.45 ACP Revolver for Concealed carry?

[steelslaver]

A 5 shot 45 ACP with some alloy would be a sweetheart. I love 45s and moon clips. The clips aree what raises it above the 44 spec. I heard Taurus makes one, but rare. I looked at a S&W 696 in 44 spec with the idea of rechambering and a 45 barrel. The cylinder has enough meat, but the end of the forcing cone would be very thin unless you could bore out the frame hole and go with bigger threads (N frame sized?). Don't think enough meat under the barrel. Couldn't bring myself to spend the money and work it over that much for a maybe. Bummer. It would make such a great gun.

 

[Catshooter]

I would love a five shot 45 ACP L framed Smith. I wish they'd make one.


Cat

 

[george minze]

Mine:

It works. I have replaced these rubber stocks with wood though.

Very nice and nice leather also..Who made the belt snap holster??nice job..O' I said that..getting old!....To bad about the grips, but rubber is great for shooting they tend to hang up on just about every thing you are wearing, including a loose fitting shirt..

 

[tomtheturner]

A 5 shot 45 ACP with some alloy would be a sweetheart. I love 45s and moon clips. The clips aree what raises it above the 44 spec. I heard Taurus makes one, but rare. I looked at a S&W 696 in 44 spec with the idea of rechambering and a 45 barrel. The cylinder has enough meat, but the end of the forcing cone would be very thin unless you could bore out the frame hole and go with bigger threads (N frame sized?). Don't think enough meat under the barrel. Couldn't bring myself to spend the money and work it over that much for a maybe. Bummer. It would make such a great gun.

I have one of the Taurus 5 shot 45acp snubbys, stainless, lightweight. Model # 455, I also have two #445 .44 specials.
Several years ago when Taurus discontinued these models, including their "total titanium" .44 specials they were only $250.00 each, at my LGS.

They don't compare to my 696, but they aren't much bigger than a Detective Special, and they are very lightweight. {20 & 22 oz.} I bought one, went out & shot it, was so impressed that I went back for more. I don't much care for Taurus ribber grip, and the action is different than a Smith, which makes for a more difficult switching around. They are nice enough that I decided not to spend the additional money for a nightguard, in lieu of these.

I believe Taurus has come back out with a 445. I don't know how the new ones compare to the old. These are the only Taurus revolvers that I own, and other than the above comments they are very nice guns.

Best Wishes,
Tom

 

[AlanKamei]

I think about carrying my Mountain Gun, but I'm not sure how to carry the moon clipped reloads. I think a 6 round moon clip is an odd shape for my pockets (although admittedly I haven't tried it), and I think they stick out pretty far to be that discreet in regards to concealment. While I think I could manage one cylinder's width, I'm not sure I could have essentially 2x the width of an N frame cylinder inside my waist band. Also I think I'd lose a lot of the advantages of moon clip reloading going to half moons or 2 round clips. Any ideas?

 

[mc5aw]

I have one of the Taurus 5 shot 45acp snubbys, stainless, lightweight. Model # 455, I also have two #445 .44 specials.
Several years ago when Taurus discontinued these models, including their "total titanium" .44 specials they were only $250.00 each, at my LGS.

They don't compare to my 696, but they aren't much bigger than a Detective Special, and they are very lightweight. {20 & 22 oz.} I bought one, went out & shot it, was so impressed that I went back for more. I don't much care for Taurus ribber grip, and the action is different than a Smith, which makes for a more difficult switching around. They are nice enough that I decided not to spend the additional money for a nightguard, in lieu of these.

I believe Taurus has come back out with a 445. I don't know how the new ones compare to the old. These are the only Taurus revolvers that I own, and other than the above comments they are very nice guns.

Best Wishes,
Tom

Tom ... I've heard good things about the Taurus snub .44s and .45s, but am yet to track either down. Even trading in the mid-$400 range, they make nice nice alternatives to a S&W that goes for twice the price. Granted, I would love to own a 625-10 or 3" 629, but a Taurus could be a very cost effective substitute.

 

[Muley Gil]

I think about carrying my Mountain Gun, but I'm not sure how to carry the moon clipped reloads. I think a 6 round moon clip is an odd shape for my pockets (although admittedly I haven't tried it), and I think they stick out pretty far to be that discreet in regards to concealment. While I think I could manage one cylinder's width, I'm not sure I could have essentially 2x the width of an N frame cylinder inside my waist band. Also I think I'd lose a lot of the advantages of moon clip reloading going to half moons or 2 round clips. Any ideas?

