Please School Me On .45ACP Revolvers

[mkflyfisherman]

It's Simple........

........They're FUN

 

[mag318]

Since I bought my new Governor I find that I shoot more 45 acp in it than anything else. I like the option of shooting 45 Colt and 410 thru it, but with the magnitude of different 45 acp loads available it's a no brainer. I predict that this is going to be one of S&Ws best sellers.

 

[Mack]

Since I bought my new Governor I find that I shoot more 45 acp in it than anything else. I like the option of shooting 45 Colt and 410 thru it, but with the magnitude of different 45 acp loads available it's a no brainer. I predict that this is going to be one of S&Ws best sellers.

If I were a sporting man I might try and talk you into a small wager on that last comment. ;-).

 

[DCWilson]

Moon clip advice

Didn't see this mentioned, but I may have read the preceding posts too fast: for metal moonclips, you should get (or make, if you have some plumbing supplies around) a moonclip tool. But the nylon RIMZ clips are easy to load and unload with your fingers. Some people don't like them, but I do. The downside is that they are kind of expensive, so if you're the type of guy who wants 100 moonclips loaded to go at any moment, they may not be the best solution.

On .45 ACP in a revolver in general -- I love the concept. I have two S&W 1917s (one a postwar Brazilian) and two Colt 1917s that are some of my favorite revolvers for all the reasons stated above. No modern 25 or 625 models yet, but someday...

 

[BobR1]

What do I like about a 625? Whats not to love?

Big Bore
Plenty of Power that will not ring your ears when shot without ear plugs, in an emergency. (NOTE: I am not saying not to wear hearing protection when shooting one, just that it is not nearly as loud as a Magnum)
With Moon Clips you do not loose your brass. Us reloaders hate to lose brass.
Shooting matches where you cannot pick up your brass. You can when using moon clips. Just pick up your clips and empties at the same time.
Good selection of carry ammo for a 45 acp.
Want more power? You can shoot 45 Supers with no modifications to the gun. Cut the chambers a little deeper and it will shoot 460 Rollands. (Brass available from Starline, uses 45acp dies) This will bring the Horepower right on up.
Did I mention Speer Shot Shells for snakes?
It does a great job shooting Steel in our Club Matches.
Did I mention I just like revolvers, and 1911 Colts? Must be an Old Guy Thing.

Maximumbob54
You might want to check out Lobo Gun Leather. That 3" would carry really nicely in a Model 1 Pancake with an Optional Hammer Shield and Boning. A nice set of smooth wood combat grips that slide over your shirt would not hurt either. I CC mine quite a bit.
He will make one for a 4" also.

Moon Clips
I have Ranch Products, and a couple other brands of black steel ones. I also have some SS ones probably from Wilson Combat. All work fine.
I also have some Rimz moon clips. They work fine for the range. They reload easily by hand with no tools required.
I would never carry them for CC, as they do not hold the rounds securely enough to suit me for that application. By all means buy some Rimz clips you will love them for plinking, and range shooting. You will also want steel clips.

Bob

 

[LOBO]

The best thing about .45 acp revolvers.....



.....is .45 auto rim!

 

[Loco Weed]

I've got a model 22, a model 25, a 325NG (highly accurate), a 625 and a 625PC. Now looking for a nice M1917. I just love the .45acp in revolvers -- my favorites. Very versatile.

 

[Cheyenne WYO]

Had a 325 pd for quite awhile . . . traded for a Springfield EMP 9mm as I was concerned about the velocity of a 45 acp out of a 2-1/2 inch barrel. The ballistics for a 44 special are similar, and I'd rather be able to shoot a couple of rounds in the field, then top off my revolver, which you cannot do with moon clips. Plus, I carry hot specials or mild magnums in a 329pd and its all I need for protection. If you get a 325 or 625, I'd recommend the four inch barrel - if you are going to just target practice, then topping off the cylinder would be a non issue.

I recently chronographed two loads with my 325 Night Guard. With a 2.75 inch revolver barrel, I was expecting poorer results than with a standard semi-auto. I fired 6 rounds of .45 ACP Speer 230 grain Gold Dot hollow points and got an average of 836 fps approximately 15 feet from the muzzle, with an ES of 26 and an SD of 8. By comparison, my notes reflect that I got a 5 round average of 841 fps, an ES of 38 and SD of 16 when the same load was fired out of a 5” Para LDA. Needless to say, I was impressed with the results using the Night Guard.

I also shot some Buffalo Bore standard velocity .45 Auto Rim with the 255 hard cast bullet. This load is advertised by Buffalo Bore at 869 fps out of a 4” Mountain Gun and 795 fps out of a Smith 325. I got a 6 round average of 862 fps from my Night Guard, an ES of 16 and an SD of 5. Recoil was not as bad as I expected with the factory-style grip that I relieved slightly in some areas.

When I posted this information on another forum, I was advised by one poster that this is the result of the efficiency of the cartridge with fast burning powders.

I bought a bunch of 1/3 moon clips to deal with the top off problem. I also have Auto Rims in Quick Strips, which also works.