.45 Colt enough?

S

sks

New member
The .45 LC is one of my favorite calibers to shoot and the more I read, it might just turn into one of my favorite hunting cartridges.

Okay, I'll have to be honest about why I began shooting the .45 LC. After reading countless westerns and seeing "The Duke" doing his thing to the bad guys, I just had to shoot this round.

So I went out and bought a 7 1/2 inch barrelled Ruger Vaquero. Sure enough, I was hooked and have been in love with the .45 LC for the past 5 years.

It is not a hard kicking round like the .357 not does it hurt my ears like other calibers. To me it has a nice solid thunk in the hand and seems to be easy to bring to bear for a follow up shot.

So I was wondering...

How many .45 LC fans are out there?

Do any of you carry it for self defense?

Any other pros and cons on the .45 LC?

No you don't have to admit why you began to shoot it. :)

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The best weapon for self defense is the one you have when the need arises!
 
I have a 3rd gen SAA 4 3/4" 45 Colt. It's had about 150 rounds thru it and I know where to hold to hit a paper plate at 100 yards.

I also have a HiPower Practical. One of the most thoroughly proven handgun designs in history, unfired, NIB. I have every confidence in it.

But til *this* one has been *proven-in-my-hands-with-the-ammo-I-load*, I won't lose any sleep making do with a hundred and twenty-seven year old design for self protection.
 
The 45 Colt is also my favorite caliber. I have several Rugers, a Rossi, and a Marlin. I can't carry here in California, but I do keep my Redhawk loaded at home with Cor-Bons.

I Have used all of them for hunting at one time or another.

Pro's: the ability to go from a 255gr SWC at 750fps to a 325gr WFNGC at 1250fps, in Rugers or similar strength revolvers.

Con's: expensive to shoot unless you reload(a good reason to start), and very hard to find hunting loads on shelves of gun stores.

If you have not be to www.sixguns.com or www.sixgunner.com I would suggest a visit.

Garrett
 
Have a Ruger Bisley (not Bis/Vaq, mine has the sights), and short barreled Ruger BH 45 Colt. Also have the Ruger SRH 454 Casull. I've been favoring my 45's more than my 44's lately. I do handload for them.
 
I must admit - for a wheelgun caliber - .45LC is the king.
Loaded down its a pussycat and loaded hot its the dragonslayer. What more can you ask for in a caliber?

Now - put that into a small framed short barrled revolver strong enough to fire the hot loads. Double Action...
Now - that would be a revolver even I would buy.
 
Garrett5,

I do my own reloading and have found the Hornady XTP 300gr to be really nice. Not too hard shooting but it delivers some destruction. The Ruger is one of my wife's favorite handguns to shoot.

George,

I've got the Taurus Total Titanium in .45LC and it is a beauty. Do you know if there is a limit on how "hot" you can go with this weapon? Not yet been able to spend much time trying different loads yet and I definitely haven't tried too much hot stuff.

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The best weapon for self defense is the one you have when the need arises!
 
The 45 Colt is the thinking man's choice.....

.....and my 5.5" ss Redhawk needs speedloaders (for defense carry)!
It delivers 300g XTP-HP's at 1309fps, and that's my easy-shootin' load.

Weights from 155-395g; what more could one ask for?

I love it.......

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"All my ammo is factory ammo"
 
SKS, I have used the Hornady 300gr XTP, but I have found that it doesn't give me the penetration that I what on boars. I have since moved to cast bullets and found that they give the same amount of damage plus extra penetration. I have used cast bullets from www.castperformance.com and www.beartoothbullets.com and they worked very well.

Garrett
 
You can load the 45 Colt to silhouette specs, but you're still cranking a bit short of 44 Mag. velocities at the same bullet weight. Both calibers load a 300 gr. bullet. Bullet diameter is moot. But to shoot silouhette loads you need a silhouette gun that will manage the pressure.

45 ACP tosses lead just about as fast in a much smaller package. Hard to build a conceal carry gun in 45 Colt.

The upside is that the Colt 45 SAA is the coolest gun that's ever been made. Period.
 
The .45 Colt is a great round isn't it? I shoot it alot.

