the S&W Mod 25 classic in 45 Colt? I am really enjoying mine.

Just don’t get into Ruger only 45 Colt loads and get them in the wrong gun....
 

Walks

Well-Known Member
I would never buy a new Smith. That hole in the frame that defaces their revolvers is an insult to every shooter.

If a manufacturer doesn't trust their customers to handle and store firearms safely, then I don't need their product.

There are enough used old guns around to satisfy any need I may have.
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
I really like my 4 5/8” BH in 45 Colt. Got it used, no idea if it ever had a 45 ACP cylinder.
Have you considered the S&W Mod 25 classic in 45 Colt? I am really enjoying mine.

Just don’t get into Ruger only 45 Colt loads and get them in the wrong gun....
If I found one for the right price, yes. I do like the idea of being able to hot rod the Ruger if I wanted to. You’re right. I’ll keep the wild ones far away from my SAA clone.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I have fired a 265 WFN over enough H110 to be “invigorating”. A 310 Lee over a large dose of H110 must be experienced to understand.

At my age my wrists no longer desire to be included in firing such Loads. A 300 gr bullet at 850-900 does fine and is manageable.
 

gman

Well-Known Member
My convertible was a Lipsey’s exclusive at the time. It is the smaller framed flat top model. It is not to be loaded with Ruger only loads. It doesn’t matter because it stays with the acp cylinder installed. Mine had tight throats on both cylinders. I reamed both to .452. It is extremely accurate and fun to shoot with the acp cylinder. Mine has the 5.5” bbl. Only thing I would like different is the Bisley grip frame but Lipsey’s was out at that time. I have the full size 45C Bisley 7.5” and a 4 5/8 Blackhawk. The Bisley has .455 throats but is very accurate. Most newer 45’s have throats that tend to be undersized but that’s an easy fix. 20 grains of 4227 with a 250-280 grain cast is an accurate load and depending on bbl length will run a little north or south of 1000fps. I’ve pushed 310’s to 1250 FPS. In the Bisley it’s no worse than 44 magnum loads of equal bullet weight. Maybe even easier to handle. If you want to shoot Ruger only loads I would look for the 5.5” stainless Bisley convertible. Not the flat top but the full size. You will not regret it!
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
Shhhh , don't tell my 7.5" it's not supposed to have an ACP cyl .
I have a 3rd cyl that I want to get cut for 45 S&W it's unfortunately .004 short but the S&W should fix that .
 

Rally

NC Minnesota
Guess I've only ever owned two revolvers in .45 Colt. Guess the .44 cals have had more appeal to me, especially in rifles. I'm an odd duck though, because I only have one .357, in a rifle, and love the .38 special. LOL
 

Walks

Well-Known Member
I guess I'm kinda set on Revolvers, and the .45ACP because of the 1911. And the 9mm because of all the fun I had as a Kid growing up shooting my Dad's WW2 surplus; Lugers, Hi-Powers and P-38's.

But if I had to make a choice between .45 Revolvers and .44 Revolvers. I think My head would explode.

Or I'd go with the .38-40
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I have had an eye to the Magnum Research BFR revolvers.

They just released some 350 Legends. Silly choice for a revolver in light of a better revolver round with the Maximum. But of coarse they are hoping to ride the legend wave...

But well made in a number of unconventional as well as the conventional revolver calibers.
 

L Ross

Well-Known Member
When it comes to wantin' stuff I aint got the brains God gave a goose. Years ago I walked into a Scheel's sporting goods and in their display case they have several Freedom Arms revolvers. Model 83s mostly and a Model 97 in .45 Colt with a 5 1/2" barrel. Time passes and I'm back at Scheel's. More time passes, like overall maybe 3 years. I walk in one day and I see a couple hundred bucks knocked off the FAs. I ask to look at the Model 97. The salesman gives me a steely eyed look and asks if I might really be a serious buyer. In a moment of inspiration I asked if inventory tax time was coming up, again, on these revolvers. Long silence, then, he asks if I'm really interested he'll go grab the paper work on the Model 97. I asked what paper work and he said the paper showing me what they paid for the FAs. To shorten up the story, he sold me that Model 97 at their cost! Then he sold a Model 83 in .454 to my buddy at cost! He was very happy to get them out of his display case.
We were shooting .45 acp at our agency at the time and I had 3 lb. coffee cans of nickel plated Federal brass piling up on my shelves. I called FA and they were happy to make my .45 Colt a convertible. If I'd pay the bill. UPS was happy to fly my FA out there and back, if I'd pay the bill. Yup, I paid the bill. Cool revolver, hanging out with all its cool friends in that nice dark, dry, gun safe. We are not normal.
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I've seen a couple of places that have "rack queens", those guns that everyone begged the shop to get it because they'd all buy 2 or 3 of these relatively expensive guns. Of course when push came to shove and people were faced with laying out a grand or more the pleading crowds suddenly disappeared. All those places now ask for deposits before they order something. Lesson learned.
 