Speedloaders and/or full moon clips ride well in the lower cargo pocket of my 5.11 trousers. These secure with Velcro and are fairly easy to access.

 

[steelslaver]

There is a Taurus 455, 5 shot 45ACP at one of the auction sights right now. It is an all steel model. The alloy ones have UL after the model number. From the pictures I can see it has a very thin forging cone. It has a 2" barrel and I am holding out for a 3"

 

[houdini26]

I just start carrying the governer 45 acp moon clips.

 

[flintsghost]

Just get a full size 25-2, hacksaw and a couple real good hoe-files. Keep grinding away stuff till your left with this.Some guy from NY used to do it all the time.

John Jovino Company, a NY City Police Supply is the company who did it and they did it on a large variety of N frames.

 

[eveled]

I wanted a .45acp revolver for ccw, until I tried a sig sauer p250 compact.

I know you don't want an automatic, but this is a different breed than most. It is a true double action only gun, with a hammer and a long true double action trigger pull. No safety button, and no lock.

Honestly it is like shooting a 10 shot .45acp revolver. As much as I don't like automatics, for ccw, this one is awesome. It is really hard to argue with 10 shot capacity, and a super fast reload.

Ed.

 

[forrestinmathews]

I think about carrying my Mountain Gun, but I'm not sure how to carry the moon clipped reloads. I think a 6 round moon clip is an odd shape for my pockets (although admittedly I haven't tried it), and I think they stick out pretty far to be that discreet in regards to concealment. While I think I could manage one cylinder's width, I'm not sure I could have essentially 2x the width of an N frame cylinder inside my waist band. Also I think I'd lose a lot of the advantages of moon clip reloading going to half moons or 2 round clips. Any ideas?

North mountain IDPA legal moonclip holder. Works great and the shroud keeps the clips from hanging up on seams and zippers. Right in front of the holster for strong hand reloads or 8:30 for weak hand for least visible profile under a t shirt.

 

[Kilibreaux]

I have a long standing dislike for semi automatic pistols, even though I own several. After performing autopsies on several thousand gunshot wound victims over a 40+ year career as a forensic pathologist, I am most impressed with the .45 ACP round as a very efficient person stopper, especially considering it's "knock down" power.

After carrying several .38 &.357 magnum caliber concealed weapons, I have come to the conclusion that I should be carrying a .45 ACP weapon.

For those of you that do carry such a revolver, what are your recommendations? It must be a Smith & Wesson.

Many thanks for your advice!

medxam

As far as I know there is "only one" S&W that fills the bill. Doesn't sound like you want to be presented with choices, only confirmation.
Personally I think you should look at the M460. It's a ".45", it's a Smith & Wesson, it's a "revolver" and though somewhat heavier, not so very much bulkier than an N frame! It comes in a 5" barrel model and can chamber the .45ACP using Moon clips (aftermarket mod), but can also chamber the .45 Colt, .454 Casull, and of course the .460 S&W Magnum. Due to it's size, weight, and compensator you can EASILY shoot powerful rounds with amazingly low recoil.

 

[TexasArmed]

I carry a CA 44 special which is close to a 45. At the same time I would love to have a S&W 696 44 Special if I could find one at a gunshop where I could check it out.

My S&W 625-5 does not have moonclips. I found a good fanny pack to carry it in, as the barrel is 4 or 5 inches long, but every time I carry it in that fanny pack I have the feeling everyone knows why I am carrying the fanny pack, and its heavy and I am always worried about laying the fanny pack down and forgetting it somewhere. So on the rare occasions I do carry it I buckle that fanny pack in thru my belt loops where I cannot forget I have it on. This is my preferred weapon for home defense though. Oh its a six shot revolver, I own no semiautomatics.

 

[forrestinmathews]

As far as I know there is "only one" S&W that fills the bill. Doesn't sound like you want to be presented with choices, only confirmation.
Personally I think you should look at the M460. It's a ".45", it's a Smith & Wesson, it's a "revolver" and though somewhat heavier, not so very much bulkier than an N frame! It comes in a 5" barrel model and can chamber the .45ACP using Moon clips (aftermarket mod), but can also chamber the .45 Colt, .454 Casull, and of course the .460 S&W Magnum. Due to it's size, weight, and compensator you can EASILY shoot powerful rounds with amazingly low recoil.