Pros:
Capable of taking any game that can be hunted with a handgun.
Performs at its best with inexpensive lead bullets.
Wide variety of bullet weights avalible since it can use any bullet intended for the .45acp as well.
Can be handloaded to everything from light plinking loads to magnum level hunting loads.
It can get the job done without all the buck and roar of the true magnum cartridges.
Proven defensive round.
Just plain fun to shoot.

Cons:
Hummmm...... just can't think of any. :D


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Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
 
Count me in as a .45 LC fan. In this caliber I have a 7 1/2-inch SAA, a 6-inch S&W Model 25-5 made 20 years ago, and a S&W Mountain Gun made in '96. I'd have more .45 LC guns if I could find them--and afford them!

In terms of a defensive cartridge, the .44 Special and the .45 LC are, to me personally, the gold standard for comparing the stopping power of other cartridges. IMHO cartridges with greater stopping power are fine, but offer more than is strictly needed. Those cartridges with less stopping power must have some trade-off value before I'll carry them. FWIW, my favorite defensive load in this caliber is the Winchester Silvertip.

My $0.02.
 
I think John Wayne has influenced THOUSANDS of shooters to try the .45 Colt. And, if there's anyone out there with certain knowledge that the Duke really carried a .44-40 or .38-40 rather than a .45, please, just KEEP IT TO YOURSELF! Some things I really don't want to know.

I've had three SAAs, but there was always someone who thought more of them than I did. Same with a great old Colt New Service, and a S&W Second Model Hand Ejector. Wow, sure wish I still had that one.

My only current .45 Colt cal is a S&W 625-6 Mountain Revolver. Really like it. It is just BARELY light enough to carry concealed with a proper holster and stocks. It really shines as a general all around field handgun. Used it so far for only one blood shot--to finish off a small wild pig I'd knocked down with a .257. Would have died soon, but, you know-- hate to hear 'em squeal.

But I have no qualms about using it for protection. Factory 255 RNFP is not bad, but most of it is loaded down in deference to the Cowboy Action Shooters, and the creaky old guns out there. I have a pet load with an old Lyman 454424 SWC mould. Rated at 255 gr. but it casts 'em from wheelweights at 276 gr. Yep, that's right. And a big dose of Universal Clays sends 'em off at 869 fps.

The bulk packed 250 LSWC bullets are very good with either 9.0 of Unique or 9.0 of U Clays, for 896 and 908 respectively. These last two loads are published but you become aware you're using some REAL MAN'S ammo.

Yes, you CAN go hotter, but please, NOT in the S&W. If you want hotter, go to a Ruger Blackhawk or the like. Yes, the S&W model 29 .44 mag used the same N-frame, but the cylinder walls were much thicker. If you want a .44 mag or .476 whatever, GO GET ONE. Don't try to make the fine old .45 Colt cartridge to that job. My own loads will kill anything I need to kill, without killing me or my revolver.

Gotta go to my g'daughter's birthday party.

Best regards--
Johnny

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---The Second Amendment ensures the rest of the Bill of Rights---
 
I've been looking at a revolver that Gary Reeder out in Arizona is custom building these days. It is based on a Ruger SS Redhawk.(He also does it on a S&W Model 629) He cuts the barrel down to 3 inches and does a complete action job and it comes with his Vapor Honed Satin Finish.( He shows it in Bright Stainless finish also) You can get it in .44 mag or .45 LC. You can see it at www.reedercustomguns.com It's called the Alaskan Survivalist. I have been considering this gun for CCW. The price ain't bad for a custom gun, and the turn around time is reasonable too. One of several custom guns of which I am in the think stage on. He also does a nice line of cowboy guns too. Ya might wanna take a look see. Can't hurt anything. Yeah I guess it could if you're weak like me! LOL!

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***Torpedo***
It's a good life if you can survive it!
 
I too have become a 45LC fan in the last year. Mine is a Ruger Bisley with a 7-1/2 inch barrel and is a pleasure to shoot. Last Fall I shot a three point at about 40 yards. Used Cor Bon 45 colt magnum +P. One shot - one deer. I am a believer.
 
I'm wanting to get a trigger job done on my Taurus .45 LC Titanium and also get the hammer cut off so that it will be easier for concealment. That Alaskan Survivalist looks nice.

Speaking of Titanium, how does that compare to stainless steel guns as far as resistance to the elements? Better? Worse?

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The best weapon for self defense is the one you have when the need arises!
 
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