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
I have an 80's vintage 45 Colt BH............no need for a 45 ACP cylinder. Nary a piece of ACP brass. Not a SA revolver fan, either. Besides the ROA, that's enough SA revolvers for me.

The 45 BH, found it's home by default. We hunted in the shotgun only zone in lower Michigan. Cindy didn't care for the recoil of 12 gauge slugs. Michigan, just began allowing straight walled pistol cartridges, in handguns for deer. Cindy planned on using my 6" Python. Well Michigan said the firearm has to be registered to the hunter. Prior to that, a friend of mine had a FFl license and just got a deal on three 7 1/2" 45 LC BH's. @ $160 a piece. Asked me if I wanted one. Told him I take one but to hold it till I pulled a purchase permit. PITA, in Wayne county, unless your a woman. So, I had Cindy pull the permit........ Police gave her the royal treatment and she now had a handgun capable of taking deer sized game, registered in her name.

The first season, she use it, she took a spike buck at @ 20 yards. Shot though the heart with RCBS 250 SWC PB. Load was 19 grains of Hercules 2400 (Ruger only) lit with a CCI magnum primer. Couple years later she took a doe, late in the firearms season.

Never had to do any work on the BH. Throats were uniform @ .454 diameter............ loose slip fit with a .454 sized bullet. Besides the 250 RCBS moud, the only other one I use is MP's clone of the 270 SSA, with the HP options. Penta and conic.
 

gman

Well-Known Member
I've got the BFR fever also. Just can't make up my mind on the caliber. They finally came out with a 7.5" 44 magnum and with their version of the bisley grip frame. That would make a nice hunting revolver. Then there is the 475/480 that I've also been looking at. The 350 Legend is interesting but I have 3 357 maximums already. I'd like to see some cast bullet testing with the BFR in the 350. A BFR in a 5 shot 45C would cover just about anything.
 

Walks

Well-Known Member
Had a FA in .454 - 7 1/2" back in the late 1980'S-early 1990'S. When the only brass and bullets available was from FA. Revolver was so Finely Fitted that you had to use a swab to clean out the Rim recesses every time you shot a cylinder full. Bought the Beautiful Rosewood grips. After the 1st five rounds I also bought a set of Pachmayrs.

And you had to trim brass to Minimum EVERY TIME you loaded for it, and set the crimp at the very top of the crimp groove.
Accurate ??
You Betcha. 5 rounds from the bench. 50 yards, into 1 1/2"

Had a T/C Contender 14" bbl in .45-70 when they 1st came out, no muzzle brake. Had a little Guy try it, broke his wrist.

Sold both about 1994 or so. Kids were old enough to start Cowboy Shooting. Only Thing I kept was the Lyman #452490GC mold.
 

Dale53

Active Member
A few years ago, I got a Ruger Bisley SS .45ACP/.45 Colt Convertible. Both cylinders were undersize. I reamed them to proper size (.4525") and using both cylinders the gun is a REAL shooter! Frankly, I mostly use the .45 ACP cylinder as I have more brass (as in LOTS more). This is one of the best field pistols, ever! Mild to wild with much accuracy and with the heavy bullets, lots of punch!



FWIW
Dale53
 

DHD

Active Member
Dale,
That may well be my favorite model Ruger makes. I've never had the acp cylinder though.

I think most have found that the 45 Colt Ruger cylinders tend to be undersized and are in need of a little reaming. The last 5 1/2" Bisley I bought already had it done and the one purchased new got sent off for reaming. I've had DougGuy on CB do mine.
 

Dale53

Active Member
DHD;
Now that I am old and feeble, my shooting these days are at the range. Frankly, while both my cylinders are "NRA Bullseye Match" accurate, for range use the .45 ACP/.45 Auto Rim is superior. That is, the small capacity case works better with small powder charges. I use the same target load I do in my 1911's (4.0 grs. of Bullseye or equivalent behind an H&G #68 or #69). That 200 gr SWC can be driven safely and accurately from target velocity of around 700 fps to IPSC Major of 1000 fps. I make a practice of loading it to work perfectly in my 1911's as well as the revolvers (the Bisley as well as my Smith 625's). That way, I don't have to worry about having revolver ammo or 1911 ammo.

FWIW
Dale53