For the weight, the 460 is a poor choice. Especially when you could be tasked with firing it inside a building, the ability to chamber anything else is moot save maybe the .45LC which can be done in a 625 or 25. The other cartridges are very good performers, but without the use of hearing protection, would effectively disable the defender. I love to shoot the 460 with .45 LC cowboy loads and it is a non recoiler, but a very bulky and awkward self defense tool.

I second the 325 Night Guard if you can find one. That seems like a great weapon. Should you require a larger gun, the 625 JM would be a great servant and give you slightly more favorable velocity and with radius. I have one and have carried it a lot. No worries about the size and it's very reassuring.

 

[ASA335]

Very nice and nice leather also..Who made the belt snap holster??nice job..O' I said that..getting old!....To bad about the grips, but rubber is great for shooting they tend to hang up on just about every thing you are wearing, including a loose fitting shirt..

Thank you. The holster is a Lobo (he's a member here), and a darned good one it is. I switched to wood for several reasons: I like wood, the rubber does cling to unintended stuff (like you point out), and I needed to move my hand forward a bit (the rubber ones cover the backstrap, the wood ones don't and they're a bit slimmer) so I could get better trigger finger placement.

 

[CTI1USNRET]

Charter Arms now makes a 5-shot 'Pitbull' in 45 ACP.

Charter Pitbull 45 ACP revolver #74520

 

[Erich]

They've been talking about that for some time, but I've yet to see one in the wild. I'll have to go check GB to see if any are out and about. Hey, one is listed! Sweet!

 

[keith44spl]

I carry my N frame snubs in a high ride pancake.....Conceals like nobody's business...




.

 

[Iggy]

I'm getting along pretty well with the two on the right. The one on the left is a high ride and works very well.

I call them Dave Keith "Lites"

Dave replaced a bulged barrel on this old warrior and I put it back to work for every day. It will shoot
45ACP/AR or .45 Long Colts.

 

[DevilDog72]

Why cowboys do it all the time....


Built this'n for a close personal friend.

ACP & Long Colt.




Su Amigo,
Dave

Keith ole son sure like that ther shoot'n iron brother.... would love ta have it's twin. I want a .45 acp snub for carry in the dang gondest way....

 

[keith44spl]

DevilDog72,


I've built a few....

My personal favorite was a 3 1/2 in 45 ACP/Long Colt

Pulled the last shot a tad high....

Grinnin so big I couldn't see the front sight





Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[DevilDog72]

Well Dave..... I can see just where that grinning stems from..... nice gat there pard

 

[mrstang01]

I carry my N frame snubs in a high ride pancake.....Conceals like nobody's business...




.

Who made the holster and belt setup please?

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Amazing......I'm thinking of switching to a .22 for sometime carry (see thread on that subject) and you folks are carrying tanks on your belts.

Someone please explain how you dress to conceal these guns. Heck, I'll start a new thread on it. I don't even carry 2" K frames because they're hard to hide. I GOTTA KNOW!!!

 

[SAFireman]

Who made the holster and belt setup please?

The man who posted the photos MADE that holster. He is an excellent craftsman.

You can find him here:
Red River Custom Leather - Home

 

[CTI1USNRET]

... Someone please explain how you dress to conceal these guns. ... I GOTTA KNOW!!!

Whether I'm in jeans or shorts I wear a t-shirt and an untucked, unbuttoned shirt draped over the gun. You can hide ANY handgun that way. I carry a 3" N frame 44 Special with large wood grips in a high ride, leather, belt slide holster at 3 o'clock.

I work from home and haven't dressed formal in 20 years.

 

[daddy bear]

My large frame revolvers are 27 and 28. The .45 cal. guns are lighter. I have no issues with 3 1/2" and 4" barrels, but I do like round butt guns for carry.

An old West Texas city cop friend carried a 25 in 45 ACP stuffed with Auto-rim ammo. I always thought it a wise choice for city officers. Reloads in those days were not much of an issue provided dum-dum types were avoided. He used a Keith style bullet.

Seems to me that a 3 1/2" inch fixed sight, round butt ..45 ACP/auto-rim would be about ideal.

Jack

 

[StrawHat]

Most folks know how I feel about the 4" "N" frame in 45 ACP. I built one prior to S&W making the Mountain Revolver and eventually got a 22-4 to augment it from time to time.

Here is the original in a Bianchi 5BH. Carried it that way until I got a Safariland equivalent holster. Sometime in a Simply Rugged Pancake.

Kevin

 

[mrstang01]

keith44spl, that is a beautiful rig. Could you PM me prices on something like that, both belt and holster?